Loops around the great massifs
Tour of the Matterhorn
Circles the most iconic pyramid in the Alps, alternating Italian and Swiss valleys. The Valdostan side offers Plateau Rosa, huts above Valtournenche and head-on Matterhorn views matched by few other trails.
Tour of the Matterhorn
Zermatt (CH) ↔ Breuil-Cervinia (IT) loop
Circles the most iconic pyramid in the Alps, alternating Italian and Swiss valleys. The Valdostan side offers Plateau Rosa, huts above Valtournenche and head-on Matterhorn views matched by few other trails.
~150 km, 8–10 days
8 VdA stages available
Zermatt (CH) ↔ Breuil-Cervinia (IT) loop
Route map
Official GPX tracks · use zoom and compass to explore
All stages
01EE🇮🇹Stage 1
Tour of the Matterhorn — Stage 1: Breuil-Cervinia → Rifugio Prarayer
Breuil-Cervinia → Rifugio Prarayer
The Valcournera pass, a stern gateway to the Valpelline.
18.2 km+1418 mOpen
02A🇮🇹Stage 2
Tour of the Matterhorn — Stage 2: Rifugio Prarayer → Arolla
Rifugio Prarayer → Arolla
The Col Collon: an alpine transfer over the glacier, as in the Middle Ages.
16.8 km+1084 mOpen
03E🇮🇹Stage 3
Tour of the Matterhorn — Stage 3: Arolla → Les Haudères
Arolla → Les Haudères
Active rest in the Val d’Hérens, among arolla pines and timber villages.
8 km+53 mOpen
04EEOutside region🇮🇹Stage 4
Tour of the Matterhorn — Stage 4: Les Haudères → Zinal
Les Haudères → Zinal
Two passes and the turquoise Moiry lake in one big Valais day.
26.6 km+2241 mOpen
05EEOutside region🇮🇹Stage 5
Tour of the Matterhorn — Stage 5: Zinal → Gruben
Zinal → Gruben
The Forcletta and the forgotten Turtmann valley.
16.8 km+1249 mOpen
06EEOutside region🇮🇹Stage 6
Tour of the Matterhorn — Stage 6: Gruben → St. Niklaus
Gruben → St. Niklaus
The Augstbordpass, an ancient Walser route to the Mattertal.
18.4 km+1345 mOpen
07EOutside region🇨🇭Stage 7
Tour of the Matterhorn — Stage 7: St. Niklaus → Zermatt
St. Niklaus → Zermatt
Along the Vispa to the Matterhorn’s village.
20.4 km+638 mOpen
08EEA🇨🇭🇮🇹Stage 8
Tour of the Matterhorn — Stage 8: Zermatt → Breuil-Cervinia
Zermatt → Breuil-Cervinia
The Theodul pass closes the loop: glacier with a guide, or cable car.
25.3 km+2367 mOpen