or because it's a hot, late afternoon, the snow has partially melted, and therefore doesn't hold your weight.
If you're planning to take lifts be sure to check their open season.
The best time to do this trek is therefore during this brief summer holiday season. The earlier you go the more flowers will be in bloom on the hillsides; the middle of the season sees the most holidaymakers in the Alps; the end is generally noted for beautiful autumn light, but can be prone to fresh snowfall above 3000m.
If in doubt call local tourist offices or the huts for up-to-date information on conditions.
How to Get There
Zermatt
By air
The nearest airports to the Tour of the Matterhorn are Zurich and Geneva.
From Britain Zurich is served by:
British Airways www.ba.com tel: 0844 4930787
Easyjet www.easyjet.com tel: 0870 600 0000
Swiss International www.swiss.com tel: 0845 601 0956
Swiss International also operates from the USA and most other airports worldwide.
Zurich airport is found on www.zurich-airport.com
Many airlines fly into Geneva from Britain:
British Airways www.ba.com tel: 0844 4930787
Easyjet www.easyjet.com tel: 0870 600 0000
jet2 www.jet2.com tel: 0870 737 8282
Swiss International www.swiss.com tel: 0845 601 0956
BmiBaby www.bmibaby.com tel: 0870 264 0224
From America: Swiss International (sharing with American Airlines), Continental and Lufthansa (sharing with United Airlines).
From Ireland: Aer Lingus www.aerlingus.com tel: +353 1 886 8844.
Geneva airport can be found on www.gva.ch tel: +41 22 717 71 11 [email protected]
Onward travel to Zermatt is best by train. The Swiss railway network is incredibly efficient; timetables and online ticket sales can be found at www.sbb.ch
By train
If you choose to travel out to Switzerland by train then you will not be disappointed by the service once there. It may be worth buying a Swiss rail pass; the Swiss Tourist Office in your home country will be able to advise (UK tel: 0207 734 1921). All the different passes are described in detail on www.myswissalps.com/swissrailpasses
The preferred mode of transport in Zermatt
A lovely grassy trail leads down to Rifugio Prarayer at the end of Stage 5
By car
If you drive to Switzerland you'll need to buy a motorway ‘vignette’ on entry to the country, which currently costs 40chf for the year. You cannot take the car to Zermatt, but must park at Täsch and take the train up to the town.
Bus
Eurolines offer a regular service from Britain and Ireland to Switzerland, serving both Geneva and Zurich. Whilst the journey is long the price is competitive: www.eurolines.com tel: 020 7730 8235.
Breuil-Cervinia
By air
The nearest airport is Turin, tel: +39.011.5676361/2 www.aeroportoditorino.it
Turin airport is served by:
Ryanair www.ryanair.com tel: 0871 246 0000
Easyjet www.easyjet.com tel: 0870 600 0000
British Airways www.ba.com tel: 0844 4930787
Coming to Italy from outside Europe the nearest airport is Milan.
By train
Turin is served by train and is on the railway route to Aosta. From there good bus services run up the valley to Breuil-Cervinia. There is no direct connection from Turin or Milan to Cervinia. To reach Cervinia you have to change bus at Chatillon. The bus stations are in the city and not at the airports.
By car
Driving in Italy is generally good fun so long as you have an adventurous spirit. The motorways usually charge tolls.
Bus
Eurolines offer a regular service from Britain and Ireland to Italy with stops at Turin and Aosta and Chatillon, which is at the bottom of the valley up to Cervinia. Whilst the journey is long the price is competitive: www.eurolines.com tel: 020 7730 8235.
From Zurich, Geneva or Turin airports you can reach any of the other towns encountered during the trek. In Switzerland the train is the best option for getting along the main valleys, then the yellow PTT buses give access to all but the remotest villages. These tend to meet up with the trains, so travel is exceptionally easy. Italy is a different story; here the bus seems to be the best option.
Accommodation
There are a host of possibilities for your stay in the region, ranging from hotels of all standards to gîtes to huts to campsites. In the summer season – July and August – there is a huge demand for accommodation, so advance booking is highly recommended (see Appendix II). Note that on a trek such as this it is important to get your provisions for the day before you set out in the morning; on some stages there is no guarantee that you will be able to buy food during the day.
Hotels
These range from 4-star luxury to no-star basic. Major towns such as Zermatt and Breuil-Cervinia have many to choose from,
