Traversée du Breithorn
Traversée du Breithorn : une arête ambitieuse avec guide de montagne
-
Endurance
4Hiking Time: 8–9 hours. Up to approx. 1600 vertical meters. For experienced alpinists with excellent stamina. -
Technique
4You've already climbed several 4000-meter peaks and are well acclimatized. Handling ice axe and crampons is second nature to you. Ridge climbs up to grade III and steep terrain on rock and ice pose no problem. -
Duration
7 h -
Date
July - September -
Participants
1 person
Gallery (5)
Discover one of the most impressive yet most accessible ridge traverses in the Alps: the Breithorn Traverse takes you across several 4000-meter summits – from the Roccia Nera to the Breithorn West Summit. This route combines airy ridges, abseils, solid rock climbing, and breathtaking views of the Valais Alps.
Highlights
Duration
- Ascent to the summit of Roccia Nera (4,073 m): approx. 2 hours from the top station of Klein Matterhorn (3,883 m).
- Traverse of the ridge from Gendarm (4,105 m), Breithorn East (4,139 m), Breithorn Central Summit (4,156 m), to the Breithorn West Summit at 4,156 m: approx. 3-4 hours from the summit of Roccia Nera.
- Descent back to the top station of Klein Matterhorn: approx. 1 hour.
Description
The tour starts at the Klein Matterhorn mountain station (3,883 m), the highest cable car station in Europe and the perfect starting point for a world-class alpine adventure. From here, you first ascend across the Breithorn Plateau to the Roccia Nera (4,075 m), the easternmost of the five Breithorn summits.
What follows is an impressive ridge traverse: step by step you make your way across the Breithorn Twins, the Central Summit (4,159 m), and finally to the Main Summit (4,164 m). The snow ridge is at times narrow and exposed, and in places you encounter easy rock climbing of grade III to IV – always secured by your mountain guide. After about 2 hours you cross the Breithorn Saddle, where the Breithorn Half Traverse begins.
This tour combines glacier and rock passages, high-altitude exposure, breathtaking views, and the unique feeling of having crossed several 4000-meter peaks in a single day. The tour ends with the descent via the normal route back to Klein Matterhorn.
Program
Cable car ride up to Klein Matterhorn (3,883 m)
Guided ascent across the Breithorn Plateau to the first summit of the day, Roccia Nera at 4,073 m
Ridge traverse across 4 additional summits up to the Breithorn West Summit at 4,164 m
Descent via the normal route to the Klein Matterhorn top station, then return to Zermatt
- Crampon-compatible mountaineering boots with profiled, stiff Vibram soles
- Climbing harness
- 1 carabiner
- Crampons with anti-balling plates
- ice axe
- Hiking pole
- helmet
- Backpack, approx. 30 L
- Warm weatherproof clothing
- Gloves (possibly spare gloves)
- Hat / headband
- Sunglasses and sunscreen
- drinks
- Snacks (high-energy food such as chocolate, dried fruit, energy bars)
After booking
After booking, you will receive a confirmation by email. Please check that your details are correct.
Two days before the tour, you will receive a link to the customer portal.
Please contact us before the tour to go over the details (current weather, conditions, group size, etc.). You can reach us by phone, email or visit us at the ZERMATTERS Homebase.
Breithorn - Background information
Sicherheit und Risikohinweise
Auch wenn die Besteigung technisch einfach ist, dürfen die alpinen Gefahren nicht unterschätzt werden. Die Route führt über Gletscher, wo immer ein Spaltenrisiko besteht. Deshalb bist du bei ZERMATTERS stets mit professionellen Bergführer:innen unterwegs und mit der nötigen Sicherheitsausrüstung ausgestattet. Hinzu kommt: Am Breithorn kann sich das Wetter rasch ändern – hier zählen die Orientierung und die Erfahrung unserer lokalen Guides.
Do I need a mountain guide for a high-altitude tour?
Yes, especially for beginners, the company of a certified mountain guide is highly recommended. Alpine tours often lead over glaciers with crevasses, steep firn flanks and exposed ridges. An experienced guide not only ensures safety, but also imparts valuable knowledge about technique, route selection and alpine dangers.
What advantages does a local mountain guide offer?
A local mountain guide knows the specific conditions of the region, such as weather conditions, glacier conditions and current route conditions. This expertise enables flexible tour planning and increases safety. In addition, a local guide enriches the experience with background information on the local mountains and culture.
What should I look out for when booking a mountain guide?
Make sure that your mountain guide is certified according to the standards of the International Union of Mountain Guide Associations (UIAGM/IFMGA). This certification guarantees comprehensive training and compliance with the highest safety standards. All ZERMATTERS mountain guides are trained according to these international guidelines.
What levels of difficulty are alpine tours divided into?
Alpine tours are rated according to the SAC mountain and alpine tour scale, which ranges from L (easy) to EX (extremely difficult). The French designations range from F (facile) to ED (extrêmement difficile). These classifications take into account the technical requirements, length of the tour and objective dangers.
What equipment do I need for an alpine tour?
The equipment required varies depending on the alpine tour and can be viewed directly on the equipment list for the respective ski tour.
In general, the standard equipment for an alpine tour includes
- Crampon-proof mountain boots
- Crampons
- Ice axe
- Climbing harness
- Rope (depending on tour type and group size)
- Carabiners and slings
- helmet
- Warm, weatherproof clothing
- Sunglasses and sun protection
- First aid kit
- Map, compass or GPS device
When will a decision be made on the implementation of the high tour?
The final decision on whether to go ahead with an alpine tour is usually made 48 hours (sometimes only 24 hours) before the start of the tour, based on current weather and route conditions. You will be informed by us as early as possible about possible changes or cancellations.
How do I choose the right high-altitude tour for my ability?
The choice of an alpine tour should always be based on your personal ability and alpine experience. A gradual progression - from shorter to longer tours, from easy to technically more demanding - is advisable. Our mountain guides are happy to accompany you on this path and support you in your alpine development
Our offers are therefore provided with clear information on the level of difficulty, required stamina and technique to help you make the right decision. We are happy to provide you with personal advice directly. Come and visit us at the home base!
How can I best prepare myself for a high-altitude tour?
Good preparation is the key to a safe and enjoyable high-altitude experience. Regular endurance training - such as hiking, running or cycling - not only improves your fitness, but also your resilience at high altitudes. Technique training is just as important: you need to practise using crampons and ice axes to be able to move safely in the terrain. If you also attend alpine courses, study maps and familiarize yourself with meteorology and alpine dangers, you will have a solid foundation for making independent decisions in the mountains. Our mountain guides will not only support you along the way, but will also be happy to give you tips on how best to prepare - so that your alpine tour with ZERMATTERS is an unforgettable experience.
How difficult are alpine tours and how are they classified?
Alpine tours can be divided into seven main levels of difficulty according to the SAC Alpine Touring Scale:
- L: Easy
- WS: Not very difficult
- ZS: Fairly difficult
- S: Difficult
- SS: Very difficult
- AS: Extremely Difficult
- EX: Extremely difficult
Some of these grades can be additionally refined by a minus (-) or plus (+) to allow even more precise grading.
The rating is based on main criteria such as steepness, exposure, technical requirements and type of terrain (e.g. firn, ice, rock or glacier). Auxiliary criteria such as objective hazards, retreat options and seriousness of the route are also taken into account.
What happens if I don't meet the requirements for a tour?
Our mountain guides not only have a lot of experience, but also pay attention to the difficulty level of the tour when assessing it. At the same time, they decide on site whether the tour can be carried out as planned. If you do not meet the requirements and this compromises safety or the course of the tour, the tour may have to be adjusted or terminated prematurely. This decision is always made in the interests of the safety of everyone involved.
By the way, with a private mountain guide you are more flexible and can adjust the pace and route individually.
-
Endurance
4Hiking Time: 8–9 hours. Up to approx. 1600 vertical meters. For experienced alpinists with excellent stamina. -
Technique
4You've already climbed several 4000-meter peaks and are well acclimatized. Handling ice axe and crampons is second nature to you. Ridge climbs up to grade III and steep terrain on rock and ice pose no problem. -
Duration
7 h -
Date
July - September -
Participants
1 person
Discover one of the most impressive yet most accessible ridge traverses in the Alps: the Breithorn Traverse takes you across several 4000-meter summits – from the Roccia Nera to the Breithorn West Summit. This route combines airy ridges, abseils, solid rock climbing, and breathtaking views of the Valais Alps.
Highlights
Duration
- Ascent to the summit of Roccia Nera (4,073 m): approx. 2 hours from the top station of Klein Matterhorn (3,883 m).
- Traverse of the ridge from Gendarm (4,105 m), Breithorn East (4,139 m), Breithorn Central Summit (4,156 m), to the Breithorn West Summit at 4,156 m: approx. 3-4 hours from the summit of Roccia Nera.
- Descent back to the top station of Klein Matterhorn: approx. 1 hour.
Description
The tour starts at the Klein Matterhorn mountain station (3,883 m), the highest cable car station in Europe and the perfect starting point for a world-class alpine adventure. From here, you first ascend across the Breithorn Plateau to the Roccia Nera (4,075 m), the easternmost of the five Breithorn summits.
What follows is an impressive ridge traverse: step by step you make your way across the Breithorn Twins, the Central Summit (4,159 m), and finally to the Main Summit (4,164 m). The snow ridge is at times narrow and exposed, and in places you encounter easy rock climbing of grade III to IV – always secured by your mountain guide. After about 2 hours you cross the Breithorn Saddle, where the Breithorn Half Traverse begins.
This tour combines glacier and rock passages, high-altitude exposure, breathtaking views, and the unique feeling of having crossed several 4000-meter peaks in a single day. The tour ends with the descent via the normal route back to Klein Matterhorn.
Program
Cable car ride up to Klein Matterhorn (3,883 m)
Guided ascent across the Breithorn Plateau to the first summit of the day, Roccia Nera at 4,073 m
Ridge traverse across 4 additional summits up to the Breithorn West Summit at 4,164 m
Descent via the normal route to the Klein Matterhorn top station, then return to Zermatt
Additional costs
- Zermatt – Klein Matterhorn return ticket: from CHF 57.00
Discount with GA, Half-Fare Card or Swiss Travel Pass (more information available from Zermatt Bergbahnen AG) - Rental equipment: between CHF 50.00 and CHF 70.00, available in a sports shop in Zermatt
Material
To be fully prepared for the ascent of the Breithorn, you must bring the following equipment:
- Crampon-compatible mountaineering boots with profiled, stiff Vibram soles
- Climbing harness
- 1 carabiner
- Crampons with anti-balling plates
- ice axe
- Hiking pole
- helmet
- Backpack, approx. 30 L
- Warm weatherproof clothing
- Gloves (possibly spare gloves)
- Hat / headband
- Sunglasses and sunscreen
- drinks
- Snacks (high-energy food such as chocolate, dried fruit, energy bars)
After booking
After booking, you will receive a confirmation by email. Please check that your details are correct.
Two days before the tour, you will receive a link to the customer portal.
Please contact us before the tour to go over the details (current weather, conditions, group size, etc.). You can reach us by phone, email or visit us at the ZERMATTERS Homebase.
Breithorn - Background information
Sicherheit und Risikohinweise
Auch wenn die Besteigung technisch einfach ist, dürfen die alpinen Gefahren nicht unterschätzt werden. Die Route führt über Gletscher, wo immer ein Spaltenrisiko besteht. Deshalb bist du bei ZERMATTERS stets mit professionellen Bergführer:innen unterwegs und mit der nötigen Sicherheitsausrüstung ausgestattet. Hinzu kommt: Am Breithorn kann sich das Wetter rasch ändern – hier zählen die Orientierung und die Erfahrung unserer lokalen Guides.
Do I need a mountain guide for a high-altitude tour?
Yes, especially for beginners, the company of a certified mountain guide is highly recommended. Alpine tours often lead over glaciers with crevasses, steep firn flanks and exposed ridges. An experienced guide not only ensures safety, but also imparts valuable knowledge about technique, route selection and alpine dangers.
What advantages does a local mountain guide offer?
A local mountain guide knows the specific conditions of the region, such as weather conditions, glacier conditions and current route conditions. This expertise enables flexible tour planning and increases safety. In addition, a local guide enriches the experience with background information on the local mountains and culture.
What should I look out for when booking a mountain guide?
Make sure that your mountain guide is certified according to the standards of the International Union of Mountain Guide Associations (UIAGM/IFMGA). This certification guarantees comprehensive training and compliance with the highest safety standards. All ZERMATTERS mountain guides are trained according to these international guidelines.
What levels of difficulty are alpine tours divided into?
Alpine tours are rated according to the SAC mountain and alpine tour scale, which ranges from L (easy) to EX (extremely difficult). The French designations range from F (facile) to ED (extrêmement difficile). These classifications take into account the technical requirements, length of the tour and objective dangers.
What equipment do I need for an alpine tour?
The equipment required varies depending on the alpine tour and can be viewed directly on the equipment list for the respective ski tour.
In general, the standard equipment for an alpine tour includes
- Crampon-proof mountain boots
- Crampons
- Ice axe
- Climbing harness
- Rope (depending on tour type and group size)
- Carabiners and slings
- helmet
- Warm, weatherproof clothing
- Sunglasses and sun protection
- First aid kit
- Map, compass or GPS device
When will a decision be made on the implementation of the high tour?
The final decision on whether to go ahead with an alpine tour is usually made 48 hours (sometimes only 24 hours) before the start of the tour, based on current weather and route conditions. You will be informed by us as early as possible about possible changes or cancellations.
How do I choose the right high-altitude tour for my ability?
The choice of an alpine tour should always be based on your personal ability and alpine experience. A gradual progression - from shorter to longer tours, from easy to technically more demanding - is advisable. Our mountain guides are happy to accompany you on this path and support you in your alpine development
Our offers are therefore provided with clear information on the level of difficulty, required stamina and technique to help you make the right decision. We are happy to provide you with personal advice directly. Come and visit us at the home base!
How can I best prepare myself for a high-altitude tour?
Good preparation is the key to a safe and enjoyable high-altitude experience. Regular endurance training - such as hiking, running or cycling - not only improves your fitness, but also your resilience at high altitudes. Technique training is just as important: you need to practise using crampons and ice axes to be able to move safely in the terrain. If you also attend alpine courses, study maps and familiarize yourself with meteorology and alpine dangers, you will have a solid foundation for making independent decisions in the mountains. Our mountain guides will not only support you along the way, but will also be happy to give you tips on how best to prepare - so that your alpine tour with ZERMATTERS is an unforgettable experience.
How difficult are alpine tours and how are they classified?
Alpine tours can be divided into seven main levels of difficulty according to the SAC Alpine Touring Scale:
- L: Easy
- WS: Not very difficult
- ZS: Fairly difficult
- S: Difficult
- SS: Very difficult
- AS: Extremely Difficult
- EX: Extremely difficult
Some of these grades can be additionally refined by a minus (-) or plus (+) to allow even more precise grading.
The rating is based on main criteria such as steepness, exposure, technical requirements and type of terrain (e.g. firn, ice, rock or glacier). Auxiliary criteria such as objective hazards, retreat options and seriousness of the route are also taken into account.
What happens if I don't meet the requirements for a tour?
Our mountain guides not only have a lot of experience, but also pay attention to the difficulty level of the tour when assessing it. At the same time, they decide on site whether the tour can be carried out as planned. If you do not meet the requirements and this compromises safety or the course of the tour, the tour may have to be adjusted or terminated prematurely. This decision is always made in the interests of the safety of everyone involved.
By the way, with a private mountain guide you are more flexible and can adjust the pace and route individually.
