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Monte Rosa 4000m peaks 2024
The classic Italian High Route Spaghetti Tour climb
Following the snowy ridges over Monte Rosa
Course overview
If you want to climb as many 4000m peaks as possible during a week, whilst staying in high mountain huts with amazing scenery, this course is perfect for you. It is a great alternative to our Alpine Intro course, for those with a day or two of previous crampon skills. The guiding ratio is 1:3 throughout.
The Monte Rosa massif has the largest land area above 4000m in the Alps. The course lets you ascend as many of these peaks as you can during the week, staying in remote mountain huts with your Guides. Monte Rosa is an elevated plateau, meaning you could take in 6 summits above 4000m in a week.
This route is nicknamed the 'Spaghetti Tour' by the Italians, as it wiggles its way from hut to hut on the Val d'Aosta side of the Monte Rosa massif. Each night on the tour you stay in comfortable Italian mountain huts, where there's always some pasta on the menu each night!
The itinerary for this course is deliberately flexible to allow for changing conditions, your experience and how quickly you acclimatise. We make every effort to match people of similar experience on this course.
If you don't wish to spend as many nights in mountain huts, or have had issues with acclimatisation, perhaps consider our 3 Countries Summits week.
If you wish to ascend the summit of Dufourspitze, this has to be climbed 1:2 ratio, and we offer a separate week long course geared specifically to this 2nd highest summit in the Alps. Click here for itinerary.
Recommended Maps & Guidebooks: LKS1348 Zermatt, LKS1:50,000 284 Mischabel, LKS1:50,000 294 Gressony, LKS5006 Matterhorn Mischabel, The Alpine 4000m Peaks by the Classic Routes, by Richard Goedeke.
Dates: these are listed in the column on the right, and they show the live availability from our secure online booking system. When you book online, you receive immediate confirmation, your Alpine Information Booklet, course specific kit list and invoice.

Brief Course Itinerary
Sun Travel to Chamonix to arrive for the 17:00 check-in followed by and course safety and itinerary briefings. There is time for kit checks or rental of equipment. Briefings are over by 19:00 and the Chamonix hosts accompany the group to pre-dinner drinks to answer any queries. Night in Chamonix.
Mon Travel to the Monte Rosa region via the Mont Blanc tunnel, and to one of the southern valleys such as Champoluc, Gressoney or Cervinia, to ascend to the Plateau Rosa or Ayas hut for the night. You take the cable car, and should have time to make an ascent of Breithorn, before returning to the hut. Guiding ratio 1:3 (max). Night in mountain hut.
Tue Alpine start for ascent of peaks such as Castor or Pollux, or even Liskaam West. Castor is the most popular objective, and it offers a great mixed climb at altitude. For more experienced groups, it may even be possible to make a traverse of Castor. The night is usually spent in the Quintino Sella refuge. Guiding ratio 1:3 (max). Night spent in mountain hut.
Wed Alpine start for route, such as the West summit of Liskaam or the Naso de Liskaam, to make the traverse of the slopes to reach either the Mantova or Gnifetti mountain hut for the night. On the way you might ascend one of these peaks; Parrotspitze, Balmenhorn, Corno Nero, Ludwigshoehe and Vincent Pyramid. Guiding ratio 1:3 (max). Night spent in mountain hut.
Thu A very early Alpine start to traverse some of the seven 4000m peaks on the way up to the Margherita hut, the highest guardianned mountain hut in the Alps, itself perched on the summit of Cima Margherita. There is a huge choice of peaks on the route today, and the hut itself is built on top of a 4000m peak! Guiding ratio 1:3 (max). Night spent in mountain hut.
Fri Your last early Alpine start to reach the final summit, normally Zumsteinspitze, then the long descent to either Cervinia or Gressoney, to descend via the cable cars to reach the cars, and the return drive to Chamonix! When you get back, the group normally opts to go out for celebratory drinks and a meal, to toast the weeks achievements. Guiding ratio 1:3 (max). Night in Chamonix.
Sat Breakfast then the accommodation check out is by 10:00. Most arrange their airport transfers to leave around this time, to catch a flight from Geneva about midday. Depart for home.
ITINERARY NOTES: Where possible we follow itineraries. Mountain adventures are weather and conditions dependant, so occasionaly we are forced to alter the plans. If this is the case, suitable alternatives are offered. Please use this outline itinerary as a guide to the types of route / activity that you will attempt.
Route focus
All of these peaks are included in part of the scheduled course itinerary, and some extra detail on each of the classic routes on each peak is provided below. Note that this course does not ascent Dufourspitze, as we offer a separate course to ascend that peak, the highest in Switzerland. The peaks below are the most poplar on this week, so you can research them a little before your trip.
Breithorn 4164m
Castor 4223m
P.Gnifetti 4554m
Pyramide 4215m
SSW Face (F)
The easiest 4000m peak in the Alps in terms of the least height gained from the cable car to the summit. The ascent and descent are made by the same route, with a great snow ridge to the summit. From here you get great views of the Matterhorn.
WNW Face (PD+)
This is a long steady snow face to reach the summit ridge, or after recent snowfall, it may also be possible by the NW Arete (PD+). The descent is usually via the WNW face.
From Gnifetti (F)
Punta Gnifetti is also called Signalkuppe, & it hosts the highest hut in all of the Alps on its top. The ascent takes about 6hrs, and on descent you take in more peaks.
NW Face (PD)
This is the closest 4000m sumit to the Gnifetti hut, and it can be combined with an ascent of Punta Giordani, or even with Parrotspitze, Corno Nero & Balmenhorn.

Course Prices
Standard course
5 days guiding, 7 days holiday in total £1499
Live availability
Click on the planner logo to the right to
see the real time live course availability
Latest Availability
Secure online booking system
Standard Course Inclusions: 1) IFMGA Mountain Guide for five days, 2) Chamonix course hosts for logistics & briefings, 3) Two nights twin / double room self-catered accommodation in Chamonix (inc. linen, bedding & towels), 4) Up to four nights half board in mountain hut (inc. costs for guides), 5) Pre course information booklet, 6) Equipment discount voucher for UK shop, 7) Free 36 page technical Course Instruction Booklet, 8) Road transport in Chamonix valley including road transport to / from the Monte Rosa region, 10) Evening technical instruction on nights in Chamonix.
Exclusions: 1) Travel to and from Chamonix, 2) Equipment hire, 3) Personal laundry, telephone calls, lunches, evening meals in valley, & any purchases in mountain huts / hotels / restaurants, 4) Cable cars and uplift for you and your guide (approx £80), 5) Sunday pre-dinner drinks & Friday celebratory meal & drinks, 6) Activities insurance, & excess baggage charges.
Notes: This course assumes 1:3 guiding throughout, however the trip is guaranteed as soon as two people book. Private trips can be operated; 1:2 at £1899, 1:3 at £1499.
Course upgrade options
Many clients on this trip consider upgrading with one or more of the following course additions...
 
Private
room
Big 5 Alpine
extensions
Technical
kit rental
Acclimatise
weekend
  Upgrade to single from
£300-£500 in addition to
standard course price,
depending on week.
Extend by 2 days after
to ascend one of the
Big 5 Alpine peaks as
an extra summit.
Rent all technical kit
for a week. Full Alpine
Bundle costs you just
£100 for the week.
Saturday night spent in
Chamonix, with choice
of self-guided or guided
on Sunday. From £70.
  Click for details Click for details Click for details Click for details
 
Standard course accommodation - normally clients are based in self-catered flats (details), so take a look, and decide if it's for you. For more luxury, contact us for quotes in higher standard apartments, or hotels of any standard required. If you have / source your own course accommodation, or we cannot provide an upgrade, the standard course price has a £60pp reduction applied on your invoice.
On the Monte Rosa, with the Matterhorn in the background
Current course availability

Course Dates
Monte Rosa 4000ers
  • [ 2 ] 23 - 29 Jun 2024
  • [ 0 ] 30 Jun - 6 Jul 2024
  • [ 1 ] 7 - 13 Jul 2024
  • [ 3 ] 14 - 20 Jul 2024
  • [ 3 ] 21 - 27 Jul 2024
  • [ 3 ] 28 Jul - 3 Aug 2024
  • [ 3 ] 4 - 10 Aug 2024
  • [ 3 ] 11 - 17 Aug 2024
  • [ 3 ] 18 - 24 Aug 2024
  • [ 3 ] 25 - 31 Aug 2024
  • [ 3 ] 1 - 7 Sep 2024
  • [ 3 ] 8 - 14 Sep 2024
NOTE: This trip has scheduled
dates, but if there are three who
are booking together, it can be
operated on any date you wish.
If there are just 2 of you looking
for a private trip, the cost would
be £1899 per person.
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Price: £1499 Book online

Alternative courses
Mont Blanc Summit
Mont Blanc Autonomy
Mt.Blanc+Eiger+Matterhorn

Winter Mount Toubkal

Client feedback


Staying in huts for so many nights was really useful for us for acclimatisation and to maximise our climbing time, and as a result we summited so many amazing classic 4000m peaks

Christos A , Monte Rosa


The night in the Margherita hut was very memorable, and an amazing experience, even though I didn't sleep a wink at that altitude. Thanks to all the guides for a great week of climbing

Steve Buttons , Monte Rosa


Very tiring week, but so so rewarding. I didn't think I would get up so many four thousand meter peaks in the week

Anna Timms , Monte Rosa
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Location data for this trip
The trips meet in the Chamonix valley in the French Alps, at the foot of Mont Blanc. It is easily accessed via a 90 minute transfer from Geneva airport.
Time Difference
GMT +1hr
Local Currency
€ Euros
Travel from UK
1hr flight
Preparing for the course
If you are worried about acclimatisation, we recommend that you book on an Acclimatisation Weekend before your course. to help you get acclimatised earlier, leaving you with more summiting weather windows for the peaks.
Pro top tips - geeks corner!
Suggested reading and kit
View full course equipment list, with examples of kit, click here
Why choose our trips?
See our Alpine blog, by clicking on the Word-press logo to the right.
Icicle Blog
Itinerary flexibility to allow you to take full advantage of the weather windows on any day, to maximise your summit chances.
Our prices are fixed in £ Sterling, to protect you from euro fluctuations, so you can budget accurately.
There is a choice of routes to opt for, depending on the weather, conditions, and your experience.
Any further questions?
A key part of choosing a company is being able to come and talk about your plans with an experienced course advisor face to face. In an increasingly virtual world, we know our clients value speaking to real people, getting open and honest advice. The vast majority of our clients are British, and our office and outdoor store is based in Windermere in the English Lake District. Arrange a meeting, and come in for a coffee to discuss your course in person with a trip advisor. Many people opt for this service, and it is an integral part of what we offer, to ensure that you are prepared as possible.



As well as talking though your course, most clients have queries about the kit they will require, to avoid expensive mistakes, and we can show you some examples of that to consider. Others have training queries, about how to best prepare for your trip, and we will be able to steer you in the right direction. No question is too silly, and we'll have heard them all before! An integral part of booking is the ability to get good knowledgable advice, and a highly personal service. Unlike companies that only exist virtually in cyberspace, we are staffed by real people, in a real office, who offer real honest advice. Because we are tangible, we are accountable, and we take great pride in that and the service that we offer you. Get in touch to come in for a chat soon.


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