Monte Rosa Classic, Spaghetti Tour with the Dufourspitze

This 5-day high-altitude trek in the Valais Alps—often referred to as the legendary “Spaghetti Loop”—is a Monte Rosa traverse like no other. It takes us over several 4,000-meter peaks up to the highest point in Switzerland.

Day 1: Kick-off at the Klein Matterhorn
Our tour begins at the Klein Matterhorn. The path leads us over the proud summit of the Castor (4,225 m) directly to the Quintino Sella Hut.

Day 2: Via the Lyskamm-Naso to Corno Nero
The next day, we’ll tackle the summit of Naso del Lyskamm (4,272 m). After descending to the Lys Glacier, there’s still plenty of time to climb the steep, rocky peak of Corno Nero (4,321 m). Afterward, we’ll take a leisurely hike to the beautifully situated Mantova Hut.

Day 3: Rock Climbing on the “Cresta del Soldato”
Today we switch from snow to rock. Climbing on wonderfully solid and grippy gneiss, we ascend the southeast ridge—the famous “Cresta del Soldato” —to Punta Giordani (4,046 m). Since the climb is so much fun, we continue right on along the ridge to the Vincent Pyramid (4,215 m). From the summit, we make a leisurely descent through soft snow to the Mantova Hut, where we’ll spend a second night.

Day 4: Toward the Skies to the Margherita Hut
A technically easier, but no less impressive stage lies ahead: We’ll ascend via the beautiful Parrotspitze (4,431 m) to the highest hut in the Alps—the Capanna Regina Margherita (4,554 m).

Day 5: The Grand Finale at Switzerland’s Highest Point
A magnificent day awaits us, one in which one superlative follows another. At dawn, we leave the Margherita Hut and descend via the Zumsteinspitze (4,563 m) to the Grenzsattel. The ridge is razor-sharp and leaves no room for error—to our right, the mighty Monte Rosa East Face, the highest wall in the Alps, plunges into the abyss.

The tension eases only slightly when we reach the first rocks that lead us to the Dunantspitze (4,631 m). Here, the ridge narrows once again: We climb through rock-solid gneiss—not too difficult, but extremely exposed—to the highest point in Switzerland: the Dufourspitze (4,634 m).

The descent along the west ridge also demands our full concentration. On top of that, the unstable weather urges us to hurry, as severe thunderstorms are forecast starting at noon. But the timing is perfect: we reach the Monte Rosa Hut while the sun is still shining. Three hours later, as the first raindrops begin to fall, we’re already happily seated on the Gornergratbahn.

The bottom line: An absolutely fantastic and unforgettable tour!