Arrival Day 1 – Valais region, Switzerland
Rendezvous Sunday evening with a glass of champagne in hand and a detailed map of the coming journey. The history of this famous ski resort of Verbier is intertwined with the exceptional history of the Valais. A unique location, this chalet has a spectacular view over Verbier; everyone can feel at home in this wonderful setting. This is the beginning of a spectacular adventure through the Alps. We will study maps and receive a full briefing on our ski journey for the week before sampling the delicacies of the region this evening.
Day 2
This trip is based out of the famous ski resort of Verbier. We are perfectly positioned to explore the surrounding areas from one of the finest ski domains in the world. Today we will warm up with the wild terrain of the little skied valleys between the Mont Fort (3,300 meters) and the lesser know back country areas. Enjoy skirting around virgin forests and a famous frozen mountain lake.
Day 3
Taking off by helicopter on the border of France and Switzerland, we will land at 3,294 meters on the Glacier du Trient. From the head of this large glacier we are faced with the Mont Dolent in the distance. This mountain sits at the end of a famous mountain ridge, the Aiguilles Rouges du Dolent and is the only peak that boarders Switzerland, Italy and France. We will enjoy the white-fluted summit of Le Grand Combin shimmering in the haze before us. After lunch we will take off again for a flight followed by a short descent to a mountain cabin, a spectacular location to enjoy the sunset over the Alps and our evening in the mountains.
Day 4
Transfer to the Hospice of the Grand St Bernard, a monastery on the famous mountain pass that is located on the border between Switzerland and Italy. The pass has been guarded by monks since the 10th century, inhabiting the hospice near the top. This hospice is also famous for the dog bred, St Bernard, which were bred by the monks for protection and as rescue dogs. The St Bernard Pass is impassable to motor vehicles eight months of the year. We have the honor to be invited to sup with the monks before skiing down across the border into Italy.
Day 5
The following morning, after a warm-up ski, we fly to our first destination, over the familiar crowded slopes of Verbier. Setting down on a distant mountain top for a beautiful descent over a glacier and down a long valley, through a forest as our path leads us back towards Verbier. Lunch today is in a mountain hut renowned for its 'tartiflette' and other local delights and of course for its wonderful view of the valley below. This afternoon, we have laid on a private tasting of local wine, some of which you will get to know better over the coming days.
Day 6
The flight today is a rollercoaster ride over crevasses and seracs, along glaciers flying past some of the great sights past the mesmerizing giants of Mont Collon and the Dent d’Hérens (4,171 meters) on a part of the classic Haute Route, the chain of peaks from Chamonix to Zermatt, offering a spectacular view across the Alps. This point offers a panorama of Alpine giants before we begin our long 2000 meter descent to valley floor.
Day 7
On safari we transfer to an unspoilt side valley. Starting on the Plaine-Morte glacier at an altitude of 3,000 meters (9’843 feet), surrounded by the awesome mountain architecture of the Dom, the Zinalrothhorn, the Matterhorn and the Dent Blanche. We descend down a spectacular narrow valley and a pass through a short tunnel, which is part of the local hydroelectric system and normally closed in winter. This route allows us to access the slopes of a small family ski resort where a mountain cabin with a spectacular view looking towards Mont Blanc, gives us a spectacular location for a fireside lunch before an easy later afternoon descent to the valley. A short stop on the way home for what this region is also known for, its thermal baths is a perfect way to unwind at day's end.
Day 8
Depart Chalet