150m
An introduction to the world of 4,000-metre peaks | Allalinhorn | High-altitude mountaineering course and practical tours with a mountain guide
Learn the craft of mountaineering on and around the 4000 metre peaks of Saas-Fee, between mighty glaciers and high alpine scenery.
Technics
Endurance
Allalinhorn, Valais
Have you always wanted to head into the high mountains, crossing vast glaciers to climb high peaks? The high-altitude mountaineering course around Saas Fee is the perfect introduction to the magnificent world of the 4,000-metre peaks. Over these three days, we’ll learn and experience how to undertake high-altitude tours and what to look out for. We’ll learn how to navigate glaciers and the techniques for tackling easy rock ridges. We’ll be with you every step of the way, offering empathetic and modern guidance as we teach you the craft of mountaineering. Thanks to the Saas Fee mountain railways, we can travel there in comfort. We’ll be staying at the beautiful and superbly run Britannia Hut, which offers a magnificent sunrise. Here, on the first day, we’ll have great opportunities to practise and consolidate our rock-climbing techniques. The next day, we’ll move on to ice training. We’ll learn how to walk with crampons and how to behave on a glacier during a short tour towards the Fluchthorn. A short path leads down from the hut to an impressive glacier, where we’ll be walking and putting what we’ve learnt into practice. On the final day, we’ll go on a lovely tour up the Allalinhorn, covering everything involved in high-altitude mountaineering. Here, we’ll be able to discuss the remaining topics and consolidate and revise what we’ve learnt. Thanks to the mountain railways, our descent will be shorter. After these few days, you’ll be ready for a variety of high-altitude tours and will already have a fantastic experience to look back on!
Procedure and course content
We’ll meet at the bus terminal in Saas Fee straight after arriving by bus. We’ll then walk together to the cable car and take it to the Felskinn station, from where we’ll hike up to the Britannia Hut. The hike to the hut takes about 1 hour.
Around the hut we start with the Rock training part 1 - Moving and belaying on rock.
Daily destination: Getting to know the basics of rock
Course content:
Rock training
- The most important knots
- Roping techniques and belaying
- Leading and walking on a short lead
- Abseiling
Materials and equipment
- Ropes
- Carabiner
Theory Meteo (evening)
- Which apps and tools do we use
Tour planning (evening)
- Tour planning Fluchthorn
Today we’ll be climbing across vast glacial landscapes towards the Fluchthorn. Along the way, we’ll put our initial skills into practice to ensure we move safely on snow and ice. The tour offers the ideal setting for our basic training in glacier and ice-climbing terrain. During the ascent, we’ll combine practical experience with training, so that you gradually gain confidence in alpine terrain. Depending on the conditions and the group’s needs, we’ll either climb to the summit, which offers stunning views, or spend more time on the glacier practising various techniques.
Daily destination: Ice training
Course content:
Walking with ice axe and crampons
- Crampon techniques
- Pimple brake
- Ascent and descent in snow and firn
Roping up on the glacier
- Distance
- Knots in the rope
- Behaviour on the glacier
Reflection and tour planning (in the evening)
- Clarify feedback and open expectations
- Tour planning for the next day
Today we’ll put everything we’ve learnt over the last few days into practice. If conditions are suitable for the group, we’ll ascend the Allalinhorn (4,027 m) via the Hohlaubgrat. The approach takes us across glaciers and firn fields to the start of the ridge. There, a varied ascent over snow and rock awaits us. Halfway along the ridge, we’ll tackle a short climbing section secured with chains – an exciting but perfectly manageable stretch. After this key section, the route continues to the impressive summit at over 4,000 metres. Alternatively, we can also ascend the Allalinhorn via the less demanding standard route. In this case, we’ll make the ascent easier by taking the Metro from Felskinn to Mittelallalin.
Daily destination: Putting everything we’ve learnt into practice, brief updates on topics that come up during the tour.
The descent is leisurely via the normal route (north flank) back to Mittelallalin. From there, the railway takes us comfortably back to Saas Fee.
We finish the tour in Saas Fee at around 3–4 pm. We then set off on our individual journeys home, with wonderful memories in our rucksacks.
Requirements
- No previous experience is necessary.
- Experience in hiking and walking in pathless terrain is an advantage.
- Condition for high altitude tours with around 1000hm ascent and descent at a comfortable pace (~300hm/h).
Price and services
- CHF 875.-
- Small group with 4 - 6 guests per mountain guide.
- Including accommodation costs with half board.
- Including planning and realisation with mountain guide and his travel expenses.
- Travel costs not included, any train tickets, any taxi fares, personal expenses.
Material and equipment
- For this tour you need the material from this PDF. We carry our equipment with us the whole time. Only pack the essentials.
- General material and packing tips we have also put together for you.
Bergschaft tours and courses are conducted in German as standard. However, our mountain guides speak good English, as do many of the participants. If you speak English, you are of course very welcome. Depending on the tour, it may be worth asking us in advance whether the guide and the group are comfortable speaking English.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us, preferably via the Contact form.
Accommodation
Britannia Hut SAC
Beautifully situated with a fantastic view of the sunset. The hut in typical stone building style impresses with its warm hospitality and loving service!
That's what our guests say:
Impressions: High tour course Allalin
This is how you learn the craft of alpine touring around Saas-Fee with us.
25–27 June 2027, Friday–Sunday, 3 days
Freie PlätzeCHF 875.-9–11 July 2027, Friday–Sunday, 3 days
Nur noch 4 freie Plätze, mit 2 weiteren Buchungen ist die Durchführung gesichert.CHF 875.-23–25 July 2027, Friday–Sunday, 3 days
Freie PlätzeCHF 875.-6–8 August 2027, Friday–Sunday, 3 days
Freie PlätzeCHF 875.-20–22 August 2027, Friday–Sunday, 3 days
Freie PlätzeCHF 875.-10–12 September 2027, Friday–Sunday, 3 days
Freie PlätzeCHF 875.-
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