Climb Monte Rosa (4554m)

We didn't make the summit :( Breaking into two groups of four, some of our group unfortunately started feeling ill and we didn't feel like we would make the top on the big day so we turned around 200 metres from the Margherita Hut that had been our target. While disappointing, Simone, our guide, was great throughout and rather took us on a few other peaks and interesting spots nearby. Regardless of missing the very final bit - which is always a risk on a trip like this - the scenery was sensational, and our group of travellers could hardly have been better. This is a real challenge and it seems to attract some very like-minded individuals. I would highly recommend this special trip, but please do make sure that you are fit enough and have the adequate experience to do this. However fit you may be, this might not be for you if you've not been near this altitude before. Also, a note on the kit-list: some things are optional; e. g. the sleeping bag liner is annoying piece of kit to pack, and you could easily use one in the hut if needed. Trip dates: 23 - 27 August 2025

if you're thinking of booking the Monte Rosa trip then please read this as it will give you a more grounded idea of what to expect. We met in Chamonix at the hotel the first night before leaving on a 4 hour drive to Gressoney in Italy the next day, we were not coming back to the same hotel as described so had no where to leave our luggage including my van. Not ideal. Our guide JJ was friendly and welcoming however spoke very little English, luckily we had a French speaker who could translate. The first day on the hill is not as described and the photos are misleading. We simply took 3 cable cars and hiked an hour to the Mantova hut then did a little bit of basic training, trying on crampons, tying figure of 8 knots, gear check etc on the refuge decking but nothing as described online. The biggest disappointment was 7 of us sleeping in a tiny single room with not even a bunkbed each, just a communal mattress with us all squeezed in next to each like sardines. One of the team actually went out and slept on the floor in the hallway. Absolutely no privacy and pretty tough on the girls in the group. Lots of other rooms had individual bunkbeds and considering the cost of the trip, it would have been nice to have at least a bed to ones self. Nobody slept more than 2/3 hours due to the body heat and constant tossing and turning. We woke up at 3am to leave at 4am, then effectively hiked in two roped groups to the Margherita hut and back again. No problem here, the guides JJ and Ricardo were both absolutely excellent, as was the ascent and views. Another sleepless night followed and only half the group repeated day 2 by rising at 3am and climbing to the Vincent Pyramid and another couple of 4000mt peaks. We then descended all the way back to the ski cable cars, had lunch in Gressoney and drove back 4hours through the Mont Blanc tunnel to Chamonix where we could relax with a a beer, a warm shower and a decent hotel room before leaving in the morning. To summarise, the guides, climbing and whole experience was amazing, however I think MBA would do well to reserve the rooms with bunkbeds especially for 6 climbers and a guide who do not know each other. A lack of sleep due to the cramped sleeping conditions is not great prep when heading out onto a high altitude glacier with huge crevasses and thin oxygen.

Excellent opportunity to get experience with mountaineering and high altitude climbs. Expect a long drive to Italy and tight sleeping quarters in the hut. Overall worth it, it's a magical place and you will build core memories on this trip.

Great group of people of all ages, supportive & friendly. Guides, JJ & Ricardo did a great job of keeping us safe, sharing their amazing knowledge of the area & mountaineering. These are true alpine summits, the guides will push the pace as needed, to allow you to summit & get down safely. Food & hut were better than expected, very good. Rating, it’s hard. A step up from Toubkal in winter. To have a reasonable chance of summiting, you’ll need to be “training”, capable of 1000m height gain with out difficulty, whilst carrying a load. Before booking, I’d suggest reading up on just what you’re taking on, to understand the demands & the reality of alpine climbing (early starts, equipment, altitude, risks). If you can get a few days at altitude beforehand, this will really help. We were blessed with good weather, not cold. This undoubtedly made life easier. If you’re booked, do check weather before travel & follow the kit list. It was a super trip.

Monte Rosa is stunning, we summited two peaks on the massif. Don’t underestimate how tough it is, the climbs up the glacier is steep, and the altitude makes it hard going.

Wonderful trip. Beautiful scenery, and a challenging ascent. Our guide, Oliver, was exceptional and led a small group expertly. This is a tough so be prepared, and absolutely worth every minute. Accommodation and all logistics were great.

An amazing trip and brilliant experience. I cannot fault our wonderful guide, Oliver, who was knowledgeable and looked after a group of mixed abilities, making sure that everyone had an incredible experience. This trip certainly is tough, and you need to be prepared for the challenge, but it is absolutely worth the effort!

Overall an excellent trip. Small group with an excellent guide. Respect the difficulty rating, it is physically tough especially at that altitude. Accommodation was very good.

Traveling solo allows to make hood bew friends and contacts. Loved the group, the environment and the organization.

Poor weather meant turning back on the first attempt to get to the margerita hut but the guides came up with a plan to allow us to try again the next day which was successful. Best trip I've been on.