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Trip dates 20.-27. March 2025
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SeasonMarch-May
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Duration8 days
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DifficultyExperienced skiers, good fitness
Tour Overview
Urner Haute Route is the ultimate ski adventure aimed towards good skiers that like the steep and deep. Engelberg is located in the pre-alps mountain range in Switzerland (Voralpen) and is one of the better off-piste ski areas in Switzerland. The area is know for its vast amount of powder snow it gets every season.
With sustained accents, steep and long decent this tour is the perfect fit for powder hungry skiers that want to maximise down hill skiing on a ski traverse.
The tour starts in Engelberg one day of warm up off piste skiing in the Titlis ski area. We then head to Realp (close to Andermatt) where we will spend the next 5 days in the mountains making our way form Andermatt to Engelberg. One of the highlight of the tour are the traditional Swiss mountain huts with and the traditional Swiss cuisine. The route has a lot to offer where we cross over mountain passes, summit different peaks and cross glaciers.
This 8 day challenging and super fun trip is perfect for seasoned skiers who are in a good physical shape.
Detailed information
Below are further details about the tour. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Fitness level: Strong, comfortable to move 300-400m in elevation per hour over 8-12 hours.
Experience level: Competent, experienced in the discipline and confident about their skill level.
Participants have to be able to skin up and ski down up to 1500 vertical meters in a day and ski decents up to 40° in good conditions, moderate mountaineering skills (crampons and ice axe).
Group tour (4-6 participants)
From 395.000 kr. per person
For a private course please contact us.
Preparation meeting in Iceland:
Couple of weeks before departure, we will have a preparation meeting for the group. It is a great opportunity to ask any questions that might have come up, get good advice regarding equipment and get familiar with your travel buddies.
Day 1: Travelday
Travel day. The best way to get to Engelberg is on an international flight to Zurich airport. From there it is easy to take the train to Engelberg. In the evening we will go over the journey ahead, pack our backpacks and get to know each other.
Day 2: Off piste skiing in Engelberg
Engelberg is an off-piste ski paradise located in the central Switzerland. From the top of the ski area, Klein Titlis, we have 2000m vertical drop all the way to the town with most of the drop being off piste skiing.
We use this day to warm up for the upcoming traverse and refresh on our avalanche rescue skills.
We stay the night in a hotel in Engelberg.
Day 3: Engelberg – Albert Heim Hutte
After breakfast we transfer with a taxi to Realp close to Andermatt where our ski traverse begins. We head up the road towards Furka Pass, which is closed during winter. Once we arrive at Hotel Galenstock (1995m) we head north and make our way to the Albert Heim hut (2543) where we spend the night.
Ascent: 1000m
Decent: 0m
Day 4: Albert Heim hütte – Gasthaus Göscheneralp
After a good breakfast we start with a short ski down to Sunnig Berg and continue our journey north towards Winterlucke pass (2852m). From there we follow the airy ridge using crampons and ice axe to the summit of Lochberg (3079m). After enjoying the view at the top, we ski down the steep slopes towards Göschenenralpsee lake. A small road will take us down to Gasthaus Göscheneralp (1580m) where we spend the night.
Ascent: 800 m
Descent: 1700m m
Day 5: Gwüest – Voralphutte
After a good coffee we make an early start and ascend to the Schinstock (3161m). To reach the summit we will have to put the skis on our backpack, using crampons and ice axe. From Schinstock (3161m) we enjoy a beautiful descent to the Voralp-Hütte (2126m). The east facing slopes often hold the best snow of the tour!
Ascent: 1600 m
Descent: 1140 m
Day 6: Voralphutte – Hotel Steingletcher
A long glacier ascent over two small mountain passes brings us to the Sustenhorn (3503m), the highest summit of the tour. The classic Steingletscher descent winds between crevasses and seracs before reaching the Steingletscher Hotel (1865m).
Ascent: 1500 m
Descent: 1800 m
Day 7: Hotel Steingletcher – Engelberg
From Steingletscher we ascend up over the Fünffingerstöck (2993m) and, if conditions permit, a steep descent brings us to the Wenden Glacier. One last short skin brings us to Grassen Biwak (2647m), followed by a beautiful descent under the imposing walls of the Titlis to the Engelberg valley. At the end of the ski run we transit via taxi or bus (15min) to Engelberg where we stay for the night.
Ascent: 1550m
Descent: 2450m
Day 8: Travel day
Time to say goodbye to the big mountains in around Engelberg and head back home.
Participants need to have insurance for search & rescue in mountainous terrain. Rescue teams in Europe reserve the right to charge their clients for the full cost of rescue and the use of helicopters, when needed. We also recommend that participants have at least a standard personal travel insurance on all our tours.
Asgard Beyond reserves the right to change the program of the trip with regard to weather and conditions at any time. This will be done with the safety of guests in mind and to ensure the best possible experience on the trip. If the travel arrangements change significantly, extra cost may follow.
Ski Equipment
Technical Equipment
Clothing
For the Huts
Other items
What's included
- Preparation meeting with the guide prior departure in Iceland
- 3 nights in hotel in Engelberg
- 4 nights in mountain huts with breakfast and dinner
- Guide's expenses
- Icelandic IFMGA mountain guide
What's notincluded
- Airtravel to and from Iceland
- Dinner at the hotel
- Lunch and drinks in the huts and hotel
- Transfer to and from Zurich airport
- Ski ticket in Titlis
- Additional travels and/or accommodation incase itinerary changes significantly due to weather or conditions
- Travel and accident insurance
Do you have any questions?
Below are answers to some of the questions we get regarding the tour. If you do not find the answer do not hesitate to contact us
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I’m a vegetarian/vegan, can special diets be accommodated?
We will ensure that our guests with different dietary needs are looked after.
All huts can offer a vegetarian option but is is important that you let us know in advance so the hut keeper can plan for this.
Vegan option can be difficult to come around. Pleas get in touch with us and we can advice you on the possibilities. -
What are the huts like?
The huts are often very remote and sitting at high altitude, which means the comfort level is basic. They are clean and cozy and have everything you would wish for an overnight stay.
Most of the huts have a hostel style dormitories where people have their own small space in a bunk bed. The hut provides blankets and pillows so you don´t have to carry a sleeping bag. Most of the time it is possible to charge your phone/camera in the hut but they do not have stable electricity so it is good to bring a power bank to charge your devices.
The hut has a fully functioning kitchen and a bar where you can order lunch from a menu, coffee, cake or beer on tap. The quality of the water varies between huts and we recommend bottled water available for purchase at the hut.