Block 1: Triglav + Großglockner (5 days)

Slovenia – Triglav

Day 1: Arrival in the Vrata ValleyThe first day is for travelling to Slovenia, where we'll meet in the late afternoon at the Aljaž Dom hut in the Vrata Valley. The hut can be reached directly by car via an unpaved gravel road. We check our equipment and have time to discuss our upcoming project.

Day 2: TriglavThe next day starts early and is a good long one right away: we climb through the scenically stunning Vrata Valley up to the Luknja Pass and follow the Bamberg Path, which repeatedly features via-ferrata-like sections, toward the summit of Triglav. From the highest point in Slovenia we descend via the via ferrata on the other side to the Kredarica hut, where we'll spend the night.

Total time: 6.5 h | ↑ 1,850 m | ↓ 350 m | Difficulty: B/C (via ferrata) 

⌂ Kredarica hut

Day 3: Descent and onward journeyThe next morning there's no rush. We head back down the long, steep Prager Path into the Vrata Valley and continue directly by car toward the next Seven Summit: the Großglockner, Austria's highest mountain. We spend the night in the valley at a hotel.

Total time: 3.5 h | ↓ 1,500 m | Difficulty: A/B (via ferrata)

Austria – Großglockner

Day 4: Erzherzog-Johann-HütteFrom the Lucknerhaus at the end of the Kalser Glockner Road, we head toward the Stüdlhütte and then continue on to today's destination: the Erzherzog-Johann-Hütte. It sits at an altitude of 3,454 metres, making it Austria's highest mountain hut.

Walking time: 5.5 h | ↑ 1,550 m 

⌂ Erzherzog-Johann-Hütte (3,454 m)

Day 5: GroßglocknerOnly a few hundred metres of elevation remain to the summit, but they lie almost entirely in demanding terrain. Still, we'll master this challenge together and reach the highest point in Austria by the early morning. Afterward we head back down into the valley, where we'll begin the journey home. Two of the Seven Summits of the Alps are done. Only five to go.

Total time: 6.5 h | ↑ 350 m | ↓ 1,900 m | Difficulty: WS+, UIAA II

Block 2: Zugspitze + Grauspitz + Dufourspitze (6 days)

Germany – Zugspitze

Day 1: ReintalangerhütteWe meet right at the Olympic Stadium in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and, after a quick equipment check, begin our ascent straight through the impressive Partnach Gorge. After a first rest stop, our route continues along the Partnach through beautiful scenery to the Reintalangerhütte, our destination for the day.

Walking time: 5 h | ↑ 650 m 

⌂ Reintalangerhütte

Day 2: ZugspitzeBreakfast at the Reintalangerhütte comes early, and then we set off toward the summit. The route passes the Knorrhütte and continues onto the steep, at times barren Zugspitzplatt. Then comes the most difficult section of this ascent, the South Face. A path secured in places with steel cables leads us to the summit of Germany's highest mountain. We take the descent easy, riding the cable car down, since we still have two more Seven Summits on the programme over the next few days. We spend the night at a hotel near Garmisch.

Total time: 5.5 h | ↑ 1,600 m | Difficulty: A/B (via ferrata)

Liechtenstein – Grauspitz (2 days)

Day 3: PfälzerhütteWe drive to the small state of Liechtenstein. Here awaits the Seven Summit with the lowest elevation. A short but steep ascent leads us up to the Pfälzerhütte, which sits in a wonderful location. It's our destination for the day.

Walking time: 4 h | ↑ 850 m 

⌂ Pfälzerhütte (2,108 m)

Day 4: GrauspitzSoon after leaving the hut, the previous day's wide trail gives way to faint traces over loose scree, bringing us onto the narrow summit ridge that leads, via the Schwarzhorn, to the highest point in Liechtenstein. Afterward we descend back into the valley and set off toward Zermatt. We spend the night in Herbriggen at the Hotel Bergfreund.

Total time: 7.5 h | ↑ 550 m | ↓ 1,400 m | Difficulty: UIAA I

Switzerland – Dufourspitze (2 days / 3 days)

Day 5: Monte Rosa HutAfter a lovely breakfast, we head straight to Zermatt. We take the Gornergrat Railway to the Rotenboden station. From there, a newly built panoramic trail leads us to the Monte Rosa Hut.

Total time: 4 h | ↑ 450 m | ↓ 400 m | Difficulty: L (high-altitude tour) 

⌂ Monte Rosa Hut

Day 6: DufourspitzeThe next day begins early with breakfast at the hut. Then, by the light of our headlamps, we set off toward the Rosa Glacier. Here we need to cross an exciting crevasse system. From the glacier we continue up to the Sattele saddle. There begins the final climbing section along the West Ridge to the highest point on Swiss soil. The descent follows the same route back down, passing the Monte Rosa Hut again to the Rotenboden station, from where the train carries us back down to the valley, tired but overjoyed. With that, five of the Seven Summits are complete.

Total time: 13 h | ↑ 2,200 m | ↓ 2,150 m | Difficulty: WS+, UIAA III

Block 3: Gran Paradiso + Mont Blanc (5 days)

Italy – Gran Paradiso (2 days)

Day 1: Rifugio Vittorio Emanuele IIWe meet at the large car park in Pont at the head of the Valsavarenche valley, or travel together to the Aosta Valley. After a quick equipment check, we begin the ascent to the Rifugio Vittorio Emanuele II.

Walking time: 2.5 h | ↑ 750 m 

⌂ Rifugio Vittorio Emanuele II

Day 2: Gran ParadisoAfter a hearty breakfast, we head toward the summit. The route to Italy's highest peak is technically straightforward except for the summit ridge. At the highest point, the snow-white Madonna statue awaits us. We return along the same route to the Rifugio Vittorio Emanuele II and continue on to Pont. We'll spend the night in the valley at a hotel.

Total time: 8 h | ↑ 1,350 m | ↓ 2,100 m | Difficulty: WS-, UIAA II

France – Mont Blanc (3 days)

Day 3: Goûter HutWe drive to Les Houches and take the cable car to Bellevue, then continue by the Mont Blanc Tramway to the final stop at Nid d'Aigle. From here we begin today's hike up to our stage destination: the Goûter Hut.

Total time: 5.5 h | ↑ 1,450 m | Difficulty: PD, I 

⌂ Goûter Hut

Day 4: Mont BlancEarly in the morning we set off from the hut. After the long climb, we finally stand atop Mont Blanc, the roof of the Alps. The descent that follows takes us back to the Goûter Hut, where we'll spend another night at nearly 4,000 metres.

Total time: 6.5 h | ↑ 1,000 m | ↓ 1,000 m | Difficulty: PD, I 

⌂ Goûter Hut

Day 5: Descent to the valleyRight after breakfast we set off again, in order to cross the Grand Couloir at a good time. The remaining descent follows the familiar route past the Tête Rousse Hut down to Nid d'Aigle, and from there the tramway and cable car carry us down into the valley.

Walking time: 4.5 h | ↓ 1,450 m