A challenging and stunning 10 day walking holiday from the Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn!
The Haute Route “high route” is a challenging but very beautiful hike in the Swiss and French Alps. The trek starts in Chamonix on the foot of the Alps highest peak, the Mont Blanc, and it finishes in Zermatt below the famous Matterhorn. You will climb several high mountain passes just below some stunning 4000 meter peaks. A diverse nature of glaciers, crystal clear mountain lakes, dark forests and beautiful alpine meadows is waiting for you! We spend our nights in authentic mountain huts high up or in traditional villages.
Accommodation along Haute Route
The traditional and simple mountain huts along the trek are a great experience! The refuges are located in unique spots in the mountains or in a traditional mountain village.
The accommodation is in dormitory rooms (shared bathrooms on the floor) and the guardians prepare delicious 3 course dinner as well as simple breakfast. We prepare delicious lunch packs (sandwiches, chocolate, cereal bars, fruits & nuts) for our guests.
Private rooms can be booked on request. It is possible to stay in cozy guest houses or hotels with en suite bath rooms most stages.
Walking the Haute Route
The legendary Haute Route from Chamonix to Zermatt. A must-do for each ambitioned hiker. Join us on a guided tour and cross the Alps from Chamonix to Zermatt within 10 days.
Our Haute Route avoids glaciers and sections where technical climbing skills are needed. To participate the Haute Route you should be physically fit and be able to walk at least 15 kilometers a day with 1500 vertical meters.
We tailored the Haute Route that you can complete the entire tour in 10 days using transfers as less as possible. We are flexible and we can walk different variations of the route matching the abilities and fitness level of our group members as close as possible.
You will see impressive glaciers, stunning mountain lakes, dark forests and traditional villages. Every day is a great adventure in the wonderful Alps!
Haute Route walking holiday itinerary
Day 1 – The Haute Route starts in Chamonix Centre. Ascending the Col de Balme we reach soon the borders of the nature reserve with the great peak of the Aiguilette des Possettes. On the top of this summit we will be rewarded by an amazing view on the Chamonix Valley and the Swiss Alps. As soon as we crossed the borders we walk to Trient where we spend a night in a real Gite d’Etape where your guides will indulge you with homemade food. We enjoy the evening before we prepare ourselves for the next day.
Day 2 – A challenging day out in the nature is waiting for us. We walk from Trient to the Fenêtre d’Arpette, a wild and untouched mountain pass which gives us the access to the Arpette Valley. We walk besides a beautiful landscape towards Champex-Lac where we stay overnight.
Day 3 – We wake up really early and take a transfer from Champex to Orsières where we catch a bus which brings us up to a tiny mountain village called Fionnay. From there we walk along a stunning path up to the Cabane de Louvie a real mountain hut next to the crystal clear Lake of Louvie.
Day 4 – Hut to hut how it must be! Leaving the Cabane de Louvie at sunrise we pass no less than two mountain passes the Col de Louvie and the Col the Prafleuri. The walk takes us through rugged alpine terrain. We will walk slightly down to the Cabane de Prafleuri another authentic mountain hut, where we stay overnight. During our hike we have good chances to spot animals like marmots or if we are lucky a few ibex.
Day 5 – After a cosy night in the Cabane the Prafleuri we start our hike to Arolla. Passing the massive dam of the Lac des Dix, we climb up the Col de Riedmatten in between the Val d’Hermence and the Val d’Arolla. We will be permanently surrounded of the Mont Blanc de Cheillon and the Pigne d’Arolla, two of the most famous climbing summits in this area. Once arrived in Arolla we will recover in a nice hotel and enjoy the traditional mountain village. Arolla is also the finish for those hikers which would like to do just the half of the Haute Route.
Day 6 – One of the most challenging days of the Haute Route is waiting for us. Starting the day easy, we take the bus from Arolla to La Sage. From La Sage we walk up to the Col de Torrent almost hitting 3000 meters of altitude. Descending to the Val de Moiry we will pass the Lac the Moury which invites us to a cold and fresh bath to tickle more energy out of us to complete the track towards Zinal. Once we arrived the Corne de Sorebois a stunning point of view which gives us a complete insight to the Val d’Anniviers and Val de Zinal, we take the gondola down to Zinal where we stay for the night.
Day 7 – After a huge day before, we take it easy and start from Zinal towards Anniviers passing several authentic mountain villages. After the short warm-up we go steep and walk up the Col de la Forcletta which allows us the access to the famous Turtmanntal. We enter in a fascinating panorama an can get some stunning views of the first 4000 meters peaks which are surrounding Zermatt and the Matterhorn Valley. Through untouched meadows and mountain farms we arrive in the early afternoon in Gruben where we stay for the night.
Day 8 – One of the most exciting days of the tour. We are reaching slightly the famous Mattertal which is the direct access to Zermatt and all the stunning 4000 meter peaks. Climbing up to the Augstbordpass we reach after a challenging day the traditional Swiss Alps village St. Niklaus where we sleep in a hotel.
Day 9 – We take the bus early in the morning from St. Niklaus to Gasenried. On a high altitude traverse we approach to the famous Europahütte. We have a great view to the Matterhorn Valley and the Matterhorn from distance during our whole challenging walk.
Day 10 – Our final trip leads us from the Europahütte to the tiny mountain village Zermatt. Traversing besides many high mountains we are approaching closer and closer to the Matterhorn.
Dates and Availability
June – September 2018 – 10 days/9 nights – € 1390.- per person for the guided option of this walking holiday
Private/double rooms can be booked from €425.- additional
Alternatively we could offer you a Self Guided hiking package (€ 450.- + effective cost for accommodation) matching your desired start date. Our self-guided package services contain the planning of:
- Reservations for an accommodation in every stage.
- All necessary maps, with trip descriptions for every day and alternative routes (GPS tracks available).
- A packing list of the most important stuff we recommend you to take.
- First aid kit with a sheet explaining the most important CPR and basic first aid skills.
- Organization of all logistics, such as public transportation, travel from and to the airport.
- Happy Tracks phone service if you need any help along your way.
- Many information about local food, culture, interesting sights, secret stories….
We will plan the whole trekking tailored to your personal wishes. We create a planning sheet which we will send to you for approval before we start to make the necessary arrangements. Once we have done the planning we will send you a digital version of the package in a PDF file so that you can already read about the tour. The hard copy of the self-guided package will be sent to you per post.
You can choose from the following options / extras in your package:
- Accommodation in mountain huts, guest houses, hostels in dormitories / shared bedrooms incl. breakfast and 3 course dinner.
- Accommodation in guest houses, hotels in private double rooms incl. breakfast and 3 course dinner. Please note: Not every private room has an en-suite bathroom. Sometimes there is even with a private room only a shared bathroom on the floor.
- Luggage transportation on all stages of the tour.
Please contact the holiday provider, through the contact form below, for more information.
