Included: An experienced, IFMGA-certified mountain guide with extensive knowledge of the area 7-day Haute Route ski traverse from Chamonix to Zermatt Accommodation for 5 nights in mountain huts and in Verbier 5 breakfasts, 6 lunches, and 4 dinners Lift tickets Transportation during the tour Pre-trip logistics and support Add-ons: Ski touring gear rental — leave a note at checkout if interested Not included: Transportation to Chamonix Airport transfers Accommodation before and after the tour Dinners in Verbier and Zermatt Alcohol, other drinks, and snacks Technical touring equipment Anything not mentioned in the “Included” section above Rescue insurance — mandatory for skiing in Switzerland Travel insurance — recommended, available to add at checkout Guide gratuities — optional

How fit do I need to be?

In order to join this Haute Route ski traverse, great fitness is required, as well as previous ski touring experience . The most you’ll ski in a day is 29 km (18 mi), with up to 1,400 m (4,593 ft) of elevation gain. You should be a confident skier on black runs, with at least 20 days of powder skiing under your belt. Expect 3–6 hours of uphill skinning every day for seven days in a row, carrying a loaded daypack. The steepest sections are similar to double-black terrain at a ski resort, and the Col des Ecandies includes a 200 m (656 ft) bootpack.

What if I’ve never backcountry skied before?

To participate in this tour, you need to have extensive previous backcountry skiing experience. You will be skiing, touring, and summiting on glaciated terrain for 5-7 hours every day. If you’ve never backcountry skied before, we suggest joining a guide for a day of touring in Chamonix and Mont Blanc .

What do I need to bring?

For technical backcountry ski touring gear, you will need to bring: Alpine touring skis, telemark skis or splitboard with skins (can be rented) Touring boots and poles (can be rented) Lightweight ice axe and ski-touring crampons Avalanche safety equipment (can be rented): Digital, 3-antenna avalanche transceiver or beacon Lightweight snow shovel Avalanche probe For personal items, we recommend bringing: Backpack large enough to carry all items listed (around a 30-40L backpack) Helmet Sunglasses or ski goggles Gloves and hat Wind and waterproof shell jacket with hood (Gore-Tex recommended) Wind and waterproof ski pants (Gore-Tex recommended) Lightweight, breathable jacket and pants Insulated jacket (synthetic insulated jacket) Balaclava or a neck warmer Synthetic or wool base layers, underwear and socks Hut clothing and shoes One triple-action locking carabiner or two conventional locking carabiners Repair kit and Leatherman for your equipment (can be shared between several people) Water bottle and 1L of water Small light quick dry towel Thermos with a warm beverage — optional Food you can eat on-the-go First aid kit Sunscreen Headtorch Camera — optional

Can I rent equipment?

All mandatory gear can be rented from one of the manifold rental shops in Chamonix. If you don’t have your own, you can rent: Avalanche safety pack, including backpack, beacon, shove, and probe Alpine touring or telemark skis, touring boots, and poles Splitboards Glacier gear and helmet Gear rental locations are in Chamonix and should be picked up the night prior to your outing. If you need to rent gear, let us know and we can help make arrangements.

Group sizes and age requirements

Group sizes: For this guided Haute Route Traverse, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 6:1. Backcountry skiing across the Haute Route Traverse can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements. Min. age requirements: If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.

Getting there and meeting location

To get to Chamonix, most people fly into Geneva International Airport (GVA) , one hour away. Once you arrive, there are several ways to reach your destination, including public transport. Looking to make airport transfers hassle-free? Check out Mountain Drop Offs —they provide door-to-door service in their comfy and spacious shuttles. Use the code 57HCHX to get a 5% discount! Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, your guide will suggest the best place to meet. Most likely it will be the Moö Bar on day 0 or Aiguille du Midi on day 1. The guide will choose the appropriate terrain dependent on conditions and the ability of the group.

Safety measures and insurance

We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with insurance. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, you’ll be offered to simply insure your trip with Redpoint at checkout. Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner—tailors protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations! Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.

2026 is sold out — book 2027, or find a last minute deal.

Backcountry Skiing across the Haute Route Traverse

CHAMONIX | FRANCE

Haute Route Ski Traverse: 7 Days from Chamonix to Zermatt

Name: Haute Route Backcountry Skiing - Guided Tour
Brand: 57hours
Availability: InStock
Rating: 5 (2 reviews)

7 days | Challenging | 5.00

From $3,300 ()

Book a call

Following the footsteps of pioneers, cross the French-Swiss border in the most epic way possible—by ski touring the world’s most renowned ski touring route. Set out on a 7-day Haute Route traverse, a journey through the heart of the Alps that skiers have been crossing off their bucket lists ever since 1911. With Chamonix-Mont-Blanc as your starting point, an alpine hut-to-hut venture takes you to the glacier paradise of Zermatt, lying at the foot of Matterhorn. Experience a daily change of surroundings as you make your way across steep passes and hidden valleys, or switch between mighty glaciers—and even mightier ski descents. This is ski touring at its best—dare to undertake this premiere alpine journey with an expert guide leading the way.

Adventure Highlights

The original high-level route: Ski the classic hut-to-hut traverse from Chamonix to Zermatt, first skied in 1911
Glaciers, cols, and summits: Cross the Alps’ wildest glacier terrain, top out on Pigne d’Arolla, and finish under the Matterhorn
IFMGA guide, everything sorted: Huts, lifts, transfers, and logistics are all taken care of, so you can focus on the skiing

Duration

7 days

Season

April

Group size

Up to 6 people

Accommodation

Standard: Mountain huts

The adventure, day by day

Download itineraries

Haute Route is the mother of all ski touring traverses. Threading its way through steep Alps, the route takes you from hut to hut—from Chamonix, the birthplace of modern alpinism and ski mountaineering, to Zermatt in Switzerland—in a matter of 7 days. Cross some of the world’s most spectacular mountain terrain, and explore high mountain passes and broken glaciers. Expect a perfect mix of big Alpine days fused with European comforts, including local cuisine and fresh après-ski scene!

Day 0: Preparations

Chamonix town with snowy mountains on the background. Chamonix-Mont-Blanc was the site of the first Winter Olympics in 1924 and it's one of the oldest ski resorts in France.

Arrive in Chamonix and settle in. In the evening, we’ll all meet up for drinks and a briefing on the week ahead, most likely at Moö Bar. If you can’t make it in time, we’ll meet the next morning at the Aiguille du Midi.

Day 1: Mer de Glace

We start with a classic lap on the Mer de Glace, France’s largest glacier. It’s an easy day to shake off the jet lag, check our gear, and get used to the skins before the traverse begins tomorrow. Bring your own lunch for the day.

Day 2: Grand Montets to Cabane du Trient

Skiers in Col du Passon. Taken from Altus Mountain Guides.

The traverse begins as we ride the Grand Montets lifts and ski down the Argentière glacier, right below the Aiguille du Chardonnet. From there, we climb either the Col du Chardonnet or the Col du Passon, depending on conditions. Both are a similar length and finish with a short, steep snow section. We spend the night at Cabane du Trient, one of the highest huts on the route at around 3,170 m (10,400 ft).

Meals: Lunch, dinner
Skiing: 10 km (6.2 mi)
Elevation: +1,100 m (+3,609 ft) / -1,600 m (-5,249 ft)
Accommodation: Cabane du Trient

Day 3: Cabane du Trient to Verbier

A skier in the Swiss ski resort of Verbier standing on top of a cliff above a sea of clouds, looking towards Mont Blanc and Chamonix.

Today we cross the Col des Ecandies, the most technical part of the trip, with a 200 m (656 ft) bootpack to the top. Then comes one of the best descents of the week, a long 1,600 m (5,249 ft) run down the Val d’Arpette to Champex. From there, a one-hour taxi ride takes us to Verbier, where we spend the night in town.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Skiing: 10 km (6.2 mi)
Elevation: +200 m (+656 ft) / -1,800 m (-5,906 ft)
Accommodation: Verbier

Day 4: Verbier to Refuge Prafleuri

Young skier downhill skiing at Zermatt ski resort with Matterhorn mountain in background, Valais canton, Switzerland, in winter morning. Taken by Sony a7R II, 42 Mpix.

We catch the first lifts up Mont Gelé, then skin over the Col de la Chaux and drop down to the Lac du Petit Mont Fort. A long climb takes us to the summit of Rosablanche at 3,336 m (10,945 ft), before we ski down to Refuge Prafleuri for the night.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Skiing: 11 km (6.8 mi)
Elevation: +1,200 m (+3,937 ft) / -1,550 m (-5,085 ft)
Accommodation: Refuge Prafleuri

Day 5: Refuge Prafleuri to Cabane des Dix

The off piste itinerary on the backside of Mont Fort in the Swiss ski resort of Verbier, the matterhorn and Zermatt in the distance.

An early climb up the Col des Roux leads to a long traverse above the turquoise Lac des Dix. We then skin up to Cabane des Dix, many people’s favorite hut on the route. In the afternoon, it’s up to you: head out for a few more runs, or stay in and enjoy a plate of rösti.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Skiing: 9 km (5.6 mi)
Elevation: +1,000 m (+3,281 ft) / -700 m (-2,297 ft)
Accommodation: Cabane des Dix

Day 6: Cabane des Dix to Cabane des Vignettes

Pigne d'Arolla. Location: Valais, Switzerland, Europe. Elevation: 12454 ft / 3796 m

Today we climb the Glacier de Tsena Réfien and cross the Passage de la Serpentine to the summit of Pigne d’Arolla. At 3,790 m (12,434 ft), it’s the highest point of the traverse. From the top, we ski down the Glacier de Pièce to Cabane des Vignettes, a hut perched right on the edge of a cliff.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Skiing: 9 km (5.6 mi)
Elevation: +1,000 m (+3,281 ft) / -750 m (-2,461 ft)
Accommodation: Cabane des Vignettes

Day 7: Cabane des Vignettes to Zermatt

The final day is also the biggest. We cross three cols and seven glaciers on the way to Zermatt, with the Matterhorn in view for most of the descent. Once we arrive, the traverse is complete. Your guides can help arrange transport back to Chamonix or ship your luggage.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Skiing: 29 km (18 mi)
Elevation: +1,400 m (+4,593 ft) / -3,200 m (-10,499 ft)

Meet Scout, your adventure agent

Tell it what you’re after. You’ll have a day-by-day trip in a minute, quoted by a certified local guide.

Let’s build your itinerary. What are you into?

Talk to Scout

Photo gallery

Adventure, packed to go

Haute Route Ski Traverse: 7 Days from Chamonix to Zermatt

Adventure Brochure

Adventure brochure

Download to share and explore full itineraries, key info, FAQs, and guide details.

Download now

What others say about this adventure

5.00 (2 reviews)

Adam Newsome

Excellent guide service. From the moment of booking to the end of the course, the staff and guides were helpful, enthusiastic, patient, and very knowledgeable. Highly recommended.

Dora Vanourek

Fantastic mountain guides whom I would come back to anytime. My experience with these guides has been on three different occasions: ice climbing, ski touring and mountaineering, and each time had an awesome adventure. Their guides are extremely knowledgeable, inspiring, thorough, and able to cater to individuals’ preferences and needs

Show all reviews

Things to know

Included:
- - An experienced, IFMGA-certified mountain guide with extensive knowledge of the area
  - 7-day Haute Route ski traverse from Chamonix to Zermatt
  - Accommodation for 5 nights in mountain huts and in Verbier
  - 5 breakfasts, 6 lunches, and 4 dinners
  - Lift tickets
  - Transportation during the tour
  - Pre-trip logistics and support
Add-ons:
- - Ski touring gear rental — leave a note at checkout if interested
Not included:
- - Transportation to Chamonix
  - Airport transfers
  - Accommodation before and after the tour
  - Dinners in Verbier and Zermatt
  - Alcohol, other drinks, and snacks
  - Technical touring equipment
  - Anything not mentioned in the “Included” section above
  - Rescue insurance — mandatory for skiing in Switzerland
  - Travel insurance — recommended, available to add at checkout
  - Guide gratuities — optional
In order to join this Haute Route ski traverse, great fitness is required, as well as previous ski touring experience. The most you’ll ski in a day is 29 km (18 mi), with up to 1,400 m (4,593 ft) of elevation gain.

You should be a confident skier on black runs, with at least 20 days of powder skiing under your belt. Expect 3–6 hours of uphill skinning every day for seven days in a row, carrying a loaded daypack. The steepest sections are similar to double-black terrain at a ski resort, and the Col des Ecandies includes a 200 m (656 ft) bootpack.
To participate in this tour, you need to have extensive previous backcountry skiing experience. You will be skiing, touring, and summiting on glaciated terrain for 5-7 hours every day. If you’ve never backcountry skied before, we suggest joining a guide for a day of touring in Chamonix and Mont Blanc.
For technical backcountry ski touring gear, you will need to bring:
- - Alpine touring skis, telemark skis or splitboard with skins (can be rented)
  - Touring boots and poles (can be rented)
  - Lightweight ice axe and ski-touring crampons
  - Avalanche safety equipment (can be rented):
    
    Digital, 3-antenna avalanche transceiver or beacon
    
    Lightweight snow shovel
    
    Avalanche probe
For personal items, we recommend bringing:
- - Backpack large enough to carry all items listed (around a 30-40L backpack)
  - Helmet
  - Sunglasses or ski goggles
  - Gloves and hat
  - Wind and waterproof shell jacket with hood (Gore-Tex recommended)
  - Wind and waterproof ski pants (Gore-Tex recommended)
  - Lightweight, breathable jacket and pants
  - Insulated jacket (synthetic insulated jacket)
  - Balaclava or a neck warmer
  - Synthetic or wool base layers, underwear and socks
  - Hut clothing and shoes
  - One triple-action locking carabiner or two conventional locking carabiners
  - Repair kit and Leatherman for your equipment (can be shared between several people)
  - Water bottle and 1L of water
  - Small light quick dry towel
  - Thermos with a warm beverage — optional
  - Food you can eat on-the-go
  - First aid kit
  - Sunscreen
  - Headtorch
  - Camera — optional
Got everything you need? Grab your gear through Active Junky and earn cash back on top outdoor brands — plus a $10 bonus on your first $25+ purchase. Shop now at Active Junky!
All mandatory gear can be rented from one of the manifold rental shops in Chamonix. If you don’t have your own, you can rent:
- - Avalanche safety pack, including backpack, beacon, shove, and probe
  - Alpine touring or telemark skis, touring boots, and poles
  - Splitboards
  - Glacier gear and helmet
Gear rental locations are in Chamonix and should be picked up the night prior to your outing. If you need to rent gear, let us know and we can help make arrangements.
Group sizes:
- - For this guided Haute Route Traverse, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 6:1.
Backcountry skiing across the Haute Route Traverse can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

Min. age requirements:
- - If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
To get to Chamonix, most people fly into Geneva International Airport (GVA), one hour away. Once you arrive, there are several ways to reach your destination, including public transport. Looking to make airport transfers hassle-free? Check out Mountain Drop Offs—they provide door-to-door service in their comfy and spacious shuttles. Use the code 57HCHX to get a 5% discount!

Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, your guide will suggest the best place to meet. Most likely it will be the Moö Bar on day 0 or Aiguille du Midi on day 1. The guide will choose the appropriate terrain dependent on conditions and the ability of the group.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with insurance. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, you’ll be offered to simply insure your trip with Redpoint at checkout.

Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner—tailors protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations! Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.
Secure your spot with a 30% deposit upon booking! The remaining 70% of the trip price must be paid 90 days prior to departure at the latest. If booking within 90 days of departure, the full amount is required at the time of booking.
- If canceled within 48 hours of booking, a full refund will be issued.
- If canceled 60 or more days before departure, a 70% refund of the total trip price will be issued.
- If canceled within 59 days of departure, no refund will be issued.
- Booking fees are non-refundable after a 48 hours grace period.

Have more questions?

Our team is here to answer your questions and plan with you.

Book a call

Book This Adventure for a Private Group

Book a fully private 57hours adventure for your group. We customize dates, group sizes, terrain, guides and accommodations — so your adventure fits your people and your goals.

Talk to an Adventure Planner