Haute Route E-MTB Trip: From Chamonix to Zermatt

Things to know

• What’s included?

  What you get on this adventure:

  • • An experienced MTB guide with extensive local knowledge of the area
    • Accommodation for 6 nights in hotels, chalets, and a private Alpine hut based on double occupancy (single rooms available for an additional fee)
    • All transportation during the adventure
    • Transportation from Zermatt to Chamonix after the adventure
    • Mechanical support during the adventure
    • Support vehicle (for unplanned transfers)
    • Luggage transfers
    • Half board (as indicated in the itinerary), picnics, and snacks

  E-MTB rentals are available for an added fee of $395.

  What’s not included:

  • • Transportation to and from Chamonix
    • Accommodation on day 0 and after the adventure (if applicable)
    • Any personal expenses
    • Spare parts
    • E-mountain bike rental (available for an additional fee)
    • Guide gratuities — optional
• How fit do I need to be?

  For this Haute Route guided e-MTB tour, you need to be in very good physical shape. You will need to be able to bike between four and six hours for 6 consecutive days, crossing up to 30 miles (50 km) each day. You should be an active person and exercise three days a week for at least 30 minutes. What is also necessary for this trip is that you have MTB experience and have some technical abilities (more on this can be found in the answer to the following question).

  If you’re looking for something that requires less experience and similar landscapes, check out this e-MTB tour in the Slovenian Alps.

  On the other hand, if you want to experience something more challenging, check out this Tour du Mont Blanc MTB adventure.

• What if I’ve never mountain biked before?

  For this Haute Route e-MTB guided adventure, you need to have at least two years of mountain biking experience. You should be able to go up and down on gentle singletrack trails and over rocks and tree roots. Controlling your bike on steep, flowing singletrack trails shouldn’t be a problem for you. During this adventure, you will ride on slightly exposed trails from time to time. You should also be able to determine when to stop riding and walk through a difficult section.

  Though riding an e-bike will help you tremendously, riding will get difficult and require some technical abilities. Keep in mind that you will always have a guide by your side who will observe your technique, motivate you, and make the riding less strenuous if it gets too difficult for you. If at some point you won’t be able to finish a section for that day, there will also be an option to get transferred to your accommodation.

• What do I need to bring?

  All essential MTB equipment will be provided by your guide if you rent their e-mountain bike. If you wish to bring your own bike, here’s what you’ll need:

  • • E-mountain bike
    • Bike-specific brake pads (x2 sets)
    • Everything you need for repairs if you use tubeless tyres
    • Tyre repair kit, inner tubes, and a small pump
    • Chain specific “quick link”
    • Additional derailleur hanger
    • Spare parts (if your bike contains unique parts)
    • Extra battery for the bike
    • The key for your e-bike
    • Battery charger

  Here’s the list of personal clothes/items you’ll need:

  • • Daypack with a waterproof cover (20L capacity)
    • MTB shoes (hiking shoes can also work)
    • Bike gloves and regular warm gloves
    • Cycling sunglasses
    • Knee and elbow pads — optional
    • Neck gaiter and a sun hat
    • Hydration system (Camelback ideal)
    • Biking shorts (at least 2 pairs)
    • Long-sleeved base layers (merino wool ideal)
    • Short- and long-sleeved biking tops
    • Waterproof jacket and warm down jacket for evenings
    • Sports socks (at least 4 pairs)
    • Swimsuit and towel
    • Casual clothes to wear when not cycling
    • Sunscreen
    • Toiletries bag

  Keep in mind that this Haute Route guided e-MTB tour occurs in the mountains, where the weather is unpredictable. Therefore, it’s important to have enough warm clothes and some waterproof layers—there’s no bad weather, only bad clothes!

• Group sizes and age requirements

  Group sizes and prices:

  • • The group size for this group tour is usually between 5 people with one guide.
    • It takes a minimum of 4 people for this tour to operate, while the maximum number of participants is 10.
    • The cost does not decrease as the group grows.

  E-Mountain biking along the Haute Route can be arranged for bigger groups. Contact us prior to booking.

  Min. age requirements:

  • • If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
    • Children as young as 14 are able to go on trips. That said, if you have a young rider in your group strong enough to handle sustained climbs (either riding or walking their bike) of hundreds of feet, and rough terrain, then they can participate.

  If your group has riders under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

• Deposits and cancellation policy

  A 50% deposit to secure your place is due upon booking. The remaining amount is paid sixty days (60 days) prior to departure. Once the trip is confirmed by the guide, the cancellation policy stated below applies.

  • • If Client cancels the Booking anytime prior to thirty (30) calendar days in advance of the trip contemplated by the booking, Client is entitled to a refund in the amount of fifty percent (50%) of the trip value.
    • For cancellations twenty-nine (29) to sixteen (16) calendar days in advance, Client is entitled to a refund in the amount of twenty-five percent (25%) of the trip value.
    • After that deadline, Client is not entitled to any refund. Any reimbursable expenses arising out of the Booking incurred by Guide prior to the date of cancellation (including but not limited to plane tickets, car rental payments, and lodging or transportation fees) are non-refundable as soon as they are incurred by the Guide.
• Getting there and meeting location

  To get to Chamonix, the starting point of the tour, most people fly into Geneva International Airport, which is about 2 hours away. From there, you can take a bus or a train ride.

  Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, your guide will suggest the best place to meet, usually somewhere in town in the morning. We suggest you arrive one day before the start of the e-MTB Haute Route guided trip and stay in Chamonix.

• Covid measures in France and Switzerland

  57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.

  We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, guides and the communities they’re traveling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in the Haute Route areas in France and Switzerland please refer to France Diplomacy’s advice for travelers and foreign nationals and Switzerland’s official COVID-19 travel guidelines.

  Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!