Crossing the Haute Route is like wandering through a living postcard showcasing the best of the Alps. Enjoy the freedom of a self-guided tour between Chamonix and Zermatt—Mont Blanc and Matterhorn—a 110-mile odyssey revealing Europe’s iconic mountain landscapes. Picture this: you’re strolling past 10 of the region’s highest peaks, lofty glaciers are reflected in serene lakes, the crisp mountain air is infused with the vibrant perfume of wildflowers. Lush valleys cradle beneath towering cols, cows wander the meadows, while countless villages offer comfort and mouth-drooling delicacies. With meticulous planning, hand-picked accommodations, and reliable support, this expedition ensures a seamless and personalized experience that will leave you nostalgic for the Alps—as if you’ve belonged there all along.
Experience the best of the Alps across 110 miles between Chamonix and Zermatt
Hike past 10 of the highest Alpine peaks, including Mont Blanc and Matterhorn
Private experience at your own pace combined with meticulous planning, detailed maps, and reliable support
Embark on a 12-day Alpine odyssey between Chamonix and Zermatt. Get up close to the highest peaks, immerse in charming towns and villages, and savor superb hiking with panoramic views. Quality hotels, auberges, and rustic mountain huts await, most meals are included, while a fuss-free experience is a given due to detailed trip notes, maps, 24/7 support and an option to personalize the tour prior to departure.
Your trip begins in the famous mountain town of Chamonix, found at the foot of Mont Blanc. Settle into your accommodation, enjoy dinner and get some rest—the trek starts tomorrow.
Accommodation: Hotel
Your adventure starts with a beautiful train journey on the famous Mont Blanc Express. Start trekking in the hamlet of Montroc, and begin with a climb up the stunning Aiguillette des Posettes. Straying from the standard route, you will take a quiet and beautiful variant through the meadows of Les Tseppes and into Switzerland. You will stay for the night either in Trient or Col de la Forclaz—depending on accommodation availability.
Distance: 14 km / 8.7 miles
Ascent: 1,100 m / 3,610 ft
Descent: 1,100 m / 3,610 ft
Walking time: 7-8 hours
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Hotel
Start today’s hike with an easy stroll to the Chalet des Glaciers, a small café next to the impressive Trient glacier. Here, your group will begin a long and at times steep ascent through spectacular scenery up the high pass known as the Fenêtre d’Arpette, from which you can enjoy wonderful views of the Trient Plateau. What follows next is a steep descent through the Val d’Arpette to your accommodation in the resort town Champex, found by a gorgeous lake.
Distance: 16 km / 10 miles
Ascent: 1,411 m / 4,630 ft
Descent: 1,200 m / 3,937 ft
Walking time: 7 hours
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Hotel
Leaving the picturesque village of Champex, hike through the meadows and farmland to reach the little village of Sembrancher. From here, it’s a short walk to Le Châble, a traditional village en-route to the famous resort of Verbier. From Le Châble, you will take the cable car to Les Ruinettes, above Verbier. Afterward, head to the well-known Cabane du Mont Fort, where you can relish the fantastic views of the Mont Blanc massif and the Grand Combin.
Distance: 20 km / 12.4 miles
Ascent: 1,350 m / 4,430 ft
Descent: 1,300 m / 4,265 ft
Walking time: 8 hours
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Mountain hut
Day 5 is one of the most spectacular days of the trek as it involves crossing 3 cols with dramatic views throughout. After climbing the Col Termin, you will make another traverse and then climb to the Col de Louvie. From here, your group will make a steep descent at the edge of the Grand Désert glacier. Later, make your way up to the Col de Prafleuri (2,987 m / 9,800 ft), then descend to the Cabane de Prafleuri (2,642 m / 8,668 ft) for the evening.
Distance: 16.7 km / 10.4 miles
Ascent: 1,377 m / 4,517 ft
Descent: 1,170 m / 3,838 ft
Walking time: 8 hours
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Mountain hut
A short, steep climb greets you this morning as you summit the Col de Roux, overlooking the waters of the Lac de Dix. A gentle descent will then take your group to the shore of the lake, which you’ll follow to its end, in the shadow of Mont Blanc de Cheilon and the Pigne d’Arolla. Afterward, it’s a steep ascent to the base of the Col de Riedmatten, where you will either have the option of climbing up to the col or taking a more direct route up the Pas de Chèvres ladders. Your guide will decide which route to take, based on the weather and the group’s desires. Later, it’s downhill to Arolla, where you’ll stay for the night.
Distance: 16 km / 10 km
Ascent: 735 m / 2,411 ft
Descent: 1,360 m / 4,462 ft
Walking time: 6-7 hours
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Hotel
On day 7, you’ll approach the halfway point of the trek. Enjoy a leisurely walk through woodland to the Lac Bleu, one of the locals’ favorite spots to enjoy the natural wonders of the area. From here, there is an easy descent through a beautiful gorge to Les Haudères, where you will stop for lunch. After a final short climb, today’s hike finishes at the small farming hamlet of La Sage.
Distance: 11 km / 7 miles
Ascent: 215 m / 705 ft
Descent: 550 m / 1,805 ft
Walking time: 4-5 hours
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Hotel
Your hiking on day 8 starts with a long, but not-too-difficult ascent to the Col de Torrent (2,912 m / 9,554 ft). Afterward, descend to the turquoise Lac de Moiry, enjoying the views of the imposing peaks of the Pennine Alps. Reaching Col de Sorebois is a more difficult climb due to being shorter and steeper than the previous ascent. From here, you can take in the spectacular views of the Weisshorn, the Dent Blanche and the Zinalrothorn. After a steep downhill, you will have reached the hotel at Zinal, a welcome sight after the hardest day of the trek so far.
Distance: 21 km / 13 miles
Ascent: 2,000 m / 6,561 ft
Descent: 1,850 m / 6,070 ft
Walking time: 8-9 hours
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Hotel
Start today’s hike with a steep but pleasant ascent through larch forest, before a rising traverse takes you through alpine pastures to views across the Val d’Anniviers. Later, you’ll tackle the Forcletta pass (2,874 m / 9,430 ft). From there, you’ll be able to see into the Turtmanntal, entering the German-speaking part of Switzerland. During the descent, apart from the magnificent peaks, you’ll probably be able to spot the rare edelweiss, one of the symbols of Switzerland and of mountaineering. You’ll stay for the night in the tiny hamlet of Gruben.
Distance: 19 km / 12 miles
Ascent: 1,200 m / 3,937 ft
Descent: 1,165 m / 3,822 ft
Walking time: 7 hours
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Hotel
Start today’s trekking by walking through open woodland, then across high pastures, followed by rocky wilderness. The trek soon opens up to some of the most spectacular views in the Swiss Alps. The last pass you will cross during your Haute Route trek is the Augstbordpass (2,894 m / 9,495 ft), beyond which you will descend steeply to the viewpoint known as the Twära, offering views into the Mattertal. Later, it’s another descent to the hamlet of Jungu. From here you can walk or take a cable-car ride to Saint Niklaus, your base for the night.
Distance: 16 km / 10 miles
Ascent: 1,070 m / 3,510 ft
Descent: 1,765 m / 5,790 ft
Walking time: 7-8 hours
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Hotel
Today, you will have a choice between two different routes. The first one involves taking a short taxi journey to Randa and heading up to a high-level route to finish the Haute Route in style. You’ll cross the newly opened Charles Kuonen suspension bridge—the longest one in the world—and continue to Zermatt along the iconic Europaweg route. If the weather is bad, or if there is danger of rockfall, your group will take the alternative route through the valley floor. Celebrate your achievements with your group in Zermatt—your adventure finishes tomorrow.
Distance: 13 or 18 km / 8 or 11 miles
Ascent: 450 m / 1,476 ft via the valley floor, or 1,400 m / 4,593 ft via the Europaweg
Descent: 0 m / 0 ft via the valley floor or 1,000 m / 3,280 ft via the Europaweg
Walking time: 8-9 hours or 4-5 hours via the valley floor
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel
Your Haute Route trekking tour finishes after breakfast. Say goodbye to the Alpine wilderness and head back to the Geneva Airport. Alternatively, you can take the opportunity to stay on for some extra nights in this beautiful area close to the iconic Matterhorn.
Meals: Breakfast
What you get on this adventure:
What’s not included:
While ths self-guided Haute Route hiking tour does not necessitate any technical skills, it is highly advisable for participants to possess a considerable level of fitness and prior experience in engaging in multi-day hikes on mountain trails. The trek entails challenging aspects, including ascents exceeding 4,000 feet on certain days and an average daily hiking distance of 10 to 15 miles, spanning approximately 7 hours of continuous trekking, over the course of 10 consecutive days. Moreover, it is essential to be mindful of the potentially adverse effects of changing weather conditions, which can add to the difficulty of the hike.
For those opting not to arrange a daily luggage transfer, the trek will be notably more demanding due to the need to carry a large trekking backpack throughout the journey. However, regular breaks will be available, affording participants the opportunity to appreciate the breathtaking views and rejuvenate themselves. There will sometimes also be an option to shorten your hiking and take a gondola.
It is important to be aware that some sections of the trail are more exposed, making the tour unsuitable for individuals with a severe fear of heights. We suggest you adopt a training regiment in the weeks leading up to the trip, with long daily hikes in hilly terrain, as well as activities like jogging, swimming, playing squash, or circuit training. By adequately preparing both physically and mentally for this adventure, hikers can fully enjoy the challenges and rewards that this remarkable trek has to offer.
Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring for the self-guided Haute Route trekking trip:
Prepare appropriate clothing for various weather conditions to ensure comfort during your trip to the Alps. While the summer weather in the region is generally stable, anticipate occasional cooler and rainy days. It’s important to note that temperatures fluctuate significantly based on the elevation, so dressing in layers is advised.
Regarding your backpack, even if you have arranged for daily luggage transfers, it is advisable to bring both a larger backpack and a daypack. During a 3-day section of the trip, you will be staying in mountain huts, which necessitates having a larger backpack to accommodate your essential belongings. In case you have not arranged for luggage transfers, or have only arranged for a transfer from Chamonix to Zermatt, you will need a spacious trekking backpack that can hold all your necessities for the entire 10-day trek.
While the price of this self-guided Haute Route hiking tour does not include luggage transfers, they can be readily arranged for an additional fee. During the booking process, you’ll be presented with two options for luggage transfers. You may opt for a single transfer from Chamonix to Zermatt or daily transfers, (which include all nights except for the two which are spent at the mountain huts). Alternatively, you can choose to carry all your gear, clothing, and personal items in one large trekking backpack—a suitable choice for those seeking a trekking experience with less assistance.
Group sizes and prices:
Hiking the Haute Route can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements:
If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
A 30% non-refundable deposit to secure your place is due upon booking. The remaining amount is paid 10 weeks (70 days) prior to departure. Once the trip is confirmed by the guide, the cancellation policy stated below applies.
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 the airport transfer hassle-free? Check out Mountain Drop-Offs—they provide door-to-door service in their comfy and spacious shuttles. You’ll be given the location of your accommodation in Chamonix once the trip is confirmed.
Your Haute Route self-guided adventure will finish in a different location—Zermatt. There are many bus and train lines connecting the town to Geneva, which is 3.5 hours away.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both emergency medical and travel insurance. With medical insurance, if you have an accident or medical emergency on or off the mountain, you’ll avoid paying out of pocket for costly expenses. This covers everything from hospital treatments to emergency air transportation and more.
Travel insurance covers canceled flights, natural disasters and other scenarios that may interrupt your travel plans.
We also expect you to respect local regulations and take measures to protect yourselves, your guides, and the communities you’re traveling to. For more information on travel recommendations and restrictions in France and Switzerland please refer to the U.S. Bureau of Consular Affair travel information on France and Switzerland.
If you need assistance selecting the right insurance for your group, let us know and we will be happy to help!
