Guided Walker’s Haute Route: From Chamonix to Zermatt

Your trip begins in the famous mountain town of Chamonix, found at the foot of Mont Blanc. You will meet your Haute Route hiking guide and fellow hikers at 6pm for a trip briefing, followed by dinner.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: 3* 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, your group 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: Simple 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 Cheillon and the Pigne d’Arolla. Afterward, it’s a steep ascent to the base of the Col de Riedmatten, where your group 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 your group 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: 3* 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: Simple 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 your group 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, your group 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 and your guide 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 and dinner
Accommodation: 3* Hotel

Your Haute Route trekking tour finishes after breakfast. Say goodbye to your guide, fellow hikers, and the Alpine wilderness Alternatively, you can take the opportunity to stay on for some extra nights in this beautiful area close to the iconic Matterhorn.
Meals: Breakfast