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Perfect for hikers who are short on time, this version of the Haute Route is a little shorter, but still hits all the highlights! This is achieved by taking short transfers, allowing you to focus on the best parts of the adventure. So, although your total walking will be shortened from 110 to 80 miles, you won’t be deprived of hiking past those iconic peaks and across the high-altitude mountain passes, nor the experiences of quaint towns and villages and rustic mountain huts.
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Your trip begins in the famous mountain town of Chamonix, found at the foot of Mont Blanc. You will meet your guide and fellow hikers at 6pm for a trip briefing, followed by dinner.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: 3* Hotel
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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: 13.5 km / 8.4 miles
Ascent: 1,200 m / 3,937 ft
Descent: 1,100 m / 3,609 ft
Walking time: 6-7 hours
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Hotel
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Start the day with a climb up the Bovine Trail, to the family-run Alpage de Bovine to enjoy refreshments and homemade cakes. Next, you’ll make a steep ascent with fantastic views of the Grand Combin, before entering the forest trail. After reaching the rustic café at Plan de l’Au, your group will have a short transfer to the remote village of Fionnay for a quick lunch stop. This marks the beginning of your journey into the mountains, with the next two days being the most rugged of the trip. You’ll now cross a challenging, yet spectacular trail to the Cabane de Louvie, your accommodation offering a breathtaking panorama across many of the 4,000-meter peaks in the Alps (+13,000 feet).
Distance: 18 km / 11 miles
Ascent: 1,250 m / 4,100 ft
Descent: 550 m / 1,804 ft
Walking time: 7-9 hours
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Mountain hut
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Begin today’s hike by following the shoreline of the Lac de Louvie. The trail will then lead your group up to a high path beneath the cliffs. There are a couple of places along this trail where you’ll have to be extra careful, and there is often a chain to hold on to. Afterward, tackle the Col de Louvie (2,921 m / 9,583 ft), before descending on to the edge of the Grand Désert glacier. The Col de Prafleuri (2,987 m / 9,800 ft) is your group’s next goal. After a short descent, arrive at the Cabane de Prafleuri (2,624 m / 8,609 ft), where you’ll spend another peaceful evening in the mountains.
Distance: 18 km / 11 miles
Ascent: 820 m / 2,690 ft
Descent: 550 m / 1,804 ft
Walking time: 7-9 hours
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Mountain hut
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Day 5 begins with a short climb with views of glaciers and Lac de Dix to reach the Col de Roux. Following the lake to its end, descend gently enjoying views of the Pigne d’Arolla and Mont Blanc de Cheilon. Next, you’ll cross the moraine of the Dix glacier, followed by a steep ascent to either the Col de Riedmatten or the ladders of ‘Pas de Chèvres’. The rest of the day is all downhill to the village of Arolla, nestled in its very own forest of Arolla pines. Here your group will take a well-earned break before taking a transfer to the delightful hotel in the small farming hamlet of La Sage.
Distance: 22 km / 13.7 miles
Ascent: 1,100 m / 3,609 ft
Descent: 1,360 m / 4,462 ft
Walking time: 8-9 hours
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Hotel
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Your hiking on day 6 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: 24.5 km / 15 miles
Ascent: 2,000 m / 6,562 ft
Descent: 1,850 m / 6,070 ft
Walking time: 8-9 hours
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Hotel
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Day 7 begins with a gentle ascent and crossing an alpine meadow, followed by traversing the mountainside on a fantastic balcony trail. 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: 1,315 m / 4,315 ft
Descent: 1,165 m / 3,822 ft
Walking time: 7-8 hours
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Hotel
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Set out through open woodland and into high pastures. Your final col on this trip is the Augstbordpass (2,894 m / 9,495 ft). Beyond the pass, you’ll descend into a bowl and follow a rocky trail that clings to the mountainside. Stop at the Twära viewpoint to admire a magnificent view into the Mattertal. Afterward, it’s a descent to the pretty hamlet of Jungu, followed by a final steep section to the town of St. Niklaus. There, you’ll have an option to take a cable-car ride down to St. Niklaus. From St. Niklaus, your group will take a short train or taxi ride to the iconic town of Zermatt, sprawling beneath the iconic peak of Matterhorn.
Distance: 16 km / 10 miles
Ascent: 1,070 m / 3,510 ft
Descent: 1,765 m / 5790 ft
Walking time: 7 hours
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: 3* Hotel
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Your Haute Route Highlights hiking 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
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What you get on this adventure:
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- An experienced, local hiking guide with extensive knowledge of the area
- Guided Walker’s Haute Route (9, 11, or 12-day tour, you choose)
- Accommodation based on double occupancy
- Meals as specified in the itinerary
- Luggage delivery (except on days where you will stay in mountain huts)
- Transfers during the adventure
What’s not included:
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- Flights and airport transfers
- Airport transfers — we recommend Mountain Drop-Offs
- Lunches, personal drinks and snacks
- Cable-car rides
- Travel insurance covering medical expenses, mountain rescue including helicopter evacuation, and cancellation
- Guide gratuities — optional
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These guided Walker’s Haute Route tours don’t require any technical skills, but they are generally recommended to those with a great level of fitness and an experience of multi-day hikes on mountain trails. You can expect 4,000-foot ascents on more challenging days and hiking between 10 and 15 miles for 7 hours on average for 7-10 consecutive days. The most difficult option is generally the Classic Haute Route since it features longer daily distance on average and involves 10 consecutive hiking days. Deluxe Haute Route features slightly shorter distance (on average) and includes a rest day. The least challenging option is the Haute Route Highlights trek, since it includes less hiking days.
Keep in mind that hiking can be made difficult because of changing weather. However, you will always have a guide by your side who will encourage you, keep you safe, and will be able to quickly notice if hiking gets too strenuous for you or somebody in your group and make any adjustments. You will also be able to take many breaks, including those that allow you to take in the views.
Due to some more exposed sections, the tour is not recommended for those with severe fear of heights.
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Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
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- Day pack large enough to carry all the items you will need during a day (around a 25-40L bag)
- Hiking poles — optional
- Water bottle or hydration bladder (2L capacity)
- Lightweight hiking boots or shoes
- Spare clothes for layering
- Waterproof rain jacket
- Waterproof pants
- Base layers (top and bottom)
- Mid layer—usually a fleece
- Hiking pants (shorts as well if you want)
- Sunhat
- Toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, bug spray, toilet paper, etc.)
- Headlamp or flashlight
- Sunglasses
- Camera — optional (but recommended)
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.
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Group sizes and prices:
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- For these guided Walker’s Haute Route tours, the maximum client-to-guide ratio is 10:1.
- It takes a minimum of 4 people for this tour to operate.
- The cost does not decrease as the group grows.
Guided Walker’s Haute Route tours can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements:
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- If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
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To get to Chamonix, the starting point of your guided Walker’s Haute Route, 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!
You will meet your guide in your accommodation in Chamonix on day 1 at 6 pm—the exact location will be given to you once your trip has been confirmed.
Your guided Walker’s Haute Route tour 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.
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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 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!
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