Hiking the Haute Route

No trail is more immersed in mountaineering lore than the Haute Route, the celebrated high-level hiking traverse skirting glaciers, tarns, meadows, and craggy mountain passes from Chamonix, France, to Zermatt, Switzerland. This is where the sport of mountaineering was born in the 19th century and just a glance at the 360-degree panorama explains why: 10 of the 12 highest peaks in the Alps, including Mont Blanc and the crooked spire of the Matterhorn, rise along this magnificent “high route.” Our spectacular hike crosses 11 glacier systems and 10 alpine passes, yet we never climb above 10,000 feet as we follow this famous trail in the company of some of the most stunning peaks in the Alps. Overnights are in small hotels, with two nights in hike-in lodges to savor sunset panoramas of alpenglow on the high peaks.

Itinerary at a Glance

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Days 1-3
Chamonix, France / Mont Blanc / Champex, Switzerland

A warm-up hike from Chamonix grants us views from all the “needles” of the Chamonix Valley to the Mer de Glace, a glacier more than four miles long. Crossing the Col de Balme, we enter Switzerland as we hike down through pine forests to the Col de la Forclaz. The next day’s hike leads along the edge of the huge Trient Glacier to the top of a rocky notch, the Fenêtre d’Arpette (8,750'), then steeply down to Champex.

Days 4-5
Cabane de Louvie / Prafleuri

After a downhill hike to the village of Fionnay, we set off on a steep trail to the Cabane de Louvie, a quintessential wooden chalet. The next day is our most challenging, yet is spectacular as we hike a remote trail below beautiful Rosablanche (10,942') and overnight at the Prafleuri Refuge.

Days 6-7
Val d’Arolla

After hiking up the steep Col des Roux, we descend to Lac des Dix and hike along its lakeshore before ascending the Col de Reidmatten (9,577'), with its stunning mountain-and-glacier vistas. Our day ends with a descent to Arolla, with the next day free for optional hikes or a rest.

Days 8-9
Grimentz / Gruben

In the traditional canton of Valais, we ascend flower-filled pastures to the Col de Torrent, with stunning views of the Dent Blanche (14,290'). From the pretty village of Grimentz, we hike across the Meidpass, with its tremendous views of icy peaks, then descend to the remote hamlet of Gruben.

Days 10-12
St. Niklaus / Zermatt

A climb to the Augstbordpass (9,495') lends us superb views of the Mischabel Range—a 14,000-foot-high mountain range between Saas Fee and Zermatt. We then head to Zermatt, surrounded by glaciers and a dozen 13,000-foot peaks, most famously the Matterhorn. Options on Day 11 include a hike to Hornli Hut, starting point for climbs of the Matterhorn. Depart on Day 12.

For a more complete description, Download Full Detailed Itinerary

What the Trip is Like

The trip is Level 5+, Strenuous. Good hiking experience is essential. Most hiking is between 6,000 and 8,000 feet, and the maximum elevation reached is 9,700 feet. There is a good bit of up-and-down during the 6-8 hours of daily hiking, with 3,000- to 4,000-foot elevation gain and loss per day. At lower elevations the trails are usually packed dirt, but at higher elevations they are often much rockier, with occasional sections of glacial snow, loose scree, and large boulders. On some days you will encounter sections of narrow trails with exposure. You will also occasionally need to use your hands to scramble over and between a jumble of boulders. Your experienced mountain guides are very safety conscious and are there to assist you if needed on the few tricky parts that you will come across on the trail.

You’ll carry just a daypack on most days, but on one three-day, two-night stretch, it is impossible for our support vehicle to reach our mountain refuges at night. For this period, you must carry in a daypack/rucksack the clothing and toiletries you need for those three days. There is no “group” gear to carry, and most medium-sized daypacks have enough room for extra belongings (a toothbrush, soap, small towel, and a fresh t-shirt will suffice for most people).

We strongly urge you to “train up” for your trip. These are challenging hikes, so you must be in top physical condition. (Of course, you are always free to skip a day’s hike and travel to the next destination in the support vehicle, which transports the group’s luggage from day to day.) The best training for hiking is hiking, especially over hills or rough terrain. Next best are running, swimming, bicycling or other sports exercise (stair-climbing machines are excellent preparation for hiking uphill). It’s important to take time to build up muscle and endurance prior to your trip. Try to incorporate exercise into your daily schedule at least a couple of months before departure. Your feet should also be well prepared—make sure your hiking boots are sturdy and thoroughly broken-in.
Altitude is not usually a problem for people on these trips. The itineraries are worked out to take you gently to higher altitude, giving you plenty of time to acclimatize. However, some people still find they get a few problems when they first reach high altitude. Slight headache and sleeplessness in the huts are the most common problems.

Accommodations are in comfortable small hotels and inns, well located for hikers, and continuously busy in the summer hiking season. Please note these are hikers’ hotels, not five-star resorts. The rooms are clean and comfortable, but are not always of uniform size or amenities. Our Trip Leaders try their best to assign rooms in a fair way so that all participants experience an equal advantage throughout the trip as a whole. In a few of the hotels, there are shared bathrooms (no private baths), and the huts also have dorm-style shared bedrooms. Single rooms are offered when possible, but those who pay the Single Supplement may have to share a room for up to four nights during the trip.

On most nights we have dinners at our hotels.  Please note that in Europe, the dinner hour is considerably later than what it is in the U.S. We do our best to secure early reservations for our groups, but most often the evening meal will be at 7:30 pm.

Explanation of Trip Levels