Hiking the Haute Route

The Haute Route is the celebrated high-level hiking traverse across craggy mountain passes from Chamonix, France, to Zermatt, Switzerland. This route 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 below some of the most spectacular peaks in the Alps. Overnights are in small hotels, with two nights in hike-in lodges to feast our eyes on sunset panoramas of alpenglow on the high peaks.

Itinerary at a Glance

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Days 1-2
Chamonix, France / Mont Blanc

From Chamonix, a lively hub of alpine adventure, we take a warm-up hike for mountain panoramas that stretch from all the “needles” (spire-like peaks) of the Chamonix Valley to the Mer de Glace, a curving glacier more than four miles long.

Days 3-4
Argentiere, France / Champex, Switzerland

With the sound of cow bells jingling in the meadows, we ascend to the Col de Balme, a natural terrace at the head of the Chamonix Valley that marks the French-Swiss frontier. We enter Switzerland with a hike down through pine forests to the Col de la Forclaz. The next day, our trail leads alongside the edge of the magnificent Trient Glacier to the top of the rocky notch called the Fen?tre d’Arpette (8,750'), with a steep descent into the narrow, glacial Val d’Arpette for an overnight in lakeside Champex.

Days 5-6
Mont Fort / Prafleuri

We hike from Champex to Sembrancher through lovely hamlets, then head by cable car up toward the magnificently situated Mont Fort Refuge, a classic hikers’ lodge with great views of the Dents du Midi, Grandes Jorasses, and Grand Combin. This refuge has amazing views of the complete Mont Blanc Massif. The next day, we set out for a rugged cross-country hike in one of the most remote areas of the Alps. Following a little-used trail and crossing three alpine passes, we skirt the glaciers and lakes of the Mont Fort mountains and hike below beautiful Rosablanche (10,942'), perhaps catching a glimpse of ibex or chamois, with an overnight at the remote Prafleuri Refuge.

Days 7-8
Val d’Arolla

From Prafleuri, we hike up the short but steep Col des Roux, then descend to the still waters of Lac des Dix, near which is a labyrinth of marmot dens. We hike along the lakeshore before ascending the Col de Reidmatten (9,577'), which may provide us with a brief glimpse of the Matterhorn. We also have stunning vistas across the Arolla Valley to Pigne D’Arolla, Mont Collon, and Mont Blanc de Cheillon, with remarkable glaciers dominating our view. Our day ends with a descent to Arolla, a tiny village at the foot of several glaciers. The next day is free for optional hikes or a rest.

Days 9-10
Grimentz / Gruben

In the very traditional canton of Valais, we ascend flower-filled pastures to the Col de Torrent, with stunning views including the Moiry Glacier and Dent Blanche (14,290'). From the picture-postcard village of Grimentz, we have a choice of routes for hiking across the Meidpass and all of them have tremendous views of the mighty Schwartzhorn, Gletschorn, and Weisshorn peaks. Now in the German-speaking area of the Valais Canton, we descend to the remote hamlet of Gruben.

Days 11-13
St. Niklaus / Zermatt

A long and gradual climb to the Augstbordpass (9,495') lends us superb views eastward over the Mischabel Range—a 14,000-foot-high mountain range between Saas Fee and Zermatt. We descend on a contouring trail to the charming hamlet of Jungu, where a cable car takes us down to St. Niklaus. At St. Niklaus, we connect with the private cog railway to Zermatt, the most famous of all of Europe’s alpine centers, surrounded by glaciers and a dozen 13,000-foot peaks, most famously the crooked pyramid of the Matterhorn. Options on Day 12 include a hike to Hornli Hut, starting point for climbing the Matterhorn. Depart on Day 13.

For a more complete description, Download Full Trip Brochure

What the Trip is Like

The trip is rated 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. These are challenging hikes, so all participants must be in top physical condition. Of course, trip members are always free to skip a day's hike and travel to the next destination in the support vehicle.

Accommodations are in comfortable small hotels and inns, some with shared bath. A support vehicle will transport the group's luggage from day to day. We use many forms of transportation as we travel during the trip, so we ask that you restrict your luggage to one piece, plus your daypack/rucksack.

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, and a fresh t-shirt will suffice for most people).

We strongly urge you to “train up” for your trip. 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.

The hotels we stay in are rustic, well located for hikers, and continuously busy in the summer hiking season. Please note that 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). 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.

Explanation of Trip Levels