High Alps Traverse from Chamonix to Zermatt
Hiking the Haute Route
{"trip":{"TripID":10406,"Trip_Code":"HTESHORT","Trip_Name":"Hiking the Haute Route","TripYear":"2024","BrandName":"Wilderness Travel","BrandID":1,"Trip_Tag_Line":"see custom fields","Start_Location":"Chamonix, France","End_Location":"Zermatt, Switzerland","Number_Days":8,"Number_Nights":7,"DisplayOnWeb":true,"Book_On_Web":true,"Featured":false,"SpecialEvent":false,"BestSeller":false,"Short_Description":"<p>The celebrated Haute Route, a high-level hike from Chamonix, France, to Zermatt, Switzerland, is immersed in alpine lore. 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 most famous peaks in the Alps, including Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn, rise along this magnificent “high route.” With seven hiking days, our journey brings nonstop alpine vistas, amazing terrain, good food and drink, and a crossing of seven dramatic passes—including the Col de Torrent (9,567'), with its stunning views. Our team of expert Trip Leaders makes this a wonderfully fun mountain adventure with their local knowledge and passion for what they do.<\/p>","Long_Description":"<p><\/p>","ActivityHighlight":"7 hiking days on moderate to steep trails, 5-8 hours a day, altitudes between 6,000-9,600 feet, van support (for luggage or if you wish to skip a day's hike). This is a strenuous hiking trip, read “What the Trip is Like” for more details.","TripType":"Small Group Adventure","HeaderImage":"","HeaderImageAltTag":"","ThumbnailImage":"https:\/\/s3.us-west-1.wasabisys.com\/wildernesstravel\/trips\/thumb-hikers-haute-route-alps-trail-mountain-pass-snow-capped-peaks.jpg","MapImage":"https:\/\/s3.us-west-1.wasabisys.com\/wildernesstravel\/trips\/hteshort-map.jpg","MapImageAltTag":"","FloatingImage":"","VideoLink":"","GroupSize":"","tripURL":"www.wildernesstravel.com\/trip\/Switzerland\/hiking-haute-route-express-adventure","ThisYear_Year":"2023","ThisYear_PriceDetails":"<p>$5,295 (10-14 members)<br>$5,795 (4-9 members)<\/p>","ThisYear_PriceDetails2":"<p>Single supplement: $310<\/p>","Price":"5295","SingleSupplementPrice1":"0","SingleSupplementPrice2":"0","SingleSupplementPrice1Caption":"","SingleSupplementPrice2Caption":"","AirPrice":"0","AirPriceCaption":"","FeePrice1":"0","FeePrice2":"0","FeePrice3":"0","FeeName1":"","FeeName2":"","FeeName3":"","ShowNextYearsPrice":true,"NextYear_Year":"2024","NextYear_PriceDetails":"<p>$5,595 (10-14 members)<br>$5,995 (4-9 members)<\/p>","NextYear_PriceDetails2":"<p>Single supplement: $580<\/p>","PriceNextYear":"5595","SingleSupplementPrice1NextYear":"0","SingleSupplementPrice2NextYear":"0","NextYearSingleSupplementPrice1Caption":"","NextYearSingleSupplementPrice2Caption":"","NextYearAirPriceCaption":"","AirPriceNextYear":"0","NextYearFeePrice1":"0","NextYearFeePrice2":"0","NextYearFeePrice3":"0","NextYearFeeName1":"","NextYearFeeName2":"","NextYearFeeName3":"","TripSavings":false,"TripSavingsDescription":"<p><\/p>","VariablePricing":false,"PricingNoteTitle":"<p><\/p>","PricingNotes":"<p><\/p>","NewTrip":false,"MinAge":0,"TripRatingID":13,"TripRatingName":"5","TravelFromDate":"2022-01-01","TravelToDate":"2050-12-31","BookFromDate":"2022-01-01","BookToDate":"2050-12-31","EventID":21,"EventName":"","AccountingGroup":"Europe","DepositRule":2,"DepositAmt":"600","FinalDays":90,"AutoConfirm":false,"AutoConfirmAmount":"0","PrivateAvailable":true,"OperationMonths":"","AccmRating":""},"itinerary":[{"DayFrom":1,"DayTo":1,"Headline":"Chamonix \/ Col du Balme","ActivityOverview":"","EstimatedLength":"","ActivityLevel":"","ItinBlock":"Chamonix sits right at the foot of Mont Blanc (15,770'), the highest mountain in western Europe. A climbing and skiing center for over a hundred years and the mountaineering “capital” of Europe, Chamonix has a wonderful atmosphere and a well preserved Old Town with cobbled streets full of lively sidewalk cafes. From near the center of town, the famous Aiguille du Midi cable car whisks visitors to 12,000 feet for stunning views of the Mont Blanc range. (This is a must-do if you are arriving early!) After meeting early at the hotel in Chamonix for our trip orientation, we head out, driving past Argentiere, with superb views of Mont Blanc, the Aiguille Verte, and the Chamonix granite needles, to our trailhead to begin the Haute Route hike. Ascending through meadows where dairy cows graze, we hike up through woodlands to cross the Col de Balme (7,201'), which marks the French-Swiss frontier. With wonderful vistas of Mont Blanc along the way, we descend into Col de la Forclaz, located right on the mountain pass where the road leads west to France or east to Switzerland. We overnight at a hotel in the Trient\/Martigny region.\r\nHiking Details: 9 miles, 6-8 hours, 3,000 feet ascent, 3,050 feet descent\r\n\r\nThe Haute Route: The magnificent high traverse from Chamonix, France, to Zermatt, Switzerland, explores the terrain where alpinism and the sport of mountaineering were born in the 19th century. The original High Level Route was developed more than 100 years ago, primarily for ski-mountaineering expeditions. Over the years, another Haute Route evolved, a walking route that has become the quintessential walking experience across the European Alps—it ascends to nearly 10,000 feet yet requires no technical mountaineering skills, and rewards the hiker with some of the most spectacular high mountain views in the Alps. There are constantly changing panoramas of high peaks, alpine meadows alive with wildflowers, picturesque old farms, and beautiful lakes.","Breakfast":1,"Lunch":1,"Dinner":1,"Overnight":"","Travel_Type":"","Quotation":"","Quotation_Attribution":"","Itinerary_Location":"","Latitude":"","Longitude":"","Brief":false},{"DayFrom":2,"DayTo":2,"Headline":"Col de la Forclaz\/ Champex","ActivityOverview":"","EstimatedLength":"","ActivityLevel":"","ItinBlock":"From Col de la Forclaz (5,010'), a wonderful forested trail used by shepherds for centuries to bring their cattle to mountain pastures leads up the mountain and opens to an alpine meadow at 6,690 feet. We'll stop at a charming refuge and farm that's still in use today. From here, we'll descend through a forest and take in sweeping views of the Rhone Valley with the river slicing through valley pastures and villages and distant views of the peaks of the Bernese Oberland. The trail then descends steeply into the Swiss hamlets of Champex-d'en Haut and Champex d'en Bas. A five-minute drive brings us to Champex (or you can walk the additional distance). Overnight at a hotel at the charming lakeside resort of Champex (private rooms with attached bath).\r\nHiking Details: 8.5 miles, 5-6 hours, 1,700 feet ascent, 2,300 feet descent","Breakfast":1,"Lunch":1,"Dinner":1,"Overnight":"","Travel_Type":"","Quotation":"","Quotation_Attribution":"","Itinerary_Location":"","Latitude":"","Longitude":"","Brief":false},{"DayFrom":3,"DayTo":3,"Headline":"Grand Dixence","ActivityOverview":"","EstimatedLength":"","ActivityLevel":"","ItinBlock":"A drive of about 1.5 hours brings us to the Val d'Hérens and our hotel, located near the Grande Dixence Barrage (7,759'). This dam, one of the highest gravity dams in the world, blocks the waters of the Dixence River, forming the Lac des Dix reservoir. After dropping off our luggage, we'll set out on a loop hike that climbs to the top of the dam, then across rocky terrain that leads to the Cabane de Prafleuri (8,733'), a mountain refuge strategically located on the Haute Route and set in an isolated spot between Verbier and Arolla. Ibex and chamois are often seen near this remote refuge. After a lunch of traditional specialties, we climb the short but steep Col des Roux (9,197'), with its breathtaking views over many legendary alpine summits and glaciers of the Valais Alps. From the pass, we descend to the Lac des Dix and walk along the lakeshore to the top of the dam, then take the cable car down to our hotel. Overnight at hotel (private rooms with attached bath).\r\nHiking Details: 7 miles, 5-6 hours, 2,500 feet ascent, 2,200 feet loss","Breakfast":1,"Lunch":1,"Dinner":1,"Overnight":"","Travel_Type":"","Quotation":"","Quotation_Attribution":"","Itinerary_Location":"","Latitude":"","Longitude":"","Brief":false},{"DayFrom":4,"DayTo":4,"Headline":"Arolla","ActivityOverview":"","EstimatedLength":"","ActivityLevel":"","ItinBlock":"Starting right from our hotel, we hike to the top of the dam, then along the still waters of Lac des Dix near a labyrinth of marmot dens. From the head of the lake, we hike up rocky terrain to the Col de Riedmatten (9,577'), following alongside the Pigne d'Arolla Glacier. This pass is on the route of the famous ski-mountaineering race “La Patrouille des Glaciers.” At the pass we have stunning views across the Arolla Valley to Pigne D'Arolla, Mont Collon, and the massive west face of Mont Blanc de Cheilon, mountains with remarkable glaciers dominating our route. We may also get a peek at the Matterhorn. As an alternative, we may hike via the Pas de Chevres (9,368'), which has a ladder section, but is actually easier to negotiate than the loose scree of the trail over the Reidmatten. Descend to Arolla (6,581'), a tiny village in the Val d'Arolla at the foot of several glaciers. Overnight at our historic hotel, charmingly situated in its own forest of beautiful Arolla pines (private rooms with attached bath).\r\nHiking Details: 10 miles, 7-8 hours, 2,700 feet ascent, 3,000 feet descent","Breakfast":1,"Lunch":1,"Dinner":1,"Overnight":"","Travel_Type":"","Quotation":"","Quotation_Attribution":"","Itinerary_Location":"","Latitude":"","Longitude":"","Brief":false},{"DayFrom":5,"DayTo":5,"Headline":"Col du Torrent \/ Lac de Moiry \/ St. Luc","ActivityOverview":"","EstimatedLength":"","ActivityLevel":"","ItinBlock":"The drive to our trailhead brings us through a very traditional region of the Valais Canton, where some locals still wear traditional Valais dress while working in the hay meadows. From just above Villa, a steady ascent over grassy flower-filled pastures—a living working landscape, with magnificent views over the Val d' Hérens and the snow-capped mountains—brings us to the Col de Torrent (9,567'), which straddles the Val d'Anniviers and Val d'Hérens, a wonderfully wild area with stunning views over all the most impressive summits and glaciers in the Valais. It's a grand panorama, equal to almost anything seen so far, and includes one of the most outstanding vistas in the Alps, the Dent Blanche, the emblematic peak of the Val d'Hérens, towering at 14,295 feet. We picnic by the Lac des Autannes and descend to the Lac de Moiry for a shuttle to our wonderful hotel.\r\nHiking Details: 6 miles, 4-5 hours, 2,800 feet ascent, 2,200 feet descent\r\nDriving Time: 1.5 hours","Breakfast":1,"Lunch":1,"Dinner":1,"Overnight":"","Travel_Type":"","Quotation":"","Quotation_Attribution":"","Itinerary_Location":"","Latitude":"","Longitude":"","Brief":false},{"DayFrom":6,"DayTo":6,"Headline":"Meidpass \/ Gruben","ActivityOverview":"","EstimatedLength":"","ActivityLevel":"","ItinBlock":"From St. Luc we take a funicular to Tignousa (7,152') to start our ascent toward the Meidpass (9,154'). As we start our hike we'll come across a number of modern sculptures that make up a 3.5-mile-long sculpture park called the “Path of the Planets” (Le Sentier Planétaire), which has our solar system's planets represented in scale, size, and distance. It starts at Tignousa with the Sun, followed by Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. Jupiter and Saturn are nearby, and at Uranus we turn left away from the Sentier Planétaire to start our gradual ascent to the pass. From the summit, we enjoy impressive views of the Brunegghorn, Weisshorn, and even the distant massif of Mont Blanc. Crossing this pass we enter German-speaking Switzerland, and a long descent past the lovely alpine Meidsee Lake brings us to the remote hamlet of Gruben in the peaceful, unspoiled, Turtmanntal valley and our comfortable inn with a great beer garden and café (private rooms with shared baths).\r\nHiking Details: 7 miles, 4-5 hours, 2,050 gain, 3,200 loss","Breakfast":1,"Lunch":1,"Dinner":1,"Overnight":"","Travel_Type":"","Quotation":"","Quotation_Attribution":"","Itinerary_Location":"","Latitude":"","Longitude":"","Brief":false},{"DayFrom":7,"DayTo":7,"Headline":"Augstbordpass \/ St. Niklaus \/ Zermatt","ActivityOverview":"","EstimatedLength":"","ActivityLevel":"","ItinBlock":"A long but gradual ascent through spacious woodlands and over high pastures leads to the Augstbordpass (9,495'). We descend on a contouring trail across large stone slabs to a prominent viewpoint where the trail turns into the narrow green Mattertal valley, 3,300 feet below us. The Mischabel range, the Nadethorn, Lenzspitze, and the Dom are directly opposite, to the north are the Bernese Oberland peaks, while Monte Rosa, Castor, Pollux, Breithorn, and Klein Matterhorn crown the top of the Mattertal valley (we won't see the Matterhorn until we get to Zermatt). Descend to Jungu, a hamlet that resembles a toy village, and from here we take a small cable car down to St. Niklaus in the Mattertal valley and then head by local train to Zermatt, with its spectacular views of the Matterhorn. The most famous of all alpine centers, Zermatt is the terminus for the Haute Route from Chamonix. This unique mountain village, surrounded by glaciers and a dozen 13,000-foot peaks, is steeped in the lore of alpinism and dominated by the crooked pyramid of the Matterhorn. Automobiles are not allowed in this hiking and skiing town; access is only by train and on foot. We'll explore Zermatt's charming streets, then gather for a festive Farewell Dinner. Overnight at hotel.\r\nHiking Details: 8 miles, 6-7 hours, 3,500 ascent, 3,000 feet descent","Breakfast":1,"Lunch":1,"Dinner":1,"Overnight":"","Travel_Type":"","Quotation":"","Quotation_Attribution":"","Itinerary_Location":"","Latitude":"","Longitude":"","Brief":false},{"DayFrom":8,"DayTo":8,"Headline":"Zermatt \/ Depart","ActivityOverview":"","EstimatedLength":"","ActivityLevel":"","ItinBlock":"Our trip ends after breakfast in our Zermatt hotel. Trip members transfer to Geneva on their own by train, or depart for other destinations in Europe...B<div><br><\/div><div>We strongly suggest spending an extra day or two in Zermatt so you can hike around and see the Matterhorn up close. We\u00e2€\u2122d be happy to recommend some great local hikes.<br><\/div>","Breakfast":1,"Lunch":0,"Dinner":0,"Overnight":"","Travel_Type":"","Quotation":"","Quotation_Attribution":"","Itinerary_Location":"","Latitude":"","Longitude":"","Brief":false},{"DayFrom":1,"DayTo":4,"Headline":"Chamonix, France \/ Champex, Switzerland \/ Arolla Valley","ActivityOverview":"","EstimatedLength":"","ActivityLevel":"","ItinBlock":"Heading out of Chamonix, we ascend alpine meadows past grazing cows to the Col de Balme (7,201'), which marks the French-Swiss frontier. The Col de la Forclaz (5,010') brings sweeping views of the Rhône Valley, with a descent to the Swiss hamlet of Champex d'en Haut. Our trail over the Col des Roux (9,199') reveals the summits of the Valais Alps. Crossing the Pas des Chèvres, we'll have sweeping views across the Arolla Valley to Pigne d'Arolla and Mt. Collon, with remarkable glaciers framing our route.","Breakfast":0,"Lunch":0,"Dinner":0,"Overnight":"","Travel_Type":"","Quotation":"","Quotation_Attribution":"","Itinerary_Location":"","Latitude":"","Longitude":"","Brief":true},{"DayFrom":5,"DayTo":6,"Headline":"Valais Canton \/ Col de Torrent \/ Meidpass \/ Gruben","ActivityOverview":"","EstimatedLength":"","ActivityLevel":"","ItinBlock":"We enter the ancient Valais Canton, where some locals still wear traditional Valais dress while working in their fields. Crossing the Col de Torrent brings us to the Val d'Hérens, a wonderfully wild area with stunning views, including the towering limestone pyramid of the Dent Blanche (14,290'), the emblematic peak of the Val d'Hérens. Crossing the Meidpass (9,154'), we enter German-speaking Switzerland, with a long descent past lovely alpine Meidsee Lake to the remote hamlet of Gruben in the peaceful Turtmanntal Valley.","Breakfast":0,"Lunch":0,"Dinner":0,"Overnight":"","Travel_Type":"","Quotation":"","Quotation_Attribution":"","Itinerary_Location":"","Latitude":"","Longitude":"","Brief":true},{"DayFrom":7,"DayTo":8,"Headline":"Zermatt","ActivityOverview":"","EstimatedLength":"","ActivityLevel":"","ItinBlock":"After our climb to the top of Augstbordpass (9,495'), our final pass, we catch a cable car and local train to car-free Zermatt. Surrounded by 13,000-foot peaks, this classic alpine town is famed for its awe-inspiring views of the Matterhorn. Depart on Day 8.","Breakfast":0,"Lunch":0,"Dinner":0,"Overnight":"","Travel_Type":"","Quotation":"","Quotation_Attribution":"","Itinerary_Location":"","Latitude":"","Longitude":"","Brief":true}],"itinpdf":[{"ItinYear":"2023","docType":"1","FileName":"https:\/\/s3.us-west-1.wasabisys.com\/wildernesstravel\/portal\/hiking-the-haute-route-itinerary-2023.pdf"},{"ItinYear":"2024","docType":"1","FileName":"https:\/\/s3.us-west-1.wasabisys.com\/wildernesstravel\/portal\/hiking-the-haute-route-itinerary-2024.pdf"},{"ItinYear":"","docType":"2","FileName":"https:\/\/s3.us-west-1.wasabisys.com\/wildernesstravel\/itins\/hiking-the-haute-route-predeparture.pdf"}],"whattoexpect":[{}],"highlights":[{"DisplayOrder":1,"HighlightText":"","Description":"Experience one of the Europe's great long-distance hikes—done right!","Image":"","VideoLink":"","ImageAltTag":"","image_id":24982,"caption":""},{"DisplayOrder":2,"HighlightText":"","Description":"Hike to remote alpine hamlets and verdant meadows amid the highest peaks in the Alps","Image":"","VideoLink":"","ImageAltTag":"","image_id":24982,"caption":""},{"DisplayOrder":3,"HighlightText":"","Description":"Savor classic views of Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn, and other giants of the Alps","Image":"","VideoLink":"","ImageAltTag":"","image_id":24982,"caption":""},{"DisplayOrder":4,"HighlightText":"","Description":"Enjoy a team of Trip Leaders who bring camaraderie and fun to each hiking 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Room","VendorName":"Martigny Boutique Hotel","CustomFields":{"Custom_slug":"martigny-boutique-hotel","Custom_Location":"Martigny","Custom_Additional_Emails":"","Custom_Addtional_Address":"","Custom_Accommodation_Types":"","Custom_Capacity":"","Custom_Amenties":""}},{"VendorID":72916,"Day_Number":2,"Sequence":11,"Duration":1,"Description":"Standard Room","VendorName":"Au Club Alpin","CustomFields":{"Custom_slug":"au-club-alpin","Custom_Location":"Champex"}},{"VendorID":73071,"Day_Number":7,"Sequence":11,"Duration":1,"Description":"Standard Room","VendorName":"Hotel Sonne","CustomFields":{"Custom_slug":"hotel-sonne","Custom_Location":"Zermatt"}}],"inclusions":[{"DisplaySequence":1,"Type":"E","Description":"Travel to and from the arrival and departure location as indicated in Detailed Itinerary","Highlight":0,"AdditionalText":"","Category":"","ProductType":0,"ImagePath":"","ImageAltTag":""},{"DisplaySequence":2,"Type":"E","Description":"Additional hotel nights outside the trip's scheduled dates","Highlight":0,"AdditionalText":"","Category":"","ProductType":0,"ImagePath":"","ImageAltTag":""},{"DisplaySequence":3,"Type":"E","Description":"Optional gratuities to Trip Leaders or staff","Highlight":0,"AdditionalText":"","Category":"","ProductType":0,"ImagePath":"","ImageAltTag":""},{"DisplaySequence":4,"Type":"E","Description":"Optional travel insurance","Highlight":0,"AdditionalText":"","Category":"","ProductType":0,"ImagePath":"","ImageAltTag":""},{"DisplaySequence":5,"Type":"E","Description":"Other expenses of a personal nature (some alcoholic beverages, laundry, etc.)","Highlight":0,"AdditionalText":"","Category":"","ProductType":0,"ImagePath":"","ImageAltTag":""},{"DisplaySequence":1,"Type":"I","Description":"Expert leadership of at least two Wilderness Travel Trip Leaders","Highlight":0,"AdditionalText":"","Category":"","ProductType":0,"ImagePath":"","ImageAltTag":""},{"DisplaySequence":2,"Type":"I","Description":"Accommodations in hotels and mountain inns","Highlight":0,"AdditionalText":"","Category":"","ProductType":0,"ImagePath":"","ImageAltTag":""},{"DisplaySequence":3,"Type":"I","Description":"All meals","Highlight":0,"AdditionalText":"","Category":"","ProductType":0,"ImagePath":"","ImageAltTag":""},{"DisplaySequence":4,"Type":"I","Description":"A glass of wine or beer with dinner","Highlight":0,"AdditionalText":"","Category":"","ProductType":0,"ImagePath":"","ImageAltTag":""},{"DisplaySequence":5,"Type":"I","Description":"All ground transportation and baggage handling from meeting until departure","Highlight":0,"AdditionalText":"","Category":"","ProductType":0,"ImagePath":"","ImageAltTag":""},{"DisplaySequence":6,"Type":"I","Description":"All activities as indicated in Detailed Itinerary","Highlight":0,"AdditionalText":"","Category":"","ProductType":0,"ImagePath":"","ImageAltTag":""}],"destinations":[{"DestinationID":216,"Name":"Alps"},{"DestinationID":46,"Name":"Europe","Type":"Region"},{"DestinationID":74,"Name":"France","Type":"Country"},{"DestinationID":106,"Name":"Switzerland","Type":"Country"}],"activities":[{"ActivityID":225,"Name":"Hiking & Trekking","Primary":0}],"guides":[{"GuideID":850616,"First_Name":"Mike","Last_Name":"Browder","BioShort":"Mike Browder has worked in outdoor settings all his life, directing parks and recreation programs, coaching ski teams, and mountain climbing in North America and Asia, including a 2003 ascent of Mt. Everest. He joined our Europe team in 1999 and settled in the heart of the Alpine action in Chamonix, France, with his British wife, Gill, in 2001. Mike brings knowledge, professionalism, and genuine excitement to every trip, whether an alpine adventure, a voyage through glacier-carved fjords or a Mediterranean island ramble. “I want our trip members to appreciate the special nature of these areas, not only the mountains, but also the people and their way of life, which is changing in many ways,” he says. When not guiding for WT, Mike is a Nordic ski instructor and high mountain guide for mountain, rock, and ice climbing expeditions in Europe, Alaska, Asia, and beyond. ","BioLong":"Mike Browder has worked in outdoor settings all his life, directing parks and recreation programs, coaching ski teams, and mountain climbing in North America and Asia, including a 2003 ascent of Mt. Everest. He joined our Europe team in 1999 and settled in the heart of the Alpine action in Chamonix, France, with his British wife, Gill, in 2001. Mike brings knowledge, professionalism, and genuine excitement to every trip, whether an alpine adventure, a voyage through glacier-carved fjords or a Mediterranean island ramble. “I want our trip members to appreciate the special nature of these areas, not only the mountains, but also the people and their way of life, which is changing in many ways,” he says. When not guiding for WT, Mike is a Nordic ski instructor and high mountain guide for mountain, rock, and ice climbing expeditions in Europe, Alaska, Asia, and beyond. "},{"GuideID":851140,"First_Name":"Killian","Last_Name":"Buckley","BioShort":"Killian Buckley grew up in Killarney, Ireland. His parents, a harpist and a poet, instilled in him a great appreciation for the beautiful things in life, and once he found the mountains, it didn't take long for him to become addicted to the wild beauty he found there. He began hiking and climbing regularly, and what began as a hobby soon became a way of life that led him on extraordinary adventures, including climbing some of the Alps' famous north faces and an ascent, with fellow WT guide Naoise O Muiraheartaigh, of Yosemite's El Capitan. In 2021, on his birthday, Killian and his partner Maggie welcomed their first daughter Henia into the world. The three of them live in Chamonix, France. Currently, he is adjusting to fatherhood and figuring out how much risk he is willing to take in the high mountains, but still enormously passionate about sharing his love and knowledge of the Earth's wildest reaches.","BioLong":"Killian Buckley grew up in Killarney, Ireland. His parents, a harpist and a poet, instilled in him a great appreciation for the beautiful things in life, and once he found the mountains, it didn't take long for him to become addicted to the wild beauty he found there. He began hiking and climbing regularly, and what began as a hobby soon became a way of life that led him on extraordinary adventures, including climbing some of the Alps' famous north faces and an ascent, with fellow WT guide Naoise O Muiraheartaigh, of Yosemite's El Capitan. In 2021, on his birthday, Killian and his partner Maggie welcomed their first daughter Henia into the world. The three of them live in Chamonix, France. Currently, he is adjusting to fatherhood and figuring out how much risk he is willing to take in the high mountains, but still enormously passionate about sharing his love and knowledge of the Earth's wildest reaches."},{"GuideID":851192,"First_Name":"Peter","Last_Name":"Hallewell","BioShort":"Heather Florence was raised in the north of England and developed her love of the mountains early while on family hiking trips in North Wales and the Lake District. The lure of the mountains eventually led her to Chamonix, France, where she has lived for the last 10 years. When not leading trips, Heather travels around the world visiting the most spectacular places to go rock climbing. She's climbed El Capitan in Yosemite, the Totem pole in Tasmania, and desert towers in Jordan. Closer to home she has climbed many local mountains and is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in psychology. ","BioLong":"Heather Florence was raised in the north of England and developed her love of the mountains early while on family hiking trips in North Wales and the Lake District. The lure of the mountains eventually led her to Chamonix, France, where she has lived for the last 10 years. When not leading trips, Heather travels around the world visiting the most spectacular places to go rock climbing. She's climbed El Capitan in Yosemite, the Totem pole in Tasmania, and desert towers in Jordan. Closer to home she has climbed many local mountains and is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in psychology. "},{"GuideID":850776,"First_Name":"Marian","Last_Name":"Gibert","BioShort":"Marian Gibert was born in Bilbao, Spain, grew up in Venezuela, and later lived in Britain, where she studied Business Administration at Cambridge. She also lived and worked in a ski resort in the Swiss Alps, picking up the Swiss-German and French languages along with her fluent English. Her passion for outdoor sports led her to operate, at age 23, her own mountain hotel in a small village in the Alpujarras, where she guided horseback riding and mountain biking trips. \"My passion is to be outdoors sharing the traditions, culture, art and gastronomy of the areas we visit. One of my favorite trips is the Pilgrim's Way. Since I walked alone from the French Pyrenees to Santiago de Compostela, I got addicted to that trail and every chance I have, I walk a few stages.” After backpacking on six continents, Marian has settled in France. When not guiding, apart from exploring new hikes with her daughter and shepherd dogs, she is learning Euskara, the language of the Basque Country.","BioLong":"Marian Gibert was born in Bilbao, Spain, grew up in Venezuela, and later lived in Britain, where she studied Business Administration at Cambridge. She also lived and worked in a ski resort in the Swiss Alps, picking up the Swiss-German and French languages along with her fluent English. Her passion for outdoor sports led her to operate, at age 23, her own mountain hotel in a small village in the Alpujarras, where she guided horseback riding and mountain biking trips. \"My passion is to be outdoors sharing the traditions, culture, art and gastronomy of the areas we visit. One of my favorite trips is the Pilgrim's Way. Since I walked alone from the French Pyrenees to Santiago de Compostela, I got addicted to that trail and every chance I have, I walk a few stages.” After backpacking on six continents, Marian has settled in France. When not guiding, apart from exploring new hikes with her daughter and shepherd dogs, she is learning Euskara, the language of the Basque Country."},{"GuideID":851077,"First_Name":"Jonny","Last_Name":"Kaye","BioShort":"From the peaks of the French Alps to Italy's Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales in England, Jonny Kaye has crossed countless mountain ranges, guiding groups of intrepid hikers along the way with his wealth of experience as a mountaineer and his easygoing way. His climbing adventures have taken him from Scotland to the Caucasus Mountains and the Arctic. Originally from Yorkshire in England, he lives in France's Tarentaise Valley with his wife and two children. When not leading trips, Jonny enjoys time with his family, cycling and birding, and in winter, he runs a ski chalet near his home.","BioLong":"From the peaks of the French Alps to Italy's Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales in England, Jonny Kaye has crossed countless mountain ranges, guiding groups of intrepid hikers along the way with his wealth of experience as a mountaineer and his easygoing way. His climbing adventures have taken him from Scotland to the Caucasus Mountains and the Arctic. Originally from Yorkshire in England, he lives in France's Tarentaise Valley with his wife and two children. When not leading trips, Jonny enjoys time with his family, cycling and birding, and in winter, he runs a ski chalet near his home."},{"GuideID":851177,"First_Name":"Ryan","Last_Name":"Kost","BioShort":"Ryan Kost has worked, studied, and traveled in many countries and holds a Master's degree in Socio-Cultural Anthropology. He first traveled to Peru with his parents when he was 14 and fell in love with the natural beauty and deep cultural history of the Andes. He conducted his fieldwork in the Cusco region, has worked as an outdoor leader for the last six years, and calls Peru his second home. Ryan has extensive training in outdoor leadership education, high altitude medicine, Leave No Trace ethics, and mountaineering. He has led both our Cordillera Huayhuash and Cordillera Blanca treks, and currently lives in Colorado.","BioLong":"Ryan Kost has worked, studied, and traveled in many countries and holds a Master's degree in Socio-Cultural Anthropology. He first traveled to Peru with his parents when he was 14 and fell in love with the natural beauty and deep cultural history of the Andes. He conducted his fieldwork in the Cusco region, has worked as an outdoor leader for the last six years, and calls Peru his second home. Ryan has extensive training in outdoor leadership education, high altitude medicine, Leave No Trace ethics, and mountaineering. He has led both our Cordillera Huayhuash and Cordillera Blanca treks, and currently lives in Colorado."},{"GuideID":851288,"First_Name":"Tomas","Last_Name":"O'Donoghue","BioShort":"","BioLong":"Originally from Kerry, Ireland, Tomas O'Donaghue split his childhood between rugged Killarney National Park and the seaside town of Dingle, where his family would spend the summer in their caravan. His parents gave him a love of the outdoors, which inspired him to travel the world from a young age. He holds a degree in civil engineering and during his 20s, he mixed guiding with engineering. The outdoor life eventually prevailed and he moved from Ireland to the French mountaineering center of Chamonix to pursue his passions in the Alps. Today he lives in the quaint hamlet of Seroz, just 10 minutes from Chamonix. Tomas enjoys most outdoors sports, with the goal now shifting to spending quality time with friends rather than scaling the highest peaks."},{"GuideID":850821,"First_Name":"Clive","Last_Name":"Roberts","BioShort":"“My biggest passion in life is the mountains,” says Clive Roberts. “Climbing them, traveling through them, working in them, living in them.” One of his favorite journeys with WT is our Mont Blanc to the Mediterranean trip because of its constantly changing scenery and culture, from the snowy spires of the Chamonix Aiguilles to olive groves set along the Mediterranean. When he is not leading trips, Clive is in the ongoing process of renovating his cottage in the Mourne Mountains of County Down, Ireland, using traditional materials wherever possible.","BioLong":"“My biggest passion in life is the mountains,” says Clive Roberts. “Climbing them, traveling through them, working in them, living in them.” Since 1995, Clive has led groups on every continent, and often brings his guitar along on the hikes, for impromptu sing-alongs with guests. He holds Ireland's Mountaineering Instructors Certificate and was the former director of the Irish National Mountain Center. One of his favorite journeys with WT is our Mont Blanc to the Mediterranean trip because of its constantly changing scenery and culture, from the snowy spires of the Chamonix Aiguilles to olive groves set along the Mediterranean. When he is not leading trips, Clive is in the ongoing process of fully renovating his cottage in the Mourne Mountains of County Down, Ireland, using traditional materials wherever possible to preserve the Irish building. He also plays the banjo, but “it's a little heavy to carry around while hiking!”"},{"GuideID":851071,"First_Name":"Vicky","Last_Name":"Sotriffer","BioShort":"As an adventure-seeking traveler and Trip Leader, Vicky Sotriffer thrives in new places. She has led trips on nearly every continent for more than 10 years, including sea kayaking trips. Originally from South Tyrol, Italy, Vicky now resides in Ibiza, Spain, and is fluent in a handful of languages. She spends parts of her year in Oman, where she follows her passion for hiking in the country's striking desert environment and diving in the warm waters off the coast (and trying to improve her Arabic along the way). In her free time, she enjoys tennis, rock climbing, horseback riding, and in the winter, she heads to the Dolomites to ski.","BioLong":"As an adventure-seeking traveler and Trip Leader, Vicky Sotriffer thrives in new places. She has led trips on nearly every continent for more than 10 years, including sea kayaking trips. Originally from South Tyrol, Italy, Vicky now resides in Ibiza, Spain, and is fluent in a handful of languages. She spends parts of her year in Oman, where she follows her passion for hiking in the country's striking desert environment and diving in the warm waters off the coast (and trying to improve her Arabic along the way). In her free time, she enjoys tennis, rock climbing, horseback riding, and in the winter, she heads to the Dolomites to ski."},{"GuideID":850725,"First_Name":"Daniel","Last_Name":"Windham","BioShort":"Daniel Windham, born in Georgia's foothills, discovered his passion for the mountains at an early age while backpacking on the Appalachian Trail. After moving to northern Italy, becoming a mountain guide, and running a mountain hut with his Italian wife, he returned (via a couple of years in Costa Rica) to his roots, enjoying the outdoor life with his family. Having climbed and guided on some of the highest peaks in the Himalayas and the Americas (notably Mt. Rainier), Dan continues to guide on Aconcagua (Argentina) and for Wilderness Travel in the Alps. He is also an Appalachian Trail Ambassador, which involves regularly running an 89-mile stretch of the trail, as well as community involvement. His goal is to \"give back to the wilderness a little of what it has given me.” Dan speaks English, Spanish, and Italian, and continues his interests in wilderness medicine and cooking.","BioLong":"Daniel Windham, born in Georgia's foothills, discovered his passion for the mountains at an early age while backpacking on the Appalachian Trail. After moving to northern Italy, becoming a mountain guide, and running a mountain hut with his Italian wife, he returned (via a couple of years in Costa Rica) to his roots, enjoying the outdoor life with his family. Having climbed and guided on some of the highest peaks in the Himalayas and the Americas (notably Mt. Rainier), Dan continues to guide on Aconcagua (Argentina) and for Wilderness Travel in the Alps. He is also an Appalachian Trail Ambassador, which involves regularly running an 89-mile stretch of the trail, as well as community involvement. His goal is to \"give back to the wilderness a little of what it has given me.” Dan speaks English, Spanish, and Italian, and continues his interests in wilderness medicine and cooking."},{"GuideID":851082,"First_Name":"Mark","Last_Name":"Tennent","BioShort":"A native of Bath, England, Mark Tennent quickly learned his calling was in the mountains. He completed a specialist Outdoor Education degree at Bangor Normal College in North Wales, subsequently instructed at various outdoor centers in the UK, then graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and was commissioned into the British Army, which he left as a Captain. A recipient of several mountaineering and leadership certificates, Mark has worked in various parts of the world including Afghanistan, Macedonia, Kosovo, Kenya, Sudan, and India. Since 2005, he has lived in the Savoie department of the French Alps, near Albertville, where he shares his passion for the outdoors, French food, and the local culture. He's a member of the French Syndicat Interprofessionnel de la Montagne, bringing together mountain guides, climbing instructors, and mountain leaders. When not guiding, he can be found ski-mountaineering, rock climbing, and cycling.","BioLong":"A native of Bath, England, Mark Tennent quickly learned his calling was in the mountains. He completed a specialist Outdoor Education degree at Bangor Normal College in North Wales, subsequently instructed at various outdoor centers in the UK, then graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and was commissioned into the British Army, which he left as a Captain. A recipient of several mountaineering and leadership certificates, Mark has worked in various parts of the world including Afghanistan, Macedonia, Kosovo, Kenya, Sudan, and India. Since 2005, he has lived in the Savoie department of the French Alps, near Albertville, where he shares his passion for the outdoors, French food, and the local culture. He's a member of the French Syndicat Interprofessionnel de la Montagne, bringing together mountain guides, climbing instructors, and mountain leaders. When not guiding, he can be found ski-mountaineering, rock climbing, and cycling."},{"GuideID":850547,"First_Name":"Stewart","Last_Name":"Wheelhouse","BioShort":"Stewart Wheelhouse, a Welshman by birth, has spent the past 23 years leading adventures and expeditions throughout the world. He has traveled the length of Africa, written guidebooks on cycling through Europe, and led expeditions in Asia and Australia. A wonderful storyteller and traveling companion, Stewart spends his free time between trips exploring the backcountry trails of France and the Alps, and sailing the Mediterranean. When the northern hemisphere gets too cold, he migrates to Tasmania to lead our trips there and spends time sailing and fishing with his mates in the D`Entrecasteaux Channel.","BioLong":"Stewart Wheelhouse, a Welshman by birth, has spent the past two decades leading adventures and expeditions throughout the world. He has traveled the length of Africa, written guidebooks on cycling through Europe, and led expeditions in Asia and Australia. A wonderful storyteller and traveling companion, Stewart spends his free time between trips exploring the backcountry trails of France and the Alps, and sailing the Mediterranean. When the Northern Hemisphere gets too cold, he migrates to Tasmania to lead our trips there and enjoys sailing and fishing with his mates in the D`Entrecasteaux Channel."}],"guestreviews":[{"GuestNames":"Bob F.","GuestLocation":"Bethesda, MD","GuestReview":"Another great WT adventure! Great combination of demanding hikes, beautiful vistas, good food and drink, and great travel companions. We were fortunate to have three accomplished leaders, any of whom could have led the trip on their own."},{"GuestNames":"Dan B.","GuestLocation":"Tucson, AZ","GuestReview":"Couldn’t have asked for a better trip! Amazing terrain, great wildflowers and food, and great leaders and group"},{"GuestNames":"Helen M.","GuestLocation":"Short Hills, NJ","GuestReview":"It was the trip of a lifetime. I loved every moment of it!"},{"GuestNames":"Marisa V.","GuestLocation":"San Francisco, CA","GuestReview":"A wonderful trip. WT consistently impresses me with their level of service. Most importantly, the guides are superior to any other service I've used. You feel completely at ease and supported by their level of professionalism."},{"GuestNames":"Mark J.","GuestLocation":"New York, NY","GuestReview":"All the logistics for the trip were seamless. The scenery along the hiking routes was spectacular, the guides were terrific, and the overall experience was great!"},{"GuestNames":"Richard L.","GuestLocation":"Berkeley, CA","GuestReview":"A wonderful route with terrific hiking every day, and a perfect level of difficulty. We particularly loved our exceptional, supportive guides."},{"GuestNames":"Rita S.","GuestLocation":"St. Simons Island, GA","GuestReview":"The trip was fantastic in every way. I would not change a thing."}],"Extensions":[{}],"SimilarTrips":[{"TripID":10406,"SimilarTripID":10311,"Trip_Code":"DOLOCORT","Trip_Name":"Hiking in the Cortina Dolomites"},{"TripID":10406,"SimilarTripID":10656,"Trip_Code":"BLANCMED","Trip_Name":"Mont Blanc to the Mediterranean"},{"TripID":10406,"SimilarTripID":10341,"Trip_Code":"TMB","Trip_Name":"Tour du Mont Blanc"},{"TripID":10406,"SimilarTripID":10314,"Trip_Code":"HAUTERTE","Trip_Name":"Ultimate Haute Route"}],"Specialists":[{}],"TripSegments":[{"VendorID":73472,"ProductID":84796,"SelectType":"Optional","ChoiceGroup":0,"ProductType":"Extra Hotel Night","Vendor":"Park Hotel Suisse & Spa","Address1":"","Address2":"","City":"Chamonix","State":"","Postal":"","Product":"Pre-Trip Extra Services: Park Hotel Suisse (DATES, 1 night)","Day":0,"Sequence":10,"Duration":1,"PropertyDescription":"","ItinBlock":"","VendorPhoto":"","ProductPhoto":"","OnRequest":"Option","Overhead":false,"BookingNotes":"","TicketSession":"","TicketTimeOfDay":"","TicketRound":"","TicketCategory":"","TicketDate":"","TicketLocation":"","NotTicketOnly":false,"Inactive":false},{"VendorID":71012,"ProductID":84797,"SelectType":"Optional","ChoiceGroup":0,"ProductType":"Extra Hotel Night","Vendor":"Grand Hotel des Alpes","Address1":"75, Rue du Dr Paccard","Address2":"","City":"Chamonix","State":"","Postal":"74400","Product":"Pre-Trip Extra Services: Grand Hotel des Alpes (DATES, 1 night)","Day":0,"Sequence":20,"Duration":1,"PropertyDescription":"<p>A truly wonderful hotel that WT groups have enjoyed for years, the elegant Grand Hotel des Alpes is right in the center of Chamonix, set back on a lovely plaza facing a pedestrians-only street. A historic property newly rebuilt from stem to stern, it is Italian-owned and run with superb taste and great service. The quiet garden terrace along the river is a great place for a drink in the evening or a breakfast buffet in the morning. There's also a pool, steam room, and Jacuzzi. Without a doubt, this is the best place to stay in Chamonix!<\/p>","ItinBlock":"","VendorPhoto":"https:\/\/s3.us-west-1.wasabisys.com\/wildernesstravel\/vendors\/10-grand-hotel-des-alpes-exterior-alps.jpg","ProductPhoto":"","OnRequest":"Option","Overhead":false,"BookingNotes":"","TicketSession":"","TicketTimeOfDay":"","TicketRound":"","TicketCategory":"","TicketDate":"","TicketLocation":"","NotTicketOnly":false,"Inactive":false},{"VendorID":73502,"ProductID":84913,"SelectType":"Operational","ChoiceGroup":0,"ProductType":"Transfer","Vendor":"Pleisure Transfers","Address1":"","Address2":"","City":"","State":"","Postal":"","Product":"Transfer","Day":1,"Sequence":0,"Duration":1,"PropertyDescription":"","ItinBlock":"","VendorPhoto":"","ProductPhoto":"","OnRequest":"Option","Overhead":false,"BookingNotes":"","TicketSession":"","TicketTimeOfDay":"","TicketRound":"","TicketCategory":"","TicketDate":"","TicketLocation":"","NotTicketOnly":false,"Inactive":false},{"VendorID":11,"ProductID":54,"SelectType":"Optional","ChoiceGroup":0,"ProductType":"Single Supplement","Vendor":"Wilderness Travel","Address1":"1102 Ninth Street","Address2":"","City":"Berkeley","State":"CA","Postal":"94710","Product":"Single Supplement","Day":1,"Sequence":2,"Duration":1,"PropertyDescription":"","ItinBlock":"<p><\/p>","VendorPhoto":"","ProductPhoto":"","OnRequest":"Option","Overhead":false,"BookingNotes":"","TicketSession":"","TicketTimeOfDay":"","TicketRound":"","TicketCategory":"","TicketDate":"","TicketLocation":"","NotTicketOnly":false,"Inactive":false},{"VendorID":73529,"ProductID":84935,"SelectType":"Mandatory","ChoiceGroup":0,"ProductType":"Accommodation","Vendor":"Hotel de la Poste Martigny","Address1":"Rue de la Poste 8","Address2":"","City":"Martigny","State":"","Postal":"","Product":"Standard Room","Day":1,"Sequence":10,"Duration":1,"PropertyDescription":"<p>This basic, unpretentious 34-room hotel is conveniently located in the center of town. Guest rooms are on the small size, but are clean and tidy, and the staff is friendly and welcoming.<\/p>","ItinBlock":"","VendorPhoto":"https:\/\/s3.us-west-1.wasabisys.com\/wildernesstravel\/vendors\/10-hotel-de-la-poste-room.jpg","ProductPhoto":"","OnRequest":"Option","Overhead":false,"BookingNotes":"","TicketSession":"","TicketTimeOfDay":"","TicketRound":"","TicketCategory":"","TicketDate":"","TicketLocation":"","NotTicketOnly":false,"Inactive":false},{"VendorID":72804,"ProductID":82632,"SelectType":"Operational","ChoiceGroup":0,"ProductType":"Accommodation","Vendor":"Martigny Boutique Hotel","Address1":"","Address2":"","City":"Martigny","State":"","Postal":"","Product":"Standard Room","Day":1,"Sequence":11,"Duration":1,"PropertyDescription":"<meta charset=\"utf-8\"\/><body><p>Situated in the small town of Martigny in the Lower Valais, this uniquely artistic hotel has 52 guest rooms and suites—each named after an artist and decorated with pieces from one of Switzerland's prestigious cultural foundations. The locally renowned restaurant serves regional specialties and Peruvian cuisine, available in the dining room or outside on the terrace. The hotel also has a good wine bar, and is part of an innovative project that gives employment to people with disabilities, adding to the friendly, welcoming atmosphere.<\/p><\/body>","ItinBlock":"","VendorPhoto":"https:\/\/s3.us-west-1.wasabisys.com\/wildernesstravel\/vendors\/10-martigny-boutique-hotel-standard-room.jpg","ProductPhoto":"","OnRequest":"Option","Overhead":false,"BookingNotes":"","TicketSession":"","TicketTimeOfDay":"","TicketRound":"","TicketCategory":"","TicketDate":"","TicketLocation":"","NotTicketOnly":false,"Inactive":false},{"VendorID":71017,"ProductID":80845,"SelectType":"Operational","ChoiceGroup":0,"ProductType":"Accommodation","Vendor":"Hotel du Col de la Forclaz","Address1":"Forclaz 2","Address2":"","City":"Trient","State":"","Postal":"1929","Product":"Standard Room","Day":1,"Sequence":12,"Duration":1,"PropertyDescription":"<meta charset=\"utf-8\"\/><body>Sitting right on the mountain pass where the road leads west to France or east to Switzerland, this is a mountain accommodation with simple rooms and shared toilets\/showers. The food is hearty and home-cooked and there's a nice patio where we can relax and enjoy the views. Depending on availability, trip members may have to share rooms on this night.<\/body>","ItinBlock":"","VendorPhoto":"https:\/\/s3.us-west-1.wasabisys.com\/wildernesstravel\/vendors\/1-hotel-du-col-de-la-forclaz-bedroom.jpg","ProductPhoto":"","OnRequest":"Option","Overhead":false,"BookingNotes":"","TicketSession":"","TicketTimeOfDay":"","TicketRound":"","TicketCategory":"","TicketDate":"","TicketLocation":"","NotTicketOnly":false,"Inactive":false},{"VendorID":73496,"ProductID":84895,"SelectType":"Optional","ChoiceGroup":0,"ProductType":"Transfer","Vendor":"Chamonix Valley Transfers","Address1":"44a Chemin du Lai","Address2":"","City":"Chamonix","State":"","Postal":"74400","Product":"Transfer","Day":1,"Sequence":15,"Duration":1,"PropertyDescription":"","ItinBlock":"","VendorPhoto":"","ProductPhoto":"","OnRequest":"Option","Overhead":false,"BookingNotes":"","TicketSession":"","TicketTimeOfDay":"","TicketRound":"","TicketCategory":"","TicketDate":"","TicketLocation":"","NotTicketOnly":false,"Inactive":false},{"VendorID":71016,"ProductID":80844,"SelectType":"Operational","ChoiceGroup":0,"ProductType":"Accommodation","Vendor":"Hotel du Glacier","Address1":"Route du Lac 54","Address2":"","City":"Champex-Lac","State":"","Postal":"1938","Product":"Standard Room","Day":2,"Sequence":10,"Duration":1,"PropertyDescription":"<meta charset=\"utf-8\"\/><body><p>The comfortable Hotel du Glacier sits on the main and only street of the pretty little village of Champex. The same lovely couple has owned it for many years and they also run the restaurant, which has great food and a relaxed atmosphere. The hotel is steps away from a picturesque mountain lake.<\/p><\/body>","ItinBlock":"","VendorPhoto":"https:\/\/s3.us-west-1.wasabisys.com\/wildernesstravel\/vendors\/1-hotel-du-glacier-bedroom.jpg","ProductPhoto":"","OnRequest":"Option","Overhead":false,"BookingNotes":"","TicketSession":"","TicketTimeOfDay":"","TicketRound":"","TicketCategory":"","TicketDate":"","TicketLocation":"","NotTicketOnly":false,"Inactive":false},{"VendorID":72916,"ProductID":82744,"SelectType":"Operational","ChoiceGroup":0,"ProductType":"Accommodation","Vendor":"Au Club Alpin","Address1":"","Address2":"","City":"Champex","State":"","Postal":"","Product":"Standard Room","Day":2,"Sequence":11,"Duration":1,"PropertyDescription":"<p>This pleasant lakeside lodge offers fantastic views from the guest rooms and puts us in a wonderful position to explore the surrounding area. Eight rooms are positioned in a way to provide lake views, and have en-suite bathrooms and a private patio. 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Built in 1896 and loaded with charm and character, it has been beautifully renovated with all the modern comforts. There's a great downstairs bar with a crackling fireplace, an ancient wood-paneled salon, antique skis on the wall, and a wonderful terrace garden in front for enjoying a beer and views of Mont-Collon, Pigne d'Arolla, and other peaks we've been viewing from the trail.<\/p>","ItinBlock":"","VendorPhoto":"https:\/\/s3.us-west-1.wasabisys.com\/wildernesstravel\/vendors\/1-grand-hotel-kurhaus-interior-salon.jpg","ProductPhoto":"","OnRequest":"Option","Overhead":false,"BookingNotes":"","TicketSession":"","TicketTimeOfDay":"","TicketRound":"","TicketCategory":"","TicketDate":"","TicketLocation":"","NotTicketOnly":false,"Inactive":false},{"VendorID":71297,"ProductID":81125,"SelectType":"Operational","ChoiceGroup":0,"ProductType":"Accommodation","Vendor":"Hotel Bella Tola","Address1":"","Address2":"","City":"St. Luc","State":"","Postal":"","Product":"Standard Room","Day":5,"Sequence":10,"Duration":1,"PropertyDescription":"<p>This family-run Belle Epoque hotel dating to 1859 is located near the village of St. Luc and offers the atmosphere of a country estate along with amazing mountain views. Guest rooms are beautifully appointed and there is a good restaurant with an outdoor terrace and cozy bar area. Its spa facilities include an indoor pool, sauna, steambath, and massage rooms. The hotel is a member of The Historic Hotels of Europe.<\/p>","ItinBlock":"","VendorPhoto":"https:\/\/s3.us-west-1.wasabisys.com\/wildernesstravel\/vendors\/1-hotel-bella-tola-bedroom.jpg","ProductPhoto":"","OnRequest":"Option","Overhead":false,"BookingNotes":"","TicketSession":"","TicketTimeOfDay":"","TicketRound":"","TicketCategory":"","TicketDate":"","TicketLocation":"","NotTicketOnly":false,"Inactive":false},{"VendorID":71185,"ProductID":81013,"SelectType":"Operational","ChoiceGroup":0,"ProductType":"Accommodation","Vendor":"Hotel Alpina","Address1":"","Address2":"","City":"Grimentz","State":"","Postal":"","Product":"Standard Room","Day":5,"Sequence":11,"Duration":1,"PropertyDescription":"<meta charset=\"utf-8\"\/><body>The Alpina is a modern chalet-style hotel with wonderful flower-box-filled balconies attached to all the guest rooms. The hotel blends in well with its surroundings on the edge of the historic part of Grimentz, an ancient and undiscovered Swiss hamlet of tiny cobbled streets and classic wooden chalets. The dining\/breakfast room has great mountain views.<\/body>","ItinBlock":"","VendorPhoto":"https:\/\/s3.us-west-1.wasabisys.com\/wildernesstravel\/vendors\/1-hotel-alpina-exterior_1.jpg","ProductPhoto":"","OnRequest":"Option","Overhead":false,"BookingNotes":"","TicketSession":"","TicketTimeOfDay":"","TicketRound":"","TicketCategory":"","TicketDate":"","TicketLocation":"","NotTicketOnly":false,"Inactive":false},{"VendorID":71184,"ProductID":81012,"SelectType":"Operational","ChoiceGroup":0,"ProductType":"Accommodation","Vendor":"Hotel Schwarzhorn","Address1":"","Address2":"","City":"Gruben","State":"","Postal":"","Product":"Standard Room","Day":6,"Sequence":10,"Duration":1,"PropertyDescription":"<p>In Gruben, a classic stop on the hikers' Haute Route, the stone-built Hotel Schwarzhorn is the only accommodation in this tiny mountain hamlet. Nestled in the remote Turtmanntal Valley, it has basic rooms with in-room sinks and shared toilets\/showers across the hall. We hike the Haute Route trail right to this hotel in the afternoon, and hike out the next morning, no van transfer required!<\/p>","ItinBlock":"","VendorPhoto":"https:\/\/s3.us-west-1.wasabisys.com\/wildernesstravel\/vendors\/1-hotel-schwarzhorn-exterior.jpg","ProductPhoto":"","OnRequest":"Option","Overhead":false,"BookingNotes":"","TicketSession":"","TicketTimeOfDay":"","TicketRound":"","TicketCategory":"","TicketDate":"","TicketLocation":"","NotTicketOnly":false,"Inactive":false},{"VendorID":71466,"ProductID":81294,"SelectType":"Operational","ChoiceGroup":0,"ProductType":"Accommodation","Vendor":"BEAUSiTE Zermatt","Address1":"Brunnmattgasse 9","Address2":"","City":"Zermatt","State":"","Postal":"3920","Product":"Standard Room","Day":7,"Sequence":10,"Duration":1,"PropertyDescription":"<p>We enjoy famous Swiss hospitality at this traditional century-old hotel, with its understated Old World elegance and wonderful views of the Matterhorn. Cozy guest rooms are modern, clean, and spacious. The large pool area has fantastic windows looking out to the Matterhorn, and there are also Jacuzzis, saunas, steam room, and massage treatments available. The hotel is just a 5-minute walk from the main shopping area.<\/p>","ItinBlock":"","VendorPhoto":"https:\/\/s3.us-west-1.wasabisys.com\/wildernesstravel\/vendors\/1-beau-site-zermatt-interior-dining.jpg","ProductPhoto":"","OnRequest":"Option","Overhead":false,"BookingNotes":"","TicketSession":"","TicketTimeOfDay":"","TicketRound":"","TicketCategory":"","TicketDate":"","TicketLocation":"","NotTicketOnly":false,"Inactive":false},{"VendorID":73071,"ProductID":82899,"SelectType":"Operational","ChoiceGroup":0,"ProductType":"Accommodation","Vendor":"Hotel Sonne","Address1":"Metzggasse 35","Address2":"","City":"Zermatt","State":"","Postal":"","Product":"Standard Room","Day":7,"Sequence":11,"Duration":1,"PropertyDescription":"<p>This family-owned and operated hotel has been welcoming guests for three generations. Quiet and centrally located, it's an ideal place to relax after hiking in the mountains all day. Guest rooms are cozy and comfortable, and amenities include a spa with sauna, swimming pool, steam baths and an outdoor Jacuzzi in a scenic setting—just the ticket for pampering those weary muscles!<\/p>","ItinBlock":"","VendorPhoto":"https:\/\/s3.us-west-1.wasabisys.com\/wildernesstravel\/vendors\/1-hotel-sonne-switzerland-zermatt-garden.jpg","ProductPhoto":"","OnRequest":"Option","Overhead":false,"BookingNotes":"","TicketSession":"","TicketTimeOfDay":"","TicketRound":"","TicketCategory":"","TicketDate":"","TicketLocation":"","NotTicketOnly":false,"Inactive":false},{"VendorID":70990,"ProductID":80818,"SelectType":"Operational","ChoiceGroup":0,"ProductType":"Accommodation","Vendor":"Hotel Alpenblick","Address1":"","Address2":"","City":"Zermatt","State":"","Postal":"","Product":"Standard Room","Day":7,"Sequence":12,"Duration":1,"PropertyDescription":"<meta charset=\"utf-8\"\/><body><p>A small, comfortable, modern hotel, the Alpenblick has a peaceful and quiet location about a five-minute walk down to Zermatt's main street. 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The place is family-run and offers us a warm welcome, spacious rooms, and a good restaurant with Swiss specialties.<\/p><\/body>","ItinBlock":"","VendorPhoto":"https:\/\/s3.us-west-1.wasabisys.com\/wildernesstravel\/vendors\/10-hotel-alpenblick-exterior.jpg","ProductPhoto":"","OnRequest":"Option","Overhead":false,"BookingNotes":"","TicketSession":"","TicketTimeOfDay":"","TicketRound":"","TicketCategory":"","TicketDate":"","TicketLocation":"","NotTicketOnly":false,"Inactive":false},{"VendorID":70990,"ProductID":85056,"SelectType":"Optional","ChoiceGroup":0,"ProductType":"Extra Hotel Night","Vendor":"Hotel Alpenblick","Address1":"","Address2":"","City":"Zermatt","State":"","Postal":"","Product":"Post-Trip Extra Services: Hotel Alpenblick (DATES, 1 night)","Day":8,"Sequence":0,"Duration":1,"PropertyDescription":"<meta charset=\"utf-8\"\/><body><p>A small, comfortable, modern hotel, the Alpenblick has a peaceful and quiet location about a five-minute walk down to Zermatt's main street. It's also close to the aerial cable car to the Klein Matterhorn. The place is family-run and offers us a warm welcome, spacious rooms, and a good restaurant with Swiss specialties.<\/p><\/body>","ItinBlock":"","VendorPhoto":"https:\/\/s3.us-west-1.wasabisys.com\/wildernesstravel\/vendors\/10-hotel-alpenblick-exterior.jpg","ProductPhoto":"","OnRequest":"Option","Overhead":false,"BookingNotes":"","TicketSession":"","TicketTimeOfDay":"","TicketRound":"","TicketCategory":"","TicketDate":"","TicketLocation":"","NotTicketOnly":false,"Inactive":false},{"VendorID":71466,"ProductID":84798,"SelectType":"Optional","ChoiceGroup":0,"ProductType":"Extra Hotel Night","Vendor":"BEAUSiTE Zermatt","Address1":"Brunnmattgasse 9","Address2":"","City":"Zermatt","State":"","Postal":"3920","Product":"Post-Trip Extra Services: BEAUSiTE Zermatt (DATES, 1 night)","Day":8,"Sequence":20,"Duration":1,"PropertyDescription":"<p>We enjoy famous Swiss hospitality at this traditional century-old hotel, with its understated Old World elegance and wonderful views of the Matterhorn. Cozy guest rooms are modern, clean, and spacious. The large pool area has fantastic windows looking out to the Matterhorn, and there are also Jacuzzis, saunas, steam room, and massage treatments available. The hotel is just a 5-minute walk from the main shopping area.<\/p>","ItinBlock":"","VendorPhoto":"https:\/\/s3.us-west-1.wasabisys.com\/wildernesstravel\/vendors\/1-beau-site-zermatt-interior-dining.jpg","ProductPhoto":"","OnRequest":"Option","Overhead":false,"BookingNotes":"","TicketSession":"","TicketTimeOfDay":"","TicketRound":"","TicketCategory":"","TicketDate":"","TicketLocation":"","NotTicketOnly":false,"Inactive":false}],"CustomFields":{"Custom_Trip_Level_5":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2023-04-13T06:38:41 --><p>Please note that in addition to completing your own Medical Form, a signed Medical Practitioner Form is also required for your trip. Please find this form attached. You can also find this in the "Documents" tab in your Guest Portal (through the link above). Once you receive your physician's approval, please upload the signed form to your Portal (directions on how to do this can be found in your Portal).<\/p>","Custom_Trip_Name_Addendum":"Adventure","Custom_Welcome_Letter_Addendum":"","Custom_Welcome_Email_Send_List":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2023-04-13T06:39:00 --><p>Extra Service Request Form<br \/>Medical Practitioner Form<\/p>","Custom_Welcome_Insurance_Intro":"We recommend you purchase a travel protection plan to help protect your travel investment against the unexpected. ","Custom_FI_Optional_Donation_Text":"","Custom_Sales_Email_-_Trip_Sales_Points":"<body>I also encourage you to check out this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=o47DLV0LPC4&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wildernesstravel.com%2Ftrip%2Fswitzerland%2Fhiking-haute-route-express-adventure%2Fitinerary&source_ve_path=OTY3MTQ&feature=emb_imp_woyt\">trip video<\/a>, which will give you a great sense of the adventure ahead!<\/body><meta charset=\"utf-8\"\/>\n","Custom_Sales_Email_-_TP_Trip_Sales_Points":"<body>I also encourage you to check out this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=o47DLV0LPC4&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wildernesstravel.com%2Ftrip%2Fswitzerland%2Fhiking-haute-route-express-adventure%2Fitinerary&source_ve_path=OTY3MTQ&feature=emb_imp_woyt\">trip video<\/a>, which will give you a great sense of the adventure ahead!<\/body><meta charset=\"utf-8\"\/>\n","Custom_Sales_Email_-_Payment_Terms":"<meta charset=\"utf-8\"\/><body>In order to confirm your space on this trip, we require a first deposit of $600 per person, which is fully refundable up to 91 days prior to departure.<\/body>","Custom_Sales_Email_-_Region":"<meta charset=\"utf-8\"\/><body>Alps Hiking<\/body>","Custom_Sales_Email_-_Region_Sales_Points":"","Custom_Hiking_Poles":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2023-05-01T15:37:24 --><p><strong>HIKING POLES:<\/strong> If you choose to bring hiking poles, they must be packed in your checked luggage as they are not permitted in carry-on bags.<br \/> <br \/><\/p>","Custom_Daypack":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2023-04-26T14:35:46 --><p><strong>DAYPACK: <\/strong>To carry a jacket or rain gear, water bottle, camera, and other items you want on the trail.<\/p>","Custom_Vaccination_Card":"","Custom_FB_Packing_Reminders_-_MISC_1":"","Custom_FB_Additional_Notes_-_MISC_1":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2023-04-26T14:36:03 --><p><strong>NOTE ON ACCOMMODATIONS:<\/strong> Our trip takes us through some of the finest scenery in the Alps. You will be staying in small inns and hotels. We have done our best to arrange accommodation as equitably as possible, however please keep in mind that the rooms in Europe's small inns and hotels may not be as large as you are accustomed to in American hotels. If you have signed up for a single supplement, please note that on two nights you may still have shared accommodations.<\/p>","Custom_FB_Additional_Notes_-_MISC_2":"","Custom_Arrival":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2023-05-01T15:38:50 --><p><strong>ARRIVING IN CHAMONIX<\/strong> <br \/>Wilderness Travel provides a complimentary transfer between the Geneva Airport and our hotel in Chamonix, France. Please note this is a public van transfer service and it is likely other passengers may join the same transfer. There will likely be a waiting period between your arrival and the shuttle's departure as the other travelers scheduled for your transfer arrive. Upon arrival, a driver holding a sign with your name on it will meet you by the entrance of the Montreux Jazz Cafe, situated to the far right hand side of the Geneva Arrivals Hall - Swiss Sector. The journey from the Geneva Airport to Chamonix is roughly 1.5 hours.<\/p><p>If you have booked our complimentary transfer service, your reservation confirmation has already been emailed to you by Chamonix Valley Transfers. Please check this email to ensure that they have correctly noted your arrival information. You will also receive an email the night before your arrival to confirm the exact time of pickup as well as your driver's name and phone number. You can show either of these confirmation emails to your driver either printed or on your cell phone. If you have any problems (i.e. lost luggage), please contact your driver using the information provided in your final transfer confirmation, or alternatively contact the local office for Chamonix Valley Transfers at (+33) 485-800-132<\/p><p> <\/p><p><strong>MEETING PLACE<\/strong><br \/>On Day 1 at 8:30 am, please meet your Trip Leaders in the lobby of the Grand Hotel des Alpes in Chamonix. Please come to the meeting place dressed and ready to hike as you will head out on our first hike following a brief orientation meeting.<\/p><p> <\/p>","Custom_Arrival-_Meeting_Place":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2023-05-01T15:39:09 --><p><strong>Grand Hôtel des Alpes<\/strong><br \/>75 Rue du Dr Paccard<br \/>74400 Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France<br \/>+33 4 50 55 37 80<\/p>","Custom_Arrival_Transfer":"","Custom_Departure":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2023-04-26T14:38:13 --><p><strong>DEPARTING ZERMATT <\/strong><br \/>The trip ends in Zermatt after breakfast on Day 8. Trains to Geneva (about 4 hours) or Zurich (about 3.5 hours) depart hourly starting at around 5:30 am. Reservations are generally not needed and tickets can be purchased on the day of departure. Your Trip Leaders can assist you with this upon arrival in Zermatt. However, for peace of mind, you may decide to purchase your ticket in advance at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.raileurope.com\">www.raileurope.com<\/a>. <br \/><\/p>","Custom_Extra_Services":"","Custom_Contact_Information_for_Friends_and_Family":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2023-04-26T14:38:24 --><p>If friends or family wish to contact you during the trip, we encourage them to call, text, or email you directly. Another option is to reach you by calling the hotel (please see the enclosed Hotel List). If they are unable to reach you directly, please instruct them to call our office in Berkeley, California, and we will get a message to you as soon as possible. If they need to reach you outside of our office hours, we ask that they reach out to your Trip Leaders (contact information is listed below) and also leave a message with our Berkeley office, so that we can follow up with our team on the ground.<\/p>","Custom_Outfitter_Contacts_Left":"","Custom_Outfitter_Contacts_Right":"","Custom_Valid_Passport_Alternative":"","Custom_Visa":"","Custom_FB_Before_You_Go_-_MISC_1":"","Custom_FB_Before_You_Go_-_MISC_2":"","Custom_Luggage_Requirements":"","Custom_Carry-On":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2023-04-26T14:35:11 --><p><strong>CARRY-ON: <\/strong>Valuable or essential items, such as well broken-in hiking boots, camera equipment, binoculars, prescription medications, and any paperwork required to enter Switzerland, should be hand carried on your flights to avoid loss or damage. <\/p>","Custom_name_slug":"haute-route-guided-hiking-tour","Custom_Meta_Description":"Hike the famous \"high route\" across the French and Swiss Alps from Chamonix, France, to Zermatt, Switzerland.","Custom_List_Description":"Hike the famous \"high route\" across the French and Swiss Alps from Chamonix, France, to Zermatt, Switzerland.","Custom_Redirect":"","Custom_PJ_-_Best_Months":"","Custom_After_Dates":"","Custom_Trip_Web_Note":"","Custom_Title_Tag":"Haute Route Guided Hiking Tour | 8-Days Across the Alps","Custom_Before_Days":"","Custom_After_Days_Header_1":"","Custom_After_Days_Text_1":"","Custom_After_Days_Header_2":"","Custom_After_Days_Text_2":"","Custom_Choosing_Right_Trip_Office_Contact":"","Custom_About_WT_Expeditions":"","Custom_Arrival_-_Sales":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2022-12-19T11:29:19 --><p><strong>Suggested Airport: <\/strong>Geneva Airport (GVA)<br \/><strong>Suggested Date & Time:<\/strong> Anytime prior to Day 1<br \/><br \/><strong>Meeting Place: <\/strong>You will meet your Trip Leader in the lobby of Grand Hotel des Alpes in Chamonix at 8:30 am on Day 1.<br \/><br \/>The transfer from Geneva Airport to our hotel in Chamonix is included in the cost of the trip. It is a van service that will meet you at your requested flight—even if you arrive a few days ahead of the actual trip start date. Please note this is a public van transfer service and it is likely that other passengers may join the same transfer. The journey from the Geneva Airport to Chamonix is roughly 1.5 hours with this service. Please let us know if you would like to reserve this transfer by filling out our Extra Services Request Form.<\/p>","Custom_Departure_-_Sales":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2022-12-19T11:33:39 --><p><strong>Suggested Airport:<\/strong> Geneva Airport (GVA)<br \/><strong>Suggested Date & Time:<\/strong> Day 8, after 12:00 pm<br \/><br \/>The trip ends in Zermatt after breakfast on Day 8. If you are returning to the Geneva Airport, this requires a 4-hour train ride. Your Trip Leaders will assist you with information on return transportation to Geneva. Zermatt has excellent transportation services to Geneva City and Geneva Airport by train, with one connection in Visp. The first train to depart Zermatt arrives in Geneva at approximately 9:45 am. Reservations are not needed and tickets can be purchased on the day of departure. You can check online at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sbb.ch\/en\">www.sbb.ch\/en<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.raileurope.com\/\">www.raileurope.com<\/a> for the most current information on fares and train schedules.<\/p>","Custom_International_Air_Travel":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2022-12-19T11:34:54 --><p>You are responsible for making your own arrangements for flights to and from Europe.<br \/><br \/>There are many online consolidators for booking travel, but for more personal help arranging air transport, you can contact Exito Travel at 1-800-655-4053 in the US or 1-800-670-2605 in Canada. They are very adept at putting flight itineraries together, to even the most far-flung places. More information can be found on Exito's website at <a href=\"https:\/\/exitotravel.com\/\">www.exitotravel.com<\/a>.<br \/><br \/>Depending on your routing, it is necessary to depart from the US one or possibly two days prior to Day 1 of the trip itinerary. The name on your airline ticket must match the name on your passport exactly, and your passport must be valid for at least six months after your date of return to the US.<br \/><br \/><strong>Please do not purchase your tickets until you are confirmed on the trip.<\/strong> Once your tickets have been purchased, please send us a copy of your airline schedule. It is your responsibility to ensure your flight times coordinate with the arrival and departure logistics for this trip.<\/p>","Custom_Extra_Hotel_Nights":"","Custom_Recommended_Hotels":"","Custom_A_and_D_Misc_-_Header_1":"","Custom_A_and_D_Misc_-_Text_1":"","Custom_A_and_D_Misc_-_Header_2":"","Custom_A_and_D_Misc_-_Text_2":"","Custom_FAQ_-_Header_1":"","Custom_FAQ_-_Text_1":"","Custom_FAQ_-_Header_2":"","Custom_FAQ_-_Text_2":"","Custom_FAQ_-_Header_3":"","Custom_FAQ_-_Text_3":"","Custom_FAQ_-_Header_4":"","Custom_FAQ_-_Text_4":"","Custom_FAQ_-_Header_5":"","Custom_FAQ_-_Text_5":"","Custom_When_to_Go":"","Custom_Children":"","Custom_Tag_Line":"High Alps Traverse from Chamonix to Zermatt","Custom_Lodging":"4 nights in 4-star hotels, 3 nights in rustic mountain inns","Custom_Meals":"All meals included","Custom_Activity":"","Custom_Difficulty":"7 hiking days on moderate to steep trails, 5-8 hours a day, altitudes between 6,000-9,600 feet, van support (for luggage or if you wish to skip a day's hike)","Custom_Currency_Exchange_Rate":"","Custom_Fuel_Surcharge":"","Custom_Signing_Up_For_a_Trip_-_Email":"","Custom_Optional_Hotel_Upgrades_-_This_Year":"","Custom_Optional_Hotel_Upgrades_-_Next_Year":"","Custom_What_the_Trip_is_Like":"This trip is rated <strong>Level 5, Strenuous<\/strong>, according to our trip grading system. You will need to be comfortable hiking 10 miles a day, being on your feet for up to 8 hours a day for several days in a row, and hiking on uneven surfaces with long descents that can be hard on the knees. While no climbing or mountaineering experience is necessary, all trip members should have ample hiking experience and be able to keep up with the group as there are no alternative hiking options available. Trail conditions, weather, and the group's level of fitness can affect hiking times and pacing. <strong><br><\/strong><strong><br><\/strong><strong>Average Hiking Day <\/strong><ul><li>8 miles<\/li><li>6 hours<\/li><li>2,500-3,000 feet gain\/loss <\/li><li>Altitudes range from 6,000 to 9,000 feet<\/li><\/ul><strong>Challenge Days <\/strong><ul><li>Day 4: 10 miles, 7-8 hours, 2,700 feet gain, and 3,000 feet loss; includes ladders needed to get over a pass<\/li><\/ul>","Custom_Terrain":"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, exposed trails. You will also occasionally need to use your hands to scramble over and between a jumble of boulders. 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If you have questions about the level of comfort or any of the activities described in this itinerary, please call Wilderness Travel at 1-800-368-2794 and ask for the<\/p>","System_References":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2023-01-27T07:50:51 --><p>We'd be happy to put you in touch with a past client that has traveled with us on this trip.<\/p>","System_Visit_Our_Website":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2023-01-27T07:51:32 --><p>At <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wildernesstravel.com\">www.wildernesstravel.com<\/a>, you can find out about added departures, last-minute deals, and special WT Expeditions that aren't listed in our catalog. You can also access a complete library of our detailed itineraries and browse the customized reading guides for each of our adventures.<\/p>","System_Helpful_Links":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2023-01-27T07:52:03 --><p>Wilderness Travel has compiled a list of useful websites for travelers. Find the Toucan Club tab on the home page of our website and choose Helpful Links: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wildernesstravel.com\/ toucan\/links\">www.wildernesstravel.com\/ toucan\/links<\/a>.<\/p>","System_About_Private_Journeys":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2023-02-17T11:00:24 --><p>Wilderness Travel Private Journeys are designed for people who want to travel with their own small private group, but who still want to experience the same superb itinerary design, great accommodations, and signature quality of Wilderness Travel's escorted group trips. These Private Journeys allow you to choose your own dates and your traveling companions -- even if it's just the two of you -- yet still enjoy a guided adventure.<\/p>","System_About_New_Trips":"","System_Social_Media":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2023-03-29T11:33:43 --><p><strong>SOCIAL MEDIA:<\/strong> We invite you to share your adventure with us on social media. Tag @wildernesstravel and we may even feature your content on our pages!<\/p>","System_If_You_Miss_Your_Flight":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2023-03-29T11:34:09 --><p><strong>IF YOU MISS YOUR FLIGHT<\/strong><br \/>If you miss your flight or are otherwise delayed, contact our Wilderness Travel office as well as our local partners, with your new flight information. Refer to the Emergency Contact Information listed in this Final Bulletin.<\/p>","System_Valid_Passport":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2023-06-16T10:26:21 --><p><strong>VALID PASSPORT:<\/strong> Check that your passport is valid for at least six months from the last day of your trip, and that you have at least two blank pages for any necessary visa or entry and exit stamps.<\/p>","System_Insurance_Policy":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2023-03-29T11:36:23 --><p><strong>INSURANCE POLICY:<\/strong> If you have purchased the Travelex Travel Protection Plan, you should have received an email confirmation of your policy. Please bring a digital or printed copy of this policy with you. If you cannot find your email confirmation, please contact Travelex's Customer Solutions team at 844-877-1885 or e-mail customersolutions@travclcxinsurancc.com. If you have not purchased Travelex insurance already, you have the option to do so up to 24 hours prior to your departure.<\/p>","System_Covid-19_Travel_Requirements":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2023-04-19T13:27:44 --><p><strong>COVID-19 TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:<\/strong> Please double-check COVID-19 entry requirements for any countries you may be traveling to or transiting through, on this website: <a href=\"apply.joinsherpa.com\/travel-restrictions\">apply.joinsherpa.com\/travel-restrictions<\/a><\/p>","System_Pre-Trip_Safety":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2023-03-29T11:37:06 --><p><strong>PRE-TRIP SAFETY:<\/strong> In the next weeks, we encourage you to do everything possible to stay healthy. Please practice social distancing, steer clear of potential COVID-19 exposure, and take an at-home antigen or lab based PCR test before you depart.<\/p>","System_Wilderness_Travel_Office":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2023-03-29T11:38:07 --><p>Our office in Berkeley, California can be reached at 510-558-2488, or by email at info@wildernesstravel.com. 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You can learn more about the policy on our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wildernesstravel.com\/toucan\/travel-insurance\">website<\/a>.<\/p>","System_Purchased_Insurance":"","System_Questions?":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2023-01-27T13:47:31 --><p>Our Area Specialists are you single point of contact and would be happy to answer any questions about yout trip!<br \/>800.368.2794 | 510.558.2488<\/p>","System_Travel_Insurance":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2023-01-27T07:58:05 --><p>We highly recommend you purchase travel insurance. You can take advantage of a comprehensive Travel Protection Plan designed for Wilderness Travel by Travelex, or purchase other insurance on your own. 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Upon receipt of your deposit, we will send you a Welcome Packet that includes a letter of confirmation, Detailed Itinerary, Trip Application, Medical Form, and Pre-Departure Information Booklet with information to help you prepare for your adventure. Please see our Cancellations and Transfer Fee Schedule for specific payment information.<\/p>","System_Trip_Leaders":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2023-02-13T09:24:57 --><p>Wilderness Travel Trip Leaders have a passion and a joy for creating an unforgettable journey. We are extremely proud of them and the incredible travel experiences they make possible. 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Overview
The celebrated Haute Route, a high-level hike from Chamonix, France, to Zermatt, Switzerland, is immersed in alpine lore. 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 most famous peaks in the Alps, including Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn, rise along this magnificent “high route.” With seven hiking days, our journey brings nonstop alpine vistas, amazing terrain, good food and drink, and a crossing of seven dramatic passes—including the Col de Torrent (9,567'), with its stunning views. Our team of expert Trip Leaders makes this a wonderfully fun mountain adventure with their local knowledge and passion for what they do.
Arrive: Chamonix, France
Depart: Zermatt, Switzerland
Highlights
- Experience one of the Europe's great long-distance hikes—done right!
- Hike to remote alpine hamlets and verdant meadows amid the highest peaks in the Alps
- Savor classic views of Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn, and other giants of the Alps
- Enjoy a team of Trip Leaders who bring camaraderie and fun to each hiking day
Itinerary
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Expand All Days
Heading out of Chamonix, we ascend alpine meadows past grazing cows to the Col de Balme (7,201'), which marks the French-Swiss frontier. The Col de la Forclaz (5,010') brings sweeping views of the Rhône Valley, with a descent to the Swiss hamlet of Champex d'en Haut. Our trail over the Col des Roux (9,199') reveals the summits of the Valais Alps. Crossing the Pas des Chèvres, we'll have sweeping views across the Arolla Valley to Pigne d'Arolla and Mt. Collon, with remarkable glaciers framing our route.
We enter the ancient Valais Canton, where some locals still wear traditional Valais dress while working in their fields. Crossing the Col de Torrent brings us to the Val d'Hérens, a wonderfully wild area with stunning views, including the towering limestone pyramid of the Dent Blanche (14,290'), the emblematic peak of the Val d'Hérens. Crossing the Meidpass (9,154'), we enter German-speaking Switzerland, with a long descent past lovely alpine Meidsee Lake to the remote hamlet of Gruben in the peaceful Turtmanntal Valley.
After our climb to the top of Augstbordpass (9,495'), our final pass, we catch a cable car and local train to car-free Zermatt. Surrounded by 13,000-foot peaks, this classic alpine town is famed for its awe-inspiring views of the Matterhorn. Depart on Day 8.
Dates & Pricing
Payment & Cancel Schedule
$600 due at time of reservation
90 days prior to departure: Balance
Cancellation & Transfer Schedule
Up to 91 days prior to departure: No Charge!
61-90 days prior to departure: 25% of trip cost
46-60 days prior to departure: 50% of trip cost
45 days or less: 100% of trip cost
Included
- Expert leadership of at least two Wilderness Travel Trip Leaders
- Accommodations in hotels and mountain inns
- All meals
- A glass of wine or beer with dinner
- All ground transportation and baggage handling from meeting until departure
- All activities as indicated in Detailed Itinerary
Not Included
- Travel to and from the arrival and departure location as indicated in Detailed Itinerary
- Additional hotel nights outside the trip's scheduled dates
- Optional gratuities to Trip Leaders or staff
- Optional travel insurance
- Other expenses of a personal nature (some alcoholic beverages, laundry, etc.)
Accommodations
Listed below are our signature accommodations for this trip. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
Hotel de la Poste Martigny
Day 1 (1 night)
This basic, unpretentious 34-room hotel is conveniently located in the center of town. Guest rooms are on the small size, but are clean and tidy, and the staff is friendly and welcoming.
Alternate Hotels: Martigny Boutique Hotel, Hotel du Col de la Forclaz
Hotel du Glacier
Day 2 (1 night)
The comfortable Hotel du Glacier sits on the main and only street of the pretty little village of Champex. The same lovely couple has owned it for many years and they also run the restaurant, which has great food and a relaxed atmosphere. The hotel is steps away from a picturesque mountain lake.
Alternate Hotel: Au Club Alpin
Hotel du Barrage
Day 3 (1 night)
Located in the heart of the Valais in the Val d'Herens, this 72-room hotel offers simple but comfortable rooms and stunning views of the Val d'Herens, with its charming villages.
Grand Hotel Kurhaus
Day 4 (1 night)
This historic Victorian stone hotel at 6,000 feet on the Haute Route trail sits apart from the little village of Arolla in a forest clearing. Built in 1896 and loaded with charm and character, it has been beautifully renovated with all the modern comforts. There's a great downstairs bar with a crackling fireplace, an ancient wood-paneled salon, antique skis on the wall, and a wonderful terrace garden in front for enjoying a beer and views of Mont-Collon, Pigne d'Arolla, and other peaks we've been viewing from the trail.
Hotel Bella Tola
Day 5 (1 night)
This family-run Belle Epoque hotel dating to 1859 is located near the village of St. Luc and offers the atmosphere of a country estate along with amazing mountain views. Guest rooms are beautifully appointed and there is a good restaurant with an outdoor terrace and cozy bar area. Its spa facilities include an indoor pool, sauna, steambath, and massage rooms. The hotel is a member of The Historic Hotels of Europe.
Alternate Hotel: Hotel Alpina
Hotel Schwarzhorn
Day 6 (1 night)
In Gruben, a classic stop on the hikers' Haute Route, the stone-built Hotel Schwarzhorn is the only accommodation in this tiny mountain hamlet. Nestled in the remote Turtmanntal Valley, it has basic rooms with in-room sinks and shared toilets/showers across the hall. We hike the Haute Route trail right to this hotel in the afternoon, and hike out the next morning, no van transfer required!
BEAUSiTE Zermatt
Day 7 (1 night)
The BEAUSiTE, built in 1907, is Zermatt's Grand Dame, now upgraded to the 20th century with elegant rooms, multiple dining options, and an indulgent spa that includes a sauna and indoor and outdoor pools. The Matterhorn view from the hotel's terrace is mesmerizing and the hotel is a 10-minute walk to the center of this historic, car-free town.
Alternate Hotels: Hotel Sonne, Hotel Alpenblick
1/7
Trip Leaders
Mike Browder
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Killian Buckley
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Heather Florence
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Marian Gibert
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Jonny Kaye
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Ryan Kost
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Tomas O'Donoghue
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Clive Roberts
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Vicky Sotriffer
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Daniel Windham
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Mark Tennent
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Stewart Wheelhouse
View ProfileWhat the Trip is Like
This trip is rated Level 5, Strenuous, according to our trip grading system. You will need to be comfortable hiking 10 miles a day, being on your feet for up to 8 hours a day for several days in a row, and hiking on uneven surfaces with long descents that can be hard on the knees. While no climbing or mountaineering experience is necessary, all trip members should have ample hiking experience and be able to keep up with the group as there are no alternative hiking options available. Trail conditions, weather, and the group's level of fitness can affect hiking times and pacing.
Average Hiking Day
Review Trip Level Details
Average Hiking Day
- 8 miles
- 6 hours
- 2,500-3,000 feet gain/loss
- Altitudes range from 6,000 to 9,000 feet
- Day 4: 10 miles, 7-8 hours, 2,700 feet gain, and 3,000 feet loss; includes ladders needed to get over a pass
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, exposed trails. You will also occasionally need to use your hands to scramble over and between a jumble of boulders. Your experienced mountain guides are there to assist you if needed.
Temperatures are likely to reach the 60s°F and 70s°F during the day, with cool breezes and occasional rain. At night the temperature will drop quite a bit, depending on the altitude. The months we run these trips have the optimal weather conditions, but still can be fickle. It can range from blue skies to cloudy, wet, and cold conditions, making rain gear and warm garments necessary items to carry with you on every hike. The early-season departures may encounter snow on the trails.
Our accommodations are in small, comfortable hotels and inns. While they are clean and well located, they are not always of uniform size or amenities. Our leaders do their best to assign rooms in a fair way so that all participants experience an equal advantage throughout the trip as a whole. In two 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 two nights during the trip.
Lunch will usually be in a mountain lodge or at a picnic spot amidst the beauty of the surrounding mountains. Most evening meals will be taken at our hotels and will be hearty, nourishing mountain fare, often with the cuisine the region is known for. Please note that in Europe, the dinner hour is considerably later than what it is in the US. We do our best to secure early reservations for our groups, but most often the evening meals will be at 7:30 pm.
Our support vehicle will transport the group's luggage, so you only need to carry a daypack (rain gear, sweater, camera, water bottle, etc.). Trip members are always free to skip a day's hike and travel to the next destination in the support vehicle (or remain at the hotel if we are not transfering that day).
Client Testimonials
"Another great WT adventure! Great combination of demanding hikes, beautiful vistas, good food and drink, and great travel companions. We were fortunate to have three accomplished leaders, any of whom could have led the trip on their own."
Bob F.
Bethesda, MD
"Couldn’t have asked for a better trip! Amazing terrain, great wildflowers and food, and great leaders and group"
Dan B.
Tucson, AZ
"It was the trip of a lifetime. I loved every moment of it!"
Helen M.
Short Hills, NJ
"A wonderful trip. WT consistently impresses me with their level of service. Most importantly, the guides are superior to any other service I've used. You feel completely at ease and supported by their level of professionalism."
Marisa V.
San Francisco, CA
"All the logistics for the trip were seamless. The scenery along the hiking routes was spectacular, the guides were terrific, and the overall experience was great!"
Mark J.
New York, NY
"A wonderful route with terrific hiking every day, and a perfect level of difficulty. We particularly loved our exceptional, supportive guides."
Richard L.
Berkeley, CA
"The trip was fantastic in every way. I would not change a thing."
Rita S.
St. Simons Island, GA
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Book your trip today
Our Area Specialists know every detail about our tours. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!
Itinerary
Submit the form below to download itinerary
Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult—see descriptions below for explanations of each number. A plus (+) sign means the trip is a bit more strenuous than other trips of that level. The detailed explanation of each trip—below the bar with the number rating—is perhaps more important, specifying activities, altitudes, hiking, and travel conditions. The Detailed Itinerary, available by download or mail, gives further information. Our Area Managers can also answer questions and guide you to the trip that best suits your interests.
Level 1 – Easiest
Non-camping journeys, optional walks, little elevation gain or loss.
Level 2 – Easy to Moderate
Hotel nights and/or safari-style camping, hikes of two to four hours on some days. Other physical activities are sometimes included, such as optional sea kayaking.
Level 3 – Moderate
Half- to full-day hikes (3-6 hours) over rolling countryside on most days, occasional steep trails. Many of our hotel-based walking tours are in this category, as are our snorkeling adventures.
- Tuscany & the Cinque Terre
- Argentina: Hikes and Estancias of Patagonia
- Palau Snorkeling & Sea Kayaking
- Some trips with minimal hiking but rugged travel conditions or long drives, such as Tribal Ghana, Togo & Benin, are Trip Level 3.
Level 4 – Moderate to Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-6 hours), mountainous terrain, significant elevation gains and losses (hiking up or down as much as 3,000 feet) on many days. Altitudes no greater than about 10,000 feet.
Level 5 – Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Trips with hiking at average altitudes of 10,000 to 12,000 feet are in this category.
Level 6 – Very Strenuous
Full-day hikes (5-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Most hikes take place at altitudes above 10,000 feet, with some days ascending as high as 18,000 feet.
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A climbing and skiing center for over a hundred years and the mountaineering “capital” of Europe, Chamonix has a wonderful atmosphere and a well preserved Old Town with cobbled streets full of lively sidewalk cafes. From near the center of town, the famous Aiguille du Midi cable car whisks visitors to 12,000 feet for stunning views of the Mont Blanc range. (This is a must-do if you are arriving early!) After meeting early at the hotel in Chamonix for our trip orientation, we head out, driving past Argentiere, with superb views of Mont Blanc, the Aiguille Verte, and the Chamonix granite needles, to our trailhead to begin the Haute Route hike. Ascending through meadows where dairy cows graze, we hike up through woodlands to cross the Col de Balme (7,201'), which marks the French-Swiss frontier. With wonderful vistas of Mont Blanc along the way, we descend into Col de la Forclaz, located right on the mountain pass where the road leads west to France or east to Switzerland. We overnight at a hotel in the Trient\/Martigny region.\r\nHiking Details: 9 miles, 6-8 hours, 3,000 feet ascent, 3,050 feet descent\r\n\r\nThe Haute Route: The magnificent high traverse from Chamonix, France, to Zermatt, Switzerland, explores the terrain where alpinism and the sport of mountaineering were born in the 19th century. The original High Level Route was developed more than 100 years ago, primarily for ski-mountaineering expeditions. Over the years, another Haute Route evolved, a walking route that has become the quintessential walking experience across the European Alps—it ascends to nearly 10,000 feet yet requires no technical mountaineering skills, and rewards the hiker with some of the most spectacular high mountain views in the Alps. There are constantly changing panoramas of high peaks, alpine meadows alive with wildflowers, picturesque old farms, and beautiful lakes.","Breakfast":1,"Lunch":1,"Dinner":1,"Overnight":"","Travel_Type":"","Quotation":"","Quotation_Attribution":"","Itinerary_Location":"","Latitude":"","Longitude":"","Brief":false},{"DayFrom":2,"DayTo":2,"Headline":"Col de la Forclaz\/ Champex","ActivityOverview":"","EstimatedLength":"","ActivityLevel":"","ItinBlock":"From Col de la Forclaz (5,010'), a wonderful forested trail used by shepherds for centuries to bring their cattle to mountain pastures leads up the mountain and opens to an alpine meadow at 6,690 feet. We'll stop at a charming refuge and farm that's still in use today. From here, we'll descend through a forest and take in sweeping views of the Rhone Valley with the river slicing through valley pastures and villages and distant views of the peaks of the Bernese Oberland. The trail then descends steeply into the Swiss hamlets of Champex-d'en Haut and Champex d'en Bas. A five-minute drive brings us to Champex (or you can walk the additional distance). Overnight at a hotel at the charming lakeside resort of Champex (private rooms with attached bath).\r\nHiking Details: 8.5 miles, 5-6 hours, 1,700 feet ascent, 2,300 feet descent","Breakfast":1,"Lunch":1,"Dinner":1,"Overnight":"","Travel_Type":"","Quotation":"","Quotation_Attribution":"","Itinerary_Location":"","Latitude":"","Longitude":"","Brief":false},{"DayFrom":3,"DayTo":3,"Headline":"Grand Dixence","ActivityOverview":"","EstimatedLength":"","ActivityLevel":"","ItinBlock":"A drive of about 1.5 hours brings us to the Val d'Hérens and our hotel, located near the Grande Dixence Barrage (7,759'). This dam, one of the highest gravity dams in the world, blocks the waters of the Dixence River, forming the Lac des Dix reservoir. After dropping off our luggage, we'll set out on a loop hike that climbs to the top of the dam, then across rocky terrain that leads to the Cabane de Prafleuri (8,733'), a mountain refuge strategically located on the Haute Route and set in an isolated spot between Verbier and Arolla. Ibex and chamois are often seen near this remote refuge. After a lunch of traditional specialties, we climb the short but steep Col des Roux (9,197'), with its breathtaking views over many legendary alpine summits and glaciers of the Valais Alps. From the pass, we descend to the Lac des Dix and walk along the lakeshore to the top of the dam, then take the cable car down to our hotel. Overnight at hotel (private rooms with attached bath).\r\nHiking Details: 7 miles, 5-6 hours, 2,500 feet ascent, 2,200 feet loss","Breakfast":1,"Lunch":1,"Dinner":1,"Overnight":"","Travel_Type":"","Quotation":"","Quotation_Attribution":"","Itinerary_Location":"","Latitude":"","Longitude":"","Brief":false},{"DayFrom":4,"DayTo":4,"Headline":"Arolla","ActivityOverview":"","EstimatedLength":"","ActivityLevel":"","ItinBlock":"Starting right from our hotel, we hike to the top of the dam, then along the still waters of Lac des Dix near a labyrinth of marmot dens. From the head of the lake, we hike up rocky terrain to the Col de Riedmatten (9,577'), following alongside the Pigne d'Arolla Glacier. This pass is on the route of the famous ski-mountaineering race “La Patrouille des Glaciers.” At the pass we have stunning views across the Arolla Valley to Pigne D'Arolla, Mont Collon, and the massive west face of Mont Blanc de Cheilon, mountains with remarkable glaciers dominating our route. We may also get a peek at the Matterhorn. As an alternative, we may hike via the Pas de Chevres (9,368'), which has a ladder section, but is actually easier to negotiate than the loose scree of the trail over the Reidmatten. Descend to Arolla (6,581'), a tiny village in the Val d'Arolla at the foot of several glaciers. Overnight at our historic hotel, charmingly situated in its own forest of beautiful Arolla pines (private rooms with attached bath).\r\nHiking Details: 10 miles, 7-8 hours, 2,700 feet ascent, 3,000 feet descent","Breakfast":1,"Lunch":1,"Dinner":1,"Overnight":"","Travel_Type":"","Quotation":"","Quotation_Attribution":"","Itinerary_Location":"","Latitude":"","Longitude":"","Brief":false},{"DayFrom":5,"DayTo":5,"Headline":"Col du Torrent \/ Lac de Moiry \/ St. Luc","ActivityOverview":"","EstimatedLength":"","ActivityLevel":"","ItinBlock":"The drive to our trailhead brings us through a very traditional region of the Valais Canton, where some locals still wear traditional Valais dress while working in the hay meadows. From just above Villa, a steady ascent over grassy flower-filled pastures—a living working landscape, with magnificent views over the Val d' Hérens and the snow-capped mountains—brings us to the Col de Torrent (9,567'), which straddles the Val d'Anniviers and Val d'Hérens, a wonderfully wild area with stunning views over all the most impressive summits and glaciers in the Valais. It's a grand panorama, equal to almost anything seen so far, and includes one of the most outstanding vistas in the Alps, the Dent Blanche, the emblematic peak of the Val d'Hérens, towering at 14,295 feet. We picnic by the Lac des Autannes and descend to the Lac de Moiry for a shuttle to our wonderful hotel.\r\nHiking Details: 6 miles, 4-5 hours, 2,800 feet ascent, 2,200 feet descent\r\nDriving Time: 1.5 hours","Breakfast":1,"Lunch":1,"Dinner":1,"Overnight":"","Travel_Type":"","Quotation":"","Quotation_Attribution":"","Itinerary_Location":"","Latitude":"","Longitude":"","Brief":false},{"DayFrom":6,"DayTo":6,"Headline":"Meidpass \/ Gruben","ActivityOverview":"","EstimatedLength":"","ActivityLevel":"","ItinBlock":"From St. Luc we take a funicular to Tignousa (7,152') to start our ascent toward the Meidpass (9,154'). As we start our hike we'll come across a number of modern sculptures that make up a 3.5-mile-long sculpture park called the “Path of the Planets” (Le Sentier Planétaire), which has our solar system's planets represented in scale, size, and distance. It starts at Tignousa with the Sun, followed by Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. Jupiter and Saturn are nearby, and at Uranus we turn left away from the Sentier Planétaire to start our gradual ascent to the pass. From the summit, we enjoy impressive views of the Brunegghorn, Weisshorn, and even the distant massif of Mont Blanc. Crossing this pass we enter German-speaking Switzerland, and a long descent past the lovely alpine Meidsee Lake brings us to the remote hamlet of Gruben in the peaceful, unspoiled, Turtmanntal valley and our comfortable inn with a great beer garden and café (private rooms with shared baths).\r\nHiking Details: 7 miles, 4-5 hours, 2,050 gain, 3,200 loss","Breakfast":1,"Lunch":1,"Dinner":1,"Overnight":"","Travel_Type":"","Quotation":"","Quotation_Attribution":"","Itinerary_Location":"","Latitude":"","Longitude":"","Brief":false},{"DayFrom":7,"DayTo":7,"Headline":"Augstbordpass \/ St. Niklaus \/ Zermatt","ActivityOverview":"","EstimatedLength":"","ActivityLevel":"","ItinBlock":"A long but gradual ascent through spacious woodlands and over high pastures leads to the Augstbordpass (9,495'). We descend on a contouring trail across large stone slabs to a prominent viewpoint where the trail turns into the narrow green Mattertal valley, 3,300 feet below us. The Mischabel range, the Nadethorn, Lenzspitze, and the Dom are directly opposite, to the north are the Bernese Oberland peaks, while Monte Rosa, Castor, Pollux, Breithorn, and Klein Matterhorn crown the top of the Mattertal valley (we won't see the Matterhorn until we get to Zermatt). Descend to Jungu, a hamlet that resembles a toy village, and from here we take a small cable car down to St. Niklaus in the Mattertal valley and then head by local train to Zermatt, with its spectacular views of the Matterhorn. The most famous of all alpine centers, Zermatt is the terminus for the Haute Route from Chamonix. This unique mountain village, surrounded by glaciers and a dozen 13,000-foot peaks, is steeped in the lore of alpinism and dominated by the crooked pyramid of the Matterhorn. Automobiles are not allowed in this hiking and skiing town; access is only by train and on foot. We'll explore Zermatt's charming streets, then gather for a festive Farewell Dinner. Overnight at hotel.\r\nHiking Details: 8 miles, 6-7 hours, 3,500 ascent, 3,000 feet descent","Breakfast":1,"Lunch":1,"Dinner":1,"Overnight":"","Travel_Type":"","Quotation":"","Quotation_Attribution":"","Itinerary_Location":"","Latitude":"","Longitude":"","Brief":false},{"DayFrom":8,"DayTo":8,"Headline":"Zermatt \/ Depart","ActivityOverview":"","EstimatedLength":"","ActivityLevel":"","ItinBlock":"Our trip ends after breakfast in our Zermatt hotel. Trip members transfer to Geneva on their own by train, or depart for other destinations in Europe...B<div><br><\/div><div>We strongly suggest spending an extra day or two in Zermatt so you can hike around and see the Matterhorn up close. We\u00e2€\u2122d be happy to recommend some great local hikes.<br><\/div>","Breakfast":1,"Lunch":0,"Dinner":0,"Overnight":"","Travel_Type":"","Quotation":"","Quotation_Attribution":"","Itinerary_Location":"","Latitude":"","Longitude":"","Brief":false},{"DayFrom":1,"DayTo":4,"Headline":"Chamonix, France \/ Champex, Switzerland \/ Arolla Valley","ActivityOverview":"","EstimatedLength":"","ActivityLevel":"","ItinBlock":"Heading out of Chamonix, we ascend alpine meadows past grazing cows to the Col de Balme (7,201'), which marks the French-Swiss frontier. The Col de la Forclaz (5,010') brings sweeping views of the Rhône Valley, with a descent to the Swiss hamlet of Champex d'en Haut. Our trail over the Col des Roux (9,199') reveals the summits of the Valais Alps. Crossing the Pas des Chèvres, we'll have sweeping views across the Arolla Valley to Pigne d'Arolla and Mt. Collon, with remarkable glaciers framing our route.","Breakfast":0,"Lunch":0,"Dinner":0,"Overnight":"","Travel_Type":"","Quotation":"","Quotation_Attribution":"","Itinerary_Location":"","Latitude":"","Longitude":"","Brief":true},{"DayFrom":5,"DayTo":6,"Headline":"Valais Canton \/ Col de Torrent \/ Meidpass \/ Gruben","ActivityOverview":"","EstimatedLength":"","ActivityLevel":"","ItinBlock":"We enter the ancient Valais Canton, where some locals still wear traditional Valais dress while working in their fields. Crossing the Col de Torrent brings us to the Val d'Hérens, a wonderfully wild area with stunning views, including the towering limestone pyramid of the Dent Blanche (14,290'), the emblematic peak of the Val d'Hérens. Crossing the Meidpass (9,154'), we enter German-speaking Switzerland, with a long descent past lovely alpine Meidsee Lake to the remote hamlet of Gruben in the peaceful Turtmanntal Valley.","Breakfast":0,"Lunch":0,"Dinner":0,"Overnight":"","Travel_Type":"","Quotation":"","Quotation_Attribution":"","Itinerary_Location":"","Latitude":"","Longitude":"","Brief":true},{"DayFrom":7,"DayTo":8,"Headline":"Zermatt","ActivityOverview":"","EstimatedLength":"","ActivityLevel":"","ItinBlock":"After our climb to the top of Augstbordpass (9,495'), our final pass, we catch a cable car and local train to car-free Zermatt. Surrounded by 13,000-foot peaks, this classic alpine town is famed for its awe-inspiring views of the Matterhorn. Depart on Day 8.","Breakfast":0,"Lunch":0,"Dinner":0,"Overnight":"","Travel_Type":"","Quotation":"","Quotation_Attribution":"","Itinerary_Location":"","Latitude":"","Longitude":"","Brief":true}],"itinpdf":[{"ItinYear":"2023","docType":"1","FileName":"https:\/\/s3.us-west-1.wasabisys.com\/wildernesstravel\/portal\/hiking-the-haute-route-itinerary-2023.pdf"},{"ItinYear":"2024","docType":"1","FileName":"https:\/\/s3.us-west-1.wasabisys.com\/wildernesstravel\/portal\/hiking-the-haute-route-itinerary-2024.pdf"},{"ItinYear":"","docType":"2","FileName":"https:\/\/s3.us-west-1.wasabisys.com\/wildernesstravel\/itins\/hiking-the-haute-route-predeparture.pdf"}],"whattoexpect":[{}],"highlights":[{"DisplayOrder":1,"HighlightText":"","Description":"Experience one of the Europe's great long-distance hikes—done right!","Image":"","VideoLink":"","ImageAltTag":"","image_id":24982,"caption":""},{"DisplayOrder":2,"HighlightText":"","Description":"Hike to remote alpine hamlets and verdant meadows amid the 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dates","Highlight":0,"AdditionalText":"","Category":"","ProductType":0,"ImagePath":"","ImageAltTag":""},{"DisplaySequence":3,"Type":"E","Description":"Optional gratuities to Trip Leaders or staff","Highlight":0,"AdditionalText":"","Category":"","ProductType":0,"ImagePath":"","ImageAltTag":""},{"DisplaySequence":4,"Type":"E","Description":"Optional travel insurance","Highlight":0,"AdditionalText":"","Category":"","ProductType":0,"ImagePath":"","ImageAltTag":""},{"DisplaySequence":5,"Type":"E","Description":"Other expenses of a personal nature (some alcoholic beverages, laundry, etc.)","Highlight":0,"AdditionalText":"","Category":"","ProductType":0,"ImagePath":"","ImageAltTag":""},{"DisplaySequence":1,"Type":"I","Description":"Expert leadership of at least two Wilderness Travel Trip Leaders","Highlight":0,"AdditionalText":"","Category":"","ProductType":0,"ImagePath":"","ImageAltTag":""},{"DisplaySequence":2,"Type":"I","Description":"Accommodations in hotels and mountain inns","Highlight":0,"AdditionalText":"","Category":"","ProductType":0,"ImagePath":"","ImageAltTag":""},{"DisplaySequence":3,"Type":"I","Description":"All meals","Highlight":0,"AdditionalText":"","Category":"","ProductType":0,"ImagePath":"","ImageAltTag":""},{"DisplaySequence":4,"Type":"I","Description":"A glass of wine or beer with dinner","Highlight":0,"AdditionalText":"","Category":"","ProductType":0,"ImagePath":"","ImageAltTag":""},{"DisplaySequence":5,"Type":"I","Description":"All ground transportation and baggage handling from meeting until departure","Highlight":0,"AdditionalText":"","Category":"","ProductType":0,"ImagePath":"","ImageAltTag":""},{"DisplaySequence":6,"Type":"I","Description":"All activities as indicated in Detailed Itinerary","Highlight":0,"AdditionalText":"","Category":"","ProductType":0,"ImagePath":"","ImageAltTag":""}],"destinations":[{"DestinationID":216,"Name":"Alps"},{"DestinationID":46,"Name":"Europe","Type":"Region"},{"DestinationID":74,"Name":"France","Type":"Country"},{"DestinationID":106,"Name":"Switzerland","Type":"Country"}],"activities":[{"ActivityID":225,"Name":"Hiking & Trekking","Primary":0}],"guides":[{"GuideID":850616,"First_Name":"Mike","Last_Name":"Browder","BioShort":"Mike Browder has worked in outdoor settings all his life, directing parks and recreation programs, coaching ski teams, and mountain climbing in North America and Asia, including a 2003 ascent of Mt. Everest. He joined our Europe team in 1999 and settled in the heart of the Alpine action in Chamonix, France, with his British wife, Gill, in 2001. Mike brings knowledge, professionalism, and genuine excitement to every trip, whether an alpine adventure, a voyage through glacier-carved fjords or a Mediterranean island ramble. “I want our trip members to appreciate the special nature of these areas, not only the mountains, but also the people and their way of life, which is changing in many ways,” he says. When not guiding for WT, Mike is a Nordic ski instructor and high mountain guide for mountain, rock, and ice climbing expeditions in Europe, Alaska, Asia, and beyond. ","BioLong":"Mike Browder has worked in outdoor settings all his life, directing parks and recreation programs, coaching ski teams, and mountain climbing in North America and Asia, including a 2003 ascent of Mt. Everest. He joined our Europe team in 1999 and settled in the heart of the Alpine action in Chamonix, France, with his British wife, Gill, in 2001. Mike brings knowledge, professionalism, and genuine excitement to every trip, whether an alpine adventure, a voyage through glacier-carved fjords or a Mediterranean island ramble. “I want our trip members to appreciate the special nature of these areas, not only the mountains, but also the people and their way of life, which is changing in many ways,” he says. When not guiding for WT, Mike is a Nordic ski instructor and high mountain guide for mountain, rock, and ice climbing expeditions in Europe, Alaska, Asia, and beyond. "},{"GuideID":851140,"First_Name":"Killian","Last_Name":"Buckley","BioShort":"Killian Buckley grew up in Killarney, Ireland. His parents, a harpist and a poet, instilled in him a great appreciation for the beautiful things in life, and once he found the mountains, it didn't take long for him to become addicted to the wild beauty he found there. He began hiking and climbing regularly, and what began as a hobby soon became a way of life that led him on extraordinary adventures, including climbing some of the Alps' famous north faces and an ascent, with fellow WT guide Naoise O Muiraheartaigh, of Yosemite's El Capitan. In 2021, on his birthday, Killian and his partner Maggie welcomed their first daughter Henia into the world. The three of them live in Chamonix, France. Currently, he is adjusting to fatherhood and figuring out how much risk he is willing to take in the high mountains, but still enormously passionate about sharing his love and knowledge of the Earth's wildest reaches.","BioLong":"Killian Buckley grew up in Killarney, Ireland. His parents, a harpist and a poet, instilled in him a great appreciation for the beautiful things in life, and once he found the mountains, it didn't take long for him to become addicted to the wild beauty he found there. He began hiking and climbing regularly, and what began as a hobby soon became a way of life that led him on extraordinary adventures, including climbing some of the Alps' famous north faces and an ascent, with fellow WT guide Naoise O Muiraheartaigh, of Yosemite's El Capitan. In 2021, on his birthday, Killian and his partner Maggie welcomed their first daughter Henia into the world. The three of them live in Chamonix, France. Currently, he is adjusting to fatherhood and figuring out how much risk he is willing to take in the high mountains, but still enormously passionate about sharing his love and knowledge of the Earth's wildest reaches."},{"GuideID":851192,"First_Name":"Peter","Last_Name":"Hallewell","BioShort":"Heather Florence was raised in the north of England and developed her love of the mountains early while on family hiking trips in North Wales and the Lake District. The lure of the mountains eventually led her to Chamonix, France, where she has lived for the last 10 years. When not leading trips, Heather travels around the world visiting the most spectacular places to go rock climbing. She's climbed El Capitan in Yosemite, the Totem pole in Tasmania, and desert towers in Jordan. Closer to home she has climbed many local mountains and is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in psychology. ","BioLong":"Heather Florence was raised in the north of England and developed her love of the mountains early while on family hiking trips in North Wales and the Lake District. The lure of the mountains eventually led her to Chamonix, France, where she has lived for the last 10 years. When not leading trips, Heather travels around the world visiting the most spectacular places to go rock climbing. She's climbed El Capitan in Yosemite, the Totem pole in Tasmania, and desert towers in Jordan. Closer to home she has climbed many local mountains and is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in psychology. "},{"GuideID":850776,"First_Name":"Marian","Last_Name":"Gibert","BioShort":"Marian Gibert was born in Bilbao, Spain, grew up in Venezuela, and later lived in Britain, where she studied Business Administration at Cambridge. She also lived and worked in a ski resort in the Swiss Alps, picking up the Swiss-German and French languages along with her fluent English. Her passion for outdoor sports led her to operate, at age 23, her own mountain hotel in a small village in the Alpujarras, where she guided horseback riding and mountain biking trips. \"My passion is to be outdoors sharing the traditions, culture, art and gastronomy of the areas we visit. One of my favorite trips is the Pilgrim's Way. Since I walked alone from the French Pyrenees to Santiago de Compostela, I got addicted to that trail and every chance I have, I walk a few stages.” After backpacking on six continents, Marian has settled in France. When not guiding, apart from exploring new hikes with her daughter and shepherd dogs, she is learning Euskara, the language of the Basque Country.","BioLong":"Marian Gibert was born in Bilbao, Spain, grew up in Venezuela, and later lived in Britain, where she studied Business Administration at Cambridge. She also lived and worked in a ski resort in the Swiss Alps, picking up the Swiss-German and French languages along with her fluent English. Her passion for outdoor sports led her to operate, at age 23, her own mountain hotel in a small village in the Alpujarras, where she guided horseback riding and mountain biking trips. \"My passion is to be outdoors sharing the traditions, culture, art and gastronomy of the areas we visit. One of my favorite trips is the Pilgrim's Way. Since I walked alone from the French Pyrenees to Santiago de Compostela, I got addicted to that trail and every chance I have, I walk a few stages.” After backpacking on six continents, Marian has settled in France. When not guiding, apart from exploring new hikes with her daughter and shepherd dogs, she is learning Euskara, the language of the Basque Country."},{"GuideID":851077,"First_Name":"Jonny","Last_Name":"Kaye","BioShort":"From the peaks of the French Alps to Italy's Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales in England, Jonny Kaye has crossed countless mountain ranges, guiding groups of intrepid hikers along the way with his wealth of experience as a mountaineer and his easygoing way. His climbing adventures have taken him from Scotland to the Caucasus Mountains and the Arctic. Originally from Yorkshire in England, he lives in France's Tarentaise Valley with his wife and two children. When not leading trips, Jonny enjoys time with his family, cycling and birding, and in winter, he runs a ski chalet near his home.","BioLong":"From the peaks of the French Alps to Italy's Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales in England, Jonny Kaye has crossed countless mountain ranges, guiding groups of intrepid hikers along the way with his wealth of experience as a mountaineer and his easygoing way. His climbing adventures have taken him from Scotland to the Caucasus Mountains and the Arctic. Originally from Yorkshire in England, he lives in France's Tarentaise Valley with his wife and two children. When not leading trips, Jonny enjoys time with his family, cycling and birding, and in winter, he runs a ski chalet near his home."},{"GuideID":851177,"First_Name":"Ryan","Last_Name":"Kost","BioShort":"Ryan Kost has worked, studied, and traveled in many countries and holds a Master's degree in Socio-Cultural Anthropology. He first traveled to Peru with his parents when he was 14 and fell in love with the natural beauty and deep cultural history of the Andes. He conducted his fieldwork in the Cusco region, has worked as an outdoor leader for the last six years, and calls Peru his second home. Ryan has extensive training in outdoor leadership education, high altitude medicine, Leave No Trace ethics, and mountaineering. He has led both our Cordillera Huayhuash and Cordillera Blanca treks, and currently lives in Colorado.","BioLong":"Ryan Kost has worked, studied, and traveled in many countries and holds a Master's degree in Socio-Cultural Anthropology. He first traveled to Peru with his parents when he was 14 and fell in love with the natural beauty and deep cultural history of the Andes. He conducted his fieldwork in the Cusco region, has worked as an outdoor leader for the last six years, and calls Peru his second home. Ryan has extensive training in outdoor leadership education, high altitude medicine, Leave No Trace ethics, and mountaineering. He has led both our Cordillera Huayhuash and Cordillera Blanca treks, and currently lives in Colorado."},{"GuideID":851288,"First_Name":"Tomas","Last_Name":"O'Donoghue","BioShort":"","BioLong":"Originally from Kerry, Ireland, Tomas O'Donaghue split his childhood between rugged Killarney National Park and the seaside town of Dingle, where his family would spend the summer in their caravan. His parents gave him a love of the outdoors, which inspired him to travel the world from a young age. He holds a degree in civil engineering and during his 20s, he mixed guiding with engineering. The outdoor life eventually prevailed and he moved from Ireland to the French mountaineering center of Chamonix to pursue his passions in the Alps. Today he lives in the quaint hamlet of Seroz, just 10 minutes from Chamonix. Tomas enjoys most outdoors sports, with the goal now shifting to spending quality time with friends rather than scaling the highest peaks."},{"GuideID":850821,"First_Name":"Clive","Last_Name":"Roberts","BioShort":"“My biggest passion in life is the mountains,” says Clive Roberts. “Climbing them, traveling through them, working in them, living in them.” One of his favorite journeys with WT is our Mont Blanc to the Mediterranean trip because of its constantly changing scenery and culture, from the snowy spires of the Chamonix Aiguilles to olive groves set along the Mediterranean. When he is not leading trips, Clive is in the ongoing process of renovating his cottage in the Mourne Mountains of County Down, Ireland, using traditional materials wherever possible.","BioLong":"“My biggest passion in life is the mountains,” says Clive Roberts. “Climbing them, traveling through them, working in them, living in them.” Since 1995, Clive has led groups on every continent, and often brings his guitar along on the hikes, for impromptu sing-alongs with guests. He holds Ireland's Mountaineering Instructors Certificate and was the former director of the Irish National Mountain Center. One of his favorite journeys with WT is our Mont Blanc to the Mediterranean trip because of its constantly changing scenery and culture, from the snowy spires of the Chamonix Aiguilles to olive groves set along the Mediterranean. When he is not leading trips, Clive is in the ongoing process of fully renovating his cottage in the Mourne Mountains of County Down, Ireland, using traditional materials wherever possible to preserve the Irish building. He also plays the banjo, but “it's a little heavy to carry around while hiking!”"},{"GuideID":851071,"First_Name":"Vicky","Last_Name":"Sotriffer","BioShort":"As an adventure-seeking traveler and Trip Leader, Vicky Sotriffer thrives in new places. She has led trips on nearly every continent for more than 10 years, including sea kayaking trips. Originally from South Tyrol, Italy, Vicky now resides in Ibiza, Spain, and is fluent in a handful of languages. She spends parts of her year in Oman, where she follows her passion for hiking in the country's striking desert environment and diving in the warm waters off the coast (and trying to improve her Arabic along the way). In her free time, she enjoys tennis, rock climbing, horseback riding, and in the winter, she heads to the Dolomites to ski.","BioLong":"As an adventure-seeking traveler and Trip Leader, Vicky Sotriffer thrives in new places. She has led trips on nearly every continent for more than 10 years, including sea kayaking trips. Originally from South Tyrol, Italy, Vicky now resides in Ibiza, Spain, and is fluent in a handful of languages. She spends parts of her year in Oman, where she follows her passion for hiking in the country's striking desert environment and diving in the warm waters off the coast (and trying to improve her Arabic along the way). In her free time, she enjoys tennis, rock climbing, horseback riding, and in the winter, she heads to the Dolomites to ski."},{"GuideID":850725,"First_Name":"Daniel","Last_Name":"Windham","BioShort":"Daniel Windham, born in Georgia's foothills, discovered his passion for the mountains at an early age while backpacking on the Appalachian Trail. After moving to northern Italy, becoming a mountain guide, and running a mountain hut with his Italian wife, he returned (via a couple of years in Costa Rica) to his roots, enjoying the outdoor life with his family. Having climbed and guided on some of the highest peaks in the Himalayas and the Americas (notably Mt. Rainier), Dan continues to guide on Aconcagua (Argentina) and for Wilderness Travel in the Alps. He is also an Appalachian Trail Ambassador, which involves regularly running an 89-mile stretch of the trail, as well as community involvement. His goal is to \"give back to the wilderness a little of what it has given me.” Dan speaks English, Spanish, and Italian, and continues his interests in wilderness medicine and cooking.","BioLong":"Daniel Windham, born in Georgia's foothills, discovered his passion for the mountains at an early age while backpacking on the Appalachian Trail. After moving to northern Italy, becoming a mountain guide, and running a mountain hut with his Italian wife, he returned (via a couple of years in Costa Rica) to his roots, enjoying the outdoor life with his family. Having climbed and guided on some of the highest peaks in the Himalayas and the Americas (notably Mt. Rainier), Dan continues to guide on Aconcagua (Argentina) and for Wilderness Travel in the Alps. He is also an Appalachian Trail Ambassador, which involves regularly running an 89-mile stretch of the trail, as well as community involvement. His goal is to \"give back to the wilderness a little of what it has given me.” Dan speaks English, Spanish, and Italian, and continues his interests in wilderness medicine and cooking."},{"GuideID":851082,"First_Name":"Mark","Last_Name":"Tennent","BioShort":"A native of Bath, England, Mark Tennent quickly learned his calling was in the mountains. He completed a specialist Outdoor Education degree at Bangor Normal College in North Wales, subsequently instructed at various outdoor centers in the UK, then graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and was commissioned into the British Army, which he left as a Captain. A recipient of several mountaineering and leadership certificates, Mark has worked in various parts of the world including Afghanistan, Macedonia, Kosovo, Kenya, Sudan, and India. Since 2005, he has lived in the Savoie department of the French Alps, near Albertville, where he shares his passion for the outdoors, French food, and the local culture. He's a member of the French Syndicat Interprofessionnel de la Montagne, bringing together mountain guides, climbing instructors, and mountain leaders. When not guiding, he can be found ski-mountaineering, rock climbing, and cycling.","BioLong":"A native of Bath, England, Mark Tennent quickly learned his calling was in the mountains. He completed a specialist Outdoor Education degree at Bangor Normal College in North Wales, subsequently instructed at various outdoor centers in the UK, then graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and was commissioned into the British Army, which he left as a Captain. A recipient of several mountaineering and leadership certificates, Mark has worked in various parts of the world including Afghanistan, Macedonia, Kosovo, Kenya, Sudan, and India. Since 2005, he has lived in the Savoie department of the French Alps, near Albertville, where he shares his passion for the outdoors, French food, and the local culture. He's a member of the French Syndicat Interprofessionnel de la Montagne, bringing together mountain guides, climbing instructors, and mountain leaders. When not guiding, he can be found ski-mountaineering, rock climbing, and cycling."},{"GuideID":850547,"First_Name":"Stewart","Last_Name":"Wheelhouse","BioShort":"Stewart Wheelhouse, a Welshman by birth, has spent the past 23 years leading adventures and expeditions throughout the world. He has traveled the length of Africa, written guidebooks on cycling through Europe, and led expeditions in Asia and Australia. A wonderful storyteller and traveling companion, Stewart spends his free time between trips exploring the backcountry trails of France and the Alps, and sailing the Mediterranean. When the northern hemisphere gets too cold, he migrates to Tasmania to lead our trips there and spends time sailing and fishing with his mates in the D`Entrecasteaux Channel.","BioLong":"Stewart Wheelhouse, a Welshman by birth, has spent the past two decades leading adventures and expeditions throughout the world. He has traveled the length of Africa, written guidebooks on cycling through Europe, and led expeditions in Asia and Australia. A wonderful storyteller and traveling companion, Stewart spends his free time between trips exploring the backcountry trails of France and the Alps, and sailing the Mediterranean. When the Northern Hemisphere gets too cold, he migrates to Tasmania to lead our trips there and enjoys sailing and fishing with his mates in the D`Entrecasteaux Channel."}],"guestreviews":[{"GuestNames":"Bob F.","GuestLocation":"Bethesda, MD","GuestReview":"Another great WT adventure! Great combination of demanding hikes, beautiful vistas, good food and drink, and great travel companions. We were fortunate to have three accomplished leaders, any of whom could have led the trip on their own."},{"GuestNames":"Dan B.","GuestLocation":"Tucson, AZ","GuestReview":"Couldn’t have asked for a better trip! Amazing terrain, great wildflowers and food, and great leaders and group"},{"GuestNames":"Helen M.","GuestLocation":"Short Hills, NJ","GuestReview":"It was the trip of a lifetime. I loved every moment of it!"},{"GuestNames":"Marisa V.","GuestLocation":"San Francisco, CA","GuestReview":"A wonderful trip. WT consistently impresses me with their level of service. Most importantly, the guides are superior to any other service I've used. You feel completely at ease and supported by their level of professionalism."},{"GuestNames":"Mark J.","GuestLocation":"New York, NY","GuestReview":"All the logistics for the trip were seamless. The scenery along the hiking routes was spectacular, the guides were terrific, and the overall experience was great!"},{"GuestNames":"Richard L.","GuestLocation":"Berkeley, CA","GuestReview":"A wonderful route with terrific hiking every day, and a perfect level of difficulty. We particularly loved our exceptional, supportive guides."},{"GuestNames":"Rita S.","GuestLocation":"St. Simons Island, GA","GuestReview":"The trip was fantastic in every way. I would not change a thing."}],"Extensions":[{}],"SimilarTrips":[{"TripID":10406,"SimilarTripID":10311,"Trip_Code":"DOLOCORT","Trip_Name":"Hiking in the Cortina Dolomites"},{"TripID":10406,"SimilarTripID":10656,"Trip_Code":"BLANCMED","Trip_Name":"Mont Blanc to the Mediterranean"},{"TripID":10406,"SimilarTripID":10341,"Trip_Code":"TMB","Trip_Name":"Tour du Mont Blanc"},{"TripID":10406,"SimilarTripID":10314,"Trip_Code":"HAUTERTE","Trip_Name":"Ultimate Haute Route"}],"Specialists":[{}],"TripSegments":[{"VendorID":73472,"ProductID":84796,"SelectType":"Optional","ChoiceGroup":0,"ProductType":"Extra Hotel Night","Vendor":"Park Hotel Suisse & Spa","Address1":"","Address2":"","City":"Chamonix","State":"","Postal":"","Product":"Pre-Trip Extra Services: Park Hotel Suisse (DATES, 1 night)","Day":0,"Sequence":10,"Duration":1,"PropertyDescription":"","ItinBlock":"","VendorPhoto":"","ProductPhoto":"","OnRequest":"Option","Overhead":false,"BookingNotes":"","TicketSession":"","TicketTimeOfDay":"","TicketRound":"","TicketCategory":"","TicketDate":"","TicketLocation":"","NotTicketOnly":false,"Inactive":false},{"VendorID":71012,"ProductID":84797,"SelectType":"Optional","ChoiceGroup":0,"ProductType":"Extra Hotel Night","Vendor":"Grand Hotel des Alpes","Address1":"75, Rue du Dr Paccard","Address2":"","City":"Chamonix","State":"","Postal":"74400","Product":"Pre-Trip Extra Services: Grand Hotel des Alpes (DATES, 1 night)","Day":0,"Sequence":20,"Duration":1,"PropertyDescription":"<p>A truly wonderful hotel that WT groups have enjoyed for years, the elegant Grand Hotel des Alpes is right in the center of Chamonix, set back on a lovely plaza facing a pedestrians-only street. A historic property newly rebuilt from stem to stern, it is Italian-owned and run with superb taste and great service. The quiet garden terrace along the river is a great place for a drink in the evening or a breakfast buffet in the morning. There's also a pool, steam room, and Jacuzzi. Without a doubt, this is the best place to stay in Chamonix!<\/p>","ItinBlock":"","VendorPhoto":"https:\/\/s3.us-west-1.wasabisys.com\/wildernesstravel\/vendors\/10-grand-hotel-des-alpes-exterior-alps.jpg","ProductPhoto":"","OnRequest":"Option","Overhead":false,"BookingNotes":"","TicketSession":"","TicketTimeOfDay":"","TicketRound":"","TicketCategory":"","TicketDate":"","TicketLocation":"","NotTicketOnly":false,"Inactive":false},{"VendorID":73502,"ProductID":84913,"SelectType":"Operational","ChoiceGroup":0,"ProductType":"Transfer","Vendor":"Pleisure Transfers","Address1":"","Address2":"","City":"","State":"","Postal":"","Product":"Transfer","Day":1,"Sequence":0,"Duration":1,"PropertyDescription":"","ItinBlock":"","VendorPhoto":"","ProductPhoto":"","OnRequest":"Option","Overhead":false,"BookingNotes":"","TicketSession":"","TicketTimeOfDay":"","TicketRound":"","TicketCategory":"","TicketDate":"","TicketLocation":"","NotTicketOnly":false,"Inactive":false},{"VendorID":11,"ProductID":54,"SelectType":"Optional","ChoiceGroup":0,"ProductType":"Single Supplement","Vendor":"Wilderness Travel","Address1":"1102 Ninth Street","Address2":"","City":"Berkeley","State":"CA","Postal":"94710","Product":"Single Supplement","Day":1,"Sequence":2,"Duration":1,"PropertyDescription":"","ItinBlock":"<p><\/p>","VendorPhoto":"","ProductPhoto":"","OnRequest":"Option","Overhead":false,"BookingNotes":"","TicketSession":"","TicketTimeOfDay":"","TicketRound":"","TicketCategory":"","TicketDate":"","TicketLocation":"","NotTicketOnly":false,"Inactive":false},{"VendorID":73529,"ProductID":84935,"SelectType":"Mandatory","ChoiceGroup":0,"ProductType":"Accommodation","Vendor":"Hotel de la Poste Martigny","Address1":"Rue de la Poste 8","Address2":"","City":"Martigny","State":"","Postal":"","Product":"Standard Room","Day":1,"Sequence":10,"Duration":1,"PropertyDescription":"<p>This basic, unpretentious 34-room hotel is conveniently located in the center of town. Guest rooms are on the small size, but are clean and tidy, and the staff is friendly and welcoming.<\/p>","ItinBlock":"","VendorPhoto":"https:\/\/s3.us-west-1.wasabisys.com\/wildernesstravel\/vendors\/10-hotel-de-la-poste-room.jpg","ProductPhoto":"","OnRequest":"Option","Overhead":false,"BookingNotes":"","TicketSession":"","TicketTimeOfDay":"","TicketRound":"","TicketCategory":"","TicketDate":"","TicketLocation":"","NotTicketOnly":false,"Inactive":false},{"VendorID":72804,"ProductID":82632,"SelectType":"Operational","ChoiceGroup":0,"ProductType":"Accommodation","Vendor":"Martigny Boutique Hotel","Address1":"","Address2":"","City":"Martigny","State":"","Postal":"","Product":"Standard Room","Day":1,"Sequence":11,"Duration":1,"PropertyDescription":"<meta charset=\"utf-8\"\/><body><p>Situated in the small town of Martigny in the Lower Valais, this uniquely artistic hotel has 52 guest rooms and suites—each named after an artist and decorated with pieces from one of Switzerland's prestigious cultural foundations. The locally renowned restaurant serves regional specialties and Peruvian cuisine, available in the dining room or outside on the terrace. The hotel also has a good wine bar, and is part of an innovative project that gives employment to people with disabilities, adding to the friendly, welcoming atmosphere.<\/p><\/body>","ItinBlock":"","VendorPhoto":"https:\/\/s3.us-west-1.wasabisys.com\/wildernesstravel\/vendors\/10-martigny-boutique-hotel-standard-room.jpg","ProductPhoto":"","OnRequest":"Option","Overhead":false,"BookingNotes":"","TicketSession":"","TicketTimeOfDay":"","TicketRound":"","TicketCategory":"","TicketDate":"","TicketLocation":"","NotTicketOnly":false,"Inactive":false},{"VendorID":71017,"ProductID":80845,"SelectType":"Operational","ChoiceGroup":0,"ProductType":"Accommodation","Vendor":"Hotel du Col de la Forclaz","Address1":"Forclaz 2","Address2":"","City":"Trient","State":"","Postal":"1929","Product":"Standard Room","Day":1,"Sequence":12,"Duration":1,"PropertyDescription":"<meta charset=\"utf-8\"\/><body>Sitting right on the mountain pass where the road leads west to France or east to Switzerland, this is a mountain accommodation with simple rooms and shared toilets\/showers. The food is hearty and home-cooked and there's a nice patio where we can relax and enjoy the views. Depending on availability, trip members may have to share rooms on this night.<\/body>","ItinBlock":"","VendorPhoto":"https:\/\/s3.us-west-1.wasabisys.com\/wildernesstravel\/vendors\/1-hotel-du-col-de-la-forclaz-bedroom.jpg","ProductPhoto":"","OnRequest":"Option","Overhead":false,"BookingNotes":"","TicketSession":"","TicketTimeOfDay":"","TicketRound":"","TicketCategory":"","TicketDate":"","TicketLocation":"","NotTicketOnly":false,"Inactive":false},{"VendorID":73496,"ProductID":84895,"SelectType":"Optional","ChoiceGroup":0,"ProductType":"Transfer","Vendor":"Chamonix Valley Transfers","Address1":"44a Chemin du Lai","Address2":"","City":"Chamonix","State":"","Postal":"74400","Product":"Transfer","Day":1,"Sequence":15,"Duration":1,"PropertyDescription":"","ItinBlock":"","VendorPhoto":"","ProductPhoto":"","OnRequest":"Option","Overhead":false,"BookingNotes":"","TicketSession":"","TicketTimeOfDay":"","TicketRound":"","TicketCategory":"","TicketDate":"","TicketLocation":"","NotTicketOnly":false,"Inactive":false},{"VendorID":71016,"ProductID":80844,"SelectType":"Operational","ChoiceGroup":0,"ProductType":"Accommodation","Vendor":"Hotel du Glacier","Address1":"Route du Lac 54","Address2":"","City":"Champex-Lac","State":"","Postal":"1938","Product":"Standard Room","Day":2,"Sequence":10,"Duration":1,"PropertyDescription":"<meta charset=\"utf-8\"\/><body><p>The comfortable Hotel du Glacier sits on the main and only street of the pretty little village of Champex. The same lovely couple has owned it for many years and they also run the restaurant, which has great food and a relaxed atmosphere. The hotel is steps away from a picturesque mountain lake.<\/p><\/body>","ItinBlock":"","VendorPhoto":"https:\/\/s3.us-west-1.wasabisys.com\/wildernesstravel\/vendors\/1-hotel-du-glacier-bedroom.jpg","ProductPhoto":"","OnRequest":"Option","Overhead":false,"BookingNotes":"","TicketSession":"","TicketTimeOfDay":"","TicketRound":"","TicketCategory":"","TicketDate":"","TicketLocation":"","NotTicketOnly":false,"Inactive":false},{"VendorID":72916,"ProductID":82744,"SelectType":"Operational","ChoiceGroup":0,"ProductType":"Accommodation","Vendor":"Au Club Alpin","Address1":"","Address2":"","City":"Champex","State":"","Postal":"","Product":"Standard Room","Day":2,"Sequence":11,"Duration":1,"PropertyDescription":"<p>This pleasant lakeside lodge offers fantastic views from the guest rooms and puts us in a wonderful position to explore the surrounding area. Eight rooms are positioned in a way to provide lake views, and have en-suite bathrooms and a private patio. The hotel has a lovely restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating, perfect for enjoying the sunset after a day's hike.<\/p>","ItinBlock":"","VendorPhoto":"https:\/\/s3.us-west-1.wasabisys.com\/wildernesstravel\/vendors\/1-au-club-alpin-exterior.jpg","ProductPhoto":"","OnRequest":"Option","Overhead":false,"BookingNotes":"","TicketSession":"","TicketTimeOfDay":"","TicketRound":"","TicketCategory":"","TicketDate":"","TicketLocation":"","NotTicketOnly":false,"Inactive":false},{"VendorID":72012,"ProductID":81840,"SelectType":"Operational","ChoiceGroup":0,"ProductType":"Accommodation","Vendor":"Hotel du Barrage","Address1":"","Address2":"","City":"Heremence","State":"","Postal":"","Product":"Standard Room","Day":3,"Sequence":10,"Duration":1,"PropertyDescription":"Located in the heart of the Valais in the Val d'Herens, this 72-room hotel offers simple but comfortable rooms and stunning views of the Val d'Herens, with its charming villages.","ItinBlock":"","VendorPhoto":"https:\/\/s3.us-west-1.wasabisys.com\/wildernesstravel\/vendors\/1-hotel-du-barrage-exterior-landscape.jpg","ProductPhoto":"","OnRequest":"Option","Overhead":false,"BookingNotes":"","TicketSession":"","TicketTimeOfDay":"","TicketRound":"","TicketCategory":"","TicketDate":"","TicketLocation":"","NotTicketOnly":false,"Inactive":false},{"VendorID":71183,"ProductID":81011,"SelectType":"Operational","ChoiceGroup":0,"ProductType":"Accommodation","Vendor":"Grand Hotel Kurhaus","Address1":"","Address2":"","City":"Arolla","State":"","Postal":"","Product":"Standard Room","Day":4,"Sequence":10,"Duration":1,"PropertyDescription":"<p>This historic Victorian stone hotel at 6,000 feet on the Haute Route trail sits apart from the little village of Arolla in a forest clearing. Built in 1896 and loaded with charm and character, it has been beautifully renovated with all the modern comforts. There's a great downstairs bar with a crackling fireplace, an ancient wood-paneled salon, antique skis on the wall, and a wonderful terrace garden in front for enjoying a beer and views of Mont-Collon, Pigne d'Arolla, and other peaks we've been viewing from the trail.<\/p>","ItinBlock":"","VendorPhoto":"https:\/\/s3.us-west-1.wasabisys.com\/wildernesstravel\/vendors\/1-grand-hotel-kurhaus-interior-salon.jpg","ProductPhoto":"","OnRequest":"Option","Overhead":false,"BookingNotes":"","TicketSession":"","TicketTimeOfDay":"","TicketRound":"","TicketCategory":"","TicketDate":"","TicketLocation":"","NotTicketOnly":false,"Inactive":false},{"VendorID":71297,"ProductID":81125,"SelectType":"Operational","ChoiceGroup":0,"ProductType":"Accommodation","Vendor":"Hotel Bella Tola","Address1":"","Address2":"","City":"St. Luc","State":"","Postal":"","Product":"Standard Room","Day":5,"Sequence":10,"Duration":1,"PropertyDescription":"<p>This family-run Belle Epoque hotel dating to 1859 is located near the village of St. Luc and offers the atmosphere of a country estate along with amazing mountain views. Guest rooms are beautifully appointed and there is a good restaurant with an outdoor terrace and cozy bar area. Its spa facilities include an indoor pool, sauna, steambath, and massage rooms. The hotel is a member of The Historic Hotels of Europe.<\/p>","ItinBlock":"","VendorPhoto":"https:\/\/s3.us-west-1.wasabisys.com\/wildernesstravel\/vendors\/1-hotel-bella-tola-bedroom.jpg","ProductPhoto":"","OnRequest":"Option","Overhead":false,"BookingNotes":"","TicketSession":"","TicketTimeOfDay":"","TicketRound":"","TicketCategory":"","TicketDate":"","TicketLocation":"","NotTicketOnly":false,"Inactive":false},{"VendorID":71185,"ProductID":81013,"SelectType":"Operational","ChoiceGroup":0,"ProductType":"Accommodation","Vendor":"Hotel Alpina","Address1":"","Address2":"","City":"Grimentz","State":"","Postal":"","Product":"Standard Room","Day":5,"Sequence":11,"Duration":1,"PropertyDescription":"<meta charset=\"utf-8\"\/><body>The Alpina is a modern chalet-style hotel with wonderful flower-box-filled balconies attached to all the guest rooms. The hotel blends in well with its surroundings on the edge of the historic part of Grimentz, an ancient and undiscovered Swiss hamlet of tiny cobbled streets and classic wooden chalets. The dining\/breakfast room has great mountain views.<\/body>","ItinBlock":"","VendorPhoto":"https:\/\/s3.us-west-1.wasabisys.com\/wildernesstravel\/vendors\/1-hotel-alpina-exterior_1.jpg","ProductPhoto":"","OnRequest":"Option","Overhead":false,"BookingNotes":"","TicketSession":"","TicketTimeOfDay":"","TicketRound":"","TicketCategory":"","TicketDate":"","TicketLocation":"","NotTicketOnly":false,"Inactive":false},{"VendorID":71184,"ProductID":81012,"SelectType":"Operational","ChoiceGroup":0,"ProductType":"Accommodation","Vendor":"Hotel Schwarzhorn","Address1":"","Address2":"","City":"Gruben","State":"","Postal":"","Product":"Standard Room","Day":6,"Sequence":10,"Duration":1,"PropertyDescription":"<p>In Gruben, a classic stop on the hikers' Haute Route, the stone-built Hotel Schwarzhorn is the only accommodation in this tiny mountain hamlet. Nestled in the remote Turtmanntal Valley, it has basic rooms with in-room sinks and shared toilets\/showers across the hall. We hike the Haute Route trail right to this hotel in the afternoon, and hike out the next morning, no van transfer required!<\/p>","ItinBlock":"","VendorPhoto":"https:\/\/s3.us-west-1.wasabisys.com\/wildernesstravel\/vendors\/1-hotel-schwarzhorn-exterior.jpg","ProductPhoto":"","OnRequest":"Option","Overhead":false,"BookingNotes":"","TicketSession":"","TicketTimeOfDay":"","TicketRound":"","TicketCategory":"","TicketDate":"","TicketLocation":"","NotTicketOnly":false,"Inactive":false},{"VendorID":71466,"ProductID":81294,"SelectType":"Operational","ChoiceGroup":0,"ProductType":"Accommodation","Vendor":"BEAUSiTE Zermatt","Address1":"Brunnmattgasse 9","Address2":"","City":"Zermatt","State":"","Postal":"3920","Product":"Standard Room","Day":7,"Sequence":10,"Duration":1,"PropertyDescription":"<p>We enjoy famous Swiss hospitality at this traditional century-old hotel, with its understated Old World elegance and wonderful views of the Matterhorn. Cozy guest rooms are modern, clean, and spacious. The large pool area has fantastic windows looking out to the Matterhorn, and there are also Jacuzzis, saunas, steam room, and massage treatments available. The hotel is just a 5-minute walk from the main shopping area.<\/p>","ItinBlock":"","VendorPhoto":"https:\/\/s3.us-west-1.wasabisys.com\/wildernesstravel\/vendors\/1-beau-site-zermatt-interior-dining.jpg","ProductPhoto":"","OnRequest":"Option","Overhead":false,"BookingNotes":"","TicketSession":"","TicketTimeOfDay":"","TicketRound":"","TicketCategory":"","TicketDate":"","TicketLocation":"","NotTicketOnly":false,"Inactive":false},{"VendorID":73071,"ProductID":82899,"SelectType":"Operational","ChoiceGroup":0,"ProductType":"Accommodation","Vendor":"Hotel Sonne","Address1":"Metzggasse 35","Address2":"","City":"Zermatt","State":"","Postal":"","Product":"Standard Room","Day":7,"Sequence":11,"Duration":1,"PropertyDescription":"<p>This family-owned and operated hotel has been welcoming guests for three generations. Quiet and centrally located, it's an ideal place to relax after hiking in the mountains all day. Guest rooms are cozy and comfortable, and amenities include a spa with sauna, swimming pool, steam baths and an outdoor Jacuzzi in a scenic setting—just the ticket for pampering those weary muscles!<\/p>","ItinBlock":"","VendorPhoto":"https:\/\/s3.us-west-1.wasabisys.com\/wildernesstravel\/vendors\/1-hotel-sonne-switzerland-zermatt-garden.jpg","ProductPhoto":"","OnRequest":"Option","Overhead":false,"BookingNotes":"","TicketSession":"","TicketTimeOfDay":"","TicketRound":"","TicketCategory":"","TicketDate":"","TicketLocation":"","NotTicketOnly":false,"Inactive":false},{"VendorID":70990,"ProductID":80818,"SelectType":"Operational","ChoiceGroup":0,"ProductType":"Accommodation","Vendor":"Hotel Alpenblick","Address1":"","Address2":"","City":"Zermatt","State":"","Postal":"","Product":"Standard Room","Day":7,"Sequence":12,"Duration":1,"PropertyDescription":"<meta charset=\"utf-8\"\/><body><p>A small, comfortable, modern hotel, the Alpenblick has a peaceful and quiet location about a five-minute walk down to Zermatt's main street. It's also close to the aerial cable car to the Klein Matterhorn. The place is family-run and offers us a warm welcome, spacious rooms, and a good restaurant with Swiss specialties.<\/p><\/body>","ItinBlock":"","VendorPhoto":"https:\/\/s3.us-west-1.wasabisys.com\/wildernesstravel\/vendors\/10-hotel-alpenblick-exterior.jpg","ProductPhoto":"","OnRequest":"Option","Overhead":false,"BookingNotes":"","TicketSession":"","TicketTimeOfDay":"","TicketRound":"","TicketCategory":"","TicketDate":"","TicketLocation":"","NotTicketOnly":false,"Inactive":false},{"VendorID":70990,"ProductID":85056,"SelectType":"Optional","ChoiceGroup":0,"ProductType":"Extra Hotel Night","Vendor":"Hotel Alpenblick","Address1":"","Address2":"","City":"Zermatt","State":"","Postal":"","Product":"Post-Trip Extra Services: Hotel Alpenblick (DATES, 1 night)","Day":8,"Sequence":0,"Duration":1,"PropertyDescription":"<meta charset=\"utf-8\"\/><body><p>A small, comfortable, modern hotel, the Alpenblick has a peaceful and quiet location about a five-minute walk down to Zermatt's main street. It's also close to the aerial cable car to the Klein Matterhorn. The place is family-run and offers us a warm welcome, spacious rooms, and a good restaurant with Swiss specialties.<\/p><\/body>","ItinBlock":"","VendorPhoto":"https:\/\/s3.us-west-1.wasabisys.com\/wildernesstravel\/vendors\/10-hotel-alpenblick-exterior.jpg","ProductPhoto":"","OnRequest":"Option","Overhead":false,"BookingNotes":"","TicketSession":"","TicketTimeOfDay":"","TicketRound":"","TicketCategory":"","TicketDate":"","TicketLocation":"","NotTicketOnly":false,"Inactive":false},{"VendorID":71466,"ProductID":84798,"SelectType":"Optional","ChoiceGroup":0,"ProductType":"Extra Hotel Night","Vendor":"BEAUSiTE Zermatt","Address1":"Brunnmattgasse 9","Address2":"","City":"Zermatt","State":"","Postal":"3920","Product":"Post-Trip Extra Services: BEAUSiTE Zermatt (DATES, 1 night)","Day":8,"Sequence":20,"Duration":1,"PropertyDescription":"<p>We enjoy famous Swiss hospitality at this traditional century-old hotel, with its understated Old World elegance and wonderful views of the Matterhorn. Cozy guest rooms are modern, clean, and spacious. The large pool area has fantastic windows looking out to the Matterhorn, and there are also Jacuzzis, saunas, steam room, and massage treatments available. The hotel is just a 5-minute walk from the main shopping area.<\/p>","ItinBlock":"","VendorPhoto":"https:\/\/s3.us-west-1.wasabisys.com\/wildernesstravel\/vendors\/1-beau-site-zermatt-interior-dining.jpg","ProductPhoto":"","OnRequest":"Option","Overhead":false,"BookingNotes":"","TicketSession":"","TicketTimeOfDay":"","TicketRound":"","TicketCategory":"","TicketDate":"","TicketLocation":"","NotTicketOnly":false,"Inactive":false}],"CustomFields":{"Custom_Trip_Level_5":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2023-04-13T06:38:41 --><p>Please note that in addition to completing your own Medical Form, a signed Medical Practitioner Form is also required for your trip. Please find this form attached. You can also find this in the "Documents" tab in your Guest Portal (through the link above). Once you receive your physician's approval, please upload the signed form to your Portal (directions on how to do this can be found in your Portal).<\/p>","Custom_Trip_Name_Addendum":"Adventure","Custom_Welcome_Letter_Addendum":"","Custom_Welcome_Email_Send_List":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2023-04-13T06:39:00 --><p>Extra Service Request Form<br \/>Medical Practitioner Form<\/p>","Custom_Welcome_Insurance_Intro":"We recommend you purchase a travel protection plan to help protect your travel investment against the unexpected. ","Custom_FI_Optional_Donation_Text":"","Custom_Sales_Email_-_Trip_Sales_Points":"<body>I also encourage you to check out this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=o47DLV0LPC4&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wildernesstravel.com%2Ftrip%2Fswitzerland%2Fhiking-haute-route-express-adventure%2Fitinerary&source_ve_path=OTY3MTQ&feature=emb_imp_woyt\">trip video<\/a>, which will give you a great sense of the adventure ahead!<\/body><meta charset=\"utf-8\"\/>\n","Custom_Sales_Email_-_TP_Trip_Sales_Points":"<body>I also encourage you to check out this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=o47DLV0LPC4&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wildernesstravel.com%2Ftrip%2Fswitzerland%2Fhiking-haute-route-express-adventure%2Fitinerary&source_ve_path=OTY3MTQ&feature=emb_imp_woyt\">trip video<\/a>, which will give you a great sense of the adventure ahead!<\/body><meta charset=\"utf-8\"\/>\n","Custom_Sales_Email_-_Payment_Terms":"<meta charset=\"utf-8\"\/><body>In order to confirm your space on this trip, we require a first deposit of $600 per person, which is fully refundable up to 91 days prior to departure.<\/body>","Custom_Sales_Email_-_Region":"<meta charset=\"utf-8\"\/><body>Alps Hiking<\/body>","Custom_Sales_Email_-_Region_Sales_Points":"","Custom_Hiking_Poles":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2023-05-01T15:37:24 --><p><strong>HIKING POLES:<\/strong> If you choose to bring hiking poles, they must be packed in your checked luggage as they are not permitted in carry-on bags.<br \/> <br \/><\/p>","Custom_Daypack":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2023-04-26T14:35:46 --><p><strong>DAYPACK: <\/strong>To carry a jacket or rain gear, water bottle, camera, and other items you want on the trail.<\/p>","Custom_Vaccination_Card":"","Custom_FB_Packing_Reminders_-_MISC_1":"","Custom_FB_Additional_Notes_-_MISC_1":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2023-04-26T14:36:03 --><p><strong>NOTE ON ACCOMMODATIONS:<\/strong> Our trip takes us through some of the finest scenery in the Alps. You will be staying in small inns and hotels. We have done our best to arrange accommodation as equitably as possible, however please keep in mind that the rooms in Europe's small inns and hotels may not be as large as you are accustomed to in American hotels. If you have signed up for a single supplement, please note that on two nights you may still have shared accommodations.<\/p>","Custom_FB_Additional_Notes_-_MISC_2":"","Custom_Arrival":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2023-05-01T15:38:50 --><p><strong>ARRIVING IN CHAMONIX<\/strong> <br \/>Wilderness Travel provides a complimentary transfer between the Geneva Airport and our hotel in Chamonix, France. Please note this is a public van transfer service and it is likely other passengers may join the same transfer. There will likely be a waiting period between your arrival and the shuttle's departure as the other travelers scheduled for your transfer arrive. Upon arrival, a driver holding a sign with your name on it will meet you by the entrance of the Montreux Jazz Cafe, situated to the far right hand side of the Geneva Arrivals Hall - Swiss Sector. The journey from the Geneva Airport to Chamonix is roughly 1.5 hours.<\/p><p>If you have booked our complimentary transfer service, your reservation confirmation has already been emailed to you by Chamonix Valley Transfers. Please check this email to ensure that they have correctly noted your arrival information. You will also receive an email the night before your arrival to confirm the exact time of pickup as well as your driver's name and phone number. You can show either of these confirmation emails to your driver either printed or on your cell phone. If you have any problems (i.e. lost luggage), please contact your driver using the information provided in your final transfer confirmation, or alternatively contact the local office for Chamonix Valley Transfers at (+33) 485-800-132<\/p><p> <\/p><p><strong>MEETING PLACE<\/strong><br \/>On Day 1 at 8:30 am, please meet your Trip Leaders in the lobby of the Grand Hotel des Alpes in Chamonix. Please come to the meeting place dressed and ready to hike as you will head out on our first hike following a brief orientation meeting.<\/p><p> <\/p>","Custom_Arrival-_Meeting_Place":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2023-05-01T15:39:09 --><p><strong>Grand Hôtel des Alpes<\/strong><br \/>75 Rue du Dr Paccard<br \/>74400 Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France<br \/>+33 4 50 55 37 80<\/p>","Custom_Arrival_Transfer":"","Custom_Departure":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2023-04-26T14:38:13 --><p><strong>DEPARTING ZERMATT <\/strong><br \/>The trip ends in Zermatt after breakfast on Day 8. Trains to Geneva (about 4 hours) or Zurich (about 3.5 hours) depart hourly starting at around 5:30 am. Reservations are generally not needed and tickets can be purchased on the day of departure. Your Trip Leaders can assist you with this upon arrival in Zermatt. However, for peace of mind, you may decide to purchase your ticket in advance at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.raileurope.com\">www.raileurope.com<\/a>. <br \/><\/p>","Custom_Extra_Services":"","Custom_Contact_Information_for_Friends_and_Family":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2023-04-26T14:38:24 --><p>If friends or family wish to contact you during the trip, we encourage them to call, text, or email you directly. Another option is to reach you by calling the hotel (please see the enclosed Hotel List). If they are unable to reach you directly, please instruct them to call our office in Berkeley, California, and we will get a message to you as soon as possible. If they need to reach you outside of our office hours, we ask that they reach out to your Trip Leaders (contact information is listed below) and also leave a message with our Berkeley office, so that we can follow up with our team on the ground.<\/p>","Custom_Outfitter_Contacts_Left":"","Custom_Outfitter_Contacts_Right":"","Custom_Valid_Passport_Alternative":"","Custom_Visa":"","Custom_FB_Before_You_Go_-_MISC_1":"","Custom_FB_Before_You_Go_-_MISC_2":"","Custom_Luggage_Requirements":"","Custom_Carry-On":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2023-04-26T14:35:11 --><p><strong>CARRY-ON: <\/strong>Valuable or essential items, such as well broken-in hiking boots, camera equipment, binoculars, prescription medications, and any paperwork required to enter Switzerland, should be hand carried on your flights to avoid loss or damage. <\/p>","Custom_name_slug":"haute-route-guided-hiking-tour","Custom_Meta_Description":"Hike the famous \"high route\" across the French and Swiss Alps from Chamonix, France, to Zermatt, Switzerland.","Custom_List_Description":"Hike the famous \"high route\" across the French and Swiss Alps from Chamonix, France, to Zermatt, Switzerland.","Custom_Redirect":"","Custom_PJ_-_Best_Months":"","Custom_After_Dates":"","Custom_Trip_Web_Note":"","Custom_Title_Tag":"Haute Route Guided Hiking Tour | 8-Days Across the Alps","Custom_Before_Days":"","Custom_After_Days_Header_1":"","Custom_After_Days_Text_1":"","Custom_After_Days_Header_2":"","Custom_After_Days_Text_2":"","Custom_Choosing_Right_Trip_Office_Contact":"","Custom_About_WT_Expeditions":"","Custom_Arrival_-_Sales":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2022-12-19T11:29:19 --><p><strong>Suggested Airport: <\/strong>Geneva Airport (GVA)<br \/><strong>Suggested Date & Time:<\/strong> Anytime prior to Day 1<br \/><br \/><strong>Meeting Place: <\/strong>You will meet your Trip Leader in the lobby of Grand Hotel des Alpes in Chamonix at 8:30 am on Day 1.<br \/><br \/>The transfer from Geneva Airport to our hotel in Chamonix is included in the cost of the trip. It is a van service that will meet you at your requested flight—even if you arrive a few days ahead of the actual trip start date. Please note this is a public van transfer service and it is likely that other passengers may join the same transfer. The journey from the Geneva Airport to Chamonix is roughly 1.5 hours with this service. Please let us know if you would like to reserve this transfer by filling out our Extra Services Request Form.<\/p>","Custom_Departure_-_Sales":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2022-12-19T11:33:39 --><p><strong>Suggested Airport:<\/strong> Geneva Airport (GVA)<br \/><strong>Suggested Date & Time:<\/strong> Day 8, after 12:00 pm<br \/><br \/>The trip ends in Zermatt after breakfast on Day 8. If you are returning to the Geneva Airport, this requires a 4-hour train ride. Your Trip Leaders will assist you with information on return transportation to Geneva. Zermatt has excellent transportation services to Geneva City and Geneva Airport by train, with one connection in Visp. The first train to depart Zermatt arrives in Geneva at approximately 9:45 am. Reservations are not needed and tickets can be purchased on the day of departure. You can check online at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sbb.ch\/en\">www.sbb.ch\/en<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.raileurope.com\/\">www.raileurope.com<\/a> for the most current information on fares and train schedules.<\/p>","Custom_International_Air_Travel":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2022-12-19T11:34:54 --><p>You are responsible for making your own arrangements for flights to and from Europe.<br \/><br \/>There are many online consolidators for booking travel, but for more personal help arranging air transport, you can contact Exito Travel at 1-800-655-4053 in the US or 1-800-670-2605 in Canada. They are very adept at putting flight itineraries together, to even the most far-flung places. More information can be found on Exito's website at <a href=\"https:\/\/exitotravel.com\/\">www.exitotravel.com<\/a>.<br \/><br \/>Depending on your routing, it is necessary to depart from the US one or possibly two days prior to Day 1 of the trip itinerary. The name on your airline ticket must match the name on your passport exactly, and your passport must be valid for at least six months after your date of return to the US.<br \/><br \/><strong>Please do not purchase your tickets until you are confirmed on the trip.<\/strong> Once your tickets have been purchased, please send us a copy of your airline schedule. 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You will need to be comfortable hiking 10 miles a day, being on your feet for up to 8 hours a day for several days in a row, and hiking on uneven surfaces with long descents that can be hard on the knees. While no climbing or mountaineering experience is necessary, all trip members should have ample hiking experience and be able to keep up with the group as there are no alternative hiking options available. Trail conditions, weather, and the group's level of fitness can affect hiking times and pacing. <strong><br><\/strong><strong><br><\/strong><strong>Average Hiking Day <\/strong><ul><li>8 miles<\/li><li>6 hours<\/li><li>2,500-3,000 feet gain\/loss <\/li><li>Altitudes range from 6,000 to 9,000 feet<\/li><\/ul><strong>Challenge Days <\/strong><ul><li>Day 4: 10 miles, 7-8 hours, 2,700 feet gain, and 3,000 feet loss; includes ladders needed to get over a pass<\/li><\/ul>","Custom_Terrain":"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, exposed trails. You will also occasionally need to use your hands to scramble over and between a jumble of boulders. 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In two 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 two nights during the trip.","Custom_Cuisine":"Lunch will usually be in a mountain lodge or at a picnic spot amidst the beauty of the surrounding mountains. Most evening meals will be taken at our hotels and will be hearty, nourishing mountain fare, often with the cuisine the region is known for. Please note that in Europe, the dinner hour is considerably later than what it is in the US. We do our best to secure early reservations for our groups, but most often the evening meals will be at 7:30 pm.","Custom_Transportation":"Our support vehicle will transport the group's luggage, so you only need to carry a daypack (rain gear, sweater, camera, water bottle, etc.). Trip members are always free to skip a day's hike and travel to the next destination in the support vehicle (or remain at the hotel if we are not transfering that day).","Custom_What_the_Trip_is_Like_-_Header_1":"","Custom_What_the_Trip_is_Like_-_Text_1":"","Custom_What_the_Trip_is_Like_-_Header_2":"","Custom_What_the_Trip_is_Like_-_Text_2":"","Custom_Trip_Level_Note_1":"","Custom_Trip_Level_Note_2":"","System_Choosing_the_Right_Trip":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2023-01-27T07:50:16 --><p>Adventure travel often involves exotic destinations, unusual loris of physical exertion, or activities you ma not have participated in previously. We work hard to help you choose the right trip for you, paying attention to your individual interests, abilities, and needs. If you have questions about the level of comfort or any of the activities described in this itinerary, please call Wilderness Travel at 1-800-368-2794 and ask for the<\/p>","System_References":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2023-01-27T07:50:51 --><p>We'd be happy to put you in touch with a past client that has traveled with us on this trip.<\/p>","System_Visit_Our_Website":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2023-01-27T07:51:32 --><p>At <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wildernesstravel.com\">www.wildernesstravel.com<\/a>, you can find out about added departures, last-minute deals, and special WT Expeditions that aren't listed in our catalog. You can also access a complete library of our detailed itineraries and browse the customized reading guides for each of our adventures.<\/p>","System_Helpful_Links":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2023-01-27T07:52:03 --><p>Wilderness Travel has compiled a list of useful websites for travelers. Find the Toucan Club tab on the home page of our website and choose Helpful Links: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wildernesstravel.com\/ toucan\/links\">www.wildernesstravel.com\/ toucan\/links<\/a>.<\/p>","System_About_Private_Journeys":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2023-02-17T11:00:24 --><p>Wilderness Travel Private Journeys are designed for people who want to travel with their own small private group, but who still want to experience the same superb itinerary design, great accommodations, and signature quality of Wilderness Travel's escorted group trips. These Private Journeys allow you to choose your own dates and your traveling companions -- even if it's just the two of you -- yet still enjoy a guided adventure.<\/p>","System_About_New_Trips":"","System_Social_Media":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2023-03-29T11:33:43 --><p><strong>SOCIAL MEDIA:<\/strong> We invite you to share your adventure with us on social media. Tag @wildernesstravel and we may even feature your content on our pages!<\/p>","System_If_You_Miss_Your_Flight":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2023-03-29T11:34:09 --><p><strong>IF YOU MISS YOUR FLIGHT<\/strong><br \/>If you miss your flight or are otherwise delayed, contact our Wilderness Travel office as well as our local partners, with your new flight information. Refer to the Emergency Contact Information listed in this Final Bulletin.<\/p>","System_Valid_Passport":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2023-06-16T10:26:21 --><p><strong>VALID PASSPORT:<\/strong> Check that your passport is valid for at least six months from the last day of your trip, and that you have at least two blank pages for any necessary visa or entry and exit stamps.<\/p>","System_Insurance_Policy":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2023-03-29T11:36:23 --><p><strong>INSURANCE POLICY:<\/strong> If you have purchased the Travelex Travel Protection Plan, you should have received an email confirmation of your policy. Please bring a digital or printed copy of this policy with you. If you cannot find your email confirmation, please contact Travelex's Customer Solutions team at 844-877-1885 or e-mail customersolutions@travclcxinsurancc.com. If you have not purchased Travelex insurance already, you have the option to do so up to 24 hours prior to your departure.<\/p>","System_Covid-19_Travel_Requirements":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2023-04-19T13:27:44 --><p><strong>COVID-19 TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:<\/strong> Please double-check COVID-19 entry requirements for any countries you may be traveling to or transiting through, on this website: <a href=\"apply.joinsherpa.com\/travel-restrictions\">apply.joinsherpa.com\/travel-restrictions<\/a><\/p>","System_Pre-Trip_Safety":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2023-03-29T11:37:06 --><p><strong>PRE-TRIP SAFETY:<\/strong> In the next weeks, we encourage you to do everything possible to stay healthy. Please practice social distancing, steer clear of potential COVID-19 exposure, and take an at-home antigen or lab based PCR test before you depart.<\/p>","System_Wilderness_Travel_Office":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2023-03-29T11:38:07 --><p>Our office in Berkeley, California can be reached at 510-558-2488, or by email at info@wildernesstravel.com. We are available during regular business hours (M-F, 8:30 am-5:00 pm, PST). <\/p>","System_ECI_Travel_Insurance":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2023-03-29T11:38:31 --><p>If you have purchased the Travelex Travel Protection Plan through Wilderness Travel, please remember to bring your Confirmation of Coverages (COC) with you on the trip, including your Plan Number and important emergency contact information.<\/p><p>If you've purchased a travel protection plan on your own, we recommend that you bring a copy of your policy, including all coverages, with you on your trip.<\/p>","System_Face_Masks_and_Hand_Sanitizer":"","System_DidNotPurchase_Insurance":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2023-02-28T12:27:44 --><p>Travel Insurance: We recommend that you purchase travel insurance for this trip. For your convenience, we offer Travelex travel protection. Please let us know if you would like us to add the Travelex Travel Protection Plan to this final invoice. You can learn more about the policy on our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wildernesstravel.com\/toucan\/travel-insurance\">website<\/a>.<\/p>","System_Purchased_Insurance":"","System_Questions?":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2023-01-27T13:47:31 --><p>Our Area Specialists are you single point of contact and would be happy to answer any questions about yout trip!<br \/>800.368.2794 | 510.558.2488<\/p>","System_Travel_Insurance":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2023-01-27T07:58:05 --><p>We highly recommend you purchase travel insurance. You can take advantage of a comprehensive Travel Protection Plan designed for Wilderness Travel by Travelex, or purchase other insurance on your own. See our website for details: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wildernesstravel.com\/insurance\">www.wildernesstravel.com\/insurance<\/a><\/p>","System_Make_it_Your_Trip":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2023-03-29T11:44:18 --><p>The prices above are for the ready-to-book adventure outlined in this Detailed Itinerary, a popular option that has been handcrafted by our Area Specialists to include the best of every destination. While many travelers choose to book this tour as is, our Area Specialists are also happy to work with you to customize this Private Journey to suit your specific interests and style of travel. We can arrange for longer or shorter stays, offer hotel upgrades (see below for sample costs), or add an extension to additional places of interest. We can even add special activities or customize excursions depending on your interests. We invite you to contact us to discuss your options!<\/p>","System_Signing_up_for_a_Trip":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2023-03-29T11:44:42 --><p>Early reservations are recommended since accommodations often sell out far in advance. Please call 1-800-368-2794 and ask for our [Africa Manager] or email us at [africa@ wildernesstravel.com] with any questions that you may have about this trip. To reserve your Private Journey, we will need to know your preferred dates of travel. We will then check availability and send you a proposed itinerary with exact pricing for your adventure. We can typically hold a provisional booking for one week. At that time, we must collect your initial deposit or accommodations will be released. We accept Visa, Mastercard, or American Express card. Upon receipt of your deposit, we will send you a Welcome Packet that includes a letter of confirmation, Detailed Itinerary, Trip Application, Medical Form, and Pre-Departure Information Booklet with information to help you prepare for your adventure. Please see our Cancellations and Transfer Fee Schedule for specific payment information.<\/p>","System_Trip_Leaders":"<!-- Generated by XStandard version 3.0.0.0 on 2023-02-13T09:24:57 --><p>Wilderness Travel Trip Leaders have a passion and a joy for creating an unforgettable journey. We are extremely proud of them and the incredible travel experiences they make possible. The Trip Leader for each departure is listed on the "Dates & Prices" tab on our Pilgrim's Way webpage:<\/p>"},"terms":{"PaymentSchedule":"<meta charset=\"utf-8\"\/><body><p>$600 due at time of reservation <br \/>90 days prior to departure: Balance<\/p><\/body>","CancelSchedule":"<p>Up to 91 days prior to departure: No Charge!<br>61-90 days prior to departure: 25% of trip cost<br>46-60 days prior to departure: 50% of trip cost<br>45 days or less: 100% of trip cost<br><\/p>"}}