From Chamonix to Zermatt, with two alpine hike-in lodges
Ultimate Haute Route
Overview
The legendary trail of the Haute Route traces the highest French and Swiss mountains between Chamonix and Zermatt by way of gleaming glaciers, mountain tarns, and meadows bright with wildflowers. It was first pioneered in the mid-19th century by the British Alpine Club and today is one of Europe’s favorite long-distance hikes. Our “ultimate” version of this journey has 11 hiking days and features two overnights in remote hike-in lodges so we can savor alpenglow on the high peaks and enjoy alpine camaraderie with fellow hikers. The journey begins in Chamonix, right below Mont Blanc, and ends in Zermatt, dominated by the crooked spire of the Matterhorn.
Arrive: Chamonix, France
Depart: Zermatt, Switzerland
Highlights
- Experience one of the planet’s great mountain hikes—with 11 amazing hiking days
- Enjoy two overnights in classic hike-in lodges for mountain camaraderie and alpenglow over the high peaks
- Hike with a team of experienced and knowledgeable Trip Leaders who know the Alps as home
- Explore Chamonix and Zermatt, two of the most famous mountain towns in the world
Itinerary
Departing Chamonix, below mighty Mont Blanc, we hike across the Col de Balme (7,201') and descend through pine forests to the Col de la Forclaz (5,010'), which leads us into Switzerland. We’ll take in sweeping views of the Rhône Valley on our descent to Champex, a village in the French-speaking Swiss canton of Valais.
From a high mountain refuge below the enormous Mont Blanc massif, we take a “secret” trail past lakes and glaciers and cross three alpine passes to the remote Prafleuri Refuge. Our ascent of the Col de Riedmatten (9,577'), with its dazzling mountain vistas, brings us down to Arolla for an invaluable rest day (or optional hikes!).
Our trail leads through a traditional area of the Valais and across two passes, both of which bring tremendous views of icy peaks, including the pyramid of the Dent Blanche (14,295'), one of the most famous vistas in the Alps.
Our climb to the Augstbordpass (9,495') rewards us with views of the 14,000-foot peaks of the Mischabel range. We then head to Zermatt, a town surrounded by a dozen 13,000-foot peaks, including the Matterhorn. One option here is a hike to the Hörnli Hut, where climbers set out to scale the Matterhorn. Depart on Day 12.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What 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 for several days in a row, being on your feet for up to 8 hours a day, 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
- 7-8 miles
- 5-6 hours
- 2,500-3,000 feet gain/loss
- Altitudes range from 6,000-9,000 feet
Challenge Days
- Day 5: 10 miles, 8 hours, 3,050 feet gain, and 2,400 feet loss; includes sections scrambling over large boulders and three passes
- Day 6: 10 miles, 8 hours, 2,500 feet gain, and 4,300 feet loss
Most hiking is between 6,000 and 9,000 feet, with considerable elevation gain and loss along the way. While the Haute Route is not exceptionally high, it can be steep and rugged. This trip is not technical, but is aimed for those who have some experience hiking in the mountains. At lower elevations, the trails are usually packed dirt, but at higher elevations they are often much rockier and more uneven, with sections of loose scree, large boulders, and occasionally glacial snow. Recent rockslides may impact the routes we use. 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. No climbing or mountaineering experience is necessary, but all participants must be in good physical condition, have good balance, be comfortable with moderate levels of exposure, and be confident on their feet.
Of course, you are always free to skip a day’s hike and travel to the next destination in the support vehicle. The support vehicle transports the group’s luggage, so you only need to carry a daypack for items you need for the day (sweater, camera, water bottle). Hiking poles are highly recommended.
We strongly urge you to train for your trip, as your enjoyment will be highly dependent on your level of fitness. The best training for a hike is to hike, especially over hills or rough terrain. Next best are running, swimming, bicycling, or other cardiovascular exercises. Stair-climbing machines are excellent preparation for hiking uphill. Your feet should also be well prepared—make sure your hiking boots are sturdy, comfortable, and thoroughly broken-in. Altitude is generally not a problem on this trip. However, some people still experience a few problems when they first reach high altitude. Slight headache and sleeplessness are the most common symptoms.
The months we visit the Alps are the optimal ones, but mountain weather can be fickle. 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 early-season departure could encounter snow on the trails. We are likely to experience a full range of weather conditions, making rain gear and warm garments necessary items to carry with you on every hike.
Accommodations are in small, comfortable hotels and inns that can be busy during the summer hiking season. While not luxurious, they are clean and well located. Please note these are hikers’ hotels, not five-star resorts. The rooms are clean and comfortable, but are not always of uniform size or amenities. Our 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 a few of the hotels, there are shared bathrooms. During two trip nights, we stay in huts where only dormitory-style shared bedrooms are available. Single rooms are offered when possible, but those who pay the Single Supplement may have to share a room for up to four nights during the trip.
Lunch will usually be either 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 noted 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 meal will be at 7:30 pm.
Our van will transport the group's luggage, so you only need to carry a daypack for items you need during the day (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 transferring that day). There is an exception on two nights of the trip where we stay in a mountain refuge with no road access. During this three-day, two-night stretch, it is impossible for our support vehicle to reach our mountain refuges at night. For this period, you must carry a daypack with the clothing and toiletries you will need for those three days. Most medium-sized daypacks have enough room for extra belongings (a toothbrush, soap, small towel, and a fresh t-shirt will suffice for most people).
Client Testimonials
"Everything clicked smoothly to make this the best vacation I've ever had. This was my first trip of this kind and I could tell early on that WT is a well-oiled wheel—a very smooth operation."
Anne W.
Boulder, CO
"Excellent group and guides, fantastic trip. It ended too soon!"
Anthony D.
Pollock Pines, CA
"Five stars for trip design and quality of Trip Leaders. So fantastic I doubt that any other trip could match it. Every day was special—even the rest days!"
Audrey van C.
Cowies Hill, South Africa
"Wilderness Travel's Ultimate Haute Route was both challenging and extremely rewarding. It was exactly the high alpine adventure I was hoping for! The scenery was breathtaking: glaciers and waterfalls, rainbows over green valleys, clouds and mist hanging over snowy peaks, wildflowers, turquoise lakes, ibex, marmots, charming villages, chalets with flowery window boxes, sheep and cows dotting the meadows."
Courtney C.
Danville, CA
"Excellent trip, thanks to the outstanding guides and the stunning hikes."
Deborah T.
Napa, CA
"Fabulous! My husband and I have lots of climbing and trekking experience, and we were both very impressed with the helpful, enthusiastic guides and magnificent itinerary of this trip!"
Denise E.
Weston, CT
"The Haute Route had been on my husband's bucket list for years. The hikes were perfect, a great mix of mountains and meadows and beautiful scenery."
Elizabeth W.
Chagrin Falls, OH
"This was an absolutely fabulous, memorable trip. The guides had clearly honed the itinerary to incorporate the best parts of the Haute Route for us, with a tremendous variety of scenery and spectacular hikes. I've been recommending this trip to all my friends. Well done everyone!"
Inge K.
Concord, MA
"This was an amazing trip, and exceeded my expectations at every level. Well organized, well planned, well executed—and the scenery was amazing. Thank you!"
Irene R.
Steilacoom, WA
"The three leaders were a magical combination—a great mix of personalities and interests. They not only made the trip a seamless, perfect experience for us but they also added humor and joy to the experience. What a great trip!"
Jeanna F.
Paradise Valley, AZ
"The most beautiful scenery we have seen on a multi day trek. Every day just kept getting better. Challenging, but fun hikes. A great adventure."
Jodi and Tim L.
Honolulu, HI
"We had a wonderful time. Everything about the trip (weather, leadership, group dynamics) could not possibly have gone any better. Fabulous!"
Joel L.
Piedmont, CA
"This was an experience of a lifetime. The scenery is mind-blowing. Outstanding Trip Leaders, hard-working, meticulous, good fun."
Jon Van C.
Cowies Hill, South Africa
"Outstanding all around! Well-paced itinerary and an incredible experience. Especially loved our group's overnights in the huts, the classic alpine views, and the friendly, upbeat and knowledgable guides, who worked together wonderfully as a team. Would recommend this trip to any qualified friend seeking the perfect Alps experience."
Lisa B.
South Dartmouth, MA
"We enjoyed our experience immensely and have taken away many fabulous memories. One of the highlights of the trip for us was the fabulous group of people -- and the many laughs we had along the way."
Lorraine B.
Sydney, Australia
"I love the hiking and the scenery, but I particularly appreciate the feeling on WT trips that I am traveling with friends—both the Trip Leaders whom I have now known for years in some cases, and the new friends I’ve made along the way."
Maryann M.
Los Angeles, CA
"The hiking was outstanding and all I hoped it to be! Really enjoyed the guides we had on this trip—their expertise, local knowledge, and passion for what they do really made the trip a blast! I would hike with any of them again anywhere."
Michael M.
Madison, NJ
"Superbly organized and flawlessly delivered. Our guides were very experienced and went way out of their way to ensure this was a 'best ever' experience. Can't praise WT or our guides enough. We loved the entire experience. Thank you so much!"
Robin F.
Bellingham, WA
"A wonderful trip... Spectacular scenery! I enjoyed the small group of 6 as it made it more personable and flexible."
Robyn F.
Epping, Australia
"Flawlessly operated and run. This trip is obviously very well thought out."
Roger W.
San Francisco, CA
"This was my first Wilderness Travel adventure and I thought it was fantastic. It clearly met and exceeded my expectations!"
Stephen F.
San Diego, CA
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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
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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.