The Haute Route Trek
Trek the legendary trail from Chamonix to Zermatt
The Haute Route Trek is a 10 day adventure that takes you 200km across the Alps from Chamonix to Zermatt.
Experience one of the best treks in the world as you take on challenging mountain passes and find some of the most amazing views, impressive glaciers and 4,000m peaks!
Join this guided tour today for an amazing trekking experience that should be on all hiking enthusiasts' bucket list!
Summary
DURATION
10 days
LOCATION
Europe
START & ENDS
Chamonix, Zermatt
DIFFICULTY
Easy Moderate Challenge Hard
Highlights
Itinerary
FOOD
TBC
ACCOMMODATION
TBC
ACTIVITY
Train, Hiking
ELEVATION
Chamonix to Montroc Le Planet to Trient
We begin the Haute Route in Chamonix Centre where we catch a train to Montroc Le Planet and our trekking begins.
We ascend the Col de Balme and soon reach the borders of the nature reserve, home to the great peak of Aiguilette des Possettes.
From the summit we are rewarded with an amazing view of Chamonix Valley and the Swiss Alps. We cross the border and head to Trient for our overnight stay in a real Gite d'Etape.
We rest and enjoy the evening in preparation for the trekking ahead.
FOOD
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
ACCOMMODATION
TBC
ACTIVITY
Hiking TBC
ELEVATION GAIN
Trient to Fenêtre d'Arpette
Today is a challenging day. We trek from Trient to Fenêtre d'Arpette.
This area is a wild and untouched mountain pass which gives us the access to the Arpette Valley.
We walk beside a beautiful landscape heading towards Champex-Lac for our overnight stay.
FOOD
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
ACCOMMODATION
Mountain Hut
ACTIVITY
Transfer, Bus, Hiking
ELEVATION
Fenêtre d'Arpette (TBC) to Cabane de Louvie (TBC)
We have an early morning and take a transfer from Champex to Orsières. From here we catch a bus that takes us up to a tiny mountain village called Fionnay.
From here trek along a beautiful path up to the Cabane de Louvie. This is a real mountain hut that sits next to the crystal clear Lake of Louvie.
FOOD
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
ACCOMMODATION
Mountain Hut
ACTIVITY
Hiking TBC
ELEVATION
Cabane de Louvie to Cabane de Prafleuri
We head out today at sunrise and pass two mountain passes, the Col de Louvie and the Col the Prafleuri.
Keep a look out for animals along the trail. If you're lucky you can spot marmots and ibex!
We move through rugged alpine terrain and then down to Cabane de Prafleuri for our overnight stay.
FOOD
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
ACCOMMODATION
Hotel
ACTIVITY
Hiking TBC
ELEVATION
Cabane de Prafleuri to Arolla
Today we begin trekking to Arolla. Hikers who have chosen to do half the route use this destination as their stopping point.
We begin the day passing Lac des Dix dam and climb up to Col de Riedmatten which sits between the Val d'Hermence and the Val d'Arolla.
The whole day we will be surrounded by the Mont Blanc de Cheillon and the Pigne d'Arolla, two of the most famous climbing summits in this area.
In Arolla we rest up in a nice hotel and enjoy this traditional mountain village.
FOOD
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
ACCOMMODATION
TBC
ACTIVITY
Bus, Hiking, Gondala
ELEVATION
Arolla to Zinal
Today is one of the most challenging days of the Haute Route trek.
We begin with a bus trip from Arolla to La Sage. From here we hike to the Col de Torrent which is almost 3,000m above sea level.
Descending to the Val de Moiry we pass the Lac the Moury.
We arrive in Corne de Sorebois, a stunning viewpoint which gives us complete insight to the Val d'Anniviers and Val de Zinal.
We head from here on a gondola down to Zinal where we stay for the night.
FOOD
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
ACCOMMODATION
TBC
ACTIVITY
Hiking TBC
ELEVATION
Zinal to Gruben
Thankfully today is easier than yeserday and we have an easy start from Zinal towards Anniviers, passing several authentic mountain villages.
The trail gets steeper from here as we head up the Col de la Forcletta, giving us access to the famous Turtmanntal.
This fascinating panorama offers stunning views of the first 4,000m peaks surrounding Zermatt and the Matterhorn Valley.
We make our way through untouched meadows and mountain farms and arrive in the early afternoon in Gruben where we'll be staying overnight.
FOOD
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
ACCOMMODATION
Hotel
ACTIVITY
Hiking
ELEVATION
Gruben to St. Niklaus
This is one of the most exciting days of the tour!
We reach the famous Mattertal, and climb up to the Augstbord pass.
After a challenging day we reach the traditional Swiss Alps village, St. Niklaus, where we'll get to rest up in a nice hotel.
FOOD
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
ACCOMMODATION
TBC
ACTIVITY
Bus, Hiking
ELEVATION
St. Niklaus to TBC
Early in the morning we take a bus from St. Niklaus to Gasenried.
From here we head out on a high altitude traverse as we approach the famous Europahütte.
Great views await of the Matterhorn Valley and the Matterhorn from a distance during the whole trek.
FOOD
Breakfast, Lunch
ACCOMMODATION
TBC
ACTIVITY
Hiking
ELEVATION
TBC to Zermatt
Our final day of trekking takes us from Europahütte to the tiny mountain village of Zermatt.
We traverse besides many high mountains as we approach Matterhorn and finally reach Zermatt.
Dates & Prices
Below are our open group dates for the Haute Route Trek. Single supplements apply.
Please note: Treks are available from June to September. October to May we do not operate this trek.
If the dates below don't suit, please get in touch as we can open a new group on any day as long as you have at least 2 people in your party.
What's Included
Included
Not Included
FAQ
When is the best time to complete this adventure?
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Do I need a visa for Europe?
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Is there a minimum age requirement?
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Got a question?
Our expert travel consultants can help you plan the perfect adventure!
Email: [email protected]
Packing List
Clothing
- 3-4 x hiking shirt + 2-3 x long-sleeve hiking shirt
- 3 x hiking shorts and 2 x trekking pants
- 1 x warm trousers / storm pants
- Mid-weight fleece jacket
- Hard shell rain jacket
- Warm insulating down or synthetic jacket / gilet
- Light, but warm gloves
Headwear
- Sun hat + Sunglasses
- Beanie
- Neck warmer
Footwear
- Hiking boots
- 4-5 hiking socks
- Trainers for camp
- Gaiters
Bags
- 20-25L daypack
- 90-100L Duffel Bag (waterproof)
- Plastic bags to protect sleeping bag and other gear from rain
Other Essentials
- Four season sleeping bag
- Trekking Poles
- Headlamp and spare batteries
- Snacks
- Water bottle / hydration bladder
- Water treatment tablets
- Camera
- Sun cream
Rental Gear
There are a number of good rental gear shops in Chamonix where one can rent / buy most items listed above.
Travel Insurance
We highly recommend getting travel insurance for your trip. We recommend World Nomads as they provide comprehensive cover for adventurous activities and are very affordable. Get a quote below.
Accommodation
Hotel Accommodation
On some nights on the trek, you will be staying in hotel accommodation.
Mountain Hut Accommodation
Other nights on the trek, you will be staying in mountain hut accommodation.
Reviews
We loved it!
I went with my family to visit Everest basecamp. I cannot thank Himalaya Leisure enough for this! Truly something you have to experience for yourself!
Breathtaking Experience!
Every person on the planet has to experience this for themselves, It’s honestly one of the most breath taking experiences you will ever have. I honestly trekked many places but this was among my top 20 treks. I highly recommend them! You can also check out my blog at: https://outsideorigin.com
Pretty good
I loved it, really cool experience
Best Adventure Yet
Thanks Mountain IQ and Altezza for arranging our climb. It is by far the best adventure holiday I have ever experienced, the toughest too! Our guides and the entire support were truly amazing – I don’t think I would have made it without their support and encouragement! Thanks again!
Tip top trekking experience
Visiting the Annapurna Sanctuary has been one of the highlights of my life. I was very nervous joining this trek as I was a solo female and had never trekked at altitude. The team at Mountain IQ were fantastic at answering all my questions and putting my concerns to rest. Once in Nepal, Upendra and the Himalayan Leisure team were just amazing. Our guide, Dorchi, was an absolute hoot and very caring. The whole experience from beginning to end was awesome. Thanks again!
Simply magnificent!
We joined this trek with short notice. Upendra was very responsive and accommodating to our needs. The tour from pick up to drop off was professional and fun. Would highly recommend joining this tour!
An once in a lifetime experience!
This was by far the most amazing adventure we’ve ever had. We can’t thank the team at Himalayan Leisure and at Mountain IQ enough for arranging such an incredible trek for myself and my girlfriend. From the very get go, the support from Mountain IQ and Upendra was top notch. All our questions were answered quickly and in detail. Once we arrived in Kathmandu we were warmly welcomed. The pre-trek briefing was excellent and we immediately liked our guide Dawa, and felt confident putting our safety in his hands. The trek itself is truly amazing – the views throughout were spectacular. The high pass was a big challenge but the whole group managed it without too much strain. We can’t wait to return to Nepal to complete the EBC trek via Gokyo and will definitely be going with HL again!
Epic experience with Dawa and his team
Just a quick note to say thank you to Himalayan Leisure for an amazing trekking experience to EBC. We felt well looked after throughout and really enjoyed the company of our guide Dawa. I highly recommend booking this adventure!
A superb trekking experience
We had an absolutely amazing experience with Himalayan Leisure on this trek in the Langtang region. The Langtang is a lot quieter than the popular trails to Everest. If you are looking to get off the beaten path then I highly recommend this trek and HL!
Superb Tour!
This tour company is excellent. From the time they met us at Cusco airport, their interaction with us was first class. They were able to accommodate the tour changes we requested. Our guide, Percy, was excellent, very knowledgeable and took the time to explain and answer questions. I highly recommend Inkayni. I would advise anyone who wants to see Cusco and Choquequirao to select this tour company.
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BOOKING TERMS
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LOCAL TOUR OPERATOR
HAPPY TRACKS
This tour is operated by Happy Tracks, a small team of outdoor enthusiasts with years of experience sharing epic climbing, mountaineering, mountain biking and canyoning adventures. Their passion, friendship and extensive knowledge make this the perfect team to take you on your next outdoor adventure. With Happy Tracks you'll enjoy an authentic experience with qualified guides learning about local cultures and the surrounding landscapes.