Walker's Haute Route (Chamonix to Zermatt)
Guided walking holiday

+ Chamonix to Zermatt, Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn
+ Be led by an expert leader, in your own group or with others
+ Soaring Alpine views and charming villages

Latest news July 2010
For 2010 we are offering 3 scheduled guided Haute Route treks. Please see the dates below. If you have your own group, a private guided trip is available throughout summer 2010 - please contact us.

This holiday completes the Walker's Haute Route, a major Alpine trek from Chamonix to Zermatt. The group is guided throughout by an International Mountain Leader.

The Walker's Haute Route is purely a trekking route, needing no rock climbing or technical skills. However, as walking in the Alps goes this is one of the more challenging expeditions. A series of passes at nearly 3,000m must be crossed, meaning much climbing and much rugged, wild terrain. The ground is steep and loose in places.

The Walker's version of the Haute Route is distinct from the Classic Haute Route, which travels over glaciers and is often made as a ski tour in Spring.

Our aim is that over the fortnight you'll sample a variety of accommodation, sometimes basic and sometimes very comfortable, but always fitting the local ways. Our mix includes hotels, auberges and mountain huts.

Options

If you join us for a private guided Haute Route as opposed to a scheduled one, then we can adjust your itinerary in various ways as follows:

Alternative starts
As normal, our schedule spends the first stage high above Chamonix in order to make the most of the walk to Argentiere. The direct walk to Argentiere is a half-day along the valley. If you'd like to skip a day, this can be added to the next stage so that you walk straight to Trient. Or, arrive early enough in Chamonix and walk to Argentiere for your first night. Please let us know if either of these appeals.

Alternative routings
The Haute Route lets us offer multi-day diversions. For example:

Via Hotel Weisshorn or Cabane Bella Tola (New for 2010)
From Grimentz the usual route goes to Zinal and then Gruben. Instead, cross the valley to St Luc and (perhaps with the aid of the funicular) climb to Hotel Weisshorn, a venerable old hotel in a hut's location. The Hotel can also be reached in a grand day from Zinal. Then cross to Gruben in a day. The result is either to keep to the normal number of days, or to add one day. Cabane Bella Tola is a mountain hut at a similar height to Hotel Weisshorn above St Luc; it fits into a similar schedule.

Via Cabane de Moiry (Planned for 2011)
This is an alternative to Grimentz for the night between La Sage and Zinal. We aim to offer it as an option for 2011. Please ask us for more details.

Via the Europaweg (Planned for 2011)
This is the high-level route from St Niklaus to Zermatt over 2 days, which we also plan to offer from 2011. Please contact us.

Rest days
The Haute Route has two relatively easy valley days which reduce the need for full rest days. However, rest days can be welcome, as can days at the end in Zermatt. Please contact us to discuss your approach.

Accommodation
Please let us know if you fancy a more comfortable or a more basic trip. Our normal schedule is at the comfy end; at certain villages we can adjust your accommodation, booking more auberges or more smart hotels as you prefer.