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

+ Trek the full route from Chamonix to Zermatt
+ Be led by an expert leader, an IML
+ Join our scheduled treks or come as a private group

Latest news May 2013
Please join us on our 4 scheduled guided trips in summer 2013, or please ask about a private guided trip. Thank you.

This holiday completes the Walker's Haute Route, a major Alpine trek from Chamonix to Zermatt... Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn. The group is guided throughout by one of our fabulous International Mountain Leaders (IMLs).

The Walker's Haute Route is purely a trekking route, needing no rock climbing or technical skills. However, it is at the most challenging end of the spectrum as far as Alpine treks go. We cross a series of passes at nearly 3,000m, meaning much climbing and much rugged, wild terrain. The ground is often steep and loose.

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.

Over the trek you'll sample a variety of accommodation, generally at quite a comfortable level. Our mix includes great hotels, auberges and mountain huts (often called cabanes in these mountains).

Why Alpine Exploratory for your guided Haute Route?

We trek the full route, missing nothing
On completing this trek you'll have walked every step from Chamonix to Zermatt, a magnificent accomplishment for a trekker. Cable cars, buses and trains are available in places, and the group can use them if needed, but the plan is to trek continuously. Nothing is worth cutting out!

Expert knowledge of the route
The same careful research that goes into our self-guided Haute Routes informs our guided treks too. We keep on top of changes to the route and we place a lot of emphasis on good relations with our hotels and huts. Warm welcomes await.

Flexible, personal planning
As per our general ethos, even on our scheduled guided trips we like to be flexible. Single rooms are no problem, except at huts and some auberges where they're unavailable. (The single supplement takes this into account.) If you'd like extra nights in Chamonix or Zermatt, please just ask us.

Small groups expertly led
Alpine Exploratory follows best practice in the mountains. Our leaders are all International Mountain Leaders and we keep to a maximum group size of 8 clients. The aim is a small, tightly knit group with an engaging leader, completing the Haute Route with safety, proficiency and fun.

About us - more about what makes us tick

Baggage transfer

There is not too much to carry on the Walker's Haute Route. As per normal our trips do not include baggage transfer; we carry our own kit throughout. Whether joining a scheduled trip or a private trip, please ask us about our baggage transfer option. We also advise on sending kit ahead to Zermatt.

Options (for private trips)

If you join us as a private group instead of joining our scheduled treks, then we can adjust your Haute Route in various ways.

+ Add Hotel Weisshorn as a high alternative to Zinal
+ Shorten the trek to perhaps 12 stages, or add rest days
+ Stay in Grachen as a detour or an extra day
+ Favour auberges or huts or up the comfort with our best hotels

Of course, on a private trip you can come on the dates that suit you. Except for the composition of the group and the dates, everything else is the same as on our scheduled Haute Routes.

Walker's Haute Route (Self-guided) - look here for all the options