+44 (0)1729 823 197 . info@alpineexploratory.com



Old wooden barns of the Valaisian type on a hillside above Zermatt
Valaisian barns above Zermatt, journey's end

Walker's Haute Route (Chamonix to Zermatt)
Self-guided walking holiday

Details
14 days' trekking
French and Swiss Alps
Black4
 Grade (Explained)
Self-guided
Starting in Chamonix
Ending in Zermatt
Typical walk 14km, 1,050m ascent
Highest altitude 2,987m

Latest research
July 2012 (Joy)

The Matterhorn from a good vantage point in Zermatt
The Matterhorn (Photo gallery)

Accommodation
15 nights, staying in:
4-star hotel (1)
3-star hotels (3)
2-star hotels (3)
Auberges (4)
Mountain huts (4)

Included
Accommodation and itinerary
Breakfasts and 7 evening meals
Expert and unlimited advice
Routecards, maps, local info
Emergency card, language card

Season for self-guided treks
14 July to 20 September 2013
Trek on your ideal dates

Prices

Our classic mix
Hotels, auberges & huts
£1180 per person
£240 single supp
Book

Our comfier mix
Smarter hotels
£1320 per person
£290 single supp
Book

Our basic mix
More auberges & huts
£1020 per person
£160 single supp
Book

We take 14 stages as the norm; please ask us for a shorter or longer trip

The Cabane des Dix, a hut passed on the Haute Route
Cabane des Dix (Photo gallery)

Baggage transfer
Let us move your bags between stops. Please contact us for a price

The Hotel Weisshorn, one of the famous institutions on the Walker`s Haute Route
Hotel Weisshorn (Photo gallery)

The Haute Route in the Alps

Map of the Walker's Haute Route within the Alps


+ Trek the full Chamonix to Zermatt route in two weeks
+ High passes, rocky corries and verdant valleys
+ Complete the trek in your own style


Latest news May 2013
Please ask about our 2013 season which starts on 14 July. Thank you.

Trek the Walker's Haute Route from Chamonix to Zermatt, thus completing one of Europe's most challenging and thrilling treks.

The Walker's Haute Route is a trekking route, as opposed to the original, Classic Haute Route that takes to the glaciers and is often made as a ski tour. This trek calls for no rock climbing or technical skills but is nevertheless right at the hardest end of the spectrum of Alpine treks. Many sections call for self-reliance, strong fitness and good navigation. Passes at nearly 3,000m take much climbing to reach; the terrain is rugged and wild.

This being a self-guided holiday, you're free to complete the walks as you choose: we arrange everything for you, including booking accommodation and providing you with our detailed routecards for the walking, and then it's up to you to carry out the walks yourself.

We book your accommodation in an intriguing mix of hotels, auberges and mountain huts (cabanes). The huts are high, characterful, yet comfortable.


Map showing the route of Alpine Exploratory's Walker's Haute Route self-guided walking holiday

Alternative routings

The Walker's Haute Route has a few possible variations along its length, which we book as follows.

Visit Grimentz
Instead of the Cabane de Moiry, drop to Grimentz which is a pretty Valaisian village. From Grimentz you still reach Zinal the next day, or can walk across Val d'Anniviers to Hotel Weisshorn or Cabane Bella Tola...

Stay high at Hotel Weisshorn or Cabane Bella Tola
Instead of Zinal, clients who prefer to sleep high sometimes opt for the venerable old Hotel Weisshorn in its high position, or Cabane Bella Tola in the same area. Alternatively, instead of substituting these for Zinal, keep Zinal and make them an extra night.

Detour to Grachen
Grachen is a superb village on a sunny shelf above St Niklaus. It's a treat. We can advise on replacing St Niklaus with Grachen, either as an extra night (for a relaxing day) or as a straight swap thanks to our cunning logistics in this area. Please ask us about the ins and outs.

Finish through the Mattertal
Instead of the tough two-day Europaweg finale, walk the Mattertal valley in one day. This is an interesting and modest (compared with what's come before) walk through the valley to Zermatt.

Other variations fit within the day and can be chosen whatever your itinerary, according to how you feel on the day; all variants are described in our routecards.

Alternative starts and pacings

Walked the Tour du Mont Blanc?
The first 3 days of the Haute Route, to Champex, take the same trails as the TMB. If you'd like to skip these, please ask us about starting from Champex.

A quicker trek
If 14 stages is too many, we can make it 10, 11, 12 or 13 while still walking the whole route from Chamonix to Zermatt. Fewer than 10 gets tricky. For example, our quicker clients sometimes ask to walk straight from Chamonix to Trient, or walk the Chamonix to Argentiere stage on the afternoon they arrive. Further mergings of stages are possible down the line. Please ask us to adapt things to your time available.

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. We recommend adding a rest day or two if you have time. Please contact us to discuss your approach.

Alternative accommodation

More comfy?
As standard our itinerary is fairly comfy, using charming hotels except where auberges and huts are essential or preferable. A simple way in which we can add luxury is to swap the 2* hotels for our lovely 3*s. If you're not keen on dorms then we can request private rooms at some huts, and swap other huts for hotels; however, there has to be one dorm night at least.

More basic?
We can add huts and swap hotels for auberges. At the extra auberges you can still have private rooms, but to economise further we can book plenty of dorms. We have come to know some buzzing, friendly options at all levels. Please just ask.


Happy clients

In Zermatt: "Perfect end to a perfect trip, we felt like royalty staying here. The breakfasts were superb, the staff were so friendly, amazing service."

"Thank you again for another well organised trip. Some excellent accommodation and we loved the friendliness of people along the Haute Route and all the people we met in the hotels and cabanes."

Jacquie & Jeff, UK (Walker's Haute Route, Aug-Sept 2011)

Next steps

Read more
Holiday Notes - our trip dossier
About our walking holidays (FAQs)
Our guide to the Haute Route

Holiday Updates
Sign up for our emails, about 4 per year, with Haute Route news.

Please enter your email address: About our emails

See alternatives
Walker's Haute Route West
Walker's Haute Route Guided

Please contact us
... to discuss the options, your dates and all aspects of the trek.
info@alpineexploratory.com
+44 (0)1729 823 197

Ready to book?
Booking online sets us off

Equipment . Happy clients . AE kit . Links . Join our team . Privacy policy . Sitemap
What we do
Alpine Exploratory offers trekking holidays and skills courses in the Alps and the UK, based on our research.

About us
People
Keep up to date
Follow us on Facebook,
Google+ and Twitter, read
our Blog, and choose from
our eNews emails:

Contact us
Alpine Exploratory
7 Victoria Street
Settle
BD24 9HD
United Kingdom
info@alpineexploratory.com
+44 (0)1729 823 197


© Copyright 2013 Alpine Exploratory Limited. Company no. 5521173. VAT no. 995 9044 61