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WALKER'S HAUTE ROUTE WEST (GUIDED) 7 stages . 8 nights . Swiss Valais
+ Walk half-way to Zermatt in one week
+ Rugged Alpine trekking with remote stretches
+ Expert planning to find your ideal itinerary
Latest news February 2019
Please ask us about a trip during our 2019 season. Thank you.
Trek the first half of the Walker's Haute Route, from Chamonix as far as Arolla, in a week's Alpine trekking of the highest order.
The Walker's Haute Route is a trekking route, as distinct from the Classic Haute Route which crosses the glaciers. The trek calls for no rock climbing or technical skills but is nevertheless a very tough trek even by the standard of Alpine walks. Many sections need self-reliance, strong fitness and good navigation; cols at nearly 3,000m take much climbing to reach and the terrain is often rocky and rugged. The crucial stretch is the 3 stages to Arolla, covering remote ground and staying in 2 huts.
This being a self-guided holiday, you're free to complete the walks as you choose; we book your huts and hotels and give you our detailed routecards for the walking, and then it's up to you to carry out the walks yourself.
We book your accommodation in our intriguing mix of hotels, auberges and mountain huts. The huts are high, remote, yet quite comfortable.
Map
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Prices
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Alpine Exploratory |
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 HRWsg Walker's Haute Route West (Self-guided)21 July to 15 September 2019 |
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Prices in GBP per person |
Hutty | Classic | Comfy |
| Popular schedules | |||
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6 stages (7 nights) |
980 Singles 80 |
1,040 Singles 160 |
1,110 Singles 180 |
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7 stages (8 nights) |
1,040 Singles 100 |
1,100 Singles 180 Our main HRW |
1,180 Singles 200 |
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7 stages 1 rest day (9 nights) |
1,100 Singles 120 |
1,170 Singles 200 |
1,250 Singles 230 |
| Specialised schedules | |||
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5 stages (6 nights) |
920 Singles 80 |
980 Singles 130 |
1,040 Singles 160 |
| Options | |||
| Baggage transfer | Please ask us | ||
Baggage transfer
Let us move your bags between stops. Please contact us for a price.
Alternative starts and pacings
A quicker trek
If 7 stages is too long, we can make it 5 or 6 while still walking the whole route from Chamonix to Arolla. 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.
Route variations
At some points in this Western half, our routecards describe variations to the route. These include the Bovine Alp route to Champex instead of the high and steep Fenetre d'Arpette, and the Col de Termin route instead of Col de la Chaux (also our high, rocky, main route) on the way to Cabane de Prafleuri. Choose on the day according to energy and weather.
Rest days
We recommend adding a rest day or two if you have time. Champex is a good location for such a day. Perhaps of more interest would be a day or two in Chamonix before your trek, where there is a great buzz and where local walking abounds. We can advise. Please contact us to discuss what would suit you best.
Alternative accommodation
More comfy?
As standard our itinerary is fairly comfy. A simple way in which we can add luxury is to swap some 2* hotels for our lovely 3*s. If you're not keen on dorms then we can request private rooms at the huts, but these are only sometimes possible. The two huts are fairly essential to the crossing to Arolla, so can't be avoided altogether... and they are great fun.
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.
Key information Summer 2019
Trip name: Walker's Haute Route West |
Prices Summer 2019
7 stages, per person:
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Research Summer 2019
 Glacier du Trient (Photo gallery) |
Alpine Exploratory's service
Accommodation |
The Haute Route West in the Alps
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Find out more
Ready to book?
Our booking form to get things started: |
Alpine Exploratory
+44 (0)131 214 1144