Haute Route Trek

Also known at as the Walker’s Haute Route, this classic trek follows a non-glaciated route through the Alps from Chamonix, France to Zermatt, Switzerland. Along the way we’ll stay at hotels and mountain refuges as the culture and food change from valley to valley. The route is on good trails, with shorter distances each day, but a lot of up and down over mountain passes. Our packs will be light, carrying just the few things we need on the trail and at night.

Normal Variation

• Day 0: Arrive in Chamonix. Meet in the evening for gear check, and dinner.

• Day 1: Le Tour to Le Peuty. Take a 20 minute bus from Chamonix to Le Tour, chair lift to Col de Balme, descend to Trient and stay at the hostel in Le Peuty. (4 mi, +300’, 2 hours).

• Day 2: Le Peuty to Champex via Bovine. Stay in a hotel in Champex. (11 mi, +4,000’, 6 hours).

• Day 3: Champex to Cabane de Louvie. Short taxi to Les Ruinettes in Verbier then a steady climb to Cabane de Louvie. (6 mi, +3,000’, 5-7 hours).

• Day 4: Louvie to Cabane de Praefluri. Cross Col de Louvie (2,921m). Stay at Cabane de Prafleuri. (7 mi, +4,000’, 6-8 hours).

• Day 5: Praefluri to Arolla. Cross Col de Riedmatten (2,918m). Stay at the Kurhaus. (11 mi, +3,500’, 6-8 hours).

• Day 6: Arolla to Zinal. Short taxi to La Sage, cross Col de Torrent (2,916m) to Moiry Barrage (2,248m), taxi to Zinal. (8 mi, +4,000’, 5-6 hours).

• Day 7: Zinal to Hotel Weisshorn. A long steady ascent. (7 mi, +3,500’, 4 hours).

• Day 8: Hotel Weisshorn to Gruben. Cross Meidpass (2,789m). Stay at the Schwarzhorn Hotel. (8 mi, +2,200’, 5-6 hours).

• Day 9: Gruben to Zermatt. Cross Augstbordpass (2,892m), hike down to Jungu cable car to St Niklaus, train to Zermatt. Stay at City Hotel in Zermatt. (8 mi, +3,400’, 5-7 hours).

• Travel home or onto further adventures.

Hard Variation

This Haute Route Trek takes longer and more alpine options. The days are longer with more ascent, some days over 5,000 feet. We’ll go to several higher huts (Refuge les Grands and Cabane de Moiry) that are accessed by crossing loose moraine in more alpine weather. Reaching the huts will not require climbing, but they’ll add a tough end to the day with fatigue and possibly poor weather. Participants must have very good fitness for consecutive big days of moving through the mountains.

• Day 0: Arrive in Chamonix. Meet in the evening for gear check and dinner.

• Day 1: Le Tour to Refuge les Grands. Stay at Refuge les Grands. (7 mi, +4,500’, 5 hours).

• Day 2: Refuge les Grands to Champex. Cross Fenetre d’Arpette (2,665m). Stay at Relais d’Arpette in Champex. (7mi, +4,000’, 7 hours).

• Day 3: Champex to Cabane de Louvie. Short taxi to Les Ruinettes then a steady climb to Cabane de Louvie. (6 mi, +3,000’, 5-7 hours).

• Day 4: Louvie to Cabane de Praefluri. Cross via Col de Louvie (2,921m). Stay at Cabane de Prafleuri. (7 mi, +4,000’, 6-8 hours).

• Day 5: Praefluri to Arolla. Cross via Col de Riedmatten (2,918m). Stay at the Kurhaus. (11 mi, +3,500’, 6-8 hours).

• Day 6 Arolla to Cabane de Moiry. Short taxi to La Sage, then hike over Col du Tsate (2,868m). Stay at Cabane de Moiry. (6 mi, +5,200’, 6 hours).

• Day 7: Moiry to Zinal. Hike down and around Lac de Moiry to the Moiry barrage, cross the ridge (2,837m) at Corne de Sorebois. Optional cable car from Sorebois to Zinal. (10 mi, +2,800’, 6-8 hours).

• Day 8: Zinal to Gruben. Cross via Col de la Forcletta (2,874m). Stay at the Schwarzhorn Hotel. (17km, +1,270m ascent, 6-7 hours)

• Day 9: Gruben to Zermatt. Cross via Augstbordpass (2,892m), hike down to Jungu cable car to St Niklaus, train to Zermatt. Stay in Zermatt. (8 mi, +3,400’, 5-7 hours).

• Travel home or onto further adventures.

Dates

• 9 days of trekking

• Currently open July 20 - Sept 10, 2025

• Private trips only. Sorry, no scheduled open trips.

Cost

• 2 clients: $8,000 USD each

• 3-8 clients: $6,000 USD each

• Add $700 if you’d prefer a single room when available.

• A second IFMGA Mountain Guide will be added over four clients.

Includes

• AMGA/IFMGA Mountain Guide Joe Stock.

• All lodging on the trek.

• Two nights in hotels: one at start in Chamonix, one at the end in Zermatt.

• All lifts and taxison the trek.

• Breakfast and dinner on the trek.

• All lodging and transport booking on the trek.

• Luggage transfer from Chamonix to Zermatt.

• Navigation kit, first aid kit, and shelter.

Does Not Include

• Personal gear. See Alps Trekking Gear List.

• Lunch, snacks, and drinks on the trek. Breakfast and dinner are included with hut fees. The rest can be purchased along the route.

• Costs from schedule change if you leave the trip.

• Rescue insurance, required.

• Trip cancellation insurance, recommended.

To Book

Note: Booking must be done by mid-winter so the huts can be reserved.

1. Contact Joe.

2. Joe will send you a trip proposal.

3. Reserve the date with $1,000 deposit per person.

4. Email Joe a completed international Adult Liability Waiver or Minor Liability Waiver.

5. Complete an international Registration.

6. See international Terms and Conditions.