Deluxe Walker's Haute Route Trek: Chamonix to Zermatt

Mont Collon, Walker's Haute Route

Grand Combin and the Lac de Louvie

The Monte Rosa

Mont Collon, Walker's Haute Route

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Deluxe Walker's Haute Route

One of the best treks in the world
Trek from Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn
See 10 of the highest peaks in the Alps
Enjoy spa facilities on your rest day in St Luc
Cross the Charles Kuonen suspension bridge

Why Choose Cloud 9 Adventure

We are the Haute Route experts
Outstanding fully-qualified guides
Trek part of the Europaweg
Excellent quality hotels every night
Guided trip with full luggage support

Deluxe Walker's Haute Route Trek: Dates and Prices

AT A GLANCE

10 nights

8 days' trekking

1 rest day

Full luggage delivery

Group size 4-10

Join: Chamonix

End: Zermatt

Nearest Airport: Geneva

ACCOMMODATION

10 nights in hotels

DIFFICULTY GRADING

8

Tough

Deluxe Walker's Haute Route Trek: Overview

Cloud 9 Adventure’s Deluxe Walker's Haute Route takes one of the best multi-day trekking journeys in the world...and makes it even better as we'll stay in luxurious, rejuvenating hotels wherever possible. The route links the famous mountaineering capitals of Chamonix (France) and Zermatt (Switzerland). Our version begins at the foot of Mont Blanc in the Chamonix Valley. We’ll start out through green alpine valleys, pretty mountain hamlets and flower-strewn meadows on the opening lower sections. As we gain altitude we’ll cross several 3000m (10,000 ft) passesa and will trek across high alpine passes, enjoying spectacular views over 10 of the 12 highest peaks and glaciers in the Alps. The culmination of our adventure is beneath one of the world’s most iconic mountains, the Matterhorn.

What to expect

Throughout the trek we’ll follow good paths and tracks. This trip comes complete with luggage support and you’ll have full access to your luggage every night, so there’s no need to carry a sleeping bag etc. We’ll use transfers to link sections to make this as comfortable an Haute Route trek as is possible. We’ll stay in very good quality hotels wherever possible with excellent food (and spa and wellness centres where they exist) to increase your enjoyment levels further. This superb trek is a must-do on any hiker's tick-list.

How difficult is the Walker's Haute Route?

Although demanding at times (and slightly harder than the Tour du Mont Blanc), the Walker's Haute Route is a non-technical trek from Chamonix to Zermatt and is suitable for regular hill walkers. It is not really a trek for first-time hikers, and we'd recommend tackling something slightly easier first such as the Tour du Mont Blanc or the Alta Via 1 in the Dolomites. There are a couple of passages where it is important to take care, but in general the walking is straightforward and shouldn't pose any problems.

Which Walker's Haute Route shall I book?

We offer the Walker's Haute Route in 6 different options:

Classic Walker's Haute Route - the classic itinerary completes the trek over 10 days. We start hiking in Argentière and trek all the way to Zermatt, using 1 short cable car journey to enable reaching the Mont Fort hut the same day that we leave Champex. This is a pure trekking trip and does not involve glacier travel (so no crampons or ice axe needed).

Deluxe Walker's Haute Route - this is similar to the classic itinerary above but with higher quality hotels. We seek out the best hotels with the facilities you love including spas, saunas, pools and wellness suites where possible. You'll have full luggage access every night and we'll use transfers to link sections of the route. This is the ideal option for those who really want to complete this epic journey but perhaps aren't so keen on the thought of 'rustic' accommodation!

Highlights of the Haute Route - we use vehicle transfers to miss out a couple of easy sections, enabling us to complete the highlights of the trek over 7 days. Perfect for those who want to maximise their time in the Alps. We also use the Cabane de Louvie instead of the Mont Fort, to get off the beaten track and away from the ski lifts.

Self-guided Walker's Haute Route - if you would like an independent trip at dates to suit you, then just let us know. We can offer any number of itineraries for groups of all sizes and budgets from a luxury Walker's Haute Route to a budget trip staying entirely in huts, or a trek with a good mix of hotels and huts. You can add some extra days in order to take a more leisurely pace, or to do an "Every Step of the Way" trip, or perhaps to visit the Cabane de Moiry.

Glacier Haute Route - for fit, experienced trekkers only. This is a more challenging version of the Haute Route, crossing glaciers over 7 or 8 days. For this trip we stay high in the mountains, and you will need mountaineering equipment. This trip is normally for private groups but we can organise a group trip if there is enough demand - just let us know if you are interested.

Skier's Haute Route - for advanced off-piste skiers and ski-tourers only. This is the most famous ski tour in the Alps and justifiably so. We offer this for private groups (maximum 6 people per guide), and we recommend booking well in advance as the mountain huts tend to be fully booked.

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TRIP NOTES

Deluxe Walker's Haute Route Trek: Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrive in Chamonix

Our trip begins in the famous mountain town of Chamonix, at the foot of Mont Blanc. We meet the group at 6pm for a trip briefing followed by our evening meal.

Accommodation: Luxurious 4* hotel, dinner included

Luggage access

Day 2 - Trek from Chamonix to Argentiere via the Grand Balcon Sud

We'll use the Planpraz cable car to do most of the height gain. From here we hike along the famous Grand Balcon Sud with its fabulous Mont Blanc views. We are in the heart of the Aiguilles Rouges nature reserve and are often lucky enough to see ibex, chamois and marmottes. We traverse to the stunning Lac des Chéserys and descend, still in the nature reserve, to the Col des Montets. We'll follow the valley to Argentiere and our very comfortable overnight stay.

Accommodation: High-quality hotel, dinner included

Distance approx 12km / 7.5 miles

Ascent approx 517m / 1696 feet

Descent approx 1113m / 3651 feet

Approx. walking time 6.5 hours

Day 3 - Transfer to Col de la Forclaz, trek to Champex via the Fenêtre d'Arpette

We take a short transfer to the start of today’s hike at the Col de la Forclaz. From here it’s an easy stroll along the bisse to the Chalet des Glaciers, a small café next to the impressive Trient glacier. Here we begin a long and often steep ascent through spectacular scenery to the high pass known as the Fenêtre d'Arpette, from which we have wonderful views of the Trient glacier. Next we have a steep descent through the Val d'Arpette to our very comfortable overnight accommodation in Champex. (In bad weather or if there is a risk of rock fall, we will take the Bovine route. Your leader will make this decision.)

Accommodation: Luxurious hotel, dinner included

Luggage Access

Distance: 14 km / 8.7 miles (or 16 km / 9.9 miles via Bovine)

Ascent: 1411m / 4629ft (or 929m / 3048 feet via Bovine)

Descent: 1200m / 3937ft (or 710m / 2329 feet via Bovine)

Approx. walking time: 8 hours (or 6 hrs via Bovine)

Day 4 - Trek from Champex to La Sage

This morning we'll leave the picturesque village of Champex behind. We'll cross summer meadows and farmland to reach the little village of Sembrancher. From here we take a private transfer to Evolène in the picturesque Val d'Herens. We then spend the afternoon making our way from Evolène to La Sage where our very comfortable hotel awaits for the evening.

Accommodation: High-quality hotel, dinner included

Distance: 16km / 10 miles

Ascent: 305m / 1000ft

Descent: 305m / 1000ft

Approx. walking time: 5-6hrs

Day 5 - Trek from La Sage to Grimentz

Today is a fairly long day but it comes with spectacular views so we'll make an early start to make the most of it. The day begins with an ascent to the Col de Torrent (2912m). It's long but isn't too difficult, and the path is in good condition. We then descend to the turquoise Lac de Moiry. Ahead we can see some of the giant peaks of the Pennine Alps, including the Dent Blanche and the Weisshorn. From the Lac de Moiry, it's around 1.5 hours' walk to reach the historic village of Grimentz.

Accommodation: High-quality hotel, dinner included

Distance: approx 13km / 8 miles

Ascent: approx 1270m / 4166 ft

Descent: approx 693m / 2273 ft

Approx. walking time: 6 hrs

Day 6 - Trek from Grimentz to St Luc

This morning we take a short transfer to Zinal, from where we head steeply up following a forested trail that takes us high above the Val d'Annivers on the Sierre-Zinal marathon route. From here we'll pick up the path which leads us up through flower-filled alpine pastures to the historic Hotel Weisshorn (2337m) where we will stop for lunch. After lunch we'll descend to the village of St Luc which is perched high above the valley. This will be our base for the next two nights.

Accommodation: Luxurious hotel, dinner included

Distance: 13.5km / 8miles

Ascent: 1150m / 3772 ft

Descent: 1065m /3495 ft

Approx. walking time: 5.5hrs

Day 7 - Rest day in St Luc

We have a wonderful hotel earmarked for our two-night stay in St Luc so this is the perfect juncture for a well-deserved rest day. Enjoy a restful and relaxing rest day off in St Luc, taking advantage of the hotel's excellent spa facilities. There are various shorter walks that are also possible today.

Accommodation: Luxurious hotel, dinner included

Luggage access

Day 8 - Trek from St Luc to Gruben

Today we'll pass from the French-speaking part of Switzerland over in to the German-speaking Val Turtmanntal. From St Luc we retrace our steps out of the village and up into the open pastures to make a steady ascent to the Meidpass (2790m). From the pass we are rewarded with panoramic views across the alps. If we are lucky we may spot some edelweiss as we approach the pass. We descend from the pass into the peaceful Turtmanntal valley and to the tiny hamlet of Gruben.

Day 9 - Trek from Gruben to St Niklaus

A really superb trek today as we start out through open woodland, then across high pastures followed by an alpine rocky wilderness. The trek soon opens up to some of the most spectacular views in the Swiss Alps. Our final pass is the Augstbordpass (2894m), beyond which we descend steeply to the wonderful viewpoint known as the Twära - and here is your first view into the Mattertal. A steep descent takes us to the hamlet of Jungen, perched on the mountainside. From here there is a steeper descent of a couple of hours to take us down to St Niklaus. No one will judge you if you take the cable car down from Jungen, as it will save your knees around 1000m of steep downhill!

Accommodation: High-quality hotel, dinner included

Distance: 16 km / 9.9 miles

Ascent: 1070m / 3510ft

Descent: 1765m / 5790ft

Approx. walking time: 7-8 hours

Day 10 - Trek from Saint Niklaus to Zermatt via the Europaweg

Today we have a choice of two different routes. Either we take a short taxi journey to Randa, then head up to a high-level route to finish the Haute Route in style. We cross the newly-opened Charles Kuonen suspension bridge - at 500m it’s the longest suspension bridge in the world - and then we finish along the high-level Europaweg to reach Zermatt. This route has been closed in previous years due to rockfall and has only recently reopened. We can only take people who can move nimbly over rocky terrain, so anyone wanting to miss this section can either take the train to Zermatt or can walk up the valley floor on an easy path. If the weather is bad, or there is any other reason that there may be rockfall, we will all take the valley floor option. Your professional guide will make the decision on this.

Accommodation: Luxurious hotel, dinner included

Distance: 13 km or 18 km / 8.1 miles or 11.2 miles

Ascent: 450m or 1400m / 1476ft or 4593ft

Descent: 0m or 1000m / 0ft or 3281ft

Approx. walking time: 4-5 hours or 8-9 hours

Day 11 - Depart Zermatt

Your Cloud 9 Adventure trip finishes after breakfast. It's easy to take the train to Geneva or Zurich from Zermatt and the journey takes around four hours.

Included