Trek the Haute Route from Chamonix to Zermatt
Follow a spectacular trail, hut-to-hut through the heart of the Alps
What's Included?
Activities & Certified Guides
All itinerary activities with experienced, English-speaking IML-certified guidesGuesthouse & Mountain hut
9 nights in guesthouses, B&Bs and mountain hutsMeals
Munch on tasty food throughoutEquipment
Pillows and blankets are provided at the refuges. Trekking poles are available for hire.Small Like-minded Groups
Solo-friendly by design, join our small n’ sociable groups of up to 10 like-minded, active and outdoorsy people…
…
What's it like?
Take on one of Europe’s toughest and most prestigious long-distance trails
Experience the remote wonders of the Alps as you trek to epic viewpoints and traditional mountain villages
Get a picture-perfect view of the Matterhorn, one of the most iconic mountains on the continent
Short on time? Check out our alternative adventure, Trek the Haute Route in a Week
Key Information
Day 1
Trek to Trient
Hiking
Make your way to Chamonix Sud main bus terminal to meet your host at 08:30. From there you'll head to Argentière to start the hike and begin by tackling a gradual ascent to the summit of L'Aiguillette des Posettes above the Chamonix valley. Take in the epic views of the mighty Mont Blanc in the distance, then turn around and head towards the Col de Balme which straddles the French-Swiss border. From there you'll descend to the picturesque village of Trient, for a hearty meal and a well earned night's rest in an Alpine mountain refuge.
Day 2
The wild pass of Fenêtre d'Arpette
Hiking
Follow a rugged trail and scramble over the boulder-strewn terrain to reach the Fenêtre d'Arpette, a wild and narrow mountain pass known for its untouched beauty - eyes peeled for a glimpse of the Matterhorn. Cross through the steep Arpette Valley and spend the night in the small Swiss mountain resort of Champex-lac.
Day 3
Col de Prafleuri
Hiking
Transfer to Verbier to catch the cable car to La Chaux, picking up a rugged trail through the remote peaks. After a couple of climbs separated by the crystal clear Petit Mont Fort Lake, reach Col de Louvie in time for lunch. Descend steeply and cross the otherworldly rocks of the 'Grand Desert', gradually ascending to Col de Prafleuri. Spot tonight's cosy hut (Cabane de Prafleuri) on the Letio d’Allèves Plateau below, reached via a short but steep technical descent.
Day 4
Lac des Dix and Col de Reidmatten
Hiking
Hike to Col des Roux for views over the impressive Grand Dixence Dam and descend to follow an easy trail along the lakeshore. Climb to the lower end of the Dix Glacier, where the final section demands careful navigation over the steep gradient and rocky ground to the Col de Reidmatten. Follow a gentle trail from the pass down to Arolla. Time to rest up and recover at a nice mountain guesthouse.
Day 5
Lac Bleu
Hiking
An easier day to mark the halfway point. After a leisurely start and a relatively gentle forest stroll, there's a chance for the brave to take a dip in the pristine mountain waters of Lac Bleu. Continue through villages and farmland, along tracks of the famous black cows (Reines d’Hérens), passing through Les Haudéres to reach La Sage in the early afternoon.
Day 6
The big 4000s
Hiking
Set off on one of the toughest days so far as you hike toward the high point at Col de Torrent, with spectacular views over the 4000m peaks of the Alps. Descend to the Val de Moiry, passing the Lac de Moiry, where you'll stop for a well-deserved rest before continuing down the track to the Col de Sorebois. From there, take the gondola down to Zinal, where you’ll lay your head for the night.
Day 7
Col de Forcletta
Hiking
Meander through farms and meadows on a gentle trail overlooking neighbouring villages, before ascending the Forcletta Pass (the boundary between the French-speaking and the Swiss-German speaking parts of this area). Descend into the rural Meid-Valley on an isolated path which leads to a guesthouse in the village of Gruben.
Day 8
The Augstbord Pass
Hiking
Time for one of the most epic sections of the entire trip as you enter the Matterhorn Valley. Climb through sparse forest to the Augstbord Pass before descending into the Augstbordtal. Traverse a rugged trail built into a steep slope to the Jungtal. Ride the cable car from Jungu to reach the quintessentially Alpine village of St. Niklaus, where you'll check into a warm and cosy guesthouse.
Day 9
Hike the Europaweg
Hiking
Hike through traditional Swiss hamlets to Randa, then traverse high above the Matterhorn Valley on the switchbacks of the famous Europaweg trail. Continue on for a short distance to reach the Europahütte mountain refuge, known for its incredible views of the Matterhorn Valley and of the Weisshorn.
Day 10
Trek to Zermatt
Hiking
Cross the world's longest suspension bridge (the Charles Kuonen Bridge), which spans almost 500m. Spot famous peaks such as the Weisshorn, the Dom and the unmistakable Matterhorn as you continue along the Europaweg and trek right into your final destination of the trek, the lovely mountain village of Zermatt. Celebrate - you’ve earned it.
The Area
Logistics
Starts
Chamonix Sud Bus Terminal, France
08:30 on Day 1
Ends
Zermatt Train Station, Switzerland
17:00 on Day 10
Transfers
Make your way to Chamonix Sud Bus Terminal for 08:30 on Day 1. You should arrive in Chamonix any time the day before the start date and book a hotel of your choice.
The trip ends at around 17:00 on Day 10 in Zermatt, Switzerland. Air travellers can take the train to the airport directly from Zermatt. We recommend you stay the night in Zermatt to celebrate the end of your trek (a completely car free town) or you can head straight to the airport for a late flight: it takes 3.5 hours to reach Zurich-Kloten and 4 hours to reach Geneva.
Travel options
You can fly into Geneva Airport (GVA) which is approximately one hour from Chamonix. Alternatively, you can fly into Milan Airport (LIN) or Zurich Airport (ZRH) and travel on to Chamonix from there.
For those who wish to avoid flying, Chamonix is also accessible by train via the St. Gervais-les-Bains (Le Fayet) station at the base of the valley which connects to Chamonix Mont Blanc train station. For example, take the Eurostar from London to Paris and then connect to a number of direct lines or an overnight sleeper train from Paris to St. Gervais-les-Bains, then on to Chamonix Mont Blanc station.
You can also travel to Geneva by various train routes from other parts of Europe and travel on to Chamonix from there by bus. Geneva bus station is a 5 minute walk or short taxi ride from the central train station. There are various bus services from Geneva bus station to Chamonix, the quickest option taking 1 hour and 8 minutes. Your return leg at the end of the trip can begin at Zermatt train station for various onward train travel routes throughout Europe.
For those wanting to arrive a day early or extend their trip - your host is happy to help arrange pre or post trip accommodation on your behalf, with the price and style depending on availability and your budget. Your host will also be able to recommend an airport transfer company to get you to Chamonix.
Day 1
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 2
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 3
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 4 – Day 8
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 9
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 10
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
What is the food like?
Breakfasts and dinners will be served at the refuges. Breakfasts always include coffee, bread, jam and butter. Depending on the refuge, they may also include orange juice, cereal, yoghurt, fruit, cheese and meats. Dinners are hearty and served in large portions – just what a hungry hiker needs! Typical meals include a soup starter, a main course of meat and veggies with a side of grains or pasta, and a dessert like vanilla pudding or creme brûlée. Picnic lunches will be provided each day, featuring a large main item like a sandwich or wrap, a salad, and a selection of fruit, muesli bars, chocolate, nuts, etc.
Vegetarian, vegan and most other dietary requirements (including gluten-free) can be catered for with advanced notice. Just let your host know when booking. Whilst dietary needs are sent to each refuge with the group reservations, please consider that the mountain refuges will have a limited range of choice to offer guests due to their remote locations. People with very specific dietary requirements typically choose to also bring some of their own snacks with them to ensure they have sufficient fuel for hiking up and down the beautiful mountain trails.
What is the accommodation like?
The Alps
For the most part, you'll stay in simple guesthouses and B&Bs in twin-share rooms, except for in a couple of locations (Europahütte, Cabane du Prafleuri and occasionally in Trient) where you'll stay in remote mountain huts in multi-share dormitories.
Each accommodation is unique but you can usually expect it to be simple, clean and comfortable. In the mountain huts, groups typically sleep in mixed dormitory rooms of up to 20 persons, usually in bunk or single beds. They feature hot showers, running water, pillows and blankets, and a bar serving cold drinks. Most refuges also have outlets for charging your electronics, and some even have WiFi. Some refuges are more modern in style, others have a more traditional heritage, most are busy throughout the hiking season; it's the refuge's location and its remoteness that largely decides what comforts and conveniences are available. It's best to keep your expectations simple and enjoy the time on the trail to unplug from everyday life.
Upgrades
Unfortunately, single room upgrades aren't available on this trip as some of the hotels are very small and have a limited number of rooms.
This trip has been rated as Tough
This trip is suitable for experienced hikers in good shape. You'll need to be able to hike 15–20km on mountain trails, with as much as 1000m+ of elevation gain and descent, each day. You will be carrying your own overnight pack between the refuges, so should be confident hiking with a 30-50L pack for multiple days. Doing some practice hikes before the trip with your pack and boots is strongly recommended to help you prepare for this adventure!
Summer in the Alps is generally warm and fair, but the weather can change very quickly in the high mountains, bringing cold rain and wind. Average temperatures range from 6 to 26 °C. It rains roughly half of the days each month, but storms generally pass through quickly. Even in the peak of summer you can have very mixed conditions, especially when climbing over the high mountain passes above 2000m. Heatwaves have also been a feature of recent European summers. Our kit list is intended to guide you on what to pack for this trip.
Loved it!
I loved the Trek the Haute Route trip!
The scenery was spectacular, a total feast for the eyes, with varied landscapes across different days that would often leave me stood staring in wonder. The flora and fauna was wonderful - I absolutely loved the marmots.
Our guide was fantastic. Extremely knowledgable created a positive vibe and ensured we were all looked after.
The accommodation was better than I expected. Some nights spent in mountain huts that were basic but comfortable and other nights in hotels.
The trek was a challenge with solid hiking days but also allowed time to relax and chill. I was blessed with a great group of people to share the adventure with and amazing weather.
Prior to the trip commencing I had several queries, which Much Better Adventures 'My Trip' forum allowed me to message in and get the advice I needed to help prepare for the trip.
I would highly recommend this trip and look forward to booking further adventures in future with Much Better Adventures. Thank you so much for a wonderful experience!
A fantastic 10 days of
A fantastic 10 days of difficult but rewarding hiking with an expert guide and no logistical worries.
Amazing trip!
My wife and I enjoyed this trip. The views were amazing, everywhere you looked was picturesque. The fitness needed is legitimate. Uphill/downhill switchbacks were a challenge. Went in late June/early July. Heavier snow this winter impacted availability of some passes. Our guide Fernando was excellent. Knowledgable, patient and a lot of fun! Accomodations were a combonation of a couple really nice hotels and basic mountain huts. I was pleased with a dose of both. Food throughout was a variety for lunches and dinners, which was great. The breakfasts were good but typically yogurt, granolla, bread/jelly, etc. It never felt repetative however. Group we were with was excellent and a lot of fun. Highly recommend this trip.
An epic adventure!
What an amazing experience! We crossed remote mountain passes, traversed steep snow fields, bouldered, scrambled and river crossed our way across the Swiss Alps, safe in the hands of our incredible guide, Fernando. The Haute Route is no joke - it's challenging but Fernando (and the team behind the scenes) made the experience one that was safe and unforgettable for all of the right reasons. As a group, we became a team, and bonded over our experience and the many, many laughs we shared. Accommodation and food was great - even the mountain hut experiences! I highly recommend this trek - just make sure you train for it!
Fernando the giude was excellent.... trip was excellent...views were excellent ..hiking was hard..challenging
A strenuous and technical traverse of the Swiss Alps, where you are rewarded with incredible scenery which changes every day. The highlights for me were the amazing views from the mountain pass each day. We were expertly led by our fantastic guide Alessandra. The food was great and the accommodation was of a high standard for a remote mountain trek, ranging from basic mountain huts to very comfortable hotels. The Haute Route is physically demanding so start training with the 10kg pack on your back! It is one of the tougher rated European long-distance hikes for a reason! I would advise you to bring (in no particular order) electrolyte tablets, hiking poles, earplugs, an eyemask and an adapter that works in both countries.
A superb multi-day hike, with absolutely stunning scenery literally every step of the way. Don't underestimate (but, at the same time, don't be put off by) the physical challenge: there's some long, arduous days on the trail but the pay-off is the sheer majesty, solitude and peace of the high-alpine landscape. Each day had something different in terms of terrain, exposure, distance and views which certainly kept things exciting. And although some days it felt most definitely like 'Type II' fun, that first view of the Matterhorn from the trail into Zermatt made it all worthwhile! Our guide Alessandra was great, setting a good pace and really looking out for the team's needs. The accommodation on the mountain and in the villages exceeded expectations; always a beer to celebrate the day's achievements and the food was really quite good (and not as many chicken curries as I was lead to believe from previous reviews!). If I could offer any tips, it'd be these: be brutal in your packing (every gram saved counts), use hiking poles (even if you don't normally), carry mostly Swiss Francs (very little time spent in the French Alps), take a Swiss plug adaptor (for the same reason), get some training in ahead of this epic hike and look after your feet whilst on it (take plenty of blister plasters - they were a life-saver for me). It's 100% recommended!
A really fantastic trip. A great group with excellent guide. It was tough, 155km over some difficult and exposed terrain, spectacular views and experiences, a great adventure. Recommend it highly to any fit, confident folks who like a challenge!
A rewarding hike with beautiful views that change each day! It is demanding but manageable with previous hiking experience, an excellent guide (thank you Alessandra!) and a great group. Good food and accommodation. Fantastic trip!
Great trip, would recommend. One tip, bring a swiss adapter. It's different to the euro ones!
Trip was fantastic, views incredible and the challenge was high. A few too many chicken curries for the 10 day hike though...