7-Day Haute Route highlights

Day 1: Meeting Point at Chamonix

6pm trip briefing + dinner.

Accommodation: 3* hotel, dinner included.

Luggage access.

Day 2: Montroc to Col de la Forclaz (or Trient)

1. First, we take the Mont Blanc Express train to the hamlet of Montroc, at the head of the Chamonix valley.

2. After, we climb up through the Larch forests to the stunning Aiguillette des Posettes.

3. Then, we will go to our first mountain pass at Col des Posettes. Get ready for some incredible views of the Le Tour glacier and Mont Blanc.

4. We then take the Scenic route via Les Tseppes to the village of Trient.

5. Finally we have two options. Option A: Climb to the Col de la Forclaz, where we stay the night. Option B: We stay in Trient and make the climb to the col the next morning, depending on accommodation availability. 

Accommodation: Hotel, dinner included.

Luggage access.

Walking: approx 6-7 hrs.

Distance: 13.5 km.

Altitude gain / loss: +1200m / -1100m.

Day 3: Trient to the Cabane de Louvie

1. We start with a climb up the Bovine Trail, to the family-run Alpage de Bovine. Here we will find a herd of prize cows, plus we can enjoy refreshments and home-made cakes.

2. Next, we ascend the Grand Colombin before entering the forest trail.

3. After we arrive at the café at Plan de l’Au, we have a short transfer to the village of Fionnay for  lunch.

4.  We then begin our journey into the mountains for the following  two days.

5. The Cabane de Louvie is our next destination. In order to get there, we have to trek the challenging trail that leads to it. The welcome drink at the top and the breathtaking scenery make the hard work worth it!

Accommodation : Mountain refuge, dinner included

No luggage access

Walking: Approx 7-9 hrs

Distance: 18 km

Altitude gain / loss: +1250m / -550m

Day 4: Cabane de Louvie to the Cabane de Prafleuri

1. First we follow the shoreline of the Lac de Louvie.

2. Then, the trail leads us steeply up to join a high path that traverses beneath the cliffs. This is a tricky part of the trail and there is often a chain to hold on to.

3. Next, we head to the Col de Louvie at 2921m, before descending on to the edge of the Grand Désert glacier.

4. The Col de Prafleuri is the next aim, at a height of 2987m.

5. The Cabane de Prafleuri (2624m), our desitination, is just a short descent away.

Accommodation: Mountain refuge, dinner included

No luggage access

Walking: Approx 7-9 hours

Distance: 18 km

Altitude gain / loss: +820m / -550m

Day 5: Cabane de Prafleuri to La Sage

1. First, we have a short climb to the Col de Roux with views of glaciers and the waters of Lac de Dix.

2. We then follow the lake to its end, and descend with great views of the Pigne d’Arolla and Mont Blanc de Cheilon.

3. Next, we cross the moraine of the Dix glacier, followed by a steep ascent to either the Col de Riedmatten, or the ‘Pas de Chèvres’.

4. The rest of the day  we go downhill to the village of Arolla, nestled in a forest of Arolla pines.

5. Finally, we take a transfer to the delightful hotel in the small farming hamlet of La Sage. 

Accommodation: Hotel, dinner included

Luggage access

Walking: Approx 8-9 hrs

Distance: 22 km

Altitude gain / loss: +1100m / -1360m

Day 6: La Sage to ZInal

1. We get off to an early start on day 6 and ascend to the Col de Torrent at 2912m.

2. Following the ascent of the Col, we then descend to the turquoise waters of Lac de Moiry which has an impressive dam and sights of the Pennine Alps, including Dent Blanche (‘white tooth’).

3. The next step to the  Col de Sorebois is steeper, but also shorter, than the Col de Torrent.The prize for the high climb is the stunning view  to the Weisshorn, the Dent Blanche and the Zinal Rothorn. 

Accommodation: Hotel, dinner included

Luggage access

Walking: approx 8-9 hrs

Distance: 24.5 km

Altitude gain / loss: +2000m / -1850m

Day 7: Zinal to Gruben

1. After some challenging climbs over the first stretch of the Haute Route Tour, we start with a gentle ascent on day 7.

2. After crossing an alpine meadow, we then traverse the mountainside on a balcony trail until the junction of the path for two cols: the Col de la Forcletta (2874m) and the Meidpass (2790m).

3. The Forcletta pass is our usual option due to the great views, however the decision depends on the conditions on the day. 

Accommodation: Hotel, dinner included

Luggage access

Walking: approx 7-8 hrs

Distance: 19 km

Altitude gain / loss: +1315m / -1165m

Day 8: Gruben to Zermatt

1. To cap off a great trip, we start out through open woodland and then head into high pastures.

2. The final col is the Augstbordpass at 2894m.

3. After reaching the pass, we descend into a bowl and follow a rocky trail along the mountainside.

4. At the Twära viewpoint we stop to enjoy the magnificent view into the Mattertal.

5. After, we begin our descent to the hamlet of Jungu followed by a final steep section to the town of St. Niklaus.

6. Here we have the option to take the ‘characterful’ cable car down from Jungu to St. Niklaus (not included), which eliminates the final 1000m of descent. And then, a short train or taxi ride takes us to Zermatt where the Matterhorn is located. 

Accommodation: 3* hotel, dinner included

Luggage access

Walking: approx 7 hrs

Distance: 16 km

Altitude gain / loss: +1070m / -1765m

Day 9: Departure from Zermatt

After breakfast, we bid farewell.