Chamonix – Zermatt, the greatest Haute Route

Let Paolo, IFMGA certified guide, take you through the mythical Haute Route Chamonix - Zermatt. Five days to see the best of the French and Swiss Alps!

Alps

5 Days

Mar, Apr

Description

The Haute Route from Chamonix to Zermatt is so famous, you must experience it at least once to see why people love it so much. Trust me, it’s an extremely beautiful trip, very satisfying as well.

We go through the French region of Switzerland and the Swiss Valais. It will be a chance to visit many grand mountain ranges in the area. Not only Mont Blanc, Grand Combin and Droites, but also Matterhorn and Dent d’Herens. During these 5 days we will progress from one beautiful place to the next, even more amazing.

You need to be in good physical shape, as well as to have good ski touring experience.

Does this mythical Haute Route sound tempting? Then please contact me and let’s start planning to do this trip together!

Price includes

Guiding fee

Price details

The price does not include the guide´s expenses (accommodation, meals, lift tickets, etc).

Itinerary

Day 1: Cabane de Trient

From Argentière, we take the lift until Grands Montets pass (3230 m). Then we ski down the Argentière glacier. Afterwards we go up to the Chardonnay pass (3323 m), and we do a short, steep descent on the opposite side. Then we ski up until the Fenetre de Saleina, and descend to the Cabane de Trient (3170 m), where we spend the night.
D +1000/-1100m
Duration: 6-7hs

Day 2: Prafleuri hut

We start with an amazing descent at the Arpette Valley, going down to Champex. From there we take a taxi to Verbier. A lift takes us up to the Gentianes pass, then we ascend the Rosablanche peak (3330 m) through the Chaux pass and the Moimin pass. We ski down the Prafleuri glacier until the hut with the same name.
D +1000/-2600m
Duration: 7-8hs + 40 min taxi

Day 3: Cabane de Dix

We go uphill to the Roux pass (2804 m), from there a very long traverse by the Dix lake. Then up the Pas de Chat until the Cabane de Dix (2970 m).
D +850/-400m
Duration: 5-6hs

Day 4: Cabane des Vignettes

A short descent and then a beautiful ascent to the Pigne d’Arolla peak (3800 m). This location gives us amazing views of all the 4000 m peaks in Valais. Then we go down on the opposite side to the Cabane des Vignettes.
D +1050/-700m
Duration: 6hs

Day 5: Last spectacular day!

The last, longest and most spectacular day of the tour. We ski through many passes: Collon, Mont Brûlé, Valpelline. We also go to the Tete de Valpelline peak (3800 m), from where a long descent follows under the north wall of Matterhorn and Dent d’Herens. The endpoint is Zermatt.
D +1330/-2950m
Duration: 8-9hs

Details

More info

Group size: 4 to 6 people.

I will take care of the logistics and the reservations at the mountain huts. If you need technical equipment (harness, crampons, ice axe, snow beep) you can rent it with me.

Technical equipment: high mountains gear, full ski-touring gear (skis with proper ski-touring bindings, skins, rampant), poles, ski mountaineering boots, avalanche transceiver (with extra batteries), shovel, probe, harness, crampons, 1 locking carabiner, heavy gloves or mittens, hat, sunglasses, ski goggle, sun cream, head light. I can provide missing safety equipment.

Meeting point

At Argentière.

About the guide

Paolo

4.9

(14)

Mountain Guide

Strange to say, I began my climbing career after I left behind my valley and my own mountains.

When I finished high school I moved to Turin, in order to get a mechanical engineer degree.
There I started to climb on a little indoor wall at the University Sport Centre and, very soon, I found myself dreaming on the greatest alps walls. I lived adventures made of fun, fatigue and satisfaction, I shared them with many friends who became climbing partners as well.

In Turin I got my degree and I worked for some years as a mechanical engineer consultant but, more than that, I discovered a new way to live and look at the mountains: sometimes they became playgrounds with attractions for everyone, sometimes a shelter, where to find myself again.

Meanwhile, an idea started to grow inside me and became a dream; a dream I would never give up: working in an office as big as the alps!

Making the long story short, I applied for the mountain guide training, had a huge professional development and became a UIAGM mountain guide.

Now I’m working full-time as a mountain guide, sharing my passion with a lot of different people on the Alps, since I'm based in the Monte Rosa area, but also around the world.

Languages

Italian | English | Spanish

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What people are saying about Paolo

Matsvei

Amazing guide, amazing location!

Jay

Paolo was truly an excellent guide. Phenomenal knowledge of the backcountry, excellent pacing on the climbs and downhills. Paolo was able to find some good snow in a year where there has not been much snow.

I just wanted to thank you very much for all the help in the difficult snow conditions. The primary aim of teaching Digby and reminding me of avalanche protocols and about skinning have been fully achieved. You made it all fund, clear and precise. Too bad we had poor conditions, but we still found some reasonable snow and mashed an awesome couloir, so we did really well considering. So thank you very much and only sorry that we could not make full use of you for the full five days.

Frans

Our Guide Massimo was very professional. We were heading to the Margharita hut at 4,559 meters but unfortunately one of us got mountain sickness at 4,100 at Piramide Vincent. Furthermore the weather was getting worse...lots of wind and snow starting. Our guide was very firm and 'advised' to go back to the Mantova hut. We were extremely lucky because a few hours later the storm was very bad and as people may have heart, 2 Italian ladies died at Primade Vincent from the cold . So Massimo thanks for your perseverance!

elyasaf

Paolo is an amazing guide, very nice and very professional. I would like to go on more trips with him, and I recommend others do too!