Haute Route ski traverse from Chamonix to Zermatt

Come join a certified mountain guide on this 8-day ski traverse from Chamonix, France all the way to Zermatt, Switzerland!

Alps

8 Days

Jan - Mar

High

Intermediate

Description

All the way from Chamonix (1087 meters) in France to Zermatt (1.608 m) in Switzerland, this 8-day ski traverse is the perfect adventure for every ski lover!

Join me on one of the most classic traverses in the world, surrounded by the most spectacular mountains in Europe and discover the breathtaking views the French and Swiss Alps have to offer.

Our adventure will start by skiing in the beautiful Vallee Blanche in Chamonix. Located in the Auvergne-Rhône Alpes region in south-eastern France, Chamonix will be perfect to acclimatize and adjust our equipment so that we prepare ourselves for the type of skiing that we will find on the Haute Route.

On our third day, we will leave Chamonix (1087 mt) and direct ourselves to a small village called Argentiere. From there, we will take a tram to the Grand Montent (3233 mt). Once we reach the top, we will descend and then climb for approximately three hours to the Col du Chardonnet (3323 mt). Via the Fenetre du Tour (3225 m) we will arrive to the first hut called Refuge Albert, located at 2702 metres.

During the days to come, we will be skiing along wild glaciers, seracs and appreciating the spectacular views of the Swiss and French Alps. And during the night, we will enjoy local homemade food in the different cozy alpine huts will be staying along the route.

Your will find a more detailed itinerary below!

Keep in mind, that this is a moderately difficult ski tour and that all participants need to be strong skiers and be in good physical condition as well.

So if you are ready for this 8-day ski traverse, just request to book this trip and let´s start making plans!

Price includes

Guiding fee
Transport during the trip
Luggage transfer

Price details

The price does not include the guide´s expenses (accommodation, meals, lift tickets, etc).
Includes 2 nights in Chamonix, hut fees, 7 breakfasts and 6 dinners, 1 liter of tea from Chamonix to Zermatt, travel expenses like tram/train/taxi costs during the tour (except we have to reroute the original route).

Itinerary

Day 1: Meeting point in Hotel L’Arve, Chamonix.

Arrive in Chamonix, welcomed at 15:00 by your guide in the Hotel L’Arve, Chamonix.

Day 2: All day skiing in the famous Valle Blanche

Acclimatize for the Haute Route by skiing the famous Vallee Blanche (14 km. ski run!) (equipment preparation and tour review).

Ski lifts and a tram access the run. Chamonix (1087 mt) to Aig du Midi (3842 mt). It is on rugged glacier terrain surrounded with the most spectacular mountains in Europe which allows you to get ready for the type of skiing found on the Haute Route.

Day 3: Chamonix (1087 mt) - Grand Montent ( 3233 mt) - Col du Chardonnet ( 3323 mt) - Refugee Albert Hut ( 2702 mt)

Leave Chamonix (1087 mt) to a little village called Argentiere, where we will take a tram to the Grand Montent (3233 mt). From the top we will ski down and skin up for 3 hr. up to the Col du Chardonnet (3323 mt) via Fenetre du Tour (3225 mt) to the Refugee Albert 1er. hut (2702 mt).

This is apprx. a 5 to 7 hr. day.

Day 4: Refuge Ablert Hut - Co de Tour( 3218 mt) - Champex ( 1466 mt) - Mont for Hut (2457 mt)

We skin up via Co de Tour (3281 mt) ski down a great, via the Glacier du Trient to the long run in the Valles d’Arpettes, a 9 km. ski descent to Champex (1466 mt), where we take the train and bus to Verbier (1490 mt) We end the day by skiing to the Mont For Hut (2457 mt).

This day is 1.5-2 hrs. of skiing to Champex and 3-4 hrs. to the Mont For Hut.

Day 5: Mont for Hut (2457 mt) - Rosablanche (3336 mt) - Prafleuri Hut (2624 mt) .

We ski and climb up the Rosablanche (3336 mt) and ski down to the Prafleuri Hut (2624 mt).

This is about 4-5 hrs. to the Rosablanche peak and 1 hr. ski descent.

Day 6: Prafleuri Hut ( 2624 mt) - Lac of the Dix - Dix Hut (2928 mt)

Travel along the highest dam in Europe, Lac of the Dix, up to the Dix Hut (2928 mt).

This is about a 4- to 5-hr. climb.

Day 7: Dix Hut (2928 mt) - Pigne d’Arolla (3790 mt) - Col de l'Eveque (3386 mt) - Refuge Gpllon (2818 mt)

Skin up the Pigne d’Arolla (3790 mt), where we will have a great view over the Alps. After a pleasant descent, skin up to the Col de l’Eveque (3386 mt) and ski down to the Refuge Gpllon, (2818 mt).

This is about 4-5 hrs. to the peak and a 1-hr. descent.

Day 8: Refuge Gpllon (2818 mt) - Col Collon (2386 m) - Glacier Arolla - Col de M. Brule (3213 mt) - Col du Valpelline (3562 mt) - Zermatt (1616 mt)

Skin back up to the Col Collon (2386 m) and ski down to the Glacier Arolla to skin/climb up the Col de M. Brule (3213 mt) and Col du Valpelline (3562 mt), we ski down to (Zermatt 1616 mt) at the bottom of the famous Matterhorn North Face. This is a very committing and long day that requires good weather.

This is a 6- to 8-hr. day and covers the longest distance during the tour.

Details

More info

I highly recommend in doing a level 1 avalanche class with AIARE (American institute for Avalanche Research and Education) to gain some basic Avalanche knowledge.

Meeting point

Hotel L’Arve, Chamonix, France

About the guide

ES Adventure Guides

5.0

(6)

Mountain Guide

Tomas and his team of IFMGA/UIMLA-certified mountain guides & leaders and rock climbing instructors (Kyriakos, Daniel, Andrej, Tobias, Bernd, Herbert, Guy and Noé) are some of the top outdoor adventure professionals in Switzerland.

Whether you wish to climb the Matterhorn, Eiger, Jungfrau or Monch, or enjoy amazing freeride or ski touring days around Verbier or Zermatt, among other great options, they will be able to show you the top spots and the ropes to ensure you have an unforgettable and safe adventure.

Tomas will be your main point of contact during the booking process and will be able to help you with all the questions you have in order to make sure you receive the best possible guiding service.

Pick one of the programs featured for E-S Adventure Guides Switzerland and start planning an awe-inspiring experience in the mountains!

Languages

French | English

Certificates

ASAM | UIMLA | UIAGM | IFMGA

Request more information

What people are saying about ES Adventure Guides

Peter

This was a great trip and Explore Share made finding the right trip super easy. Our guide was personable, extremely knowledgeable, and experienced and willing to teach us the skills we would have needed to climb the Matterhorn. Unfortunatly, the conditions were not right to climb so our guide recemmended another trip which was still a great experience and lots of fun.

Emma

Very user friendly platform with timely responses from Explore Share representatives. The trip itself with Tom from Alps Adventures was awesome and ensure that we had an experience that was 100% what we wanted. Recommend both the platform and the guide. Thanks to all for arranging and delivering so well.

I had am amazing time during the 1-day off-piste training course at Hoch-Ybrig. Urs, our main mountain guide, was very helpful in answering my queries before the course, and Lupe from explore-share was helpful in selecting the course. We had 3 groups under Urs, Mario and Patrick, and I was in the group with Patrick. He gave us a lot of nice tips and individualized video analysis. He made a special effort to convey everything in English, since I don't know German. All the participants were very helpful and friendly too! The course is good value for money as skis are included for the weekend in the course price.