Skier with the Matterhorn in the distance.
Adventures Within Reach is pleased to offer the Haute Route (or High Level Route) from Chamonix, France to Zermatt, Switzerland. This classic trek was first pioneered by members of the British Alpine Club along with local French and Swiss guides in the 1860s. National Geographic named it one of the top ten distance trails in the world.
Winter Haute Route Ski Tour: March through May
The winter trek is a 6-day, long-distance back country ski tour. Mountain huts open full service accommodation in mid-March and remain open to mid-May. Those who love ski touring can experience a high altitude, alpine adventure with the comfort and security of the hut system. Each day of the Haute Route ends with a warm meal and relaxing evening.
The snow covered landscape is simply breathtaking. A combination of climbs, descents and traverses on glaciers takes skiers through the greatest concentration of high peaks in France and Switzerland. As with all of AWR’s trips, safety is our top priority. Your group of 4 to 6 people will be led by two guides: a local mountain guide and a ski guide.
2011 dates: March 20 – 27, March 27 – April 3, April 3 – 10, April 24 – May 1, May 1 – 8
Summer Haute Route by Foot: July through September
The summer season allows hikers to take advantage of this spectacular landscape. It takes 9 days to complete the hike, known as the “Walker’s Haute Route.”
Ibex
Along the way hikers witness a different side to this alpine environment including wildflowers and animals. You may see Switzerland’s best known flower, the Edelweiss, and animals including chamois, ibex and marmots. The mountains also change in the summer – when the snow melts the ice falls of the many glaciers are exposed, revealing beautiful networks of crevasses.
2011 dates: August 11 – 21 & September 1 – 11
Hut System
The Valsorey Hut
The excellent system of mountain huts allows for trekkers and skiers to spend the night in comfortable accommodations along the route. Situated high above the tree line, local associations and sections of the Swiss Alpine Club originally built the huts to provide shelter and lodging for mountaineers.
Today climbers, hikers and mountaineers can use them to experience the beauty and tranquility of the Alps.
Chamonix and Zermatt
Trekkers can explore the towns of Chamonix and Zermatt before and after the Haute Route. Chamonix, in France, is the birthplace of modern mountaineering and a prized alpine retreat. It was the site of the first winter Olympics in 1924 and remains one of the most beautiful places in Europe. Zermatt might be Switzerland’s best-known town with its car-free streets and views of the Matterhorn. In both places you can enjoy local cuisine including fondue and raclatte.
Visit our website to learn more about the Summer and the Winter Haute Route as well as other treks near Chamonix on the Tour du Mont Blanc.
We also offer custom itineraries. Do you wish to do a shorter or longer variation of the hiking or the ski touring Haute Route? Are you interested in other possibilities in the regions around Chamonix and Zermatt? Please contact us for more information and pricing.