The Haute route, Argentière to Zermatt
| country: | France, Switzerland |
| departures: | 2008: 9 Apr |
| price: | From £945 (9 days) excluding flights. We can arrange flights from the UK |
the amazing things you'll be doing
The Haute Route was first completed on skis in 1911. It is perhaps the most famous ski-mountaineering itinerary in the Alps and justifiably so. This is the High Alps at their best crowned by Mont Blanc in Chamonix and the Matterhorn in Zermatt.
In the company of a UIAGM Mountain Guide, the 9 day trip begins with a warm-up and trip preparation in the Chamonix Valley. The 6 day alpine traverse then starts from Argentière, and follows what is known as the Verbier route.
The itinerary is planned over 9 days to allow time for preparation and provision for bad weather. We also take care of all the logistics, allowing you to enjoy the experience to the full.
Our trips start mid-week to enable us to avoid the majority of groups that choose the traditional start to the Haute Route at the weekend. This start means there is much less likelihood of encountering other groups on the routes. The feeling of wilderness is greater, the huts are less busy and more relaxed and there Is every opportunity of getting first tracks on the descents!
This is a superb and coveted ski tour, and by the time you reach Zermatt you will have climbed and skied through some of the finest mountain scenery in the world.
In the company of a UIAGM Mountain Guide, the 9 day trip begins with a warm-up and trip preparation in the Chamonix Valley. The 6 day alpine traverse then starts from Argentière, and follows what is known as the Verbier route.
The itinerary is planned over 9 days to allow time for preparation and provision for bad weather. We also take care of all the logistics, allowing you to enjoy the experience to the full.
Our trips start mid-week to enable us to avoid the majority of groups that choose the traditional start to the Haute Route at the weekend. This start means there is much less likelihood of encountering other groups on the routes. The feeling of wilderness is greater, the huts are less busy and more relaxed and there Is every opportunity of getting first tracks on the descents!
This is a superb and coveted ski tour, and by the time you reach Zermatt you will have climbed and skied through some of the finest mountain scenery in the world.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrive Chamonix |
| Day 2: | Warm up and revision of alpine ski-mountaineering techniques, Grand Montets |
| Day 3: | Start of the Haute Route - Argentiere to the Trient Hut |
| Day 4: | Trient to Mont Font via the Trient Glacier and Champex |
| Day 5: | Mont Fort to Prafleuri Hut over the Col du la Chaux |
| Day 6: | Prafleuri Hut to Dix Hut beneath the Mont Blanc de Cheilon |
| Day 7: | Dix Hut to Vignettes Col du la Serpertine and the Pigne d'Arolla. |
| Day 8: | End of the Haute Route - An epic day from the Vignettes Hut to Zermatt |
| Day 9: | Return to Chamonix and depart |
how this holiday makes a difference
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Ski-mountaineering is an inherently sustainable activity and arguably the ultimate way to travel through the mountains in winter. Rather than using ski lifts and resorts, it relies on human power to journey through the mountains in an inspiring and unobtrusive way.
This trip supports a wide range of local businesses from locally owned small hotels to alpine huts. In particular by commencing the trip in mid-week, we are able to contribute to a more balanced income in the remote mountain huts. Our return journey from Zermatt to Chamonix is by train. Since the beginning of our business six years ago, we have been committed to the principles of sustainable and responsible tourism. Responsibility to the environments, the communities and economies in which we operate has always been and will continue to be at the very core of our business. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've lead the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |