Search:

Compass Illustration

Guided Deluxe Haute Route Highlights

Our Deluxe Haute Route Highlights is luxurious adventure, crossing numerous high passes from Chamonix to Zermatt.

Guided Deluxe Haute Route Highlights

Our Deluxe Haute Route Highlights is luxurious adventure, crossing numerous high passes from Chamonix to Zermatt.

    Support
  • Guided Group,
    Style
  • Inn-To-Inn,
    Activity Level
  • Moderate to Challenging,

The Deluxe Haute Route is an epic adventure, with rugged trails by day, and luxury by night.

Hike from Mont Blanc in Chamonix to the Matterhorn in Zermatt, with high passes and stunning mountains the whole way.  Such a once-in-a-lifetime experience deserves to be done in style, and we’ve designed our Deluxe Haute Route Highlights as a luxurious tour, skipping a couple of the more rustic stretches, and adding 4-star hotel upgrades in Chamonix, Verbier and Zermatt.

We’ll have comfortable hotels each and every night, with private rooms, hot showers and luggage transferred to your stop. Experience all the rugged highlights that make the Haute Route so unique and enjoy gourmet meals, a comfortable bed, and even a sauna and spa at many of our stops. Extra nights in Chamonix and Zermatt give us the chance to bask in comfort and to truly appreciate the beauty of Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn on either end of this trip.

As with all our guided tours, this trip is guaranteed to run. Sign up, get yourself in shape, and prepare to meet the challenge. There’s nothing like it. Our guides will keep you on track, make sure the pace is right and that everything comes together as it should. This Haute Route is a lofty adventure that lives up to its name.

 

See our self-guided version

    Length
  • 10 days, 9 nights
    Departures
  • Aug 25 – Sep 3, 2024Sold Out!
    Cost
  • $6995 Per Person
  • $1550 Single Room

Itinerary At a Glance

Days 1-3

Chamonix to Champex

Start in Chamonix, France at the foot of the highest peak in the Alps, Mont Blanc. Enjoy a day hike below Mont Blanc, and then transfer to Switzerland to hike to the lakeside village of Champex.

Days 4-6

Verbier to Grimentz

Louvie hut, Verbier, Dixence, Arolla and Grimentz.  We’ll use a private transfer to skip the hut nights while still enjoying hikes in this rugged and remote stretch of Switzerland.

Days 7-10

Zinal to Zermatt

From the quiet end-of-the-road village of Zinal, transfer to the Mattertal and hike into Zermatt, for a luxurious finish to a great tour.

Included

Your tour will be led by an experienced Alpinehikers guide, with guided hikes daily. All transfers to and from trailheads are included. You’ll stay 5 nights 4-star hotels and 4 nights 3-star hotels.  All breakfasts, picnic lunches, and 8 dinners are included. Luggage transfers to all hotels are also part of your tour, as well as private arrival shuttle from Geneva to Chamonix.

Return travel from Zermatt is not included.

Full Itinerary

Day 1

Chamonix/Argentière

Arrive in Europe and transfer to our meeting point in Argentière.  Argentière is a sunny, quiet village tucked at the base of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in the Alps, and just a few kilometers down the valley from Chamonix.  The Chamonix valley is one of the great destinations in the Alps, with gorgeous mountains and miles of hiking trails.

On our first night, we’ll meet for dinner and talk about the trip to come. Enjoy the comforts of your gorgeous 4-star hotel.

Arrival: Geneva.  Plan to arrive by the day your tour starts.  A private taxi from Geneva to Argentière is included in your tour, so you can arrive relaxed and stress-free.  The trip takes 1½ hrs.

4-star Hotel le Grands Montets
  • Dinner

Day 2

Chamonix/Argentière

On our first hiking day of the tour, we’ll head to le Tour and climb high onto the Posettes ridge, with breathtaking views behind us of Mont Blanc and the Chamonix valley. Continue to the Col de Balme pass into Switzerland, where a scenic mountain restaurant serves as an irresistible lunch stop.

Perhaps there will be time to hike up along the Tour glacier to the Albert refuge for more memorable high mountain scenery. We’ll descend by cable car from the Balme pass and return to Argentière for a 2nd luxurious night.

HIKE: 6-8 hours, 9 miles; Elevation: 3870 ft up, 3050 ft down

4-star Hotel le Grands Montets
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

Day 3

Champex

After a quick morning transfer to Forclaz, we’ll have 2 hiking choices today, either crossing the high, rocky Fenetre d’Arpette pass, or a more moderate hike through woods and farms. The choice of trail will be determined by your guides and weather, but both have much to offer, and both lead to the small lakeside village of Champex.

On the moderate Bovine route, an undulating trail leads through alpine pastures and pine forests, with sweeping views of the Rhone valley. Or, weather permitting, a more rigorous possibility leads up to the high pass of Fenetre d’Arpette along the Trient glacier. A steep descent through a large boulder field brings us to Champex, where we stay in a comfortable 3-star hotel.

HIKE: 6-8 hours, 9 miles; Elevation: 2260 ft up, 2460 ft down (Bovine) or 7-9 hours, 9.5 miles; Elevation: 3740 ft up, 3940 ft down (Fenetre d’Arpette)

Hotel Splendide, Glacier or similar
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

Day 4

Verbier

We’ll take a taxi in the morning to nearby Fionnay, where an invigorating trail leads uphill to the beautifully remote Louvie hut, always a favorite on our tours. We’ll stop for a quick drink or snack before continuing on a high, scenic trail known as the Sentier des Bouquetins, where you can almost always spot wild antelope and mountain goats.

We’ll end our hike in Verbier, a sun-dappled village nestled in a cirque of mountains and looking out at the impressive Grand Combins. We stay in a wonderful 4-star hotel here in town with newly renovated rooms and welcome spa. Dinner will be on your own to explore in town tonight.

HIKE: 6-8 hours, 9 miles; Elevation: 4750 ft up, 2460 ft down

4-star Hotel de Verbier
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch

Day 5

Arolla

Leaving Verbier early, a taxi speeds us around to the Dixence reservoir. From here we’ll start out on a big hike into rugged glacial landscapes – the very heart of the Haute Route. Cross the spectacular Pas des Chevres pass (on fixed ladders) where we gaze across the Cheilon glacier to the beautiful symmetry of the Mont Blanc de Cheilon mountain. Descend from here into the Val d’Herens to the tiny village of Arolla.

If you’re in need of a shorter day, stay with the taxi all the way to Arolla. With a morning arrival, you’ll have plenty of time for a big day hike to the Pas des Chevres pass from this side, returning to Arolla for the evening. Arolla is a very quiet little village, and our favorite stop here has long been the elegant Hotel Kurhaus, with their beautiful terrace and garden, comfortable rooms, and good food.

HIKE: 6-8 hours, 11 miles; Elevation: 2350 ft up, 3580 ft down

Hotel Kurhaus or du Glacier
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

Day 6

Grimentz

After a short morning transfer from Arolla to la Sage, a steady uphill trail leads to the Col de Torrent and into the Anniviers valley. Descending from the pass, we’ll cross through meadows and past tiny lakes to the Moiry reservoir, where we can walk or ride a bus to Grimentz.

There are alternate routes today as well, over the Lona or Tsate passes, which all have something slightly different to offer. All lead to Grimentz, one of the prettiest villages in Switzerland. Its centuries-old chalets are blackened by the sun, with windows filled with geraniums. We’ll stay in a comfortable 3-star hotel in town.

HIKE: 6-8 hours, 8 miles; Elevation: 3910 ft up, 2200 ft down

Hotel Alpina
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

Day 7

Zinal

A relatively moderate day leads us from the Moiry reservoir over a minor pass and gives us a chance to further explore the Val d’Anniviers, an unforgettable valley with a great blend of ancient villages, quiet trails, and breathtaking views.

After crossing the pass, we’ll descend to the village of Zinal, a postcard-perfect village of dark timbered houses bursting with colorful geraniums. An optional cable car can eliminate much of the descent for a more moderate day.

HIKE: 6-8 hours, 8 miles; Elevation: 2100 ft up, 3800 ft down

Hotel le Besso
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

Day 8

Zermatt

We start with a morning transfer to the Mattertal valley, up to the remote Taschalp hamlet. From Taschalp, a stunning balcony walk leads us toward the Matterhorn and into Zermatt. The mountains surrounding Zermatt are more than just the Matterhorn, of course, and the entire hike is a visual feast of rugged, white-capped peaks, wildflower-filled meadows and soft larch forest.

Descend to town where a memorable 4-star hotel awaits. Zermatt is a lively village, filled with energy and history, and dominated by the towering presence of the Matterhorn. It also retains its alpine charm, with quiet back alleys, scenic nearby hamlets, and classy shops.

HIKE: 6-8 hours, 8 miles; Elevation: 1500 ft up, 2900 ft down

4-star Hotel Europe or similar
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

Day 9

Zermatt

We’ll have a full second day in Zermatt to explore the area in and around town. Perhaps one of our favorite hikes leads up the ridge of the Matterhorn itself to the historic and impressive Hornli hut.

Hornli hut serves as a sort of Matterhorn base camp and it is an unforgettable destination. There are plenty of bigger hikes, but the Schwarzhorn gondola makes the out-and-back to Hornli hut fairly moderate. The power of the mountains is inescapable here, and you’ll want plenty of time to soak it all in. Return to Zermatt for a final gourmet dinner together.

HIKE: 6-8 hours, 7 miles; Elevation: 2330 ft up, 2330 ft down

4-star Hotel Europe or similar
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

Day 10

depart

After breakfast at our hotel, we’ll say our good-byes and leave for our post-trip destinations.

Departure: Zürich or Geneva. It is 4 hrs from Zermatt to Zürich or Geneva by train.  Trains start at 6 am if you need an early start, and leave frequently throughout the day.

  • Breakfast

Guided Deluxe Haute Route Highlights

Inn-To-Inn

  • High passes and rugged hikes daily
  • A comfortable inn-to-inn with 7 stops in 9 nights
  • Luggage transferred to your hotel all nights
  • 4-star luxury (with a spa) on 5 of your 9 nights
  • Memorable mountains… Mont Blanc, Matterhorn and more
  • All departures guaranteed. No minimum group size
  • Private shuttle to Chamonix
  • $6995Per Person
  • $1550Single Room

Guided Classic Hikers Haute Route

Inn-To-Inn

  • Strenuous passes every day
  • A rugged inn-to-inn with 10 stops in 11 nights, including 3 huts
  • Luggage transferred to your inn 7 of the 11 nights
  • 4-star luxury (with a spa) for your last 2 nights in Zermatt
  • Rugged, remote trails best for strong hikers who like a challenge
  • All departures guaranteed. No minimum group size
  • Our toughest tour
  • $5395Per Person
  • $1050Single Room

You Might Also Like

The self-guided Hiker's Haute Route tour links Chamonix to Zermatt via a spectacular series of trails with high passes, quiet...

Hike inn-to-inn along the Eiger and Jungfrau mountains with a luxurious finish in Zermatt with the epic Matterhorn

Spend 6 luxurious days hiking varied Mont Blanc trails on this guided tour based in Chamonix and Courmayeur

Site Design Rebecca Pollock
Site Development Alchemy + Aim