Arrive in Europe and transfer to our meeting point in Chamonix, the world-famous resort town at the base of Mont Blanc.

The trip to Chamonix is easy and very scenic. If you arrive early, you can ask us to book a few extra days on your own here at the start of the trip. We’ll meet for dinner and talk about the trip to come. Relax in the evening at our comfortable village hotel.

Arrival: Geneva.  Plan to arrive by the day your tour starts.  You can book a private or shared shuttle from GVA to Chamonix.  The trip takes 1½ hrs.  We recommend booking early with Mountain Dropoffs or Chamonix Valley Transfers.

On our first hiking day of the tour, we’ll cross the Col de Balme into Switzerland, with with breathtaking views behind us of Mont Blanc and the Chamonix valley.

Finish the day at a small hiker’s inn at Trient or the nearby Col de la Forclaz.  This stretch of the Haute Route is shared with the TMB, and the inns fill up long before the summer.  If there is no availability, we’ll arrange to return to Chamonix for a 2nd night, and come back to Forclaz the next day to start our hike to Champex.

We’ll have 2 choices today. For an easier day, an undulating trail leads through alpine pastures and pine forests, with sweeping views of the Rhone valley. Stop at the alpine farmhouse at Bovine before heading on to Champex.

Weather and energy permitting, a more rigorous possibility leads up to the high pass of Fenetre d’Arpette, one of the highest points along the tour and along the Trient glacier. It’s hard work but with quite the payoff. Both hikes finish at the pretty, lakeside village of Champex, where we stay in a comfortable 3-star hotel.

After a morning transfer by taxi to Siviez, near Verbier, you’ll hike across 2 passes and through a remote, wild region filled with glaciers and rocky peaks known as the Grand Desert.  This is a rugged hike with rocky trails and high elevations all day.  If the weather is bad, it’s possible to skip this section by taxi or train, and hike a more straightforward trail up to the hut from the Dixence reservoir.

Finish the day at the lively Prafleuri hut.  This is a simple hut with large dorms and only 1 small bathroom, but they do a nice job with meals, and are perfectly located for the next stage of the hike.

Another scenic day unfolds as you hike past the Grand Dixence reservoir and then up into the upper reaches of the Val d’Hérémence. This is a beautifully hidden corner of the Alps, with handsome mountains and huge glaciers all around.

After passing the lake, you’ll can catch glimpses of the Matterhorn in the distance on the way up. A rocky final ascent then brings you to the Riedmatten pass. Finally a long meandering descent brings you to the tiny village of Arolla, and our comfortable village hotel.

Arolla is a tiny but handsome little village surrounded by great glaciers and soaring peaks, such as the Pigne d’Arolla and Mont Collon.  We’ll hit pause and take a 2nd night here to either relax and recharge to take a great dayhike.

One panoramic hike leads up to the Cabane des Aiguilles Rouges, a small traditional hut perched high above the valley.  Either turn around and return for a moderate day, or make a longer loop to return via the turquiose waters of lac Bleu, a tiny lake nearby.

After a short transfer to the east side of the valley, a long, steady climb leads over the Col du Tsaté pass to the beautiful Val d’Anniviers and more stunning mountain scenery.  If you had to pick one hike and set of views that recommends the Haute Route to lovers of high mountain scenery, this would be a top contender.

We’ll descend to the Moiry reservoir and then up to the freshly renovated Moiry hut, perched high above a glacier at 2825 meters. Moiry hut is you-won’t-believe-this beautiful, a comfortable base with huge picture windows surrounded by a sea of ice.  We stay in small 4-person dorms here.

A slightly easier day leads us over the minor Sorebois 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.

Descend to the village of Zinal, a postcard-perfect village of dark timbered houses bursting with colorful geraniums. Zinal is surrounded by big hikes to scenics huts, and is a great place add an extra day if you are looking to extend your trip.

Another day, another high pass, as your Haute Route itinerary continues over the Meidpass to the Turtmann Valley and into the German-speaking portion of the Wallis. Capped by the stunning Weisshorn mountain, this is a quiet, wonderful valley with surprising views around every corner.  An underrated stop on the Haute Route itinerary, a very peaceful and quiet valley.

Stay at a hiker’s inn at the base of the valley.  Private rooms are normally available with bathroom down the hall, especially if booking early, but they also have spacious dorms if the rooms are booked.

Another great option is the rustic but spectacular Turtmann hut at the top of the valley.  This is a traditional Alpine club hut with dorm only and no showers, but compensated with great views, a warm reception, and an off-the-beaten-path feel that can be a welcome change of pace.

Our final pass, the Augstbord pass, brings us up to more gorgeous views of the Weisshorn, Dom and more, before dropping down to a lovely little hamlet called Jungen.  Stop to enjoy a drink at the scenic restaurant terrace before taking a small local cable car to the valley where we catch a short train ride to Zermatt.

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. Check out the town, take a short walk around Zermatt, or enjoy the local Matterhorn museum or the spa at our hotel, before settling in at your luxurious 4-star hotel.

Zermatt is so nice, we like an extra day here to explore.  There are a ton of great options, including a route on the quiet side of Zermatt. Start with a short shuttle to the Täschalp. Taking a quiet route through scenic meadows, we’ll steer you away from the crowds on a favorite trail to Täsch hut for views of the surrounding mountains.

From here, return to Täschalp and take an absolutely stunning balcony trail to Sunnegga. Constant views of the Matterhorn accompany this quiet walk. Return to Zermatt by funicular train, or make the wooded walk down to the village for a longer day.

If you’d rather slow down, the train to Gornergrat or cable car to Klein Matterhorn are both beautifully scenic, or the easy walk to Fluhalp hut passes by many beautifully reflective lakes.  Or you can choose to spend the day in this very walkable, car-free village, book a massage, take in the sights, and simply relax.  Enjoy a final celebratory dinner at our hotel tonight.

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.