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.  Private rooms are generally available, with shared bathroom down the hall.  This stretch of the Haute Route is shared with the TMB though, 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 bus and train to Verbier, you’ll hike high above the valley, through meadows filled with mountain goats, on a gorgeous panoramic hike above Verbier.

As you hike, you’ll gaze upon the snowy white crown of the Grand Combin mountain before crossing a small pass. Descend to the lakeside Louvie hut, a small and very friendly alpine club hut high in the mountains.

This is a big day, even though the numbers don’t quite show it. A rugged route brings us across 2 passes and through a remote, wild region filled with glaciers and rocky peaks known as the Grand Desert.

Passing below the Rosablanche glacier, and over your second pass, you’ll spend the entire day in a high, rocky landscape and embodies the Haute Route experience.  Finish the day at the bustling Prafleuri hut.

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.

There are 2 neighboring passes, and both are rocky and steep.  You might choose to cross the ladders at Pas du Chevres, or hike up and over the nearby Riedmatten pass. Finally a long descent but moderate to the tiny and welcoming village of Arolla.

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.

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.