Originally completed as a summer mountaineering route by the Alpine Club of Great Britain in the mid 19th century the walkers haute route has been adapted following a lower level making the route more accessible for summer trekking. Approximately 180 kms in length the route crosses 11 high mountain passes with 12,000 mtrs of ascent from Chamonix in France to Zermatt in Switzerland.
The route has variations but generally takes you from Chamonix initially following the Tour du Mont Blanc route via the Fenetre de Arpette to Champex Lac. The route decends to the Osieres valley and over to Verbier, things get a little bit more remote for a number of days passing by the Cabane Mont Fort, Cabane Plafleuri, Lac Dix before descending to the Arolla Valley. From Arolla the Walkers Haute Route rises and falls over mountain passes and down to the valleys and villages of La Sage, La Sage, Zinal, Gruben before reaching St Nicklaus and the Matterhorn Valley. Two options are available from here by taking the starigh forward route up to Zermatt via the valley bottom or by ascending beyond Grasenreid onto the stunning yet precarious Europaweg.
Depending on the time you have available and how much rest and recuperation you need during the tour it is normally completed in 10 to 12 days however it’s possible to complete the tour in two halves from Chamonix to La Sage or La Sage to Zermatt.
The route is possible from mid July to mid of September.
Villages en-route
Chamonix, Haute Savoie, France
Le Tour, Haute Savoie, France
Trient, Valais, Switzerland (French speaking)
Champex Lac, Valais, Switzerland (French speaking)
Champel, Valais, Switzerland (French speaking)
Verbier, Valais, Switzerland (French speaking)
Arolla, Valais, Switzerland (French speaking)
Les Hauderes, Valais, Switzerland (French speaking)
La Sage, Valais, Switzerland (French speaking)
Grimentz, Valais, Switzerland (French speaking)
Zinal, Valais, Switzerland (French speaking)
Gruben, Valais, Switzerland (German speaking)
St Nicklaus, Valais, Switzerland (German speaking)
Zermatt, Valais, Switzerland (German speaking)
We offer 3 guided & 6 Self guided itineraries and can also tailor make a trek to suit your needs. To find out more about the Walkers Haute Route treks that we offer take a look at our Walkers Haute Route page on our website by following this link: http://www.montblanctreks.com/walkers-haute-route
Or contact sara@montblanctreks.com for further help & advice.
