The Classic Haute Route Chamonix – Zermatt

The Classic Haute Route from Chamonix to Zermatt, maybe one of the most gorgeous skitours in the alps.

Region: Valais, Switzerland
Fitness Kondition

Technic Technik

maximum participants: 5
Prices: 5 persons Euro 1090.-, 4 persons Euro 1350.-
Included: Tour organization, reservations, guiding by a state approved mountain and ski guide including his expenses.

Tour Character

High Alpine ski crossing, mostly on glaciers. Technically difficult, long climbs and ski runs in absolutely stunning western alpine terrain.

Required Skill and Fitness Level

Skill: You are a good skier, your stem turns are reliable in any snow conditions up to slopes of 35 degrees. You don’t mind switchbacks in exposed terrain. Carrying of your skis in slopes of 40 degrees with crampons.

Fitness: 5 to 9 hour climbs per day plus 2 to 3-hour ski runs.

Meeting point: 1920 Martigny, Schweiz

Tour Description

With the mountain guides of the Firngrat team from Chamonix to Zermatt – professional guidance on one of the most beautiful ski tours in the Alps. Which ambitious ski tourer does not know the classic haute route and would like to have done it. An ingenious ski-route connects the Haute Savoie with the Valais: steep climbs, narrow gaps, wild glaciers – it often seems as if we can’t go any further, as if our way would come to an abrupt end in the dead end of a steep drop. However, a new world is opening up on the other side and we are gliding on wide slopes, surrounded by bizarre peaks to the valley.

Details

Number of participants: 4 to max. 5 per guide
Services included: tour organization, reservations, guiding by a state approved mountain and ski guide including his expenses.
Services excluded: 3 hotel accommodations, 3 alpine hut accommodations, transfers.
Accomodations: Hotel La Couronne, Cabane de Trient, Cabane de Valsorey, Cabane de Chanrion, Hotel du Glacier, Cabane de Bertol.
Misc: Insurances (accident, travel cancellation) at customer’s responsibility. Please refer to general terms and conditions.

26. April 2024 – 2. May 2024

5 available

non-binding request

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1. Tag

Arrival to Martigny. Together with the train to Argentiere. A hotel is our accommodation for the first night.

2. Tag

With one of the first cable cars we reach the Grandes Montets, about 3300 m. Surrounded by an impressive mountain scenery (the view of Mont Blanc is magnificent), we ski down to the Glacier d'Argentiere to tackle the ascent to the Col du Passon, 3028 m. The last 100 vertical meters we climb with crampons (max. 45 degrees steep couloir). We continue our way over the Glacier du Tour and the Col superior du Tour, 3287 m. The following, flat descent and a short ascent lead us to the Cabane de Trient, 3170 m.

1200 m

7 hours

3. Tag

We ski down over the plateau du Trient and climb briefly, about 80 vertical meters, with crampons on the Col des Escandies, 2793 m. A gorgeous descent takes us through the Val d 'Arpette to Champex. From there a taxi (alternatively bus) takes us to Bourg S. Pierre. Via a varied route (first 1 to 1½ hours we carry the skis on the backpack, because it's usually free of snow) we now climb to Cabane de Valsorey, 3030 m. The climb takes us first along a stream, later over moraines and a steep long slope to the exposed hut.

1500 m

1600 m

7 hours

4. Tag

The actual key passage of the Haute Route: we climb with crampons following a good track up to the plateau du Couloir, 3600 m. This plateau is traversed, before we descent steeply and short to another plateau. Thereafter we climb (approx. 120 m vertical difference) up to the Col du Sonadon, 3520 m. From here opens an eternally long descent on the Glacier du Mont Durand, which we leave again at about 2700 m (short, flat ascent). Afterwards we descend over beautiful northern slopes to a stream bed and gather for the last climb (about 200 m vertical difference) to the Cabane de Chanrion, 2462 m.

900 m

1500 m

6 hours

5. Tag

A long day awaits us: either via the Col Nord of the Porton or the Col de la Serpentine, we climb the Pigne d 'Arolla, 3790 m. An impressive, long descent takes us to Arolla, where we stay overnight at the Hotel du Glacier.

1500 m

1800 m

8 hours

6. Tag

Directly from the hotel we start the ascent to the Col de Bertol, 3268 m. In front of the imposing Mont Collon the path leads first flat, later steeper on the pass. Once at the top, we can perhaps make a short detour to the Dents de Bertol, about 3500 m. Back at the Col we deposit our skis and "do" the short climb on ladders to the Cabane de Bertol, 3311 m.

1350 m (without Dents de Bertol)

0 m (without Dents de Bertol)

5 hours (without Dents de Bertol)

7. Tag

Via the Glacier Mont Mine we reach the Tete Blanche, 3710 m. In front of Dent d 'Herens and Matterhorn we ski over Stockji and Zmutt glacier to Stafelalp or to Furi. In good winters, it is possible to continue from there over the pistes to Zermatt. Otherwise we take the cable car or an e-taxi to Zermatt. By public transport we can easily return to Martigny.

500 m

2100 m

5 hours