Haute Route Ski Tour
A World Class Ski Tour: From Chamonix to Zermatt
For most people familiar with ski touring, there is no more well-known international ski tour than the Haute Route, connecting the iconic ski towns of Chamonix, France and Zermatt, Switzerland. Each spring, we travel to the Alps to lead this trip with seven days of world class skiing from the mighty Mont Blanc to the iconic Matterhorn. This trip is ski touring at its best with comfortable huts, delicious food, European amenities, and excellent skiing in one of the world’s most scenic mountain settings. The Haute Route is one of the world’s finest ski traverses and should be on every backcountry skier's bucket list, it is a true journey that any dedicated backcountry skier wouldn’t want to miss.
Our trip includes seven days of skiing including a prep day in Chamonix on the famous Vallee Blanche, world class accommodations and food in six different huts between Chamonix and Zermatt.
Intermediate to expert ski mountaineering traverse. Terrain is primarily glaciated with overnight stays at European huts.
Participants must be advanced intermediate skiers with prior backcountry touring experience, familiar with how to use all necessary ski touring equipment (including avalanche safety equipment), and be able to safely descend steep snow in varying conditions. They should also be fit enough to carry a 15 kg pack uphill for 4-6 hours a day at a steady pace for multiple consecutive days.
Our itinerary is 7 days long, which includes one prep day of lift access skiing in the Vallee Blanche beforehand. The huts open late March and we typically offer 1-2 Haute Route tours each spring season.
Chamonix, France to Zermatt, Switzerland ski tour covering 75 miles and nearly 21,000 ft of elevation gain (3,000 - 4,000 ft of elevation gain per day).
Haute Route Itinerary
Day 0: Travel to Chamonix, France. Your guide will meet you and help you get settled in the hotel.
Day 1: Enjoy a day of skiing in the Vallee Blanche acclimating and practicing touring systems. Return to Chamonix for the night.
Day 2: Depart Argentiere and tour to Cabane du Trient.
Day 3: Tour to Mont Fort Hut.
Day 4: Tour to Prafleuri Hut.
Day 5: Tour to Dix Hut.
Day 6: Tour to Vignettes Hut.
Day 7: Ski down to Zermatt and celebrate your new friends and accomplishment with a traditional Swiss fondue dinner.
