The Most Famous Ski Tour anywhere: the Chamonix to Zermatt Haute Route! This is a long ski tour in high mountain glacier terrain, so good fitness and some previous ski touring experience is needed. The main season is mid march to late April, when the huts are open and glaciers well snow-covered.
The Chamonix to Zermatt Haute Route is also possible "out of season" in early March or late February. This is harder work, as the huts aren't guardianed, but much quieter and wilder - a challenge for more experienced ski tourers. Find out more about our "Winter Room Haute Route" here.
.jpg "Passing the Matterhorn on the Ski Haute Route")
The itinerary below is the most popular route, but there are lots of possible Haute Route variations. We can be flexible about the exact route depending upon weather and snow conditions at the time (hence we exclude lift and taxi costs from the price as these depend upon route choice).
| Day |
|
| Saturday | Arrive in Argentiere, meet the guide on Saturday evening and check equipment |
| Sunday | Warm-up ski in Chamonix with time to practice techniques and safety skills |
| Monday | Start the Haute Route using the Argentiere lifts, then ski down to the Argentiere glacier. Ascend the Chardonnet or le Tour Glaciers on the way to the Trient Hut, 3170m |
| Tuesday | A long descent to Champex then a short taxi ride to the Verbier lifts. Up the lifts, then tour round to the Rosablanche and descend to the Prafleuri hut |
| Wednesday | A quick climb from the hut then a long descent and traverse around the Lac des Dix before touring up to the Dix hut |
| Thursday | The highest point of the route, a long climb to the Pigne d'Arolla (3780m) then a great ski down to the Vignetttes hut |
| Friday | The final day and the longest! Cross 3 high cols then ski to Zermatt with spectacular views of the Matterhorn. Time for a well earned beer in Zermatt before the trip back to Chamonix. |
| Saturday | Depart hotel Saturday morning |
The tour price includes:
- 6 days of guided skiing (maximum group ratio 6:1),
- all guides expenses,
- 3 nights half board accommodation in shared twin room in Argentiere
- 4 nights half board accommodation (in hut dormitories).
The price does not include your own transport to and from Argentiere, lunches, drinks, lift passes or transport from Zermatt to Argentiere/airport at the end of the tour. You'll need to arrange suitable personal insurance. Estimated cable car costs include ski pass for warm up day and shared taxi from Zermatt to Chamonix.
You should bring suitable personal skiing equipment including boots, skis, skins, sticks, crampons, harness, helmet (if preferred) and rucksack. We can arrange to hire any of these items for you, please see our gear section for prices. You can download our ski touring kit list here.
We can run any of our ski tours with British Mountain Guides for private groups by separate arrangement. Please contact us to discuss locations, prices and availability.
 (Small)(1).JPG "View from the Pigne d'Arolla")
