The Haute Route – Chamonix to Zermatt

Walking the Haute Route is a classic trek from Chamonix in France to Zermatt in Switzerland.

The Haute Route for walkers is a brilliant itinerary linking these two alpine centres. To walk the complete route takes the average walker between 10 and 14 days. If you don’t have the time or inclination you can walk the ?highlights? of the Haute Route in a 6 walking days. The Haute Route started as a ski-mountaineering journey crossing glaciers and high mountain areas with the equipment and skills to match.

The Haute Route has a wide variety of landscapes. High mountain passes, green alpine pastures, wooded hillsides and pretty alpine villages. You will walk through green alpine meadows with herds of sheep and cows. The tinkling of the bells complimenting the sound of the streams tumbling down the mountainsides. If you like wild flowers you will see an incredible range, the emblematic edelweiss, the gorgeous blue gentianes and the pungent genepy. You will walk on glacial moraines next to glaciers in the high mountains between Verbier and Arolla. You will walk through chocolate box alpine villages with flower be-decked wooden chalets. The Alps of your imagination.

After leaving Chamonix in the shadow of Mont Blanc the route goes through the picturesque village of Champex in Switzerland. The route then passes close to the famous ski resort of Verbier before going into more remote mountain terrain. You will spend the next two days high in the mountains crossing walking across the moraines below the Glacier de Desert. You will reach the highest point of the Haute Route at the Col de Prafleuri at 2987m before a night at the Cabane de Prafleuri. The next day is stunning walking alongside the Lac de Dix before reaching the moraines of the Glacier de Cheilon. Today culminates with either the Pas des Chevres or the nearby Col de Reidmatten. Here on a clear day you will see the Matterhorn.

Your route then ?cross-grains? the great ridges radiating down to the Rhone Valley before finally reaching the Mattertal leading up to Zermatt. The Europaweg high on the flanks of the mountains is spectacular with alternatives available should the condition of the route be in question. Arriving in Zermatt is a superb finale to this trek.