Trek the Haute Route

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Overview

A High Mountaineering Route

The Haute Route was established a hundred years ago as a high mountaineering route that linked together two of Europe’s premier mountaineering centers; Chamonix and Zermatt. It was then developed into a ski route and more recently a high-level mountain Trek.

The Classic Haute Route is a technical trek at high altitude and is lead by an Alpine Guide.

Starting in the village of Argentiere, France, in the Chamonix valley, and finishing in Zermatt, Switzerland, the route is 100 miles long and traverses more than a dozen glaciers with a total ascent and descent of 10,000m/ 32,808ft.

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Itinerary

1
Day

Day 1

Arrive in the Chamonix valley and get dropped off to your accommodation in Argentiere. You will have a meeting with your Mountain guide to go through any last minute bits and pieces and to check your equipment.

2
Day

Day 2

Argentiere to Cabane D’Orny(2,702m/8,865ft). You will get the cable car and chair lift up to the col du Balm. The path to the Albert Premiere takes a rising traverse around the hill side. Twenty minutes beyond the hut you come to the first glacier of the trip. You will cross the col du Tour (3281m) and drop onto the Trient Plateau. You will pass the Trient refuge and continue down to the Orny glacier to the Cabane D’Orny for the night.

3
Day

Day 3

Cabane d’Orny to Bourg St. Pierre. You will follow down the Orny Glacier to chairlift at La Breya. The lift will drop you at the outskirts of Champex. From here you will take a bus via Orsieres, to Bourg St Pierre where you will stay for the night.

4
Day

Day 4

Bourg St Pierre to Cabane de Valsorey. Gentle start along the Valsorey valley. The path steepens at the Chalets d’Amont. This section is equipped with chains and cables. The path then continue on up to the hut under the slopes of the Grand Combin.

5
Day

Day 5

Cabane de Valsorey to the Cabane de Chanrion. Ascend the Plateau Couloir (3664m). From the plateau you will drop down again to the Sonadon Glacier. Ahead and to the east is the Col de Sonadon (3,504m/11,496ft) which brings you to the Durand Glacier. This is the last glacier of the day. Once off the glacier you can relax and enjoy the magnificent views. The refuge situated just above the Mauvoisin lake formed by the huge Mauvoisin dam.

6
Day

Day 6

Cabane de Chanrion to the Cabane des Vignettes. Today the route will either be gentle and follow the impressive Ottoman glacier with no major obstacles, or weather permitting and group willing, you can instead follow the Brenay glacier and make an ascent of the Pigne d’Arolla (3,796m/12,454ft). Both options end at the Vignettes hut perched high above the Arolla valley.

7
Day

Day 7

Cabane des Vignettes to Cabane de Bertol. The first col of the day is Col de la Charmotane (3,053m/10,016ft) which takes you over to the Glacier du Mont Collon. Next you will cross the Col de L’Eveque (3,392m/11,129ft). You then continue steeply at first down the Haut Glacier d’Arolla to pick up the path to the Plans de Bertol. You will have tome of a break here before climbing again up the Bertol Glacier to the Col de Bertol (3,276m/10,748ft).The hut is just above the colaccessed by chains and ladders and surrounded by glaciers.

8
Day

Day 8

Cabane de Bertol to the Schoenbeilhutte. Today is a day to have your camera at hand. Traverse the upper section of the Glacier du Mont Mine and Climb the Tete Blanche (3,224m/10,577ft) to get a fantastic view point the Matterhorn which is suddenly huge. You will continue down the Stockjigletcher via Col de la Tete Blanche to join a zig zag path through moraine to the Schonbiel Glacier. A steep section brings you to the hut.

9
Day

Day 9

Schoenbeilhutte. Today is a short 3 hour walk along a good trail. The trail goes above the Zmutt Glacier and through the hamlet of Zmutt, one of the areas oldest settlements. Continue down to Zermatt and take in the atmosphere on the high street. Overnight in Zermattand end of the trip.

10
Day

Day 10

Departure Day. The itinerary may be changed to better suit conditions this will be at the discretion of the guide.

Map

Reviews

Alan Anderson May 20, 2022
The training climb in Scotland was exactly what I needed. The safety training and climbing on the snow ticked the boxes for the Island Peak climb. Adele was brilliant and…
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Terry Spall January 11, 2022
I just wanted to give you a little bit of feedback after our fantastic weekend up in Scotland.  Both Kathy and I felt the training session was brilliant.  Adele and…
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Lou Duval August 22, 2019
Absolutely the most enjoyable and fun trekking and climbing experience I have ever had, an experience with Ian Taylor, our Head Guide, Victor, our Russian Guide, and Luba, our Russian…
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Ken Smyth August 22, 2019
Ian, thanks again for an excellent and well organized trip.  I loved every minute of it … you are are star, and a guiding star at that.
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Neil Hill August 13, 2019
What a brilliant trip i had!!! Summiting the highest mountain in Europe was my best but toughest trek to date! As for Ian Taylor trekking what a great company! We…
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Ahedo Diaz Jose Alfonso August 13, 2019
Last July I had the chance to participate on ITT Trek to Mount Elbrus in Russia. It was a great experience. I had been with Ian in Kilimanjaro and Everest…
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Alfonso Ahedo August 4, 2019
After a few days of our fabulous Elbrus experience, I would like to share my thoughts about it. This has been a total different experience, facing new elements that could…
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Michael Kinsella March 27, 2019
I took part in a winter skills weekend training course in Scotland in a group of 6. We were late arriving at the b&b due to airport issues but Dave…
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Simon Boland March 27, 2019
I have known Ian for years and heard about one of his Mt. Blanc climbs in work. Ian was an inspiration to me, being the youngest Irishman at the time…
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Oisin Ryan March 27, 2019
Reaching the summit of Mont Blanc in 2009 was an amazing experience, especially as all 16 of us on the trip succeeded in getting there. This level of success among…
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Johnny Maher March 27, 2019
I’m 36 years of age and the best holiday in my life to date has been the time when we went with Ian and 15 others, on a one week…
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Suzanne Stroker March 27, 2019
Just to say thanks for a super weekend in Fort William. I think I can safely say we all learned loads over the two days and it was great to…
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Price
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Information

Country:

Europe

Duration:

10 Days

Distance:

0,0 km

Max. Altitude:

0,0m / 0,0ft

Difficulty:

Medium

Group Size:

12

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