Walker's Haute Route Guided

Please join one of our guided Walker’s Haute Route trips:

HRTg1 19 Jul to 2 Aug 2025
Led by Claire GeorgesBook (1 space available)

Please join one of our guided Walker’s Haute Route trips:

HRTg1 25 Jul to 8 Aug 2026
Mountain Leader to be confirmedBook (8 spaces available)

Where we stay
Our Classic mix of accommodation aims to give a broad taste of trekking in the French and Swiss Alps. We mix good family-run hotels in the towns and villages with the auberges and huts that fit the route. This includes 3 nights in mountain huts (2 on the West and 1 on the East) and 2 nights in auberges (1 on the West and 1 on the East). The remaining nights are spent in 2* and 3* hotels.

Hut accommodation options
On our scheduled guided trips, we book places in dormitories at all of the 3 huts, shared with your fellow walkers. These are the huts of Cabane de Louvie, Cabane de Prafleuri on the Western part of the trail and Cabane de Moiry on the Eastern part of the trail. The huts are an important part of the route and offer splendid views from remote locations along the trail which more than make up for their basic accommodation offerings.

Single Room Supplement
If you would like to stay in single rooms rather than sharing a double, twin or triple room we add our single room supplement. This covers the additional cost of booking single occupancy rooms. The single supplement is only applied to nights where single rooms are available, and is not applied to hut nights which do not offer single rooms. In the auberges, we may be able to book single rooms or if not, we will book the smallest room available.

Our approach to the Walker’s Haute Route
Our guided Walker’s Haute Route gives a complete journey on foot from Chamonix to Zermatt (Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn), walking every step of the way. The route itself is often loosely defined and there are no official waymarks – this is what your guide is there to help with, allowing you to relax and enjoy the walking! The route does have a number of variants and your guide will discuss these options with the group each day.

Paths in Switzerland have undergoing re-classification of their grade over the past few years. This has led to instances whereby walking paths have been given a grade beyond the remit of a walk leader (as per our IMLs). Once such location is between Le Chable and Cabane de Prafleuri. Beyond Le Chable the Haute Route splits into three paths towards Cabane de Prafleuri, of which a trek led by an IML must take the route via Cabane de Louvie. This is due to the legal classification of the other two paths. All of our guided groups stay at Cabane de Louvie and enter the area from this different angle which is just as exciting in terms of views, just a little less technical underfoot!

The traditional end to the Haute Route is a 2-day hike along the Europaweg high level trail. However, since our first Haute Route season in 2009, the solidity of the first day on the Europaweg has reduced and the risk of rockfall has increased. As such, in the interest of group safety, our guided trips now cover the St Niklaus to Zermatt stages in one day instead of two, along the pretty valley route or suitable alternative. On private guided trips, please ask us for options for a 2-stage Europaweg finish and we can advise on options.

The Terrain
The Walker’s Haute Route’s terrain comprises wide tracks through forests, the odd country lane, zig-zagging hillside paths and steep, rocky mountain paths. A standard day would see you climb from the valley bottom up to a mountain pass before dropping down to the next valley in the afternoon.

It’s worth noting that in some places the paths are particularly steep and loose, for example on the Western part of the trail, the Fenetre d’Arpette and the 2 wild and remote stages before Arolla. Additionally, at one point between Cabane du Mont Fort and Cabane de Prafleuri (Pas de Chrevres), there is a very steep and loose section of path over the Col de Riedmatten. A standard day would see you climb from the valley bottom up to a high col before dropping back down into the valley in the afternoon.

Is it for me?
The Haute Route has a fantastic mix of high mountain passes and pretty flower meadows in the valley bottoms. The trail is generally good underfoot however there are some sections of steep, rocky and exposed paths requiring a head for heights and surefootedness.

This trip would be manageable for fit mountain walkers who are happy to walk for between 6h and 9h or more per day along a long-distance trail. Previous walking experience in the mountains is essential for this trek so if you are considering this as your first Alpine hike, we recommend you explore a slightly easier option first such as the Tour du Mont Blanc or Alta Via 1. As with all Alpine hiking, it will greatly help your enjoyment of the trek to arrive fit at the start, used to walks of similar distance and height gain to those that you are about to face.

Difficulty
The Walker’s Haute Route is first and foremost a walk, but it is essential to note that it is graded a Black 4 (East and West sections are both graded at Black4) and is at the very top end of difficulty in terms of Alpine trekking. The difficulty of the terrain is often underestimated and previous hiking experience in mountainous regions is essential. The Eastern section is generally considered as being a little easier than the Western section with shorter days and a little less rocky underfoot but still both challenging routes. There is no glacier walking and there is no rock climbing. Your guide will of course be on hand to help and provide advice and assistance at all times.

Unusually even for an Alpine trek at this level, some of the mountain passes are particularly steep, loose and rocky, calling for good experience and steady balance. Your guide will be on hand to provide advice and to manage the navigational challenges of the route.

 Walking Guide to Walker’s Haute Route – our detailed read

How to get there

Our main Walker’s Haute Route and Haute Route West holidays start in the major French Alpine resort of Chamonix. Most Swiss airports work well but perhaps Geneva is the easiest for Chamonix and regular transfers operate between Geneva and Chamonix throughout the summer.

For a start or finish in Arolla, travel from most Swiss airports works well but Zurich is the easiest with Geneva a close second. From either airport, you can take a train to Sion for the bus up to Arolla.

For a finish in Zermatt, Zurich (or Geneva) are the easiest and both are accessible by train from Zermatt.

Travel to and from the trip is not included in the holiday price. We take care to give the most useful notes possible about all the travel options. We supply these both on booking and in your info pack, and we offer personalised tips at any point.