Haute Route Chamonix-Zermatt
An absolute ski tour classic. Over 5-6 days, from one mountaineering centre to another.
- Type Skitouring
- Difficulty medium
- Duration 50,00 h
- Distance 94,3 km
- Ascent 6700 m
- Descent 8345 m
- Lowest point 718 m
- Highest point 3776 m
1. Stage
Aiguille des Grands Montets – Glacier d’Argentière – Glacier du Chardonnet – Col du Chardonnet – Fenêtre du Saleinaz – Plateau du Trient – Cabane du Trient
2. Stage
Cabane du Trient – Col des Ecandies – Val d’Arpette – Champex – Verbier (Taxi) – Cabane du Mont Fort (Bergbahn)
3. Stage
Cabane du Mont Fort – Col de la Chaux – Col de Moming – Rosablanche – Cabane de Prafleuri
4. Stage
Cabane de Prafleuri – Col de Roux – La Barma – Lac des Dix – Cabane des Dix
5. Stage
Cabane des Dix – Col de la Serpentine – Pigne d’Arolla – Cabane des Vignettes
6. Stage
Cabane des Vignettes – Col de l’Evèque – Col du Mont Brulé – Col de Valpelline - Zermatt
The details on the tour (distance, duration, altitude and depth) also include the Orsière-Verbier-Mont Fort stretch that is covered by taxi and cable car.
We recommend to book a mountain guide who knows well the place.
We recommend:
- Ski touring equipment: touring ski-boots, touring skis with touring bindings, ski poles, skins, crampons
- Climbing harness
- Backpack, shovel, probe
- Avalanche transeiver
- Warm weatherproof clothing
- Warm gloves and warm hat
- Sunglasses and sunscreen
- Warm drinks
- Snack (high energy foods such as chocolate, dried fruit etc.)
- Food (energiereiche Nahrung wie Schokolade, Trockenfrüchte)
- Bring everything needed for a multi-day ski tour from hut to hut
The Haute Route is a long tour during which you spend several days high up in the mountains a long way from civilization. Calm weather conditions, experience in the high mountains and careful preparation are essential.
- Always go with a mountain guide on a tour
- Stay up-to-date with the weather and avalanche status: Snow Report
More information is available in the Swiss avalanche bulletins (www.slf.ch) - Always maintain visual contact with accompanying persons
- Use key sections and extremely steep slopes individually
- Never go into a wild game protection zone (these are marked and one will be fined)
- Always switch the avalanche transceiver (LVS device) unit to transmission
- Always carry a shovel and a probe
- Pay close attention to daily atmospheric warming and continually re-evaluate the situation
Tip: “Be searchable”. Equip yourself with an additional RECCO rescue reflector*. Whether summer or winter. Available in our Online-Shop or our information desk.
*The additional reflector does not replace an avalanche beacon.