Haute Route

First successfully completed in 1911, The Haute Route ski tour is likely the most famous and coveted ski tour in the world. Using high mountain huts to allow skiers to stay high and cover substantial distances, it winds through the highest, most dramatic peaks of the Alps from Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn.

There are many variations of the Haute Route that work their way between Chamonix and Zermatt, including those listed below. It is also possible to add ascents of a number of excellent ski peaks to any of the routes.

Verbier Variation

The purest skiing line, and the most frequently done.

• Day 1: Argentière, France, over the Col du Chardonnay and the Fenetre du Saleina to the Trient hut.
• Day 2: Champex-Lac via the Val d'Arpette. Bus or taxi to Verbier and the Mont Fort hut.
• Day 3: Over the Rosablanche to the Prafleuri hut.
• Day 4: Around Dixence reservoir and up to the Dix hut.
• Day 5: Over the Pigne d'Arolla to the Vignette hut.
• Day 6: A long day to Zermatt over the Col de l'Eveque, Col du Mont Brulé and Col de Valpelline, then a long descent under the shoulder of the Matterhorn and Dent d'Herens.
• Day 7: Optional extension to Saas-Fee over the Adler Pass.

Classic Route

The winter Haute Route's original line which involves long climbs and mountaineering with ice axe and crampons.

• Day 1: Argentiere village, France, over the Col du Chardonnay and the Fenetre du Saleina to the Trient hut.
• Day 2: Champex-Lac via the Val d'Arpette. Bus or taxi to Bourg-St.Pierre.
• Day 3: Long climb up to the Valsorey hut on the shoulder of Grand Combin.
• Day 4: Over the Plateau du Couloir and down the Glacier du Mont Durand to the Chanrion hut.
• Day 5: A long climb up the Otemma glacier to the Vignette hut.
• Day 6: A long day to Zermatt over the Col de l'Eveque, Col du Mont Brulé and Col de Valpelline, then a long descent under the shoulder of the Matterhorn and Dent d'Herens.

Grand-Lui variation

A longer, harder, more technical route that eliminates the road break of the Verbier and Classic variations.

• Day 1: Argentiere village, France, over the Col du Chardonnay and the Fenetre du Saleina to the Trient hut or down to the Bivouac Dores.
• Day 2: Over the Grand-Lui through the Col du Saleina or around it via the Swiss Three Cols and a long descent to La Fouly.
• Day 3: Up the Val Ferret and over to Grand St. Bernard Hospice.
• Day 4: Down to Super St. Bernard and over the shoulder of Mont Velan to the Velan Hut.
• Day 5: Up the Grand Combin and over the Plateau du Couloir, down the Glacier du Mont Durand to the Chanrion hut.
• Day 6: A long non-technical climb up the Otemma glacier or a stiffer climb over Les Portons to the Vignette hut.
• Day 7: A long day to Zermatt over the Col de l'Eveque, Col du Mont Brulé and Col de Valpelline, then a long descent under the shoulder of the Matterhorn and Dent d'Herens.
• Day 8: Optional extension to Saas-Fee over the Adler Pass.

There are also the possibility to ascend and ski many famous peaks along the way including Rosablanche, Pigne d'Arolla, Mont Blanc du Cheilon, Mont Velan, Breithorn. Some of these peak ascents will require an additional day or more.