Haute Route Trek, July 2008 (24 photos)

Haute Route Trek, June 2007 (25 photos)

Haute Route Trek 2006 (24 photos)

There are lots of different routes that we can follow depending on the weather and ground conditions and preferences of the group and the sample itinerary shown below is just one option.

For groups who want to spend a bit longer on the trek there are lots of great peaks along the route that can be climbed.

Whichever route you follow, you'll discover the Alps at their best each step of the way!

Day 1 Outward Journey
Meet up with your Mountain Tracks guide at the hotel. Check equipment and finalise preparations. Dinner not included.

Day 2 Argentiere to Albert Premier Hut
The tour commences after breakfast. From the town the path leads up to Le Tour (1453m) and then steepens before contouring round towards the glacier and finally up the moraine to the Albert Premier hut (2702m).
The path is exposed in places and we may have some snow patches to cross. In the afternoon we'll do some mountain skills instruction; use of crampons, climbing on snow. Dinner and overnight in the hut.

Day 3 Albert Premier Hut to Champex
Breakfast is usually taken between 5 and 6am before we set out to cross Le Tour glacier and head over the border into Switzerland. More mountain skills instruction for safe glacier travel. We will rope up as we head up for the Col Superior du Tour (3288m). The views are spectacular, stretching all the way to the Matterhorn. We remain roped up as we start the descent down towards Champex. Depending on conditions we'll often be walking on snow almost down to the Cabane d'Orny where we stop for lunch. From the hut it is a pleasant stroll down to the picturesque village of Champex - Lac (1466m). Dinner and overnight at the Club Alpin which overlooks the lake.

Day 4 Champex to the Cabane du Mont Fort
From Champex we walk down the Val de Bagnes to the village of Le Chable. From Le Chable we take the cable car up the mountain to Verbier enjoying spectacular views en-route. From Verbier we ascend for just over an hour to the Cabane du Mont Fort where hot showers await!

Day 5 Cabane du Mont Fort to the Prafleuri hut
Day 5 is a spectacular day in the mountains. Leaving the hut we climb steadily and then have a high-level traverse to cross Col Termin (2913m) and Col de Louvie (2921m). The other side of the pass we traverse across the "grand desert" glacier before ascending the Col du Prafleuri (2965m) and finally dropping down steeply into the Val de Dix and to the Prafleuri hut.

Day 6 Prafleuri hut to the Cabane du Dix
From the Prafleuri hut we have an early start for the steep climb over the Col des Roux. From the col there is a spectacular view down to the Lac du Dix below. There is a long traverse above the lake and at the head of the lake we climb steeply up to the Pas du Chat, then traverse and climb to the Dix hut (2928m).

Day 7 Cabane du Dix to the Vignettes Hut
An early start as we head for the main summit and the highest point of our route, the Pigne d’Arolla (3796m). We make a short descent from the hut onto the Glacier de Cheilon. Here we rope up and put on our crampons as the route crosses dramatically crevassed glacial terrain up to the Col de la Serpentine. From here we cross a short, but steep, ice slope to access the upper slopes of the Pigne d’Arolla. From the summit the view is one of the finest in the Alps, stretching from Mont Blanc to the Grand Paradiso, with awesome views of Matterhorn, the Dente Blanche and the Bernese Peaks. A short glacial descent takes us to the impressively situated Vignettes Hut which has recently been renovated.

Day 8 Vignettes Hut to the Schoenbeilhutte
Breakfast in the hut. An early start for another big day. Three cols to cross - Col Collon, Mont Brule and Col du Valpelline followed by the traverse of the Schonbiel glacier below the Zmutt ridge of the Matterhorn and finally to the Schonbeilhutte (2694m). Dinner and overnight in the hut.

Day 9 Schoenbielhutte to Zermatt
Breakfast in the hut. Today is an easy one, with only 3 hours to the hotel in Zermatt (1500m) and wonderful views of the Matterhorn on the way. Afternoon at leisure in Zermatt. Dinner not included. Overnight in a hotel.

Day 10 Return Travel day
Depart after breakfast.

THE ASCENT OF MONT BLANC (Optional)

Day 10
Depart after breakfast and transfer back to Chamonix. Rest day/spare day in case of bad forecast. Night in B&B.

Day 11
Meet up with extra Mountain Guides and take the cable car to the Aiguille du Midi (3800m). From here it is a relatively easy walk down and across to the Refuge des Cosmiques (3613m). Dinner and overnight in the hut.

Day 12
Breakfast in the hut. If the weather conditions are good, it is a very early start from the Refuge des Cosmiques to reach the summit of Mont Blanc (4804m) by 0900 hours. We will be on snow for the ascent anso will be roped up. There are several ways of descending back to Chamonix. Overnight in the hotel in Chamonix or the Refuge des Cosmiques (weather dependent).

Day 13
Depart after breakfast.

Typical Day
Most days on the Haute Route start early - when staying in huts this means breakfast is usually taken between 5 and 5.30am and we are on the trail by 6am. The pace is relaxed and there is plenty of time to take photos and enjoy the fantastic scenery. Depending on ground conditions, at least 3-4 days will be above the snowline when you can expect to be wearing crampons. On the steeper sections and when crossing glaciers you will be roped up for extra safety. We usually walk for 6-8 hours and so often arrive at the next hut for a late lunch. The afternoon is spent relaxing around the hut - playing cards, reading, catching up on sleep! Evening meal is usually served between 6 and 7 and lights out are at 10, although most people are fast asleep by then!

Prices
£1075 (plus £595 for Mont Blanc extension)
All prices are per person.
The price includes all guide fees & expenses, 9 nights accommodation, 9 breakfasts, 7 evening meals, scheduled transfers and uplift costs.
The price does not include lunches, beverages, 2 evening meals, personal insurance, equipment hire, travel to and from Chamonix, return transfer to Chamonix from Zermatt at the end of the tour.

Group Size
The maximum group size for the Haute Route is 12 with 2 guides.

Accommodation and meals
We stay in a combination of comfortable alpine hotels, auberges and traditional mountain huts (like 1* hotels) operated by the Swiss, Italian and French Alpine Clubs.
The mountain huts have dormitory style accommodation with rooms ranging from 4 to 24 beds.
Food in the huts is nourishing and plentiful.
A typical breakfast will consist of coffee, tea, hot chocolate, orange juice, bread, butter, jam. In the Swiss Alpine huts you also often get muesli and yoghurt. During the day you carry 'hill food' e.g. snacks such as nuts & raisins, chocolate or muesli bars. Sometimes you will arrive at huts for a late lunch of omelettes, rosti (swiss fried mash) or pasta.
The evening meals are usually a set menu of 3 courses. Typical menu will be soup to start, a main dish of meat or pasta with mash or rice and vegetables. Dessert will be fruit or mousse. The vegetarian options are often limited with omelettes being the standard main course.
All the huts serve beer, wine and a selection of soft drinks.

Climate
The Chamonix Valley generally has a very pleasant climate throughout the spring, summer and autumn with warm days and cool nights. Daytime temperatures in the valley are usually around 20 - 28°C. At altitude the temperature can be as low as -10°C and feel colder with windchill.

Safety awareness & training
Adventurous activities in the mountains have their dangers. These can never be removed altogether but they can be minimised. At Mountain Tracks our aim is to provide you with a thrilling holiday directed with maximum attention to your safety and that of others. We don't just blindly get you to follow our experienced leaders. We give you the opportunity to learn mountaincraft skills and understand about the hazards, how to minimise the risk, and how to cope with incidents should they happen.

Equipment
Our recommended equipment list will be emailed to you at the time of booking.
Certain technical items can be hired from Mountain Tracks.

Your guides
Leadership is provided by Mountain Tracks team of Mountain Guides and Leaders who are all very familiar with walking and climbing in the Alps. They will inspire you with their enthusiasm and with their passion for the mountains.The guide-client ratio for the Haute Route trek is 1:6. For the optional Mont Blanc extension the ratio is 1:2.

Insurance
It is a condition of booking that you are insured for guided high-alpine walking on glaciers with ropes. Mountain Tracks can arrange this for you at a cost of £31.25 per person for a 17-day single trip policy (Europe-wide). Please contact our office for further details.