Classic Haute Route Trek

The Summer Haute Route Trek linking Chamonix in France with Zermatt in Switzerland is a bucket-list adventure for hiking enthusiasts, often featured in National Geographic's top ten worldwide treks. Known for its breathtaking alpine scenery, the Haute Route trail offers some of the finest views in the Alps, from the towering Mont Blanc to the iconic Matterhorn.

The trail boasts the greatest concentration of 4,000m peaks in the Alps, creating awe-inspiring vistas at every turn. The Classic Haute Route traverses higher elevations, crossing glaciers and lofty cols, while the Summer Haute Route stays lower, meandering through lush valleys. Hikers will encounter iconic peaks like Mont Blanc, Grand Combin, Weisshorn, and the Matterhorn—each adding to the allure of this unforgettable trek.

The route follows well-marked paths into glacial terrain, with sections above the snowline requiring crampons. Days start early, with breakfast in mountain huts between 5:30-6:00 am and hitting the trail by 7:00 am. Expect to be roped up for safety on steeper sections and when crossing glaciers. Most days involve 6-8 hours of walking, with plenty of time for photos and enjoying the views. Evenings are spent in huts, sharing meals and stories with fellow hikers.

While no technical climbing is required, a good fitness level is essential for the high-altitude trek. Prepare for at least 3-4 days above the snowline and pack appropriately with essentials like crampons, warm clothing, and a sturdy backpack. For more detailed preparation, read our guide to What's in Olly's Summer Rucksack, written by the lead IFGMA guide for Mountain Tracks Oliver Allen.

Mont Blanc Extension

We offer a 2-day Mont Blanc Extension immediately after the Haute Route for anyone who wishes to attempt the peak. Contact the office for more details at info@mountaintracks.co.uk

Discover The Route

Explore the whole route with our guidebook on the FATMAP website here, or follow one of our favourite stages of the tour below. 

Click on the aeroplane icon to experience a birdseye view of the route. This route was plotted by our very own Lead Guide, Matt Dickinson in partnership with FATMAP.

2025

The price includes:

• 8 full days guiding fees & expenses
• 8 nights of HB accommodation in a mix of hotels and mountain huts
• 1 night of B&B accommodation in Zermatt
• transport of your bags from Chamonix to Zermatt for the end of the trip
  
  

The price does not include:

• lunches & drinks
• ski pass/lift costs
• travel to and from Chamonix
• insurance
• equipment hire
• local transfers
  
  

*Single rooms are subject to availability and supplement.

The additional cost for the Mont Blanc ascent must be confirmed on an individual basis with the office.

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This list contains our recommended clothing and equipment for the Chamonix-Zermatt Haute Route trek, one of the finest multi-day tours in the Alps. Key for a successful and enjoyable trek is to bring the correct clothing and footwear. In the summer months, the days generally start cold and warm up during the morning to become hot in the afternoon. It is therefore essential you have 2-3 thin layers which you are able to put on/take off as the conditions change. Thin layers also allow better movement as opposed to one layer of bulky clothing. In the Alps there is permanent snow throughout the summer above about 2700m and on the glaciers. This means you will be walking on snow & ice for significant portions of the trip, with crampons on your alpine boots.

If you are uncertain or need further information, please contact us.

• Alpine Trekking - Clothing

  • Base Layer Top and Bottoms – a few base layer tops, usually long-sleeved is best, wool base layers form Ortovox are good as they offer good wicking properties and dry quickly. A short-sleeved top is worth brining too for hot days. For your legs, a couple of pairs of long or ¾ length bottoms are best.

  • Mid-layer fleece tops – a couple of fleece type jacket or tops that can be worn between your base layer and outer layers. The “Layering” approach offers the best heat retention and flexibility in warm and cold weather.

  • Insulation Layer - a down or primalotf jacket is a good item to have ready to wear in the event of cold weather, it can live in your rucksack as a spare layer and can come in very handy for sudden changes in the weather.

  • Lightweight softshell type trousers - you want to wear a lightweight softshell or similar material on your legs, these types of trouser offer good protection from snow/ice as well as abrasion on rock and are comfortable to move in.

  • Walking shorts or a pair of trousers with zip-off legs. Useful for walk-ins to huts on hot days.

  • Gore-Tex Jacket - Gore-Tex or other waterproof breathable jackets. Best to have a lightweight jacket that can be worn in the event of wet or windy weather but is packable enough to fit in your rucksack. Your insulated ski jacket will be overkill and too hot and bulky.

  • Gore-Tex Pants - Gore-Tex or other waterproof breathable trousers. Lightweight is important plus side zips for putting on over your boots and crampons. Used in cold, wet and windy weather.

  • Sun hat and warm hat – bring a wide-brimmed sun hat or baseball cap plus a warm beanie style hat.

  • Light, thin gloves – a thin pair of fleece or softshell gloves for warm weather are a must.

  • Insulated gloves - You need to have a pair of waterproof warm gloves to wear on cold days

  • Gaiters – these are useful to wear to keep snow out of your boots.

  • Socks - 3-4 pairs of medium weight socks usually mid-calf length is good.

• Alpine Trekking - Boots

  The Haute Route is a glacier trek and significant time is spent walking on snow and ice. You therefore require a boot which is ‘B2’ rated. This is a semi-rigid boot available in either leather or plastic/composite options. Leather boots tend to be more comfortable and breathable whereas plastic/composite boots are warmer and more waterproof. B2 boots are compatible with C1 and C2 crampons.

  Boots can be hired in resort but to avoid discomfort we do strongly recommend that you have your own pair which need to be well worn-in prior to your trip.
  
  Alpine huts supply hut slippers, croc type shoes, that you can use.  We do recommend you pack a pair of flip-flops for the night you spend in Arolla on our Haute Route Trek as the hotel does not supply any shoes and its more comfortable to walk around in these than your boots or socks!

• Alpine Trekking - Technical

  
  These items are essential for all our alpine trekking trips.

  All items can be hired from Mountain Tracks or from sport shops in the Alps.

  • Climbing helmet
  • Ice Axe - General mountaineering / alpine pick 55-70cms long depending on your height.
  • Boot crampons - with anti-balling plates.
  • Climbing Harness – adjustable leg loops are useful for easy of putting on over your boots.
  • Adjustable trekking pole(s)
• Alpine Trekking - Miscellaneous

  • Rucksack - A simple and lightweight pack with a capacity of between 35-45 liters is recommended. You need to have one loop for carrying an ice axe on your rucksack.

  • Lightweight sleeping bag liner – a silk or cotton sleeping bag liner is now compulsory in all mountain huts.

  • Water bottle or Thermos – a water bottle or hydration system is needed.

  • Head torch with spare batteries

  • Penknife

  • Personal first Aid Kit - Should contain:

    • Plasters – of various sizes and possibly some adhesive wound dressings.

    • Pain Killers – aspirin or Paracetamol/Nurofen

    • Antiseptic cream or wipes

    • Blister kit – compeed and elastic tape to hold it in place (essential)!

    • (Note: Guides will have comprehensive first aid kits and are qualified in mountain first aid)

  • Whistle

  • Sun Glasses - minimum category 3.

  • Ski Goggles – these can be very useful if you encounter strong winds and poor weather.

  • Sunscreen and Lip Protection

  • Ear Plugs - For noisy huts!!

  • Camera

  • Hold-all bag - for gear not required on trek. Will be left at first hotel and collected on return.

  • Passport

  • Money - You will need some cash for food and drinks. There are some ATMs and most hotels, shops and restaurants will accept credit cards, but most huts still accept cash only. You should allow about 30-40 Swiss Francs or 25-35 Euros per day for lunch and drinks (amount approximate and depends on consumption).

  • Toiletries – Should contain:

    • Toothbrush and paste - a mini one is ideal

    • Soap

    • Anti-bacterial hand cleaner

    • Wet wipes – essential to try to maintain hygiene

    • Tissues and toilet roll

    • Small light quick dry towel e.g. a Lifeventure Soft fiber towel

    • (Any other essentials you need but remember there are no shower facilities and generally no running water in the huts and you have to carry everything with you!)

    • Alpine club card - If you're a member.

  • Book, pack of cards and or Ipod/MP3 player – It’s nice to have something to read or listen to when you are in the huts or to challenge your fellow travelers to a game of card. These items are not essential but if you have space you might appreciate them.

• Alpine Trekking - Hiring Kit

  It is possible to hire boots and the technical items needed for our alpine trekking trips in resort. Prices do change by resort/country, but here’s an approximate guide to hire costs (for the 8 day trip):
  Mountaineering boots €70-80 
  Ice Axe €50
  Harness €40
  Boot crampons €50-60
  
  Our guides are also able to hire these technical items to you for your trip (excluding boots).

  If you wish to hire from Mountain Tracks then please contact us in advance to book this up.

• Insurance

  It is a condition of booking that you are insured for your chosen activity and the cover must include medical expenses, personal accident, personal liability, third party risks and rescue (including helicopter rescue). You are strongly advised also to take out cover against cancellation and curtailment.

  For UK residents Ski Club Travel Insurance may be a suitable option.

  For more details and to purchase a policy online visit http://www.skiclubinsurance.co.uk/
  If you need assistance arranging your personal insurance please let us know.
   

• Haute Route Trek - Getting There

  You want to arrange to arrive in Chamonix by late afternoon on the first Saturday.
  The most convenient airport is Geneva and from here the transfer time up to Chamonix by road is just 1 hr 15mins. To travel between the airport and Chamonix we recommend you reserve a seat on one of the many commercial shuttle buses. Mountain Tracks can book this for you, usual prices are from £35 per person one-way, please supply your full flight details to us so we can make the reservation.
  
  Want to take the train to the resort? No problem – it’s possible to get to Chamonix by train from the UK using the Eurostar from London St. Pancras to Paris, then the TGV to Bellegarde and a regional train to Chamonix. The journey can be done in 1 day. For more information and other useful train travel details look at www.snowcarbon.co.uk
  
  At the end of the tour you can depart directly from Zermatt, but please bear in mind if you leave any luggage in Chamonix or have rented any equipment this needs to be picked up or returned by you.
  
  On request we can arrange for luggage to be transferred from Chamonix to Zermatt. This is arranged with a local taxi company and the transfer costs about 350 Euros which will need to be divided amongst the group. The luggage transfer is a good option if everyone wants to depart directly from Zermatt and has no rental equipment to return to Chamonix.
  
  Departure from Zermatt at the end of the tour
  

  You should arrive in Zermatt on the 2nd Sunday afternoon and the trek officially finishes after breakfast on the Monday. If you have carried all your belongings with you then you can depart directly from Zermatt at your leisure on the Monday. To return to Chamonix at the end of the tour we prefer to book the group onto a road transfer, based on a group of 6 travelling the price is approx 50€ per person. It is also possible to take the train from Zermatt to Chamonix, this costs in the region of 90 CHF.

• Luggage Transfers and Uplift Costs

  On the Haute Route Trek we estimate that the cost for local transfers and uplifts will be in the region of £40-£50 per person which is not included in the price and needs to be paid for locally in a mix of Euros and Swiss Francs.

  We will transfer any additional bags you want to leave in Chamonix with other personal belongings in to Zermatt for your arrival at the end of the trek. We scheduled this transfer for the day before you arrive in Zermatt incase of any change to the itinerary in the event of bad weather. Your luggage will be at the hotel we use in Zermatt for your arrival.

• ETIAS & EES

  ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) 

  1. What is ETIAS?

     • Starting in the first half of 2025, travellers from over 60 visa-exempt countries will be required to have an ETIAS travel authorisation to enter most European countries within the Schengen Area.
     • ETIAS enhances security by checking the details of travellers before they arrive.
     • It is similar to systems like the ESTA (USA) and eTA (Canada).

  2. Who Needs ETIAS?

     • Travellers with British passports or passports from other visa-exempt countries must complete the ETIAS process.
     • Holders of EU or Schengen Area passports or valid EU/Schengen Area visas are exempt.

  3. Application Details:

     • ETIAS costs a 7EUR processing fee, waived for those under 18 or over 70.
     • Validity: Three years from application, tied to your passport’s validity.
     • New passport = new ETIAS.

  4. Application Form Questions:

     • Basic personal details (e.g., passport info, name, address, citizenship, gender).
     • Additional questions during the process (e.g., criminal history, past travel, health).

  5. Application Fee:

     • 7EUR euros.
     • Electronic payment via debit/credit card.

  6. Approval:

     • Most applicants receive approval within minutes.
     • Valid ETIAS visa waiver for three consecutive years.

  Remember to apply for ETIAS approval to explore your favourite European destinations! More details will be confirmed by ETIAS authorities. You can find additional information at the following links:

  • ETIAS Official Website 

   

   

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  EES (Entry/Exit System)

  The Entry/Exit System (EES) is an automated IT system developed by the European Agency for the operational management of large-scale IT systems. Its primary purpose is to register travellers from third countries each time they cross an EU external border. Here are the key points:

  1. What is EES?

     • The EES is an automated IT system designed for registering non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay.
     • It records and stores the date, time, and place of entry and exit when these travellers cross the external borders of European countries using the EES.
     • The system calculates the duration of the authorized stay and generates alerts to EU Member States when the authorized stay expires.

  2. Who Is Affected?

     • The EES applies to non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay (up to 90 days within any 180 days) to European countries using the EES.
     • Exemptions apply; for example, holders of EU or Schengen Area passports or valid visas are exempt from EES registration.

  3. Advantages of EES:

     • Saves time by replacing manual passport stamping.
     • Automates border control procedures for more efficient travel.
     • It helps identify travellers who overstay or use fake identities or passports.
     • Contributes to preventing, detecting, and investigating serious criminal offences.

  • EES Official Website

   Remember, additional information about the EES system will be confirmed by authorities, including application acceptance details. For further resources, check out the ETIAS and the official EES website. 
  
    

• Alpine Trekking - Guide info

  All our trekking trips are run by our team of IFMGA Mountain Guides. The team is led by Olly Allen, Matt Dickinson and Nick Parks.

• Haute Route Trek - Group Size

  The maximum ratio for the Classic Haute Route Trek is 6 trekkers with 1 guide and the tours often run with up to 12 trekkers and 2 guides.

• Accommodation and Meal Information

  In Chamonix our preferred hotels are either the Hotel Les Lanchers in Les Praz or the Hotel Couronne in Argentiere. Both are comfortable 3* hotels offering light and airy rooms and a comfortable lounge area. Rooms are booked on a twin share basis unless you specifically want a single room, where a supplement will be charged.
  In Zermatt we use the Hotel Tannenhof which is centrally located just off the main street and has exceptional views of the Matterhorn. All hotels are booked on bed & breakfast and each hotel serves a mixture of hot and cold options.

  During the trek you will be staying in a combination of comfortable Gite/Auberges and traditional mountain huts (like 1* hotels) operated by the Swiss and French Alpine Clubs.
  The mountain huts have dormitory style accommodation with rooms ranging from 4 to 20 beds. All accommodation is mixed sex sharing and washing facilities are usually limited, some huts have some cold running water but typically its basic living. Toilets are septic tank type (non-flushing) in general and again mixed sex.

  In the village of Arolla, mid-week, you stay in a nice 2* where you have twin rooms with private bathrooms.

  Meals

  Food in the huts is nourishing and comes in generous portions.
  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 huts will cater for vegetarians, vegans and Gluten Free diets but you need to remember that all their food is delivered by helicopter so you may not get a large variety in your meals but they do understand dietary requirements and do the best they can.
  All the huts serve beer, wine and a selection of soft drinks including bottled water.

• Alpine Climate

  The Alps generally have a very pleasant climate throughout the spring, summer and autumn with warm days and cool nights, with daytime temperatures in the valley around 25 - 30°C. At high altitude the temperature often goes down below -10 and can feel even colder with wind chill.

• Trip level & Stamina requirements

  To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone, all participants must meet the specified skill and stamina levels required for each trip, as outlined on the trip’s page at the time of booking.

  Please keep the following in mind:

  1. Trip Requirements: Before booking your trip, please review and confirm that you meet the necessary skill and stamina levels. These requirements are in place to ensure the safety and enjoyment of all participants.

  2. Guides' Discretion: Our guides and instructors are dedicated to maintaining the highest safety standards. They have the authority to exclude any participant who does not meet the required skill or stamina levels or whose participation could compromise the group's safety. This decision will be made with the utmost consideration.

  3. Responsibility for Costs: Should you be unable to continue with the trip due to inadequate skill or stamina, any additional expenses incurred will be your responsibility.

  We appreciate your understanding and cooperation. Our goal is to provide a memorable and safe adventure for everyone. If you have any questions or concerns about the requirements, please do not hesitate to contact us.

  For further information please refer to the Terms & Conditions.