Haute Route Ski Itinerary

Arrival Day

The group will rendez-vous at the Chamonix Experience Office in Argentière (altitude 1,240m.), just a few kilometres from Chamonix. Here, we will have an informal chat about the week ahead. There will also be a chance for the guide to check out your clothing and gear and to decide if you need to pick up any further items of equipment or leave some behind to lighten your pack before setting out in the morning.

Day 1. Warm up and skin to the Argentière refuge

We have time for a few warm up runs on the Grands Montets in the morning to check out gear and skiing ability. The group will eventually make their way up to the Argentière refuge (2,771m). It is a short and easy skin up of approximately 45 minutes.

Day 2. Argentière refuge to the Trient refuge in Switzerland

An early start to ascend four and a half hours to Col de Chardonnet (3,323m). From there we descend into Switzerland onto the Saleina Glacier. We have a short ski down to 3,091m and then a skin up to Fenêtre de Saleina (3,261m). To reach the Trient refuge (3,170m) we have to cross the Trient Plateau, approximately a one hour flat skin. This is quite a hard day with about 1,000m of ascent.

Day 3. Trient refuge to Mont Fort refuge in Switzerland

Descent down Val d’Arpette to the Village of Champex (1,466m). In Champex, the guide will arrange taxi to Verbier (1,490). In Verbier we will have the possibility to stock up on food (lunch packs) adjust gear if needed, take out money etc. From there we will take a lift to get to the Mont Fort refuge (2,457m) which offers the luxury of a shower. It is an easy day with almost no ascent.

Day 4. Mont Fort to the Prafleuri refuge

After four to five hours of skinning uphill, you reach the summit of Rosablanche (3,336m, total ascent of 1,056m). From there you have a lovely descent to the Prafleuri refuge (2,624m).

Day 5. Prafleuri to Dix refuge

An early start to avoid avalanche risk as we are spending most of this day traversing the west side of the Lac des Dix. It is a flat ski down followed by a flat skin up. The last bit up to the Dix refuge (2928m) is steeper. The total ascent is approximately 450m.

Day 6. Dix to Vignettes refuge via Pigne d’Arolla

Day 6: From the Dix refuge there is a long skin (4 1/2 hours) up to the Pignes d’Arolla (3,790m) which is the highest point on the Haute Route. It is not obligatory to go to the top should the group not be strong enough. From the Pigne d’Arolla, we enjoy a nice descent to the Vignettes refuge (3,160m).

Day 7. Vignettes to Zermatt - a long last day!

This is a long, hard last day. We start with a skin across the Glacier du Mt Collon up to Col de l’Evèque (3,386m) then a short descent and another skin up to Col du Mt Brulé (3,213m). This is followed by a rising traverse up to Col de Valpelline (3,568m)

which is our last ascent. Finally we have a long descent down the Stoch and the Zmutt glaciers to Zermatt. The last bit can be very slushy as it is late in the day. Total ascent this day: 950m.

After a well deserved beer in Zermatt there will be a minibus waiting to take you back to Chamonix, which is approximately a two and a half hour drive. You will be taken back to your hotel where you can enjoy a hot shower!

This is an interactive map of our winter itinerary.

Download this Haute Route from Chamonix to Zermatt to view it in 3D in Google Earth.

Please note:
- All times quoted below are approximate and will vary depending on the level of the group and the conditions.
- We might have to change the itinerary below to suit the weather and the group fitness.