• This trip is for experienced ski tourers who have already done at least one hut-to-hut tour or a multi-day ski tour. You should be able to do up to 5 hours skinning with up to 1100m vertical gain per day, at a good steady pace. 
• You have to be good and efficient in your skinning technique and confident moving over a steep and exposed terrain. You are expected to be comfortable and safe doing kick turns on slopes of over 35 degrees. 
• You have to be skilled using ice axe and crampons and be happy to climb over steep, snowy and rocky terrain. 
• You have to be an excellent off piste skier, confident and efficient in skiing in all snow conditions without stopping or losing control over your skis. You have to be confident and safe skiing on slopes of 40 degrees. 
• You have to be physically fit, ready to hike and ski for up to 8 hours per day without being too tired the next day. You have to be able to move reasonably fast (climb 400m/h). 

We recommend our ski mountaineering course as a preparation for the Haute Route. 

Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about the ski & fitness levels for this trip, we will be happy to help. 

Haute Route and its variations are all physically and technically very demanding. 

You have to be able to hike and ski for about 6 hours without getting too tired the next day. Remember that skiing with a rucksack is more tiring than skiing without one. We will advise you how to reduce the size & weight of your backpack to minimum but you will still have to carry all the essentials. The snow may also not be the easiest to ski if windblown or crusty - you can expect all snow conditions along the way. In short, the fitter you will be more fun you will have on this trip. Best way to prepare is to regularly exercise - running, biking and uphill hiking will keep you stamina at a good level. 

You have to have very good skinning technique and know how to efficiently use your equipment (skis, skins, boot crampons and ice axe, ski crampons). Therefore it is very important that you have good ski touring experience and done some technical tours with use of crampons and ice axe. Ideally, you have already done one hut-to-hut tour and know how to be energy efficient while hiking and skiing. Since Haute Route season starts closer to the springtime, you have plenty of time to ski and ski tour prior the trip. 

We highly recommend that you bring or hire modern and light ski equipment for this trip. Skiing with a heavy backpack is very difficult and tiring. We recommend using modern touring skis ideally 85 - 95 mm under foot - using skis that are too skinny will be hard work in deep powder and skis that are too wide are not great for skinning on a hard-packed snow. Prior to the trip, make sure that your equipment is freshly serviced (waxed and sharpened edges) and in good working order. 

If you need to hire your skis or other equipment, please let us know at least 2 weeks in advance as the hire shops can have limited availability in the busy season.

You can collect your equipment the evening before the start of the course and return it in the evening at the end of your course. We work with the following Chamonix ski hire and mountain shop:

• Concept Pro Shop which is conveniently located directly next door from our office. Open 7/7 08:00-19:00

We can help you to organise your transport to/from Chamonix. We work with well established airport transfer companies which use new and comfortable vehicles and which have the capacity and know-how to handle everything from delayed and cancelled flights, to unexpected traffic jams with professionalism and efficiency.

To book your transfer, we will need the following: 

• Your full name 
• Mobile phone number 
• Email address 
• Your destination address 
• Your flight details (date, time and flight number)

SHARED TRANSFERS: 

This is the most economic and ecologically friendly way of travel. The driver will meet and greet you at the airport, gather you and the rest of the passenger group together and then head off to your chosen destination. The door-to-door service means that you will be dropped off and picked up right at your hotel /chalet / apartment. From 40€ per person for one way and 80€ per person for a return trip.

PRIVATE TRANSFERS: 

Private Transfers are the quickest way to get to and from the airport. Your driver will meet and greet you at the airport and guide you to your vehicle. There is no waiting for other passengers. Private transfers are available for one to eight person bookings and travelling together and you are guaranteed sole occupancy of the vehicle for your transfer. And, of course, it's a door to door service, so you won't be lugging any bags very far. 250€ per car for one way and 500€ per car for a return trip.

If you need help to find a place to stay in Chamonix, don't hesitate to let us know! We work with a network of excellent chalets, hotels, gites and B&Bs offering Chamonix accommodation to suit all tastes and all budgets.

We don’t include mountain rescue insurance in any of our courses but it is obligatory on these trips. Mountain rescue may be very expensive, particularly if helicopters are involved. Check with your travel insurance provider if you are covered for the specific activity you are going to do with us.

However, we can organise the mountain rescue insurance for you. The cost is 8€ per person per day for EU residents and 12€ per person per day for non-EU residents. Details of the insurance cover are different for EU and non-EU residents; please contact us for more information.

• Thermos – not essential due to weight, but it can be comforting to have a hot drink on a cold day.
• Water Bottle – should be at least 1.5 litres and durable. 
• Camelbak hydration systems are good as long as they are kept clean, but not recommended, as the tube tends to freeze up.
• Extra Gloves - a pair of spare gloves is essential.
• Extra Goggles - spare goggles are highly recommended.

Chamonix is one of the easiest alpine resorts to get to, being just over an hour's drive from Geneva international airport. Lyon, Turin and Milan airports are also all within a few hours drive. The best way to get from Geneva airport to Chamonix is by transfer bus, either shared with other passengers or private. You will be met in the arrivals lounge by your driver and dropped at your accommodation in Chamonix; there is no extra charge for your luggage or equipment. We work only with the most reliable transfer companies in the valley and are happy to organise your journey for you, please contact us for prices and booking.

We suggest you bring with you or buy in resort snack food that you can take out on the hill with you each day. Things like cereal bars, dried fruit and nuts, chocolate, sugary sweets or your favourite hill snacks. When you’re staying overnight in huts it's best to take supplies for the days you are away. Huts do sell food but it’s expensive and sometimes stocks run low.

If you have any food allergies or dietary requirements especially if you are a Coeliac (Gluten free) or have a dairy allergy we strongly recommend you bring some food to supplement your hut dinners. The huts are fairly good at providing for vegetarians but less so for other dietary needs. The huts can provide a small basic packed lunch of bread, salami, cheese and chocolate that you can buy each day but it’s important that you don’t rely on this option only. You do need to carry some snack food for each day.

You will also generally stop for short breaks every hour where you should eat and drink something in order to maintain your energy levels throughout the day.

The high alpine huts are one of the big attractions to mountaineering or trekking in the Alps. They allow us the time to enjoy the mountains with only light packs and without having to worry about meals or finding somewhere to sleep! Most huts have only very basic facilities. Sleeping arrangements are in mixed sex dormitory-style rooms with bunks; there can be up to 20 people in one room.

Washing facilities are limited and generally there is no running water in any of the huts although this may vary in some huts. There are basins in which you can use bottled water to wash and clean your teeth, but they are NOT generally in private cubicles and are mixed sex. Toilets are generally septic-tank type (so non-flushing) and again mixed sex. You need to be prepared for simple living in the huts and appreciate they are located at high altitude and in inhospitable terrain.

The guardian and his/her team serve a 3-course evening meal and breakfast - food is usually nourishing and filling. Beer, wine, soft drinks and snacks are also available. All food and drink in the huts is delivered by helicopter and consequently prices will be high e.g. between 5 -10€ or 10CHF for a 1.5litre bottle of still water.

There are a few basic hut ‘rules’ that you need to follow so that you (and your fellow climbers) have a pleasant stay:

1) On arriving at the hut you must take off your boots and leave these together with your ice axe, crampons in the foyer. Be sure to store these carefully as the hut is likely to get very busy and you’ll need to find all your kit in the morning rush!

2) House slippers are provided and must be worn in the hut

3) Your guide will register you with the guardian and will assign you your bunk

4) Follow the instructions of your guide and keep requests to the guardian and his team to a minimum – they are usually very busy sorting out groups, cooking meals, keeping the hut clean

5) In the morning your guide will often want to leave early – be sure to have all your kit ready to go the night before. Be organized and everything will be much easier!

6) It is recommended to bring earplugs for the nights – but make sure that you wake up on time!

All Chamex mountain guides are fully qualified, highly experienced and passionate about what they do. Everyone who works as part of the Chamex team has been thoroughly vetting and is trusted by us to give our clients the best experience possible - you are in safe hands! If you would like to know more then you can meet the Chamex team here.

The group will meet at our office in Chamonix Sud the evening before the first day of the trip. You will have an informal chat with your guide about the week ahead, weather, conditions, itinerary, etc. The guide will also want to check all of your equipment and make sure everything is in order.

You start with some steep ski runs on Les Grands Montets. Your guide will want to check that you all have the right ski level before you set off and make sure that there are no issues with any of your equipment. After lunch you will ski down the Rognon glacier and across the Argentière Glacier to the Argentière Refuge (2771m). You will spend your first night there. Enjoy the beautiful views of the Argentière Basin! Descent 800-900m • Ascent 200-300m • Time 4-5 h

The day will start with a short descent from the hut down to the glacier, where you will put on your skins and climb up to the Col du Passon (3028m). From the col it’s a short descent before putting the skins back on for a short climb to the Col du Tour (3282m). Then the route takes you across the magnificent Trient plateau and up to the Trient hut where you will spend the night. Descent 300m • Ascent 1100m • Time 6-8 h

This is a long day, which is rewarded by long descents. It starts with descending the Col des Écandies (2796m) followed by a descent by the Val d’Arpette down to the village of Champex (1500m). Transfer by taxi will be arranged to take you to a cable-car station in Verbier. Climb up to the Col de la Chaux (2940m), followed by another descent. Then hike up to the Col de Momin (3015m) and to the highest summit of the trip, the Rosablanche (3336m). From the summit you have a great ski down the Glacier de Prafleuri to the Prafleuri hut (2624m) where you will spend the night. Descent 2700m • Ascent 900m • Time 7-8 h

This day starts with a steep climb over the Col des Roux before starting the long traverse above the Lac Dix. At the head of the lake there is a steady climb to the Pas du Chat and then a little more traversing before a short climb to Refuge des Dix hut (2928m). Here you will leave some of your equipment before setting out for either the Col de Cheilon (3237m) or to the summit of La Luette (3548m) for some extra descent before you dinner. This add on is optional! Descent 450m . Ascent 800m . Time 5h

From the hut you will cross the Glacier de Cheilon to climb the Glacier de Tsena Refien towards the Col de la Serpentine and on to the Col du Brenay. It is then an easy climb to the summit of the Pigne d’Arolla (3772m). Now you have a great descent to the Col des Vignettes and the spectacularly situated hut (3160m) of the same name. Ascent 850m • Time 6 h

The day will start with a quick descent to the Col de Charmottane (3037m) followed by a hike up to the Col de l’Evêque (3382m). A beautiful, long descent of the Arolla Glacier to the Plans de Bertol is followed by a long, but absolutely spectacular, hike up to the Bertol hut (3311m), where you will spend the last night in the of this trip. Descent 750m • Ascent 1100m • Time 7-8 h

Fun day! A hike up to the second highest point of the trip, the Tête Blanche (3707m) is followed by a brilliant, long and relatively complex descent of the Stöckji and Zmut glaciers. You will be making your way through crevasses and around rocks as you go. The views of the Matterhorn are always changing and always spectacular. Eventually you will reach the edge of Zermatt’s huge piste area and stop for a well-earned beer at a piste-side bar before continuing to Zermatt. From here you will catch the train to Tasch to meet the minibus waiting to take you back to Chamonix, a 2.5 hour drive. Once back in Chamonix you will have a short debrief over a coffee at our office, where you can also swap photos before heading home. Descent 2100m • Ascent 500m • Time 6 h

No you can not. You will need very good skinning technique to be quick and to preserve energy - this can be achieved by extensive ski touring experience. You should also have previous hut to hut ski touring experience to join this tour. If you have never ski toured before, join our Introduction to Ski Touring course. If you did few day ski tours but no hut to hut trip yet, join our Introduction to Hut to Hut trip. 

We do accept snowboarders on our Haute Route trips. You have to have good splitboarding experience and have already recently completed a hut to hut trip. Please note that we do not mix splitboarders and skiers on our collective trips. We will be happy to organise splitboard friendly itinerary for a private group. 

No, you just need a sleeping bag liner. All huts are equipped with warm covers but they do not have fresh linen. The liner serves as personal linen, it is for hygienic purposes. The liner is obligatory on many huts. 

You will be skiing and hiking in high Alpine environment for about 9h per day for 7 consecutive days. You have to be fit and strong to complete the day pitches without getting too tired the next day. 

The Haute Route season starts mid March and ends at the beginning of May. The huts are closed outside of this time span and the snow conditions / weather are rarely favorable for this trip. If you enquire for this trip for a private group, you can chose any dates within this time-frame as long as you place your booking with us by the end of September. Check with us for later booking, we may still be able to reserve your places in huts. If you wish to book for a group trip, please check the dates we have on our website. 

You want to have as light gear as possible. Modern ski touring skis are light and still perform well in deep and varied snow. You want to have skis maximum 95mm under the foot fitted with a low tech bindings. You certainly want to take true ski touring boots - light and comfortable. If you wish to bring a helmet, bring a light climbing helmet instead of the heavy and hot ski helmet. 

Yes, a search and rescue insurance is obligatory on these trips. Contact us if you need help organising this prior your arrival. 

There is no WIFI on the huts and the mobile reception is very limited.