Compare Hiking the Haute Route—Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn by MT Sobek (Mountain Travel Sobek) vs Paris to Geneva, Milan and Rome Tour by Discovery Nomads

Day 1: Geneva – Chamonix

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Les Aiglons

Arrive at the airport in Geneva, Switzerland (GVA). You will be picked up promptly at 2:00 p.m. for a group transfer by private van to the famous mountain-ringed resort town of Chamonix, France. We suggest you arrive early enough (by 1:00 p.m.) to allow time to get through customs and immigration before the scheduled pickup. The transfer takes approximately 1½ hours. Once at the hotel, you'll have time to rest a bit, take a swim, or explore this charming town before meeting your guides and the rest of the group for a welcome dinner and orientation at 6:30 p.m.

Day 2: Chamonix – Local "Warm Up" Hike

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel Les Aiglons

From the hotel, we’ll take a funicular to Planpraz (6,600'). From this panoramic viewpoint we get our first complete vantage point of the Mont Blanc massif. Our hike will lead us to the Col Cornu (7,919') and then to the Black Lakes (8,530’). We’ll have a number of options for our descent and the guides will select the one that best suits our group. Dinner tonight is on your own to explore the many fine dining options of Chamonix. (Approx. 6 hours hiking, 2,150' ascent/2,500' descent.)

Day 3: Col de Balme

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel du Col de La Forclaz

We’ll begin the day with a 15-minute vehicle transfer to the village of Tour, at the head of the Chamonix Valley. We’ll hike up through the alpine pastures to the Col de Balme (6,999'), and hike  into Switzerland. After traversing above the tree line over dramatic views of the valley below, we’ll descend along the great Trient Glacier to our rest stop for the night, the Hotel de la Forclaz (5,035'). (Approx. 7 hours hiking, 3300' ascent/2,900' descent, mild exposure.)

Day 4: Fenêtre d’Arpette

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel de Verbier

Today’s hike is up to the challenging Fenêtre d’Arpette, or “Arpette’s window” (8,760'), and is among the most classic alpine mountain passes. Today’s views of the Trient Glacier are spectacular (as well as the views at the top of the pass!). We’ll begin with an easy walk to a hiker’s hut, then begin our challenging ascent up a steep trail of stone steps and boulders, requiring some scrambling along the way. After a picturesque lunch at the pass, we’ll descend through forests to the village of Champex (4,890') where we transfer to the celebrated ski town of Verbier, and rest for the night. (Approx. 7 hours hiking, 3,727' ascent/4,970' descent, significant exposure.)

Day 5: Verbier – Cabane de Louvie

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Cabane de Louvie

Today’s hike begins with a short, 10 minute transfer to our trailhead just above Verbier (4,950'), and then continues on foot up above the town to the Val de Bagne. We’ll then traverse along trails with outstanding views in every direction, then hike up to the Col Termin (8,740'); there is a possibility of seeing some ibex today. The trail has a fair amount of exposure, and chains are mounted on the rocks in some places to help ease our way. We’ll then descend steeply to the lovely environs of the Lac de Louvie (7,300') where we’ll spend the night in the hut of Cabane de Louvie. (Approx. 7 hours hiking, 3,310' ascent/1,440' descent, significant exposure.)

NOTE—You will not have access to your luggage tonight and will need to carry your overnight belongings.

Day 6: Cabane de Louvie – Grande Dixence

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Le Ritz

Today is a long and beautiful day of hiking, with two passes, the Louvie (9,640') and Prafleuri (9,785'). From the hut, we’ll climb 2,500 feet on steep trails that bring us to lunar landscapes. There are very good odds of seeing ibex today. From the first pass, we’ll descend (possibly on snow) 400 feet, crossing Le Grand Desert (“big desert”), a glacial area that’s rich in minerals. You may have to cross the glacier itself or ford one of its streams, and even hike on snow. We will scramble over large boulder fields and steep cliffs with scree slopes to our second pass, then descend from the Prafleuri to our hotel, Le Ritz, located at the foot of Europe’s highest dam at 7,065 feet. (Approx. 9 hours hiking, 3,100' ascent/3,400' descent, significant exposure.)

Day 7: Grande Dixence – Arolla

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel du Glacier

From the hotel, we’ll hike to the top of the dam and then continue around the lake (4 miles), before our start up toward the Pas du Chat (7,800'). The terrain is rocky and we’ll cross a glacier before scrambling over boulders and large flat rocks to the next pass. We have two alternates for crossing the Pas de la Chevre (9,785'—“pass of the goat”), either a steep 250-foot ascent, or up two sets of vertical ladders, before descending to Arolla (6,660'). This stage is considered very alpine, with rich mineral rock and a backdrop of the legendary summits of Pigne d’Arolla, Mont-Blanc de Cheilon, and Mont-Collomb. Our day ends with a short walk through the beautiful Arolla pine forest into this typical charming Swiss hamlet with its wooden houses and flower-filled window boxes. (Approx. 8 hours hiking, 2,720' ascent/2,800' descent, significant exposure.)

Day 8: Arolla – Grimentz

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Alpina

We’ll start with a 30-minute transfer to Cotter (5,790') where we begin what some consider the easiest day of the route as we ascend the Col de Torrent (9,630'). We’ll encounter picture postcard scenery with fabulous views of Mont Blanc as well as many other spectacular peaks of a range of mountains called the Dent Blanche (14,380'). From the pass, weather permitting, we will have fabulous 360-degree views of snowcapped mountains and turquoise glacial lakes. We might see marmots and eagles as we continue down through cow-filled meadows to the picturesque old Swiss village of Grimentz (5,300'). Part of the town is like a living museum representing the old, vanishing way of life, and is well worth an evening stroll. (Approx. 7 hours hiking, 4,180' ascent/3,468' descent.)

Day 9: Grimentz – Zinal – Gruben

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Schwarzhorn

We are now is the bilingual canton of Valais, where we’ll move from the French-speaking to the German-speaking Switzerland. After a short transfer to Zinal (5,500'), our hiking begins with a steep climb through a beautiful forest of thick larch trees, heather, and blueberries. We’ll then make a long « balcony » traverse with views of the Matterhorn, before beginning another steep ascent toward the Col de Forcletta (9,480'). We’ll descend through beautiful green hills with large mossy rocks and babbling brooks to the summer hamlet of Gruben (6,012') where we’ll spend the night. (Approx. 8 hours hiking, 4,180' ascent/3,468' descent.)

Day 10: Gruben – St. Niklaus

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Butterfly

Our first challenge of the day is the Augstbordpass (9,550'), the last major pass on our trek, which leads into the valley of the Mattervispa. From the top, we’ll make a long, 5,900-feet descent with fairly steep exposure. On the way down, the views are superb: we can see the Weishorn, Breithorn, and Mischabel, as well as others, all topping 14,000 feet, at Jungu, we’ll enjoye fabulous views of green hills dotted with slate-roofed wooden houses. Down to St. Niklaus (3,630') we board our bus for the drive to Zermatt at the foot of the famed Matterhorn. Later, meet with the group and trip leaders for an evening farewell dinner, as the guides will leave Zermatt after tomorrow's half-day hike. (Approx. 7½ hours hiking, 3,538' ascent/5,900' descent, significant exposure.)

Day 11: Zermatt – Zmutt

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel Butterfly

We have an half-day of light hiking in store today with a walk up above the town for great views of the Matterhorn. Lunch in a charming village at the foot of the Matterhorn, then returning to Zermatt. We'll say good-bye to our guides at the end of today's hike. The remainder of the afternoon is free to take advantage of the charms of the alpine village and perhaps do a little shopping. (Approx. 4 hours hiking, 1,000' ascent/1,000' descent.)

Day 12: Depart

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, we’ll transfer 3½ hours to the Geneva Airport (GVA), or you can take the train from Zermatt to other destinations in Europe on your own. (Please do not schedule your outgoing flight to depart until after 2:00 p.m.)

Day 1-3 Paris

Today you will explore fascinating Paris and check this beautiful city from the Eiffel Tower and in the evening you will have free time to explore the nightlife of the city. On the next day you will have sightseeing tour around Paris and visit Louvre museum.

Hotel: Novotel Paris or similar.

Day 3 Geneva

In the morning you will travel by train to Switzerland. Discover this small city of Geneva that lies at the southern tip of expansive Lac Léman (Lake Geneva). Surrounded by the Alps and Jura mountains, the city has views of dramatic Mont Blanc.

Day 4-6 Milan

In the morning you will travel to Milan and have a guided tour to the beautiful Duomo Cathedral. Enjoy shopping on Via Montenapoleone and in the evening go to the opera of La Scala (please purchase tickets in advance).

Hotel: Starhotels Anderson or similar.

Day 6-8 Venice

You will have a guided tour to the Doge's Palace. Additionally visit the Accademia Gallery and Basilica di San Marco, take a vaporeto to Murano and Burano, gondola ride along Venice canals or visit Guggenheim gallery.

Hotel: LaGare Venezia MGallery by Sofitel or similar.

Day 8-10 Rome

Explore the history of Rome on a walking tour, see the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, Piazza Venezia, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon & Piazza Navona. On the next day you'll have an excursion to Vatican and visit the Colosseum. And do not miss the amazing Italian food, wine and nightlife.

Hotel: UNA Hotel Rome or similar.