Hiking the Haute Route—Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn

12 days
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4.8/5 Excellent
64 reviews  
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Small Group Tour
No one knows the Alps like MTS. With over four decades of experience leading trips here, we have cultivated a regular following of clients who come back to try a different trip in the Alps with us each year. The Haute Route or “High Road” is one of our more challenging itineraries, designed for serious trekkers who love the thrill of summiting ten passes in t...
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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Strenuous
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

    • Trek the challenging, renowned and less-travelled Haute Route with the Alps specialists (since 1970!)
    • Traverse ten high passes in ten days for incomparable eye-popping views, including the famous Matterhorn—a trekker’s paradise
    • Superb leaders, local hospitality, and shared accomplishment make this an MTS classic

What's this trip about?

    No one knows the Alps like MTS. With over four decades of experience leading trips here, we have cultivated a regular following of clients who come back to try a different trip in the Alps with us each year. The Haute Route or “High Road” is one of our more challenging itineraries, designed for serious trekkers who love the thrill of summiting ten passes in ten days and the comfort of warm, alpine hospitality at night. The Haute Route connects Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn on one of the most spectacular hikes in all the Alps. Our professional guides are the best in the Alps, all qualified by the prestigious Companie des Guides. Their knowledge and skillsets make them indispensable companions on your adventure. 

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Details

Itinerary focusActive and Outdoor Sports
Group sizeSmall Group - max of 14 people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityGeneva
End CityGeneva

Travel Themes

  • Hiking & Walking
  • National Parks
  • Nature & Wildlife

Destinations

  • Europe
  • Switzerland
  • France

Attractions

  • Chamonix
  • Matterhorn

Activities

  • Culture
  • Hiking
  • Nature
  • Swimming

Trip includes

    • Expert leadership
    • Accommodations as noted in itinerary (or similar)
    • Meals as noted in the itinerary
    • Airport transfers on days 1 and 12
    • Sightseeing as noted in the itinerary
    • Ground transportation
    • Additional guides where necessary
    • Entrance fees and permits, unless noted separately in costs
    • Basic medical and evacuation insurance

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Itinerary

Travel Map

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 y...

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 Corn...

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 (...

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 spec...

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 al...

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 landscap...

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 g...

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 postc...

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 wi...

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 d...

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 Zer...

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.)

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Dates & Availability

Price From $5,395
Price per day$450
Last Updated: 9/17/2018

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with MT Sobek (Mountain Travel Sobek).

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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MT Sobek (Mountain Travel Sobek) Reviews & Ratings

4.8/5  Excellent
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Tish

Aug 2023

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Recommend Japan hikes but not with Mt Sobek

First, let me say our tour guide Tomomi S. is hands down THE best tour guide I’ve ever had - knowledgeable, fun and made great efforts to ensure that we were comfor...

A

Anne

Dec 2019

MT Sobek (Mountain Travel Sobek) Company Reviewsby MT Sobek (Mountain Travel Sobek)

Spectacular scenery

Spectacular scenery, great hiking, and fascinating conversations with...

A

Andrea

Dec 2019

MT Sobek (Mountain Travel Sobek) Company Reviewsby MT Sobek (Mountain Travel Sobek)

Truly enjoyable

Thanks to MT Sobek this trip was seamless and truly enjoyable. The accommodations, logistics, and guides were all excellent. I always felt safe, cared for, and well ...

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MT Sobek (Mountain Travel Sobek)

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Mountain Travel began with the belief that there is a little bit of adventure in everyone. The early days were fueled by the passions of outdoor enthusiasts who loved exploring wild places. 40 years later, we offer almost 200 adventures to destinations worldwide.

Expert Guides: When you venture into foreign lands, tackle snowy peaks or raging whitewater, you want the best guides at your side. With decades of experience in the field, MTS guides offer inspirational enthusiasm, exceptional leadership, and sheer volume of knowledge (better than any guidebook!).

What makes us great!

At Mountain Travel Sobek, we are driven by two philosophies.

One is the credo by which we have guided our company for over 30 years. Mountain Travel Sobek is a continuing experiment in discovery: of new lands, of exotic cultures, and of wondrous wildlife far from fences and highways. We believe the best way to bring to light the marvels of nature, the people of the world and ourselves, is by traveling in small groups—treading lightly with responsibility and sensitivity—while enjoying firsthand the boundless beauty and variety of our miracle planet.

The other is our philosophy for you, our client. Plan nothing, enjoy everything. We take care of all of the logistics so that you can have more time to do what's most important: relax, enjoy the experience, and have fun!

Active Unique Itineraries

Our adventures are planned with reasonably paced itineraries, incredible attention to detail, and the right mix of fun, learning, and challenge that ensure a memorable vacation. You will find our adventures physically active and culturally rewarding. Whether you ride a camel in Rajasthan or climb to the top of Kilimanjaro, you'll experience firsthand the cultures and environments of the region you are visiting. And after a long day of adventuring, we ensure you a comfortable night's rest in deluxe accommodations from regional inns to our own private camps.

In keeping with our founders' adventurous spirit, Mountain Travel Sobek is constantly seeking innovative new trips throughout the world. You will always find an array of new trips to exotic locales in our trip list in addition to the classic adventures for which we are renowned. So whatever your level of adventure, there is a Mountain Travel Sobek adventure just right for you.

Small Groups

You're probably wondering about the people with whom you'll share your adventure. Chances are, they're a lot like you. Our guests come from all walks of life and are spirited travelers who share a passion for our wonderful world. They range in age from their late 20s to mid-80s, reminding us all that you can never be too young or too old to have fun!

Our groups are intentionally kept small—usually less than 15 people—to allow you a more intimate experience with the people and wildlife you encounter on your Mountain Travel Sobek adventure. With such a small number of people, we can take advantage of many unexpected invitations and opportunities that would be impossible with larger groups.

Our guides often have very close ties to the local community and we are readily welcomed into the lives of the local folk. We may be invited to share lunch with a Turkish family or visit an artist's studio in Tuscany. Don't forget to ask us about the time we spent Thanksgiving at a Fulani "festival of the cows" in the Dogon lowlands of Mali—now there's something we won't soon forget!

Private Adventures

Our Private Adventures are an incredible series of itineraries designed especially for small groups, whether it be families, couples, or treasured friends. These selected trips are ideal for reunions with family or old friends, a great way to celebrate a milestone birthday or anniversary - and can you imagine a more exotic honeymoon?

Like all Mountain Travel Sobek trips, you can count on an adventure that reflects Mountain Travel Sobek's time-tested commitment to authentic, personalized experiences and world-class service.

Customized Adventures

You can either book your group on one of our scheduled departures, choose your own dates for one of our regular trips, or let us create a special trip hand-tailored to your specific needs and wishes. If you can imagine it, we just might be able to make it happen!

Safety

Our safety record is unparalleled (good to know if you're stepping into a river raft for the first time or planning to trek in the high mountains of Nepal). The guides are fully trained, our equipment is state-of-the-art, and we continually monitor conditions with our worldwide team of outfitters to make certain every trip is run safely and with the highest standards of quality.

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Logistics

What's excluded

    • International airfare
    • Meals not noted on itinerary
    • Airport transfers other than scheduled group transfers on days 1 and 12
    • Insurance other than basic medical and evacuation insurance
    • Optional tipping to leader, guides and local staff
    • Excess baggage charges
    • Airport taxes (international—varies by location)
    • Cost of medical immunizations; and items of a personal nature (sodas, alcoholic beverages, laundry, etc.).

Accommodation

,Hotel Butterfly — Zermatt The Best Western Hotel Butterfly, a superior three-star hotel, is situated in a quiet and sunny spot, in the center of car-free Zermatt.   Hotel Les Aiglons — Chamonix Five minutes from the town centre, at the foot of the Midi summit, three star Les Aiglons Resort & Spa has undergone a full renovation. Resolutely contemporary whilst breaking down the barriers of traditional mountain resort hotels, three star Les Aiglons Resort & Spa has undergone an audacious redesign and decoration, with warm and modern colours, natural materials, glass and light…   Hotel du Col de La Forclaz — Switzerland The Hotel du Col de la Forclaz dates back to 1830 and has been family run for six generations! Nestled in a valley, with the towering snowy peaks of the French Alps in the background, the hotel provides an intimate setting with some of the most breathtaking scenery on the continent. The inn offers a wide variety of mouthwatering seasonal favorites, and boasts a café, terrace, restaurant, and bar. No matter the season, this classic establishment is sure to make an impression with its first class accommodation and tranquil location in the shadow of Mont Blanc.   Hotel du Glacier — Arolla Located at the edge of Arolla, a small mountain village situated at an altitude of 6,500 ft, it offers a beautiful mountain panorama. Amenities include private bath or shower, balcony, and TV.   Hotel Schwarzhorn — Gruben, Switzerland Hotel de Verbier — Verbier, Switzerland Hotel Le Ritz — Grande Dixence Cabane de Louvie — Lac de Louvie Hotel Alpina — Grimentz

Transportation & flights

Air Travel Airfare is not included in the land cost of our trips. For air reservations, we recommend you contact the airlines directly, either by phone or the Internet. In addition, many travelers elect to use their “frequent flyer” miles when traveling with us. But please check with our staff before purchasing or obtaining your tickets. We need to verify your arrival and departure schedule and ensure we have enough participants to operate the trip.
Guides
Laurent Langoisseur Laurent Langoisseur hails from Normandy, France, having grown up in Argentan (a small village that became famous in August 1944, “tournai sur dives”). At the age of 12, Laurent read La Grande Crevasse by Roger Frison-Roche, and became fascinated by the guiding and climbing descriptions of the Chamonix-Mont Blanc area. At 16, Laurent visited the area and was hooked. At 19, Laurent joined the French alpine troops, and after a year of service, moved to Chamonix. In 1991, he obtained his European Mountain Leader certification, and in 1995 he was awarded the coveted patch of the Compagnie des Guides. An avid sports enthusiast and inexhaustible hiker, Laurent has hiked the Tour du Mont Blanc close to 100 times. He is also an accomplished mountaineer, having summited Mont Blanc three times, as well as several other mountains over 13,000-feet. When he is not hiking and climbing, Laurent can be found running long distances for fun. Laurent recently completed a 48-mile race in 6 hours; and has also finished 48 miles in 9 hours with 10,000’ of ascent/descent. Laurent has been guiding for MTS since 1995, and is a senior guide on our Tour du Mont Blanc, Mont Blanc Express, Mont Blanc to Matterhorn (Haute Route), GR5, Gran Paradiso, and French Riviera trips, as well as any other trip we can get him on! His knowledge of the culture, history, plants, birds, and the name of every single peak and glacier along the trail is a wonderful complement to his guiding skills. When he isn’t guiding for us, he teaches First Aid and Mountain Rescue to mountain and hiking guides; and during the winter, he’s a ski patrol monitor in the mountains above Chamonix.   Stéphane Berger Stéphane is a true man of the mountains, with a Savoyard father and Swiss mother. He grew up in Chamonix, then left the valley to follow his first love, architecture. But the call of the wild proved too strong: numerous travels in North Africa, Siberia, and the Himalaya opened a new door to him—the profession of hiking guide. Nowadays Stéphane lives in a chalet in Chamonix from where he escapes frequently to travel the mountain areas of the world. “Steph” has now been a member of the Compagnie des Guides for many years, with over 100 trips to the Alps under his belt.   Florence Simond A native of Chamonix, Florence is a descendant from two of the area’s oldest families. After growing up in the Chamonix Valley, “Flo” spent several years in the south of France, and then traveled abroad to South America and Asia. She returned to her ancestral home, where the mountains now form an integral part of her life. She has led nearly 50 trips to the Alps, not counting how many times she has done this trip for her own fun! In addition to being an accomplished hiking guide, Flo is a skier and climber. As a member of the Compagnie des Guides, she follows in the footsteps of her forefathers. Beatrice Mugnier Beatrice is a native of Chamonix, France, and has been guiding professionally in the Alps since 1989. She comes from a family of mountain climbers. Her grandfather was also a professional mountain guide. Aside from being an expert hiking guide, Beatrice is also an avid climber and accomplished skier, and is a ski instructor during the winter months. She loves the mountains, and will share her enthusiasm and her great experience with you during your trip.   Jean-Michel Poupart Since childhood, Jean-Michel has been attracted to the great outdoors and outdoor activities, such as throwing snowballs, skiing the snowy slopes, bivouacking in the forest, and fly fishing the rivers. He grew up in the countryside not far from Paris, but too far from Alps. Later, he studied physics, which brought him naturally to Chamonix to test out the laws of gravity! JeanMichel likes the Rolling Stones, and Pink Mountains at sunset are to him another great band of contemplative music. An established skiing instructor for 18 years, Jean-Michel also teaches snowboarding, telemark and off piste. His favorite après ski is a glass of wine, maybe the one coming from Chardonnet, one of the peaks he has climbed in Chamonix valley! Jean-Michel has lead over 50 trips to the Alps. Hiking or skiing, he has a particular interest in leading guests from all over the world, and tremendously enjoys sharing his passions with them.
Cancellation policy

If written cancellation is received cancellation fee will be:

  • 90 days prior to departure $150
  • 89 to 61 days prior to departure $400
  • 60 to 46 days prior to departure 50% of Land/Cruise Cost
  • 45 to 0 days prior to departure 100% of Land/Cruise Cost
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Meals Included

11 Breakfasts, 10 Lunches and 9 Dinners

Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Additional Information
Trip ID
mtsobe-HikMonMou

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