ITINERARY - HAUTE ROUTE EXPRESS HIKING TOUR
(9 days, download full itinerary as pdf file)
Day 1: ARRIVAL DAY
Transfer from Geneva airport to the Chamonix valley.
Accommodation: Upscale Hotel**/ Chalet in Chamonix
Day 2: ARGENTIERE / TRIENT
We start our first day in Argentière, from where we walk up to the Col de Balme, then down to the little Swiss village of Trient. A quick transfer will bring us to Finhaut for the night.
Walking time: 6 hours Accommodation: Hotel **
Day 3: CHAMPEX-LAC
This day will give us two choices depending on the weather and the ability of the group:
The longer, higher and more demanding route over the Fenêtre d’Arpette with amazing views of the Trient glacier, or the more moderate Bovine route, which brings us to Champex-Le-Lac,
for the night.
Walking time: 5-7 hours Accommodation: Hotel*** in Champex-Le-Lac
Day 4: AROLLA
A minibus transfer from Champex-le-Lac to the Barrage des Dix.
From the Barrage des Dix we will walk to the Dix hut for some cake and coffee, before we carry on to the Col de Reidmatten and the Pas de Chèvre. From there, we descend to Arolla for the night.
Walking time: 6-7 hours Accommodation: Hotel *** in Arolla
Day 5: GRIMENTZ
The minibus brings us to our starting point in the little village of Villaz, above Les Haudères. We climb up the Col du Torrent and descend down to the Lac de Moiry.
Walking time: 5 hours Accommodation: Hotel*** in Grimentz
Day 6: GRUBEN
The minibus will bring us from Grimentz to St. Luc, from where we take the funicular for an easy start. Our high point for today is the Meidpass (2,790m - 9'153 ft), then we walk down to Gruben
Walking time: 5 hours Accommodation: Hotel in Gruben.
Day 7: ZERMATT
We are almost in Zermatt: Up the Augsbord Pass (2,788m - 9’147 ft), then down to Jungu by foot.
A private cable car whisks us down to St. Niklaus where we then take the train to Zermatt.
Walking time: 6 hours Accommodation: Charming Hotel** in Zermatt
Day 8: ZERMATT
This day is reserved for a day hike in Zermatt, which will lead us on a balcony walk opposite the North Face of the Matterhorn.
We will start straight from our hotel in Zermatt,walking steeply up to the Trift hut. Hugo, the owner, makes moist apple cakes and homemade, organic ice tea.
And if we’re lucky, he will play the alphorn for us.
Then we will carry on up one of the most spectacular trails in the Alps with amazing views of the Matterhorn and the Hoernli hut, from where most mountaineers start their climb up the Matterhorn.
Walking time: 6 hours Accommodation: Charming Hotel** in Zermatt
Day 9: INDIVIDUAL DEPARTURE FROM ZERMATT
Guests will be departing from Zermatt depending on their private travel plans.
We are more than happy to help with post trip planning, be it train tickets, airport shuttles, or anything else.
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