The Haute Route Ski Tour
Chamonix to Zermatt

The Classic Haute Route is the premier ski tour in the Alps. It was first pioneered as a walking route in 1861 and connects two of the best-known alpine centers, Chamonix and Zermatt. Aspen Expeditons offers an annual spring classic Haute Route ski tour, often led by AE's founder and IFMGA Mountain Guide, Dick Jackson.

The trip begins with two days of skiing around the quintessential ski town of Chamonix, France, including the famous Vallee Blanche.

Then we'll spend the next seven days traversing the Alps via the Grand Combin skiing hut-to-hut enroute to Zermatt, Switzerland. Our trip always includes an extra 'weather day' that gives us the flexibility to wait out a day if necessary.

It is a legendary alpine traverse across 60 miles of the most stunning scenery in the world - with glaciers, mountain passes and 4,000 meter peaks in every direction. The traverse starts in Chamonix/Argentiere and finishes with a ski descent past the North Face of the Matterhorn in Zermatt. Chamonix is the center for alpinism in France, and Zermatt the center of all the early mountain exploration in Switzerland.

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Private Guiding:

Available daily. Please contact us directly to make your reservation.

Group Departures:

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Trip length: 12 nights / 14 days
Dates: April
Cost: TBD
Difficulty: Advanced to expert alpine, AT or telemark skiier - Some backcountry skiing experience is highly recommended.
Trip Rating:
Includes: Professional IFMGA/AMGA Certified Mountain Guide; land costs including most meals; 7 nts huts, 4 nts Chamonix, 1 nt Zermatt; all hut fees; ground transportation Zermatt to Chamonix.



What you should Know:

Typical Itinerary

Itinerary

Day 1 - Fly from your home to Chamonix, France (Geneva, Switzerland is the closest international airport)

Day 2 - Arrive Chamonix, France. Most flights arrive in the morning so usually you'll be in Chamonix by mid-afternoon.

Day 3 - Ski a ski area around Chamonix (le Brevent or le Grand Montet) for a gear check & shakedown.

Day 4 - Ski the Vallee Blanchee, a classic ski tour from the top of the Aguille de Midi down to town. This day will include a session on glacier travel & crevasse rescue techniques.

Day 5 - Ski to the Triente Hut from le Grand Montet over the Col de Chardonnay. This day includes lift access to the top of the Grand Montet, a descent to the Argentiere glacier & ascent up to the Col de Chardonnay. From the top of the col we descend and tour around to the Triente glacier.

Day 6 - This day is a classic ski descent down to Champex. From there we head to the small mountain village of Bourg St. Pierre.

Day 7 - In the morning hike up an alpine trail toward the Grand Combin. We spend the night at the Velan hut.

Day 8 - This morning we ascend Mont Velan for a terrific ski tour that eventually takes us to the Valsorey Hut.

Day 9 - With a very early start we head out to the col near the Grand Combin. We will traverse around and ski down to the Chanrion hut.

Day 10 - This day we will tour up to the Vignette hut. We have 2 options depending on the weather conditions.

Day 11 - From the Vignette hut we ski over 2 cols past the Matterhorn to Zermatt.

Day 12 - We head back to Chamonix and celebrate the trip.

Day 13 - We build in an extra day to allow for weather related schedule changes.

Day 14 - Depart Chamonix for home.


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Additional Info:

Equipment List - Haute Route
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