Chamonix Zermatt Panoramic Trails

The "Haute Route" is one of the world's great multi-day treks. The route links two of the great alpine mountaineering centers, Chamonix and Zermatt. Mont Blanc, Grand Combin, Weisshorn and the Matterhorn are just a few of the 4000 meters peaks that you will encounter on this classic traverse of the massif. At the end of the tour there is the opportunity to climb Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Western Europe (optional extension).

• Day 1/ Arrival in Geneva, transfer to Chamonix
• Day 2/ Montroc - Balme Pass - Trient
• Day 3/ Trient - Bovine - Champex
• Day 4/ Champex - Riedmatten Pass - Arolla - Les Haudères
• Day 5/ Les Haudères - Torrent Pass - Moiry Lake - Zinal
• Day 6/ Zinal - Forcletta Pass - Turtmantal - Gruben
• Day 7/ Gruben - Augstbord Pass- Jungu - St-Niklaus - Zermatt
• Day 8/ Zmutt panoramic trail - Zermatt
• Day 9/ Transfer to Geneva for flight home.

A circuit which truly connects the Chamonix valley to the valley of Zermatt, all for discovering the alpine tops of these two world alpinism capitals. This green and softer version of the glacial "Haute Route Chamonix-Zermatt", Mont Blanc to Matterhorn, leads from forests to mountain pastures, on passes perched between typical and authentic valleys... With sumptuous view-points, a serene approach to unsurpassable sites in the Alps.

Day 1/  Geneva - Chamonix
Reception at Geneva airport with shuttle transportation to hotel. Settle in at the "Prieure" hotel in Chamonix or the "Croix Blanche", evening meal at the restaurant in the hotel while enjoying a panoramic sight onto Chamonix and the surrounding glaciers. (Guaranteed spectacle!).

Day 2/  Montroc - Balme Pass - Trient
We take on the Posettes path, a ridge between the mountain pastures of the Aiguilles Rouges and the glacial slopes of Mont Blanc, which enables us to join the "Alpages" (mountain pastures) of the Balme pass, French-Switzerland border, superb point of view. Hike down to the Swiss village of Trient (4,350 feet). Meal and night in bed and breakfast.
4 H walk. Ascent : 2,625 feet. Descent: 3,117 feet.

Day 3/  Trient - Bovine - Champex
Hiking towards the mountain pastures of Bovine (6,519 feet), view-point on the Valais region. Dominated by the Génépi and the Clochers of Arpette summits, our path gently leaves the mountain pastures towards the forests in direction of the lake and the village of Champex. Meal and night in country cottage.
6 H walk. Ascent: 1,968 feet. Descent: 3,117 feet.

Day 4/  Champex - Grande Dixence - Riedmatten Pass - Arolla - Haudères
Transfer to the Grande Dixence dam (6,644 feet) and hike up to the Riedmatten pass (9,577 feet), before continuing towards Arolla (6,781 feet). Transfer to Haudères, a picturesque village full of flowered country cottages, at the borders of the splendid Hérens valley. Meal and night at inn.
6 H walk. Ascent: 2,953 feet. Descent: 3,117 feet.

Day 5/  Haudères - Mayens de Cotter - Torrent Pass - Moiry Lake - Zinal
From Mayens de Cotter (7,087 feet), a splendid hamlet that we arrive at by taxi.  We climb up the flowered mountain pastures to the Torrent pass (9,573 feet), then pass close to the Autannes and the Moiry (7,382  feet) lakes. We then circumvent Sorebois to pass close to the Grimentz village and we benefit from the freshness of the forest before arriving at our bed and breakfast in Zinal (5,945 feet).
6 H walk. Ascent: 2,625 feet. Descent: 4,265 feet.

Day 6/  Zinal - Forcletta Pass - Turtmantal - Gruben
We leave the valley of Anniviers in direction of the peaks and the Forcletta pass (9,995 feet). From this privileged point of view, we dominate the Turtmantal mountain pastures, the Gruben valley (5,978 feet), downstream from the Bishorn and the Weisshorn glaciers, summits reaching more than 13000 feet. Meal and night in a small hamlet inn.
6 H walk. Ascent: 3,937 feet. Descent: 3,445 feet

Day 7/  Gruben - Augstbord Pass - Jungu - St-Niklaus - Zermatt
Departure in direction of the perched country cottages of Zum. The Augstbord pass (9,995 feet), easy to navigate and highly perched is our last passage in altitude. Lower down, we travel via the cable car to St-Niklaus. Train transfer and night in inn in Zermatt, beautiful pedestrian village.
6 H walk. Ascent: 3,281 feet. Descent: 3,117 feet.

Day 8/  Around Zermatt - village of Zmutt - Zermatt
Excursion to the hamlet of Zmutt, (‘postcard perfect') country cottages at the foot of the Matterhorn, return by a balcony path. End of trip meal.

Day 9/  Transfert to Geneva
Return shuttle to the airport for flight home.

- The walking time schedules are given only as an estimate.
- For different reasons involving trip organization, daily schedules and planned altitude gains (ascent or descent) may be modified without any prior  notice. 

During the treks, all of your belongings are dispatched between a back pack and/or a traveling bag carried during our walks. Each participant walks with a light back pack, carrying only the personal items necessary for the half day (water bottle, camera, protective clothing, etc). Transport is ensured by the vehicle of assistance and the logistic team during the excursions.

The guide
- an English-speaking professional French Mountain World Travel hiking guide (European Mountain Leader).

Ground Transportation by private mini buses or taxi, cable car and train.

Nights in different types of lodging (bed and breakfasts, country cottages and inns).
In the cities, we book hotels, inns, or similar, of excellent standard, 3 stars, based on double occupancy and according to availability at the time of reservation. We choose these hotels, not only for the excellent price/quality ratio, but also for their cordiality and hospitality.
Due to our goal of providing quality accommodations in the mountains, we seek charming and reputable places located in the middle of the most beautiful landscapes or close to the departure of the excursions but sometimes there is only one accommodation in the area and so in this case, we do not have the choice.

The names of accommodations (hotels, lodges, etc...) when they are indicated, are only indicative.
Depending on availability, accommodations (hotels/Lodges, etc...) may be replaced by another equivalent type.
It is possible that accommodations may change without prior notice due to a number of factors. 

Downtown: Breakfast and dinner at the hotel restaurant.
In the mountains, we want to be able to provide you with well balanced/hearty meals to keep you well fueled during your exertions.
- Breakfasts and dinners are prepared by our hosts or enjoyed at a restaurant. The evening meals, warm and copious.
- Lunch: picnic, in the form of sandwiches, cheese, mixed salads and fruits. During the circuit, the guide can do grocery shopping.
- Energy food (an assortment of chocolate bars to accompany you in the effort) provided by Mountain World Travel.
Drinks: mineral water provided.

Although we are an experienced adventure travel company doing our best to respect the itinerary schedule as presented on this detailed itinerary, there is always the possibility that we may need to modify it for different reasons beyond our control. Please read the Registration  Conditions: Terms and Booking conditions - Limitations of Liability.

• International flights in/out Geneva (Switzerland)
• All services mentioned in Services +/extensions /options
• Personal medical & Travel Insurance
• All items not expressively mentioned in "What's included".

• Drinks (except mineral water at restaurant)
• Personal expenses.
• Tips for guide
• All items not expressively mentioned in "What's included".

As airfare is NOT included in our adventures, please check if your trip is "a guaranteed departure" before confirming your own airline travel arrangements. You can check your trip status at the Mountain World Travel website or contact the Mountain World Travel office at 1 888-MWT-TREK (698-8735).

Our preferred airlines to fly to Geneva, Switzerland
-  Swiss, the national company, operates daily to Geneva in cooperation with Star Alliance
-  Skyteam (Delta, Northwest, Continental, Air France - KLM), operates daily flights from anywhere in the States to Geneva, through Amsterdam or Paris.
-  StarAlliance (United, Lufthansa) operates daily flights from anywhere in the States to Geneva, through Frankfurt or Munich
-  Oneworld (American, British) operates daily flights from anywhere in the States to Geneva, through London.

Formalities for US, Canada, Australia, NZ passport travelers: a valid passport; US citizens are admitted to France and Switzerland for up to 90 days.
US citizens, please check with the US Government Travel Entry Exit Requirements
France    Switzerland
For other nationalities, please contact the French and Swiss embassies in your country.

No vaccine is obligatory. We advise you, however, to be up date for traditional vaccinations: Diphtheria - Tetanus - Poliomyelitis, Typhoid fever. Vaccination against hepatitis A and B is recommended.

Health hazards
- Heat: protect your eyes and your skin against the sun, as it is more intense with altitude.
- Cold: plan on packing protective clothing against the cold (jackets, fleece, gloves, hat), especially in relevance to the activity.
- Dehydration: drink and nourish yourself sufficiently and correctly throughout the effort.
- Small wounds: blisters, tendonitis...bring along band aids, an antiseptic and another cream for muscle aches. They will take up a bit of room, but well worth the space.

- Altitude sickness: can be felt at around 8,000 feet and above and can come on quickly (after just one night spent in altitude). Hard to predict and varies completely from one person to another. Good hydration is necessary, progressive altitude acclimatization and Aspirin can all help in preventing the unpleasant side effects of altitude sickness.
Please visit: http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/yellowBookCh6-AltitudeIllness.aspx

LEVEL 4
3 months prior:  Hike 10 to 12 miles every weekend or on two consecutive days OR if you are regularly committed, on an annual basis, to another sports activity that develops stamina (jogging, cycling or swimming) for a cumulative duration of 2 to 3 hours per week (without excessive shortness of breath or exceptional fatigue), you should be up to speed.  

Basic equipment
- A warm fleece hat
- A cap or a hat to protect from the sun
- Sun glasses (minimum index 3 or 4 for high mountain)
- Thermal top and bottom, short and long) underwear (fast drying).
- Fleece turtle neck top
- A warm fleece jacket (light weight/well insulated).
- A waterproof/breathable shell jacket (Gore-Tex).
- A pair of gloves
- A rain poncho
- Hiking shorts
- Lightweight hiking long pants
- A Camelback or a water bottle.

Shoes and technical material
- Hiking socks
- Light ventilated hiking shoes with a good traction on different type of terrain, for people with fragile ankles: waterproof ankle hiking boots and a sole offering good traction.
- A pair of telescopic walking poles.

Luggage
- A back pack equipped with broad straps, with an adjustable anatomical back reinforcement, and a capacity of 7 to 9 gallons, for your daily belongings
- A soft travel bag, which can hold between 18 to 23 gallons that will be transported by the porter team or by vehicle during the day.

Miscellaneous
- A change of clothes.
- A pair of replacement shoe laces
- A dop-kit and a bath towel.
- Toilet paper.
- A pocket knife (not in carry on luggage).
- Some plastic bags to protect your belongings.
- A bathing suit.
- A small pocket anti-theft protection device, to always keep on yourself, along with your identity papers, money, certificate of insurance.

Some advice
During your flight your back pack should contain fragile and useful items that you might need while on the plane (camera, memory cards, jacket, books, magazines, medication, dop-kit etc).