Walker's Haute Route (WHR) Self-guided
Top Scenery
Towns and Villages
Challenging Terrain
Private Room Options
Glacier Views
Luggage Transportation
The Walker’s Haute Route is often described as one of the most dramatic and scenic treks in the Alps – a classic Chamonix to Zermatt trekking tour that links Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn. On this Walker’s Haute Route self-guided adventure you hike through high, sometimes remote mountain terrain, tackling long days and substantial ascents on almost every stage, so it’s reserved for fit, experienced hikers with determination and a love of adventure.
The “Walker’s” version evolved from the original Haute Route, a summer mountaineering high route between Chamonix and Zermatt conceived and completed by British alpinists in the 1860s. In the early 1900s it also became a famous ski-touring route in winter. Today, the less extreme Walker’s Haute Route lets confident hikers experience this line without glacier travel.
Beginning in the mountain-sports town of Chamonix, France, at the base of Mont Blanc, the trail winds through delightful valleys and traditional villages and climbs a series of exhilarating high passes, following a chain of 4,000 m peaks on its way to the charming Swiss village of Zermatt at the foot of the Matterhorn. Because some sections reach higher altitudes, it isn’t practical to start before mid-July, and hiking too late into September can mean wintry conditions on the passes. The remoteness of certain stretches means you should have general mountain and navigation skills and enough experience to assess weather and trail conditions.
As with our other hut-to-hut hiking tours in Switzerland, we handle the complex logistics so you can focus on the journey. You can choose between Classic (private rooms when available) and Ultralight (less expensive dormitory accommodation when available) packages and then customise your Haute Route self-guided trek with add-ons such as an Airport-to-Airport Package, extra rest days and luggage transfer. You’ll receive a detailed custom eGuidebook and offline navigation app that prepare you well for the trail.
Location
Swiss Alps
Airport
Geneva, Switzerland
Season
mid-July to August
Responsible Travel Score
12/15 Responsible Travel Leader
GO Hike the Walker's Haute Route
Self-guided Itineraries
13-day Standard Itinerary
WHR-13
Condition
Difficulty
