When Chamonix guides from the famous 'Compagnie des Guides' first skied the Haute Route to Zermatt in 1911, they could not have imagined what they had started. Skiing and trekking the Haute Route has become an international pass time, and guiding and ski guiding have become well-respected, full-time careers for many of the local farmers.
Mont Blanc (4,807m - 15'771 ft), the Grand Combin (4,314m - 14'153 ft) and the easy to recognize Matterhorn (4,478m - 14'691 ft) rise along this trail. Cozy alpine refuges and the outstanding landscape make this trip a real mountain experience. Hiking the Haute Route is a challenging discovery of some of the most impressive scenery in Europe, by using well-maintained trails and the excellent hut systems of both France and Switzerland. We explore the Alps without the discomfort and hardships of the early adventurers.
Small groups of no more than eight walkers allow our certified hiking guides to give each of you a much more personal experience, taking ample time to discuss flora and fauna, local customs and also to experience the incredible camaraderie that exist when walking slowly under the shadow of these Alpine Giants. With a minivan delivering our extra gear, a daypack will suffice to carry our essential items for each day's hike. By getting progressively stronger each day of the trek, thanks to comfortable hotels, inns and huts, good food and plenty of exercise, you should come away with a renewed understanding of why mountains are climbed and walked simply because they are there.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Meet at Geneva airport, transfer to the Chamonix valley.
Day 2: Col des Montets to Trient. Transfer to Finhaut.
Day 3: Fenętre d'Arpette or Bovine route to Champex-Le-Lac.
Day 4: Recovery: minibus to Verbier, walk to Cabane du Mont Fort.
Day 5: Strenuous day over Col de la Chaux, Col de Louvie, and the Col de Pra Fleuri.
Day 6: Over the Col des Roux to the Cabane des Dix, descend to Arolla.
Day 7: Minibus to Villaz. Climb up the Col du Torrent, descend to Lac de Moiry, then Grimentz.
Day 8: Rest day in Grimentz or transfer day back to Chamonix for those who booked the Demi Haute Route.
Day 9: Minibus to St. Luc, funicular, climb to the Meidpass and descend to Gruben.
Day 10: Up the Augsbord Pass, then down to Jungu. Private cable car St. Niklaus, train to Zermatt.
Day 11: Day hike in Zermatt, view North Face of the Matterhorn.
Day 12: Shopping in Zermatt, Alpine museum, transfer to Chamonix.
Day 13: Departure day, all guests will be transfered back to Geneva airport.
Accommodations are mostly Hotels ***, 1 mountain inn, 2 modern mountain huts. Dormitory accommodation in at least one of the huts, maybe both. Guests will be picked up at Geneva airport.
Dates: July 6 - 18, 2008; September 9 - 21, 2008
Group size: 3 - 8 guests
Trip Leaders:
* All our guides are internationally certified, and have an in-depth knowledge of the area they are guiding in.
* Most guides working for us in the Alps live in the Chamonix valley on a permanent basis, where the mountains are both recreation and their livelihood.
* All of our guides are professionals, and are skilled at transmitting their tremendous knowledge of the region/country to you.
* All our guides speak fluently English and at least another foreign language. Wherever you go with us, your guide will be able to communicate at ease, enabling him/her to take care of any problem/special wishes that might occur.
Trip Difficulty: Level 4 (From 1=easy to 5=very strenuous)
Strenuous walking on mainly marked trails with some cross-country hiking. Scree slopes, boulder-hopping, snow patches, ridge-walking with some exposure. 6-10 hours of daily walking, consecutively for 6-11 days. 1350 (4100ft) maximum elevation gain per day. Day-pack and occasional overnight pack. Maximum altitude in the Alps: 3000m (10000ft), in the Himalaya 5400m (16000ft).
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- Airport transfer from and to Milano
- Trekking guide fee
- All accommodation throughout the trip (hotel****, hotel*** and mountain huts)
- All breakfasts
- All lunches and dinners on trekking days
- All lifts and transports, private minibus delivering all personal luggage to the hotels throughout the trip
- Mountain rescue insurance for the trip duration
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
France
Switzerland
Hiking & Trekking
Ecotourism
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