The Classic Haute Route

The Classic Haute Route is a technical trek at high altitude and requires guidance by a High Mountain Guide. Starting in the village of Argentiere, in the Chamonix valley, France and finishing at Zermatt in Switzerland the route is 75 miles long and traverses more than a dozen glaciers with a total ascent and descent of 10,000m.

During the 10 day trek, you will be taught the mountaineering skills required, including use of an ice axe, crevasse rescue and general rope techniques. The idea of the Classic Haute Route is to cross the backbone of the alps by foot. The Classic Haute Route (10 day trek) is one of the purest version of the trek and uses no form of public transport during the trek. It is one of the most spectacular treks in the world with amazing scenery throughout. Guide ratio is 1 to 6.

Duration: 12 days (10 days trekking)

please enquire.

We do not take individual bookings on our Classic Haute Routes, but can organise private groups and prices vary according to the number in the group. The Guide ratio is 1:6 so it is worth noting a group of 7 would require two guides.

Group of 4: £2400.00/2750&euro
Group of 5 £2150.00/2500&euro
Group of 6: £1950.00/2250&euro

For details of what the price includes, please see Further Information below.

The following details outline the itinerary for your 12 day trip.
The itinerary may change subject to the Guides discretion.

Chalet McNab will be your home for the first and final evening of your trek. Tucked away at the end of a lane and at the foot of the Aiguille Rouge, the chalet, with spectacular views, comfort and great cooking is a great place to start and end your trek.

Arrival time can be anytime. Rooms will be available from 2pm. Afternoon tea of home made cakes and tea is served at 5pm and dinner is served at 7.30pm when your guide will join you for an informal chat and to answer any questions.

Techniques covered: rope work and crampons.

Glacier du Tour

Day 2. The first stage of our trek takes us from Argentiere to the Albert Premier Hut (2702m.) and includes the chance for us to practice our snow and ice skills. We make a leisurely start, with time in the morning to pick up any last minute items which may be required. We start out by way of a short cable car ride from Le Tour to Col du Balme. From here, it's a comfortable 2-hour walk to the Albert Premier Hut, which we aim to reach by mid afternoon. The nearby Glacier du Tour is a great place to practice snow and ice skills.

An early start from the hut allows us to make use of the best snow conditions underfoot whilst the snow is still frozen. Today we cross over into Switzerland, by way of the Col Superior du Tour (3289m.). At the pass, there are fantastic views of the Mont Blanc range. We then drop down to cross the Trient Plateau, passing close to the Trient Hut and beginning a descent of the Orny Glacier. We take a break (and lunch) at the Cabane du Orny (2831m.), where we pick up the main footpath down to Praz de Fort in the valley, a big descent. We overnight in a hotel in La Fouly, where we have the opportunity to stock up on lunch supplies. A long day.

From the hotel, we start out easily on a road which peters out into a track. Higher, this becomes a steep zig-zag trail which leads up the Col des Planards (2735m.). This is not a well-travelled route and there are great opportunities for spotting alpine wildlife, marmots, chamois and bouquetins (ibex). Beyond the pass, we make a long, gentle descent to Bourg St. Pierre. En route, there are excellent views back to the Mont Blanc range and over towards the Grand Combin. Overnight in a gite.

The Pannossiere Refuge

Today starts out with a long and easy-angled ascent to the Col de Lane (3033m.), passing many picturesque bergeries and pretty summer pastures. A final, short, steeper section of rocky footpath takes us up to the pass. Descending, we cross a short snow-slope to reach a glacial moraine and make a short climb to cross a second col, the Col d'Avouillons (2647m.). From here, we drop steeply down and cross the Glacier de Corbassiere to reach our overnight halt at the Panossiere Refuge (2645m.). Great views of the Grand Combin from the refuge. This is a long day!

The Chanrion Hut (2462m)

We make a more leisurely start today, climbing up to the Col des Otannes, where we find fantastic views southwards across heavily glaciated terrain (upper part of the Corbassiere Glacier) to the lofty summit of the Grand Combin We then drop down to the dam at the head of Lac de Mauvoisin. We cross the dam and then take a path through a series of tunnels to reach the open hillside above. We traverse above the lake, heading southwards and cross the indistinct Col de Tsofeiret to reach the Chanrion Hut (2462m.). This hut is located on summer pastures and there are bergeries nearby, from which it is possible to buy cheese. The well-known, but actually rare, Edelweiss can be found here.

We have four cols to cross today. Firstly, we retrace our steps to the lac de Tsofeiret and cross the Col de Tsofeiret. Leaving behind the high alpine pasture of the Chanrion Hut, we soon find ourselves amongst more rugged mountain scenery. On the climb up to the second col, the Col de Lire Rose (3115m.), it is usual to see herds of ibex on the slopes. Crossing the remnant glacier between this pass and the next, the Col de Mont Rouge (3325m.), we normally need to put on our crampons, as there is a steep snow slope to be negotiated. Beyond this pass, we cross the upper part of the Gietro Glacier to reach the Col de Cheilon (3243m.). A short glacial descent then takes us to our overnight stop at the Cabane des Dix (2928m.), a hut with a deserved reputation for good food.

Another 5 a.m. start today. Heading for our main summit and the highest point of our route, we make a short descent from the hut onto the Glacier de Cheilon, which is initially bare of snow. Before beginning our ascent of the Pigne d'Arolla (3796m.) we rope up and put on crampons. The start of the route crosses dramatically crevassed glacial terrain, leading up to the Col de la Serpentine. From here, we cross a short, but steep, ice slope. This is the crux of the route, giving us access to the easier upper slopes of the Pigne d'Arolla. This is an excellent 360 degree viewpoint. A short glacial descent takes us to the impressively situated Vignettes Hut (3160m.).

The Cabane de Bertol
Today we cross beneath the north face of the Petit Mont Collon on glaciated terrain to reach the Col de L'Eveque (3386m.). This takes 3 to 4 hours. From here, we descend onto the Haute Glacier d'Arolla, traversing snow slopes and then bare glacier. At the snout of the glacier, we pick up a trail leading towards a bergerie on the eastern slopes of the valley. Beyond this, we are faced with a 600 metre ascent to the Col de Bertol (3268m.). Our overnight halt is at the Cabane de Bertol, which is spectacularly located at the col. Access to the hut is via an exciting series of ladders - a sting in the tail! There are good views eastwards from the hut - of the Matterhorn and the Dent Blanche.

This is our crux day - and another early start. Note: we do need good weather to climb the Tete Blanche and then make the descent down the heavily crevassed Stockji Glacier. We descend the ladders from the hut, rope up and start the long, gentle ascent of the Mont Mine Glacier, heading for the easy snow peak of the Tete Blanche (3724m.). This take 3 to 4 hours and our reward for the ascent are even more impressive views of the Matterhorn. We descend by way of the complex and heavily crevassed Stockji Glacier to our exit point at the Stockji (a rocky island in the middle of this glaciated terrain). Here, we pick up a narrow trail which traverses steep slopes, leading to an improving alpine path on a moraine on the north side of the valley. Finally, we cross the huge rock-covered glacier below the Smutt Ridge of the Matterhorn and pick our way up to the Schonbiel Hut.

Today, we make the easy 4-hour walk down to Zermatt. From the rugged high mountain scenery, we soon find ourselves amongst pleasant woodland and pretty hamlets. This is a splendid walk, with the towering North Face of the Matterhorn in full view - a time to reflect on the journey just undertaken. Arriving in Zermatt in time for lunch, we have an afternoon transfer back to Argentiere. At Argentiere, we check in to our chalet. In the evening, we have a final, celebratory meal.

Breakfast and transfers to the airport can be arranged as required.