Ski Haute Route Chamonix to Zermatt - 7 Days

In the morning, we’ll transfer to the Grand Montets ski lifts in the village of Argentière. Throughout the morning, we’ll enjoy some off-piste descents in this beautiful ski area before starting our Haute Route Chamonix-Zermatt adventure.

The goal of this first part of the day is to ‘warm up’ our legs and get used to skiing with a heavier backpack, which we’ll carry during the Haute Route (although you’ll be amazed at how light the same pack will feel in the last days of the tour). We’ll also ensure that all participants have the necessary skiing skills for this adventure.

In the early afternoon, once we reach the Argentière Glacier in this breathtaking setting, we’ll make a relaxed ascent to the Argentière Hut, situated in a majestic environment right in front of the iconic north faces of Les Droites and Les Courtes, a legendary stage for great mountaineering achievements.

The first possible route involves an initial descent of the Argentière Glacier, followed by an ascent to the Col de Chardonnet. From here, you’ll descend a steep slope where the guide will lower you down to the other side (nothing to worry about, just sit back in your harness and let your guide handle everything!) to reach the Saleina Glacier in Swiss territory. After a short descent, we’ll put the skins back on our skis and ascend to the Fenêtre de Saleina (the final section may be done on foot, with or without crampons depending on the conditions). Once we reach the pass, the vast Trient Glacier will open up on the other side, where the two routes converge.

The alternative option (if the Swiss side of the Col de Chardonnet is too dry) is as follows: after a short descent of the Argentière Glacier (as in the first option), we’ll again put skins on and ascend to the base of the Col du Passon. Unlike the Col de Chardonnet, the Passon is steeper on the ascent side and gentler on the descent. We’ll put on crampons for the final 200-meter ascent to the pass. From there, we’ll glide down to the Tour Glacier, where we’ll put the skins back on and after a short traverse and one last ascent, we’ll reach the Col Supérieur du Tour, crossing into Switzerland onto the Trient Glacier, where the routes merge. After a short descent on the Trient Glacier, we’ll put the skis on our packs again and climb a brief 80-meter ascent to reach the famous Col des Écandies.

From here, the Val d’Arpette opens up—one of the gems of the ski Haute Route Chamonix-Zermatt. This north-facing valley often holds powder snow, and after a stunning 1,400-meter descent, we’ll arrive at our hotel in Champex.

Here we can enjoy a hot shower and a restorative dinner, reflecting on the beautiful and intense day we’ve just experienced.

With a short transfer, we’ll reach the Verbier ski area and take the cable car up to the Col des Gentianes. After a brief section on the piste, we’ll put our skins back on for a short ascent to the first pass of the day, the Col de la Chaux. From here, we’ll descend on the opposite side, then reapply the skins to climb the wide slopes of the Rosablanche Glacier. Just a few meters below the summit, we’ll leave our skis and hike (sometimes with crampons) to the beautiful summit of Rosablanche. From the top, we’ll start to catch sight of the Matterhorn, which is getting closer, and Mont Blanc, from which we set off a few days earlier, now far behind us. A stunning descent will then take us to the welcoming Cabane des Prafleuri, where we’ll spend the night.

Today, we’ll set off early. Although today’s elevation gain won’t be excessive, we will need to cross the slopes above the Grande Dixence, a massive reservoir. These east-facing slopes catch the sun’s rays early in the day. After a short climb to the Col des Roux behind the hut, we’ll begin our descent. There are two possible routes here: in ideal conditions with refrozen snow, it’s possible to take a long traverse without losing altitude, reaching directly the Pas des Chat at the end of the artificial lake. In the absence of refrozen snow or in years with low precipitation, it’s preferable to descend from the pass to the Barma alpine pasture and then follow the summer road that runs alongside Lac des Dix. From there, after putting the skins back on, we’ll skin along the lake to its end and reach the famous Pas des Chat.

This is a short but steep slope that can sometimes be tricky, often requiring the use of ski crampons to safely make the kick turns. Once this obstacle is behind us, we’ll climb steadily to the Cabane des Dix, a beautiful hut located right in front of Mont Blanc de Cheilon and its north face, a truly breathtaking spot.

Upon arrival at the Cabane des Dix, we can refuel with a delicious Swiss rosti and enjoy the panoramic views from the hut’s terrace. If mountain conditions allow, there’s also the option to climb the summit of La Luette, a peak located behind the hut, in the afternoon.

Today, we’re in for another early start. We’ll be climbing the highest peak of the Chamonix-Zermatt ski Haute Route, the Pigne d’Arolla, which at 3,796 meters is the highest point of the tour. After descending to the glacier, we’ll put on our skins and head up the Tsena Reifen Glacier. The most challenging section of today’s route is the ascent of the Mur de la Serpentine, a fairly steep section that gives access to the upper glacier plateau.

Often, this part is done while roped up or using ski crampons. It’s only a few dozen meters, and once we’ve passed it, we’ll reach the upper slopes, which are wide and gentle, allowing us to ski all the way to the summit of the Pigne d’Arolla. From the top, the views stretch 360 degrees over countless snow-capped peaks, with the Matterhorn now within reach.

We’ll then descend the southern slopes of the Pigne d'Arolla, tackling a small steeper section, which can sometimes be a bit tricky if icy (but nothing too difficult), and shortly after, we’ll arrive at the Cabane des Vignettes, a stunning hut perched at the end of a rocky ridge, with its beautiful terrace where we can rest and relax after this fantastic day.

Today we will embark on another day traversing the high glaciers. After a short descent from the Cabane des Vignettes, we will reach the flat Col de Charmontane, where we’ll put on our skins and ascend gentle slopes to reach the first pass of the day, the Col de l'Eveque, just as the first rays of sun start to warm us!

From here, we will descend onto the Arolla Glacier, briefly crossing in and out of the Italian border twice in just a few meters. We’ll continue our descent along the glacier, navigating a steep traverse to reach the Plans de Bertol.

From here, after reapplying the skins, we face a steady but challenging climb to the Col de Bertol. As we ascend the valley, we’ll catch sight of our next stop, the famous Cabane de Bertol, a true eagle's nest perched on a rocky ridge.

Leaving our skis at the base of the ridge, we’ll climb the steep ladders leading up to the hut (more impressive than difficult), arriving at the most spectacular location of all the huts we visit on the Haute Route. From the hut, we’ll enjoy a magnificent view of the Dent Blanche, the Matterhorn, and the glacier we’ll tackle the next day.

Today we will definitely face the most spectacular stage of the ski Haute Route Chamonix-Zermatt. The descent of the steps from the refuge will give us a nice wake-up call and prepare us for the day ahead! Once we reach the pass and put the skins back on, we will begin our ascent towards the Tête Blanche, the second-highest peak of our tour. The climb takes place in a majestic setting, and from the summit, a fantastic panorama of the nearby peaks will unfold: the Matterhorn, Dent Blanche, Dent d'Hérens.

From here, we will begin the descent of the spectacular Stockji Glacier, winding through a maze of crevasses and seracs. This is one of the most famous off-piste descents in the Alps, as it takes place in a breathtaking setting and is very long. From Tête Blanche to Zermatt, we will descend about 2,500 meters, with a memorable ski run.

At the end of the glacier, after crossing the moraine below the Matterhorn, we will reach, with a very short ascent, the pistes of Zermatt, from where we will glide down to the village itself, where our journey will end. Return to Chamonix by minibus.