• The Haute Route through Verbier

    This page describes the Haute Route from Chamonix to Zermatt through Verbier, as it is hiked across the glaciers. There is also a Walker's Haute Route (which takes longer) which avoids the glacier sections.

     * In the spring, the Haute Route is usually undertaken as a ski tour.
     * In the summer, is is usually hiked.

    There is nothing like the adventure of hiking (or skiing) hut to hut, starting in the impressive Mont Blanc Massif and finishing at the base of the Matterhorn.

    There are many variations of this overland route; here we describe the route which goes through Verbier.
  • Route Description

    Day 1 - Transfer to Argentière (close to Chamonix) in France. Cable car up the Grands Montets (3295m). Here the Haute Route begins. Descend the Glacier des Rognons onto the Argentière Glacier (normally it is possible to stay in the Argentière hut for an early start, but it is closed summer 2008). Climb up to the Col du Chardonnet (3323m). After a short, steep (sometimes there is a rope set up) descent and long traverse, climb the Fenêtre du Saleina to reach the Plateau du Trient and enter Switzerland. Night at the Cabane du Trient (3170m).

    Day 2 - Descend the Val d'Arpette to Champex. Here's where you transfer by vehicle to Verbier. Once in Verbier, take the lift system to Mont Fort and it's a short tour to the Cabane de Mont Fort (2457m).

    Day 3 - Climb the Rosablanche (3336m) and descend to the Cabane de Prafleuri (2931m).

    Day 4 - Go over the Col des Roux and then you have a long traversing descent above the Lac des Dix, followed by a gradual climb to the Cabane des Dix (2928m).

    Day 5 - Climb up the Pigne d'Arolla (3796m) to the Cabane des Vignettes (3160m).

    Day 6 - It's up and down over three cols, including the Col du Valpelline (3568), followed by a long descent, to Zermatt all in view of the famous Matterhorn.

    Return to Verbier
  • Maps and Books

    Haute Route Chamonix-Zermatt: a guide for skiers and mountain walkers by Peter Cliff
    Alpine Ski touring by JJ Whitehead.
    Click here, for more info on
    Books, Maps, and Topos
  • Mountain Huts on the Haute Route

     Argentière 33 (0) 4 50 53 1692  33 (0) 6 22 04 2500 currently closed
     Trient 41 (0) 27 783 1438   41 (0) 27 776 2931

     Mont Fort
    41 (0) 27 778 1384
    41 (0) 27 771 1591

     Prafleuri
    41 (0) 27 281 1780
    41 (0) 27 207 3067

     Les Dix
    41 (0) 27 281 1523
    41 (0) 27 207 3966

     Vignettes
    41 (0) 27 283 1322
    41 (0) 27 283 2187

    More information on
    Mountain Huts
  • Equipment

    See our Equipment page