Walker's Haute Route (West)
- Admire wonderful views of the Mont Blanc Massif from the Col de Balme
- Enjoy a relaxed picnic lunch in a wildflower filled meadow
- Be part of the camaraderie on the Walker’s Haute Route
- Wander through the greatest collection of 4000m peaks in the Alps
- Relax at your hand picked family hotel after a long day on the trail
Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive ChamonixYour Walker’s Haute Route begins in Chamonix, the centre of mountaineering in the French Alps and always a hive of activity. If you arrive early you may wish to walk the first section of the route to Argentière or take the cable car up to the summit of the Aiguille du Midi with views over Mont Blanc and into France, Switzerland and Italy. Chamonix is easily accessible via numerous shuttles, buses and trains from Geneva Airport.
Optional walk Chamonix to Argentière: 9km, 2hrs, 214m ascent.Â
Enjoying a quiet location with great views, despite being so close to the centre of Chamonix, the hotel has 37 comfortable rooms and a friendly welcoming atmosphere.
Situated right in the heart of Chamonix this small three star hotel occupies a charming former mill and is a great base for exploring Chamonix.
After breakfast take the free shuttle bus to Argentière, where you begin your ascent to the Col de Balme, which marks the Swiss border and rewards with panoramic views of the Mont Blanc massif including the Mer de Glace, Trient and Argentière glaciers. From the Col de Balme you descend into the Valley of Trient, which is pretty, green and pastoral. This part of the route is shared with the Tour de Mont Blanc.
Ascent/Descent:Â 950m/925m Descent
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This simple mountain accommodation was recently refurbished and offers both dormitory and private accommodation. Bathroom facilities will be shared.
At the crossroads between Switzerland, France and Italy, the Martigny Boutique-Hôtel is located 7 minutes from Martigny train station in Valais. Your hotel offers modern and stylish rooms as well as a wine bar and a renowned restaurant serving local and Peruvian cuisine.
Today you can look forward to a truly amazing day of walking over the Fenêtre d’Arpette (2665m). It is a very demanding but rewarding climb parallel to the frozen cascades of the Glacier du Trient. The descent into the green meadows of the Val d’Arpette passes streams, mountain meadows and broadleaf woods. There is an easier variation via Alp Bovine in case of poor weather or for a gentler start to your trek. Champex is a lakeside village filled with attractive chalets and colourful flower boxes.
Walk via Fenêtre d’Arpette: 14km, 1400m Ascent, 1200m Descent, 6.5—7.5 hours.
Walk via Alp Bovine: 17km, 930m ascent, 710m descent, 5.5 hours.
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The Hotel Glacier has been in the Biselx family for over 100 years. The hotel enjoys lovely views from the terrace and garden.
The Hotel Mont Lac has 4 double rooms and 2 apartments. Each has a private terrace with panoramic views of the lake and mountains. Guests have free access to the wellness area.
Each room and apartment is equipped with a flat screen tv, free wifi, hairdryer, soap, shampoo, mini bar and a furnished terrace. The apartments do not have a mini bar but have full kitchens. There is free parking on site.
A lot has changed since the hotel was founded in 1938, but the atmosphere remains the same. They offer a selection of French dishes and raclette specialities for lunch and dinner. You can also have a snack or drink at the café bar, with view to the garden.
Leaving Champex the trail becomes as you leave the Tour du Mont Blanc. Your day begins with a gentle descent into the Orsiére Valley through small Swiss farming communities, such as Sembrancher, an attractive stone-walled village. This is an easy day ends at the valley capital of Le Châble.
Ascent/Descent: 105m/750mÂ
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A cosy typical mountain hut, Le Chable’s facilities include a bar, restaurant and free wifi.
A simple but clean and comfortable small hotel with an on-site restaurant (closed Mondays).
L’Escale is located in Villette (Le Châble), ten minutes far from Verbier and really near the cableway’s start to Verbier and the train station. They have both double (twin beds or big bed) and single rooms. Shower and toilets are on the floor, but rooms are provided with a washbasin inside.
From Le Châble you can choose either a long ascent through forests and villages, bypassing Verbier to the superbly situated Cabane du Mont Fort. Alternatively, you can skip most of the ascent taking the télépherique to Les Ruinettes, which is only an hour’s walk from Cabane du Mont Fort. (if you plan to take the cable-car we suggest combining day 4&5).
Ascent/Descent:Â 1640m/50m
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A traditional Swiss mountain hut offering comfortable dormitory accommodation in a spectacular location.
L’Escale is located in Villette (Le Châble), ten minutes far from Verbier and really near the cableway’s start to Verbier and the train station. They have both double (twin beds or big bed) and single rooms. Shower and toilets are on the floor, but rooms are provided with a washbasin inside.
A cosy typical mountain hut, Le Chable’s facilities include a bar, restaurant and free wifi.
Once you leave Mont Fort you are committed to two days of challenging trekking, which is consistently at a high level and can be affected by snow early in the season. You can look forward to a varied and interesting day of walking in the superb mountain scenery. The vast panoramas of the Combin Massif are a highlight as you cross the Col de Louvie and Col de Prafleuri to the refuge at Col de Prafleuri.
Ascent/Descent:Â 900m/750mÂ
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A privately owned hut with dormitories only. This is the most basic of the accommodations along the route but the isolated location and camaraderie you will experience will more than make up for it!
Leaving the refuge and make your way up to the Col de Roux. The Val de Dix lies before you; green pasturelands and big mountains centred on the turquoise Lac Dix. Mountain lovers will be in their element today as you cross two mountain passes and traverse some challenging sections en route to the narrow notch of Col de Riedmatten. From here descend into a valley of grassland where the route curves east and down into Arolla, a small mountaineering and walking centre.
Ascent/Descent:Â 735m/1350mÂ
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Ideally located on the trail in a tranquil spot surrounded by forest and above the town of Arolla. An historic, splendid mountain hotel with all the necessary amenities for a pleasant stay.
In the heart of the Swiss Alps, in Valais, nestled at the top of the Val d'Hérens, spared from mass tourism that lies the village of Arolla at 2000 meters altitude.
In Arolla, The mountain is generous. It fills, summer as winter, the lovers of true nature and intact. Wherever you look, there are only grandiose mountains and glaciers. You will spend a sporting or relaxing stay and enjoy the benefits of fresh air.
After breakfast your walking holiday will come to an end. See the Travel Info section for some useful details for your onward travel. Â
This trip has a carbon score of 6kg per person per night, meaning it’s one of our best trips! For comparison, a carbon count of 6kg is equivalent to 4.5 ham and cheese sandwiches from the store. Here at Macs, we pride ourselves on being a responsible travel company and continue to adopt, develop and innovate ways to positively impact the environment. Find out more information about how we've carbon counted our trips.
Other Information
Is it for me?If you want to enjoy the rewards of taking on one of the world’s great treks than you can’t go wrong with the Walker’s Haute Route. But you do need to be physically fit and as this is a strenuous high mountain trek should be happy navigating in poor conditions and have a head for heights.
Classic Routes | If you’re the active, outdoorsy type, who’s interested in taking on the great routes of the world or looking for a challenge, then our Classic Routes are for you. We’re talking the West Highland Way in Scotland, the world renown Tour Du Mont Blanc and Germany's Moselle Cycle Path, to name but a few!
Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&Bs, inns, and guesthouses.
Long-Distance Trails, Alpine Walking
Minimum Age
The minimum age of this tour is 18 yrs. This is due to the remote nature of the route.
The Walker’s Haute Route is a tough trek with considerable ascent and descent on each day. We have rated this tour strenuous. This is a challenging high mountain trek and the weather can be poor so you should have previous high mountain experience and good navigation and mountain skills. As this is a self-guided trek you will be responsible for navigation, decision making and safety during your trip. You must have an excellent level of walking fitness and can negotiate challenging terrain. The route can be affected by large snowfields on the highest passes early and late season.
The terrain is mountainous, exposed, rocky and rough underfoot. There are several sections that include the use of fixed ropes and handrails to aid ascent/descent over, particularly tricky sections.
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6 nights* accommodation are included in your trip. 4 Nights in 2 and 3-star hotels, 1 night in auberges (private rooms) 2 nights in mountain refuges (dorms). We carefully select small friendly establishments that offer great value, food and welcomes.
Solo Walkers & Single Rooms
This trip is not available to solo walkers. Single rooms are available on 4 nights if you require single rooms in your party.
Meals
6 breakfasts and 6 dinners are included (In Chamonix dinner is not included). Packed lunches are available from your accommodation (order the night before) or you can stop on the way. Allow about 10 - 15 CHF per day for lunch. Drinks are not included but available at all overnight accommodation.
The Walker’s Haute Route follows well-marked trails, although generally it is not marked as the WHR but rather to the next destination. The trail marking in Switzerland is particularly good. We supply you with detailed 1:50 000 Swiss Topo maps, a comprehensive guidebook and route suggestions for each day.
You will need to use your own experience to decide which route to choose each day and navigate the route from one overnight stop to the next. The Walker’s Haute Route does cross high mountain passes, snow can lie on the ground late into the summer and the weather can change quickly, with snow possible at any time of year. You should be able to navigate with a map and compass in poor visibility and be experienced in the mountains.
- 7 nights accommodation
- 6 Breakfasts
- 6 Dinners (Chamonix not included)
- Detailed maps, information pack, route notes and guidebook
- Organisational assistance and backup
- Travel insurance (required)
- Travel to Chamonix and from Arolla
- Lunches (allow 10 to 15 CHF per day)
- Local transfers and ski lifts
- Drinks and snacks
- Personal equipment
- Luggage transfers
- Mountain rescue/emergency assistance
- Additional nights before, during or after the walk
You can start your Walker’s Haute Route anytime between mid-July and the beginning of September. This short season is due to the weather and potential snow being on the trail. The is a chance of snow patches remaining into early July across the higher passes, and the chance of the weather deteriorating into late September.
The last weekend of August sees Chamonix hosting the famous Ultra Tour du Mont Blanc August 28 to September 3 2023). We recommend avoiding the WHR at this time as the area is extremely busy, and most accommodations are full.
By Air: Geneva is the best airport for the Chamonix. To get from Geneva to Chamonix you can catch a train or bus but the best option is a pre-booked shuttle. Chamexpress or Mountain Dropoffs are both good and cost around €30 each way. Â
By Rail: TGVÂ to Saint-Gervais-Le Fayet and from here catch a regular train to Chamonix. More information on train times and schedules may be found on www.voyages-sncf.com
From Zermatt take a train to Zurich which will take 3-4 hours with one change. You can also return to Geneva if you wish and this train journey takes about 3 hours.
By Road: To get to Chamonix take highway A40-E25 Mont Blanc-Chamonix. More information at www.viamichelin.fr If you wish to return to Chamonix from Zermatt again you can check the Via Michelin website.
Parking: In Chamonix, free parking at the Aiguille du Midi & the parking Planards (Montenvers station).
Optional ski-lifts and transfers during the walk
You can use ski-lifts/cable cars to skip several of big ascents/descents during the trip. These sections include the Col de Balme, Le Châble to Les Ruinettes. If you wish to skip a stage completely it may be possible to do so using public transport or taxis. We provide you with a detailed transport guide including alternative transport options and timetables for each section. Ski lifts and optional transfers are not included in the package price.
If you wish to return to Chamonix from Zermatt at the end of your trip the journey takes between 4h10 and 5h00.
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Due to the remoteness of many of the overnight stops, bag transfer is not available. You will therefore need to carry your kit with you each day. You will need to bring a sleeping bag liner for when staying in dormitory-style accommodation. Bedlinen is provided when staying in private rooms.Â
Solo Walkers & Single Rooms
This trip is not available to solo walkers. Single rooms are available on 11 nights if you require single rooms in your party but there is a supplement payable.Â
Meals
14 breakfasts and 12 dinners are included ( Chamonix & Zermatt not included). Packed lunches are available from your accommodation (order the night before) or you can stop on the way. Allow about 10 - 15 CHF per day for lunch. Drinks are not included but available at all overnight accommodation.
Baggage Transfer
Due to the remoteness of many of the overnight stops, bag transfer is not available. You will, therefore, need to carry your kit with you each day. You will need to bring a sleeping bag liner for when staying in dormitory-style accommodation. Bedlinen is provided when staying in private rooms. If you have excess baggage with you, it is possible to send this from Geneva ahead of you to Zermatt by train. For more information, please have a look here.
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Travel Insurance
It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity, emergency evacuation and hospital care.
Our pre-departure information pack (and the supplied guidebook) have detailed advice and a kit list on what to take on the Walker’s Haute Route. This includes warm and waterproof gear, hats and gloves, a sleeping sheet and lots of other useful bits and bobs. Walking poles are recommended as the WHR is tough on the knees.
This is a high mountain trek and the weather can be poor so you should have previous high mountain experience and good navigation and mountain skills. As this is a self guided trek you will be responsible for navigation, decision making and safety during your trip.The daily height gain is substantial and over the course of 13 days of walking you will gain approximately 12,000m. Therefore you must have an excellent level of walking fitness and be capable of negotiating challenging terrain.
The closest airport is Geneva which is served by flights from throughout Europe and around the world.
We suggest you book as soon as your plans are finalised. You will find up to date availability on our website and we will always try and accommodate your plans.
You will need good walking shoes/boots (ideally waterproof), comfortable walking clothes, waterproof jacket and trousers, a light weight sleeping bag, a daypack (if you are using our luggage transfer) and hats/gloves etc. Also it is best to take a compass and altimeter. A detailed kit list is included in your information pack.
The season for the Walkers Haute Route runs from mid July to the beginning of September. The trail could still be affected by snow in late July, in which case your tour would need to be rescheduled or cancelled.
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