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Glacier hiking Chamonix to Zermatt by glaciers
Duration:
7 days
Price from: 1 900€
Fitness:
Infobulle physique
Physical Level 1: For individuals who engage in occasional physical activities, positive elevation gain of up to 300m.
Physical Level 2: For individuals who engage in regular physical activities, positive elevation gain of up to 600m or routes above 3500m.
Physical Level 3: For individuals who engage in regular endurance activities, positive elevation gain of up to 900m or routes above 4000m.
Physical Level 4: For individuals who engage in regular endurance activities, positive elevation gain of up to 1300m.
Physical Level 5: For individuals who engage in intensive endurance activities, positive elevation gain exceeding 1300m.
Technique:
Infobulle technique
Technical Level 1: For regular hikers wishing to discover mountaineering. The route is not very steep and is well-marked, or the activity may also take place in beginner-friendly areas.
Technical Level 2: For experienced hikers wishing to discover mountaineering. The route includes short, steep sections and may involve scree or rocky ridges, requiring surefootedness.
Technical Level 3: For occasional mountaineers (2 to 5 recent outings). The route includes steep sections requiring prior climbing experience at a French grade 3c level and/or mastery of crampons and ice axe use.
Technical Level 4: For regular mountaineers (5 to 10 recent outings). The route requires climbing at a French grade 4c level and mastery of mountaineering techniques, including the use of crampons and an ice axe, as well as basic roping and belaying techniques.
Technical Level 5: For experienced mountaineers (more than 10 recent outings). The route requires climbing above a French grade 4c level and mastery of mountaineering techniques, including the use of crampons and ice axes for ice climbing, as well as advanced roping and belaying techniques.
General information
The Chamonix-Zermatt Haute Route Across the Glaciers
The Chamonix-Zermatt Haute Route is one of the great glacier treks of the Alps. Over 7 days, it connects the two historic capitals of mountaineering, crossing the Mont Blanc massif and the Swiss Valais. From the Tour Glacier to the foot of the Matterhorn, the route crosses numerous passes above 3,000 metres and vast glaciers in a spectacular high-mountain environment. This demanding traverse is designed for experienced hikers with some previous cramponing experience.
Why Complete the Haute Route in 7 Days?
The Haute Route can be completed in 6 days by skipping the night at the Schönbiel Hut and continuing directly to Zermatt. We prefer a 7-day itinerary to spread the effort more evenly and keep the final stage more balanced. Spending the night at Schönbiel, opposite the Matterhorn, also allows you to enjoy one more night in the high mountains before reaching Zermatt the following morning.
Group booking
The group option brings together participants who may not know each other. It allows you to follow a set program on fixed dates while benefiting from an attractive price and the friendly atmosphere of a group.
Dates
See the group booking module below.
Price 2027
€1900 per person based on a minimum of 4 participants.
Registration possible from age 18.
✅ This price includes
- IFMGA English-speaking mountain guide
- 6 nights in mountain huts or an inn on a half-board basis (dinner, overnight stay and breakfast)
- Lift access as per the program
- Transfers mentioned in the program
❌ This price does not include
- Picnic lunches: allow some space in your backpack
- Bottled water in the mountain huts
- Drinks not included above and personal expenses (euros and Swiss francs recommended)
- Travel to the meeting point
- Return transfer from Zermatt to Chamonix (€145 per person)
- Personal technical equipment
Further information
To prepare for your trip, read our guides’ tips, which provide useful advice and recommendations for our mountaineering trips.
Meeting point
Meet at 10:00am on the first day at the Compagnie des Guides de Chamonix, 190 place de l’Église, Chamonix. The trip finishes in Zermatt. Optional transfer back to Chamonix (€145 per person).
Fitness level
This program is designed for experienced hikers who regularly take part in endurance activities. Days can involve up to 8 to 10 hours of physical activity.
Technical level
Previous experience using crampons is required.
Guiding policy
4 to 6 people. Registration possible from age 18.
Accommodation
6 nights on a half-board basis: one night in an inn in Champex and five nights in mountain huts. Drinking water is not always available free of charge in the huts. Before and after the trip, you can benefit from preferential rates with our hotel partners in Chamonix.
⚠️ Formalities
Mountain sports insurance with repatriation cover is mandatory. If you are not insured, insurance including repatriation assistance and cancellation cover can be taken out when booking. A valid ID document is also mandatory.
Documents available for download
Equipment
We recommend taking particular care when choosing your equipment, as it directly contributes to your comfort throughout the trip. On a 7-day traverse, backpack weight is particularly important: choose lightweight equipment suitable for high-altitude mountaineering, while ensuring adequate protection from cold and bad weather.
Equipment
- A backpack of approximately 35 litres
- Mountaineering boots
- Gaiters if required with your trousers
- Telescopic trekking poles
- Crampons with anti-balling plates
- A helmet
- A harness
- A straight ice axe
Clothing
- A warm hat that can be worn under a helmet
- A sun hat or cap
- A neck warmer such as a Buff
- A technical long-sleeve base layer
- A fleece
- A waterproof hooded jacket such as Gore-Tex
- A lightweight down jacket
- Thermal leggings
- Durable hiking trousers
- Shorts
- Waterproof overtrousers such as Gore-Tex
- Walking socks
- Warm gloves
- Lightweight gloves
- A change of clothes
Accessories
- Category 4 sunglasses
- A headtorch
- A sleeping bag liner
- A water bottle of at least 1.5 litres
- A personal first aid kit including at least sunscreen, lip balm, blister treatment, as well as your usual medication for headaches and nausea
- Earplugs
- A waterproof pouch containing your ID, euros and Swiss francs
Charging electronic devices is not guaranteed in all mountain huts. A power bank is strongly recommended.
Our Rental Partners
You can rent equipment at preferential rates from our partner shops Millet (excluding crampons, ice axes and helmet), Sanglard Sports, Ravanel & Co and Concept Pro Shop.
Our Equipment Partners
Millet, Dynastar, Julbo, Grivel and Monnet.
Itinerary
Day 1
From Chamonix to the Albert 1er Hut (2,702m)
We leave Chamonix for the village of Le Tour (1,450m) and take the lifts to near the Col de Balme (2,100m). A comfortable trail traverses the mountainside before following the moraine of the Tour Glacier to the Albert 1er Hut (2,702m). After a break, we head onto the Tour Glacier for an introduction to basic glacier skills before returning to the hut for the night.
Vertical ascent: +600m | Distance: 3.5km
Day 2
From the Albert 1er Hut to Champex
We quickly reach the Tour Glacier and follow it up to the Col Supérieur du Tour (3,289m), which takes us onto the Swiss side. We cross the Trient Glacier before joining a balcony trail leading to the Breya chairlift (2,200m). We descend to Champex (1,500m), where we spend the night in an inn.
Vertical ascent: +714m / Vertical descent: -1,200m | Distance: 10.9km
Day 3
From Champex to the Chanrion Hut (2,461m)
We transfer to the Mauvoisin Dam (1,975m), where our hike begins through alpine pastures. Your guide will tell you about the Giétro disaster, a natural catastrophe that devastated the Val de Bagnes in 1818. A long traverse above the lake, facing the Tournelon Blanc (3,700m) and the Combins (4,313m), leads us to the Chanrion Hut (2,461m), where we spend the night.
Vertical ascent: +485m | Distance: 8.5km
Day 4
From the Chanrion Hut to the Vignettes Hut (3,160m)
We reach the Otemma Glacier and follow its gentle gradient for more than 8 kilometres. This long section takes us deep into a spectacular high-mountain environment. At the Col de Charmotane (3,015m), we turn towards the Vignettes Hut (3,160m), perched high above the surrounding glaciers.
Vertical ascent: +770m / Vertical descent: -80m | Distance: 12.5km
Day 5
From the Vignettes Hut to the Bertol Hut (3,311m)
We begin with a short descent to reach the Mont Collon Glacier, which we follow up to the Col de l’Évêque (3,392m). We then descend the Haut Glacier d’Arolla to the Plan de Bertol (2,550m), where we begin the climb to the Bertol Hut (3,311m). Perched on a rocky outcrop, the hut is reached by a series of ladders.
Vertical ascent: +950m / Vertical descent: -1,050m | Distance: 13.4km
Day 6
From the Bertol Hut to the Schönbiel Hut
We descend the ladders from the hut before crossing the broad plateau of the Mont Miné Glacier to reach Tête Blanche (3,710m). This outstanding viewpoint overlooks the Dent Blanche (4,357m), the Matterhorn (4,476m) and many other 4000m peaks of the Valais. We then descend the Stocki Glacier and the Zmutt Glacier before climbing up to the Schönbiel Hut for the night.
Vertical ascent: +565m / Vertical descent: -1,100m | Distance: 11.7km
Day 7
From the Schönbiel Hut to Zermatt
We continue our descent towards Zermatt on a comfortable trail through alpine pastures, with spectacular views of the north face of the Matterhorn along the way. We reach Zermatt in the late morning. An optional transfer back to Chamonix is available in the early afternoon.
Vertical descent: -1,086m | Distance: 10.3km
Booking
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Calculate your carbon footprint
Discover the carbon emissions of this activity and add your trip to the meeting point.
CO2 emitted per person for the activity: 104 kg. Learn out more about the footprint calculation of this activity
CO2 emitted per person for the activity: 104 kg. Learn out more about the footprint calculation of this activity
CO2 emitted per person for this activity & journey(s) = 0 kgIn order to limit global warming to +2°C by 2100, the COP-21 agreement stipulates that each human should emit no more than 2t of CO2 per year. According to the French Ministry of Ecology, today European citizens emit an average of 11t per year, and American citizens emit an average of 21t annually., or 10.4€The price for a ton of CO2 is currently 100€ in the European Union to offset.
Find out more about our zero impact strategy.
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