The legendary route cuts through the French and the Swiss Alps from Chamonix to Zermatt, crossing the highest alpine mountains. The first traverse atwarth the glaciers was done by the members of the Alpine club on foot in 1861. The very first tries to complete the traverse on the skis occured in 1903 and 1911. That formed the route the way as it is known nowadays. Depending on the schedule, the traverse on the skis lasts 5 or 7 days. It demands a ski touring training, great physical fitness (the average of 6 hours spent on the skis in the terrain daily) and the skills to free ride safely. It is suitable only for very good skiers and for those who are experienced in the ski touring.
Date
Version Classic: April 2026
availability: occupied
Version Grand Lui: 22.-29 April 2026
availability: 2 places available
Participants
Max. 6 people (group) per mountain guide, Grand Lui variant max. 4-5 people per group per guide, total 8 people (2 groups).
The Classic Haute Route Schedule↓
Day 1: Argentiere – Grands Montents – Col des Grand Montents – Col du Chardonet – Fenétre de Saleina – Trient Hut. Time: 5 – 7h, Altitude range: ↑980m / ↓550m
Day 2: Trient Hut – Champex – taxi ride – Bourg St. Pierre – Valsorey Hut. Time: 6 – 8h, Altitude range: ↑1 250m / ↓1 700m
Day 3: Valsorey Hut – Plateau du Couloir – Col Sonadon – Chanrion Hut. Time: 4 -7h, Altitude range: ↑850m / -1 400m
Day 4: Chanrion Hut – Otemma Glacier nebo Brenay Glacier – Vignettes Hut. Time: 4 -7h, Altitude range: ↑900m / ↓200m
Day 5: Vignettes Hut – Col de lEveque Col Mont Brulé – Tete de Valpelline – Zermatt. Time: 8 – 11h, Altitude range: ↑750m / ↓2 500m.
Price
Basic: 1 300 € za osobu
In a case of minimum 4 participants /1 450 € per person
Accommodations
the mountain huts along the route (overnight including the half board)
Difficulty
Advanced
Price includes
Guiding by a IMFGA mountain guide, the tour logistics and the organisation of the trip
Price does not include
Transportation, accommodation, food and possible cable cars.
The Haute Route Grand Lui Schedule
Day 1: Argentiere – Lognan – Trient hut
Day 2: Trient hut– Col du Chardonet – ledovec Saleina – Col de Saleina – La Fouly
Day 3: La Fouly – Val Ferret – Col de Fenétre de Ferret – hospic Great St. Bernard
Day 4: hospic Great St. Bernard – Col de Prox – Velan hut – Valsorey hut
Day 5: Valsorey hut – Plateau du Couloir – ledovec Sonadon – Col du Sonadon – ledovec Mont Durand – Chanrion hut
Day 6: Chanrion hut – ledovec Otemma – Col de Charmotane – Col des Vignettes – Cabane Bertol
Day 7: Cabane Bertol – Col de Valpelline – ledovec Stockji – Zermatt
Price
Basic 1 400 € per person (max. 5 participants)
Accomodations
the mountain huts along the route (overnight plus half board included)
Difficulty
Advanced
Price includes
Guiding by a IMFGA mountain guide, the tour logistics and the organisation of the trip
Price does not include
Transportation, accommodation, food and possible cable cars.
All detailed information can be found in the general terms and conditions.
The cancellation fees can not be insured. The participation and the payment can be transferred to the third party. The transportation costs from Zermatt to Chamonix is approx. 90 € per person (transportation is provided by a taxi or a train). As a part of the training due to departure for the whole traverse, an acclimatization 1-day ski tour per group can be organised. The price of the acclimatization ski tour which usually includes also the Valle Blanche ascent on the skis costs 450 € per group.
