Global Adventure - Trek from Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn on the Walkers' Haute Route

Itinerary Highlights: This adventure offers intense physical challenge and an opportunity to soak in a daily visual feast of mountain vistas, glaciers, quaint villages, and glorious valleys as we trek from the massive Mont Blanc to the iconic Matterhorn.

After 2 nights in Chamonix for exploring, waiting for any late luggage, and enjoying a group welcome dinner, our adventure will start with a short train ride from Chamonix to Argentière.  We’ll then begin our trek, passing through Le Tour as we make our way up to Col de Balme.  During our ascent, we’ll turn around to take in views of the Chamonix valley and Mont Blanc behind us.  At the col, we’ll cross into Switzerland with a magnificent view of Mont Blanc’s long tentacle ridges reaching into the valley ahead of us.

Our crossing of Fenêtre d’Arpette on Day 2 is a classic stretch of the Haute Route, and one of the most demanding of the whole trek.  We’ll enjoy views of Glacier du Trient’s icefall as we ascend.  Our descent into the pastoral Val d’Arpette begins with an ocean of scree and boulders and finishes with more tame streams, forest, and meadows.

Day 3 will be a respite between two strenuous days.  There are no passes to cross and no big glacier-hung mountains close at hand, but our path will take us past small, quaint farming communities before we take a gondola through Verbier, one of Switzerland’s major ski resorts.

We’ll have our work cut out for us on Day 4, when we tackle 3½ cols – the ‘false’ Col de Prafleuri 40 minutes before the actual col can be a bit deflating to the spirit!  This stage is full of variety and ever-changing views.  At first there are vast panoramas, but as we wander along the high belvedere trail to Col Termin, the Combin massif will dominate our views.  If we trek quietly and remain alert, we have a good chance of seeing ibex on or near our path (this is a noted wildlife sanctuary).  Later, on the eastern side of Col de Louvie, we’ll face a bewildering landscape of dying glaciers, chaotic moraines, and a seemingly barren wilderness.

If the weather cooperates, Day 5 will offer some of the trek’s best views.  As we tackle the first col of the day – Col des Roux – we’ll emerge from the morning’s shadows to the incredible Lac des Dix, a stunning turquoise 5km-long lake. We’ll then ascend to our destination for the next 2 nights: Cabane des Dix.  Day 6 will be a rest day, offering us ample time to take in breathtaking views of Mont Blanc de Cheilon and Glacier de Cheilon.

Well rested, we start an otherwise-undemanding Day 7 with a big ascent (including vertical ladders) to Pas de Chèvres, where we should get our first views of the Matterhorn.

Day 8 will be a leg and lung buster: 5500’ gain over a short 6.5 miles.  But it will be worth it.  Cabane de Moiry, our destination for the next 2 nights, stands on a rocky knoll overlooking the icefall of the Moiry glacier.  It’s a majestic destination, and we’ll have 2 nights and a full rest day to soak it in.

On Day 10, we leave the arctic splendor of the upper Val de Moiry and arrive in the deep, forested Val de Zinal. Crossing between these two valleys via Col de Sorebois, we’ll be treated to views of Sorebois, Weisshorn, and Zinalrothorn.

We arrive in German-speaking territory on Day 11, as we pass through the sparsely-traveled Turtmanntal valley on our way to the community of Gruben.

We’ll cross our final pass of our adventure on Day 12, as we trek from the Turtmanntal to the Mattertal via the Augstbordpass.  This will be one of the highlights of the trek, as our route leads through spacious woodland, over high pastures, and into a stony wilderness before opening up to some of the loveliest views in all of Switzerland.

After starting Day 13 with a short train ride alongside Matter Vispa, we’ll follow the newly-relocated Europaweg up to the Europa Hut, offering stunning views across the Mattertal valley to the Weisshorn and upvalley to the Breithorn, Klein Matterhorn, Mettelhorn and Schalihorn.

We finish our trek on Day 14, with a long but relatively tame trek into Zermatt.  The highlight will be the new Charles Kuonen Hängebrücke, a 500m-long suspension bridge that we’ll need to cross at the beginning of our day.

We’ll spend 1 night in Zermatt, enabling us to get cleaned up, visit some touristy shops, and enjoy a group celebratory dinner.  After our night in Zermatt, we’ll return home or continue to other adventures.

A total of 17 days, this adventure includes 2 days for arrivals in Chamonix, 14 days of trekking, and 1 day for departing Zermatt.

This trek is Very Strenuous / Challenging.  During our 14 days of trekking, we’ll cover 120+ miles and 42,000’+ gain, with a maximum elevation of 9,774’.  Our daily mileage will vary between 4 and 14 miles per day (with an average of 10 miles per day), and our elevation gain will range from 1,950’ to 5,500’ (with an average of 3,500’ per day).  Our route includes steep/rocky terrain, ascents/descents of ladders, and areas of moderate exposure.

There are options from many places along the route for participants to exit via taxi, bus, train, or gondola if required.  Several days include low-elevation alternative routes.  These public transit options and alternative routes can be used to skip sections of the route in case of bad/hazardous weather, unsafe terrain, time constraints, or injury/illness/fitness.

Participants will carry their own backpacks containing their own gear (trail clothing, hut clothing, batteries, toiletries, 10 essentials, etc), but won’t need to bring or carry tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, stoves, fuel, or cookware.  Participants will also carry lunches and snacks.

Is this adventure right for you?  You enjoy the challenge of very strenuous, high-mileage/high-gain days.  You accept and embrace challenges such as weather, areas of moderate exposure, and steep/rocky terrain where you need to use your hands for balance.  You feel a sense of accomplishment as you enjoy a hot meal and a cold beverage after a long, hard day.  You’re able to roll with the punches and go with the flow; you accept and embrace the proverbial curve balls that will inevitably be thrown our way.  You’re willing to help/support others, and to put the team first.

Time of Year: We’ll be visiting during the region’s peak summer, when the likelihood of clear skies and warm temperatures are highest (though cold, rain, hail, snow, wind, lightning, and other foul weather can arise at any time).

Weather: Expect daytime highs in the 70°F-80°F range, with hot, bright sun and minimal tree canopy.  We can expect chilly nights in the 40°F-50°F range.  An average August in the Swiss Alps has 19 days with some precipitation and a total of nearly 7” of rain.  We should expect days with rain, fog, and possible thunderstorms; temperatures will decrease substantially anytime we’re in the vicinity of glaciers or snowfields.

Lodging:  2 nights in a hotel in Chamonix, followed by 13 nights on-trail in mountain huts, followed by 1 night in a hotel in Zermatt.  All hotels and huts will have restrooms, and all hotels and many huts will have showers (some huts’ showers may be cold and/or require a modest payment).  Our hotels will have double- or triple-occupancy private rooms, and when staying in huts we’ll sleep in 10+ person, mixed-gender, dormitory-style bunk rooms.

Food: While staying in Chamonix before our trek, breakfasts are included and our welcome dinner on August 16^th is included.  Participants are responsible for other meals while in Chamonix (all meals on August 15^th, lunch on August 16^th).  During our trek, breakfasts and 9 dinners are included (and will be supplied daily by our mountain huts).  Participants are responsible for all other meals (lunches, snacks, 4 dinners) during our trek.  We’ll be able to purchase lunches and light snacks at many of the huts, as well as in towns before our trek (in Chamonix), during our trek (in Le Châble on day 3 and in Arolla on day 7), and after our trek (in Zermatt).  The 4 dinners not included during our trek can be purchased at restaurants near our huts.  On some days during our trek, we’ll pass small cafes and villages where we can purchase additional food or snacks as needed.  While staying in Zermatt after our trek, our celebratory dinner on August 30^th is included and our breakfast on August 31^st is included.  Beverages other than water are not included before, during, or after our trek.

Dietary Restrictions: Vegetarian diets can be accommodated, but other special dietary preferences or requirements may be difficult to satisfy without the participant providing at least some of their own food at their own expense.

Provisions: Good shopping options are available both before our trek (in Chamonix), during our trek (in Le Châble on day 3 and in Arolla on day 7), and after our trek (in Zermatt).  Participants may want to arrive in Chamonix with all toiletries required for the trek, as well as any special on-trail provisions that they prefer (e.g., favorite drink mixes/electrolytes, coffee flavorings/additives, peanut/almond butter, dehydrated hummus, or other specialty food items) that are unlikely to be offered by huts or stores in the region.

Leader’s experience: Colin Chapman (colindchapman@gmail.com) is an active backpacking, snowshoeing, and winter camping instructor and trip leader with the Mountaineers.  Colin has led dozens of overnight backpacking and snowshoeing trips for the Mountaineers, including trips into areas – such as Greenland’s eastern fjords, Wyoming’s Wind River Range, Torres del Paine’s O Circuit, and Switzerland’s Jungfrau region – with extensive off-trail travel, challenging terrain, and adverse weather.  Colin has completed the Wonderland Trail (twice) and John Muir Trail, has Wilderness First Responder, AIARE 1, and AIARE Rescue certifications, and serves on the Nordic Patrol (part of National Ski Patrol) at Mount Rainier National Park.

Participant requirements:  Must be a current Mountaineers member with an up-to-date waiver on file.

This outing is VERY STRENUOUS, and much of the route is on RUGGED TERRAIN.  Participants must have experience and confidence trekking on steep, rocky terrain including ascents, descents, and traverses of steep scree/talus slopes, boulders, rock slabs, rocky ridgelines, and narrow paths.  Ascents and descents of steep, narrow ladders (with rungs but potentially no side rails) will be required.  Some areas will have moderate exposure, and low-consequence snowfield crossings may be required.  The high-route ascent and descent of Fenêtre d'Arpette is long, steep, and can be icy.  Trekking poles will be required and we will use microspikes if needed; we will take the low-route alternative if conditions warrant the use of ice axes.  Steep ascents and descents on boulders and rock slabs will require the ability to take tall, extended steps up/down while using hands for stability.  All while carrying a loaded backpack.

Participants must be in excellent physical condition and demonstrate their ability to do 10 miles and 3,500’ gain on multiple consecutive days on rugged terrain with a loaded backpack.  Participants must also have the endurance, experience, willingness, and flexibility to deal with extended periods of significant mileage, substantial elevation gain/loss, challenging terrain, and inclement weather (cold, rain, hail, snow, wind, lightning).  Participants must understand that route adjustments could be required in the event of unanticipated weather, terrain, or participant conditions.

A positive, go-with-the-flow, roll-with-the-punches attitude and a demonstrated ability to get along well in group settings under demanding conditions is required.

Potential participants must read, understand and agree with the leader’s Goals, Expectations, and Style for the trip (link).  If these principles don’t match yours then this trip will not be a good fit for you.  In signing the Trip Agreement, you acknowledge that you understand and accept these principles and agree to support them during the trip.

Participants will be screened based on application responses, conversations with past Mountaineers leaders and other respected colleagues, the leader’s past direct experience with the applicant, and the leader’s impressions from in-depth conversations with the applicant. 

NOTE: Your leader makes most of the arrangements and provides logistics support during the trip, but is NOT a tour guide!  As a Mountaineers group we will operate as interdependent, capable travelers making our way together and helping one another succeed and be safe.  You are responsible for your own safety and that of your fellow travelers.  At any time, if weather, tide, terrain, or other conditions become dangerous, we will exit early or find a safer, alternate route.

It is a core philosophy that Mountaineers take care of each other.  As part of this ethic, we strongly encourage all participants before the trip to be up to date on the relevant vaccinations and boosters required for your age group for respiratory viruses including Covid-19, and to take precautions before the trip including avoiding indoor crowds and gatherings the week prior to the trip that carry a risk of bringing illness to the group, and masking during all transport to the adventure.  During the trip we ask every participant to:

• proactively communicate any symptoms of covid or respiratory illness to your trip leader as soon as they appear; mask when with others in the group; and work with the leader to isolate as much as possible
• carry 4 self-tests and test yourself proactively if you begin to experience any symptoms that could indicate a covid infection
• isolate in the case of any positive test or if you exhibit any contagious respiratory virus symptoms, until fever is gone without medication and contagious symptoms have declined significantly.

See our latest Global Adventures Respiratory Illness/Covid Prevention Policy at this link.

Each participant will be required to hold emergency medical treatment and emergency evacuation insurance sufficient to get them home in case of an illness or injury during the trek.   We also recommend trip cancellation/interruption insurance to allow you to recover your non-refundable expenses if you have to cancel before or during the trip due to an illness or injury.   (Insurance will be at your own expense.)  Details on travel insurance, what to get and how to get it will be communicated by the trip leader as soon as you join the roster.

Trip Price Detail: $5400.  Price includes all lodging, all breakfasts, welcome dinner in Chamonix, celebratory dinner in Zermatt, 9 dinners during the trek, and planned rail/gondola transfers along the itinerary.  Price does not include transportation between home and Chamonix / Zermatt (~$1770), lunches and snacks (~$520), 4 dinners during the trek (~$200), beverages other than water, or emergency medical treatment and emergency evacuation insurance (~$75-$350).

Registration: Please complete and submit the application form at the button below, after which the trip leader may get back to you with additional questions.  If you receive the trip leader’s approval to join the roster, please pay the 50% deposit to reserve your place on the roster.  Approval to join the roster will not necessarily be a function of your date of application; it will also reflect your experience and fitness.  A place on the roster can only be held with payment of the deposit.  Registration will close as soon as the roster fills.  The balance of the trip payment will be due sometime in the spring of 2026.  As soon as you have registered, you’ll be asked to also complete online Trip Agreement and Liability Release forms.

Application Form

Cancellation Policy:  If you cancel 180 or more days before the August 15^th arrival date, you may receive a refund less a $1000 cancellation fee and any other non-refundable expenses incurred up to that time.  And if you cancel less than 180 days before the August 15^th arrival date, no refund is available.  NOTE: the cancellation fees above may be waived other than a minimum $100 admin fee if someone can be found to take your place on the trip.

Arrive in Chamonix, France anytime on Saturday August 15^th, 2026.  Depart from Zermatt, Switzerland anytime on Monday August 31^st to return home or continue to other adventures.

Participants are responsible for their own transportation between home and Chamonix before the adventure and between Zermatt and home after the adventure.  Frequent commercial van shuttles (AlpyTransfers) and rail service (SBB) connect the airport in Genève, Switzerland (GVA) to Chamonix – travel time of 1.5 to 3 hours – for approximately $90 one-way.  Frequent rail service (SBB) connects Zermatt to the airports in Genéve (GVA) – travel time of 4.5 hours – and Zürich (ZRH) – travel time of 4 hours – for approximately $180 one way.  Multiple airlines offer daily service between Seattle (SEA) and Genève (GVA) or Zürich (ZRH) – approximately $1500 round-trip.