THE HAUTE ROUTE SKI TOUR
Chamonix, France to Zermatt, Switzerland - 8 days
The Haute Route Ski Tour Overview
The Haute Route ski tour is a classic Alps ski tour that every backcountry skier should experience. In this European Alps ski tour, we traverse the spectacular alpine ski touring terrain from the Mont Blanc massif in Chamonix to the Matterhorn in Zermatt through the heart of the Valais Alps of Switzerland. We are proud to be one of the most experienced American ski guiding companies on the Haute Route with over 26 trips over the past 14 years.
We begin skiing the Haute Route ski tour in the French alpine and ski mountaineeing center of Chamonix where we spend a day skiing the famed Vallee Blanche off the Aiguille du Midi back to town to get in some acclimating as well as just some great skiing. This day is also reserved for reviewing some of the skills needed for the Haute Route such as kick turns, skinning with ski crampons, and crevasse rescue on skis practice.
The next day we launch off on the Haute Route ski tour, crossing into Switzerland and spending the next six days ski traversing the Swiss Alps through the Valais region. We have chosen the "Verbier" variation via the Trient, Mont Fort, Dix, Vignettes and the Bertol huts. Staying the last night of the tour at the Bertol Hut is a special experience involving long ladders off the glacier to reach the hut. It also allows for a shorter last day into Zermatt. Most of the days start early from the huts and on many of the days arrive at the next hut with some time to take a few laps if energy levels allow. We end the Haute Route by skiing under the North Face of the Matterhorn and into Zermatt.
Along the Haute Route ski tour you will enjoy exciting ski mountaineering challenges, great descents, comfortable Swiss mountain huts, and spectacular high alpine scenery. With over 14 years of experience guiding hut to hut ski tours in the Alps, IAG owner and director and IFMGA/UIAGM certified ski guide Dave Miller leads many of the Haute Route ski tours personally. He has led over 17 Haute Route ski tours over the past 14 years and knows the route and its variations intimately. The IAG team will be with you from the first night in Chamonix through the last night's dinner in Zermatt.
Along the way, we stay in high Swiss mountain huts which enables us to ski with light pack during the Haute Route. The alpine huts provide all of our bedding along with tasty meals, so overnight gear is not needed. The alpine huts have a culture unto themselves, with camaraderie among skiers from around the world. In addition to the meals that we provide, beer, wine, snacks, etc. are also available at the huts. We also provide your lodging in Chamonix prior to the tour..
The Haute Route ski tour is an accomplishment for any backcounty skier. It is also a great first long multi-day alpine ski tour for strong skiers with some previous backcountry ski touring and skinning experience. The days between the huts are usually around 5-6 hours in length which on some days allows for time to relax or to get in some more vertical after arriving at the next hut.
In addition to professional ski guiding by experienced internationally certified ski guides, we provide full logistical support for the duration of the Haute Route ski tour such as transportation and luggage transfer from the beginnning of the tour to the end.
“Thanks for your assistance and guidance...the Haute Route was rad!”
HAUTE ROUTE SKIING SKILLS & EXPERIENCE LEVEL
Advanced level skiers with previous backcountry skiing experience on alpine touring or telemark equipment along with steep skinning experience is required.
You should be very comfortable skiing black diamond runs at a resort in most any conditions (including icy slopes) and can also ski double black diamond slopes up to 40 degrees in good conditions.
No previous mountaineering experience is required, but it is helpful. Excellent physical condition is required with the ability to travel on skis with skins up to 7 hours and 3-4 thousand feet of vertical in a day for multiple days in a row.
2025 HAUTE ROUTE SKI TOUR DATES
March 14-21 (1 spot left)
March 21-28
March 29-April 5 (Full)
April 1-8
April 12-19 (Full)
2026 HAUTE ROUTE SKI TOUR DATES
March 15-22
March 23-30
April 2-9
April 11-18
Custom dates available for individuals and groups. We specialize in custom Alps ski trips!
COST: $3395
INCLUDES:
Ground transport from Chamonix to Zermatt while on the normal Haute Route itinerary
All lift tickets while on the normal itinerary
2 nights lodging in Chamonix in double occupancy with breakfast
5 nights mountain hut fees with breakfast and dinner.
Luggage transfer from Chamonix to Zermatt
IFMGA/UIAGM guides and all the guide's expenses
Prefer a private trip? No problem at all. We specialize in designing custom trips for you or your group.
Contact us for a quote!
For more info on this trip please fill out the form below:
THE INTERNATIONAL ALPINE GUIDES DIFFERENCE
For over 40 years IAG/ASI team have been ski guiding in many of the great mountain ranges of the world. Founded by the Bela & Mimi Vadasz in 1979, we are one of America’s original ski gudsing companies bringing skiers to the Alps of Europe. As one of the most experienced American mountain guiding companies operating hut to hut ski tours & off piste skiing in the Alps of Europe we bring to you the highest standards in the mountain guiding industry. All of our ski guides operating in the Alps are Internationally certified IFMGA ski guides as required by law. Our extensive worldwide experience, adherence to the highest standards, as well as our approachable down to earth guiding philosophy all combine to give you, our valued guests, the best mountain experience possible.
All of our ski programs are developed and supervised by Internationally licensed IFMGA guide Dave Miller, our current owner and technical director. Dave has a long skiing history in the European Alps spending part of his childhood living in Europe and having learned to ski there almost 50 years ago. Dave has over 12 years of experience ski guiding in the Alps including 16 Haute Route Ski Tours under his belt. We know the Alps!
Haute Route Ski Tour Itinerary
Haute Route Ski Tour, Day 1
We meet in the alpine climbing and ski mountaineering center of Chamonix, France for a meeting before dinner at our hotel (included) to discuss the logistics of the trip. Afterward we will all go out to dinner together (not included)
Haute Route Ski Tour, Day 2
Today we take the amazing Aiguille du Midi tramway to access the famed Vallee Blanche. We spend the day touring the Vallee Blanche area to get acclimated and doing avalanche beacon practice, skinning and kickturn practice, as well as reviewing crevasse rescue techniques before skiing down the Mer de Glace back to town...9,000 vertical feet and 16 miles. The night is spent back in Chamonix at our hotel.
Haute Route Ski Tour, Day 3
Today is a big day with two big climbs and two short descents.. We begin the Haute Route Tour by taking the Grand Montets tram out of the town of Argentierre and skiing down to the Argentierre Glacier. We then skin up to the Col du Passon and then into Switzerland. We then we make our way across the Trient Glacier to the Trient Hut where we spend the night. A long, yet rewarding day.
Haute Route Ski Tour, Day 4
We have a great descent down to the Champex, Switzerland, down a the Val d'arpette where we transfer by private taxi to the ski resort village of Verbier. There we take the ski lifts back up to the high alpine terrain and then ski over a few passes, across two glaciers and down to the Praflueri Hut for the night.
Haute Route Ski Tour, Day 5
We leave the Praflueri Hut early and make our way along the Lac des Dix towards the remote Dix Hut. A shorter, mostly touring day with spectacular views as well approach the Dix hut.
Haute Route Ski Tour, Day 6
This day is spent climbing up the Pigne d'Arolla via the spectacular passage up the Serpintine Glacier. The Pigne d'Arolla is another one of our summits and the high point of the tour with views all the way to the Matterhorn. We then make a fantastic descent down to the Vignettes Hut which occupies an amazing position perched on the side of a large cliff overlooking the glaciers.
Haute Route Ski Tour, Day 7
Leaving the Vignettes hut we travel over the col L'eveque and a long descent down the Arolloa glacier before ascending towards to Bertol Hut. The last bit to the Bertol is up ladders as it is perched on the side of the cliffs. One of the world’s most spectacular huts!
Haute Route Ski Tour, Day 8
A spectacular day. Leaving the Bertol we eventually climb towards the summit of Tete Blanche with it’s awesome view of the Matterhorn and many other peaks and then down the Stockli Glacier and along the Zmutt Glacier, passing under the North Face of the Matterhorn. We finally arrive in the idyllic Swiss town of Zermatt, which has no automobiles. Hotels are on your own in Zermatt (not included) or you have the option of moving on to your next destination. We will to enjoy a fine celebratory Swiss meal together (not included).
