CHAMONIX to ZERMATT - Hike the Haute Route |
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Traveling mostly below the Glacier Line
10 days hiking- 6 nights hotel-3 nights Inns-2 nights alpine huts.
Chamonix – Zermatt Trek
July 10 – 17, 2005
$ 2,300 p/person (minimum 4 person)
Walking along the planetarium
trail above St. Luc
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The Haute Route from Chamonix to Simplon via
Zermatt, Saas Fee. This is the hikers classic haute route giving you an opportunity
to soak the atmosphere of small Swiss towns and high passes were the Choucas soar between cliffs and
glacier. We will see Bouquetins leaping with their young from ledges to alcoves and high meadows.
This is the summer home to the cows and sheep that graze peacefully by the cascading torrent that
are reminiscent of “The Sound of Music”. Your surrounding will make you wonder if you did not
wake up in paradise. All this is yours to enjoy with your friends while sharing stories, reinventing life and re energizing yourself.
At night in the small typical Swiss hotel we can enjoy a good fondue or choose an old
English style hotel and enjoying afternoon tea after hours of splendid hiking. Your third possibility
is to find yourself on a bench in front of a mountain hut with binoculars watching the bouquetins
and chamois at play.
This memorable hike requires a good level of fitness but it is organize so you will carry only a
small day pack. Lodging is in hotels and Inn except 2 nights in alpine huts. All your luggage's
will follow you by bus and each night (except two) you will find the comfort of hotels and lodges
awaiting you.
Jean Pavillard,
Internationally Certified
Mountain Guide
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ITINERARY
Day 1- 2: Travel from home to Switzerland and transfer to Chamonix.
Day 3: From Chamonix, Transfer to Le Tour village, hike over Col de Balme, to Trient village and Col de la Forclas, via Les Petoules. A great first day leaving the busy valley de l'Arve and slowly getting into the rhythm of hiking.
Lodging: Hotel Restaurant de la Forclas.
Day 4: From Col de la Forclas, to Val D'Arpette and Relais D'Arpette.
This second day is demanding but rewarded by amazing view. After hiking The Bisse we will climb along the Trient glacier to Fenetre d'Arpette. A total of 1'140m of vertical gain, finally descending to the Val d'Arpette to the Relais .
Lodging: Relais d'Arpette.
Day 5: Verbier to Prafleuri hut.
Transfer from the Relais d' Arpette to Verbier and Col des Gentiane. (bus and gondola)
Hike over Col de la Chaux, Col Louvie to Prafleuri Hut. From a teaming resort through alpine pastures and glacier; this day covers it all. We will have time to observe Bouquetins (mountain goats) and admire the view of the Grand Combins.
Transfer: Bus Val d' Arpette-Verbier-Les Ruinettes.
Lodging: Prafleur hut
Day 6: From Prafleuri Hut to Arolla.
An early start will bring us to Col des Roux 40 minutes above the hut for the sunrise and views. After a descent, we will hike along the Grande Dixence lake to Pas du Chat, walking along the moraine and crossing the Cheilon Glacier. We will climb the ladder of Pas de Chevre and hike down to the beautiful alpine town of Arolla.
Lodging: Hotel Des Glaciers.
Day 7: From the quaint town of Arolla, we will transfer to Les Hauderes and Le Mayen de Cotter by bus. From the Mayen we will hike over Col du Torrent, descend to Lac des Autannes, soaking in as much of the view as possible since this is one of the most spectacular views of the Moiry glacier, Grand Cornier and Pointe de Mourty. We will continue the descent to the Barrage de Moiry. Then transferring to St. Luc and hotel Bella Tola in true English style hotel from the last century (1859). Get ready for unforgettable experience.
Day 8: From the town of St. Luc, to Gruben, Turtmental.
The first event of this morning will be a ride on the funicular to Tignousa and hike the planetarium trail to Chalet Blanc were we will turn left towards Meidenpass. We will then approach Zermatt and the hearth of the Alps with breathtaking views. A long descend follows to Gruben, through a forest of “Melees”.
Lodging: Hotel Schwarzhorn.
Day 9: From Gruben to Zermatt via St. Niklaus.
Today the hike climb from behind the hotel to Augstbordpass, it is wild and the high pasture will give way to rocky alpine land. On the way down we will descend into a deep valley in rugged mountains and into the amazing mountain town of Jungen perched on a ledges. A short gondola ride from Jungen to St. Niklaus brings us to a train that will transfer us to Zermatt.
Lodging: Hotel Jagerhoff, Zermatt
Day 10: Rest day in Zermatt and visit of the surrounding.
Hike to Trift Hotel, ride up to the Gornergrat by train and hike down or hike to the base of the Matterhorn are only some of the options available on this free day.
Lodging: Hotel Jagerhoff, Zermatt
Day 11: Hike to Almageller Hut.
From Zermatt we will transfer with our van to Saas Almageller and hike via Almageller Alp to the quaint hut at the base of the Weimeiss and Portjengrat. There is a room with a view over the Mishabels. This hut is a treasured jewel hiding in the mountains.
Lodging: Almageller Hutte
Day 12: From Almageller to Gondo and Simplon Pass.
From the Almageller Hut we will hike over Zwischbergenpass and hike down this unknown valley of Zwischbergental to Gondo, transferring to Brig via the Simplon pass and continuing on to Vevey along the Lake Geneva for the last evening.
Pricing: Land cost $ 2,300.00 per person. (4 persons and up )
I am interested...contact me about your next trip!
Cost includes: Hotel in Chamonix with breakfast, lodging in La Forclas ½ pension (Dinner and Breakfast), hotel in Relais d'Arpette ½ pension, Prafleuri Hut, ½ pension, Hotel du Glacier ½ pension, Hotel Bella Tola ½ pension, hotel in Zermatt with breakfast, Almageller Hut ½ pension, hotel in Vevey, breakfast. Transport during the tour (bus, gondola and train as described in the itinerary), transfer of luggage, professional guide fee, group technical equipment.
Not included in cost: Airfare, transfer to Chamonix and from Vevey, dinner in Chamonix, Zermatt and Vevey, extra activity in Zermatt on the rest day, picnic lunches, drinks and incidentals.
Customize Your Own Tour: Please feel free
to make changes to fit your groups ability and time frame, ask us for a new itinerary and pricing.
We can also design other great adventure based on your request anywhere in the world.
We recommend you fly into Geneva, to make it an easy to transfer to Chamonix. If you can arrive a few days before your tour it will help greatly with jet lag.
Lodging: Hotel, double room. Inn, from double room to up to 6 beds in room.
( we do our best to provide private double room if available).
Mountain huts, dormitory style.
Fitness: This tour require a good level of fitness.
Each day is between 6 to 8 hours of hiking at a comfortable pace along alpine trail with some steep
sections. The greatest vertical gain in one day is 4'573 ft. and the greatest loss will be 5'831 ft.
The average will be 3000 to 4000 feet.
Terrain: Alpine terrain varies from maintained trail,
grassy fields, snow neves and boulder fields. This tour does not require any climbing but some scrambling. This tour is for experience hikers
Equipment: No technical equipment is necessary except
of good hiking boots and ski poles or a walking stick. A full equipment list is provided in the information
packet.
Rest day in Zermatt: Join the guide for a
day hike or wonder on your own around town, ride the train to Gornergrat and much more.
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