Chamonix to Zermatt

Guidebook to the Walker's Haute Route from Chamonix to Zermatt. The 225km route typically takes 2 weeks to walk. Described in 14 stages, the route crosses 11 passes between Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn and involves more than 14,000m of ascent and descent. A complete guide for planning and walking the route, with accommodation information.

Seasons

Alpine summer walking, so mid-June to mid-September; snow could remain on higher passes well into July.

Centres

Chamonix, Argentière, Trient, Champex, Sembrancher, Le Chable, Verbier, Arolla, Les Haudères, La Sage, Zinal, Gruben, St Niklaus, Zermatt

Difficulty

225km 11 passes and 14,000m of ascent make this a fairly tough trek; high alpine mountain walking, some sharp cols; final 2-day section on Europaweg is challenging and exposed, with some parts protected by cables and a 500m suspension bridge to cross

Must See

Mont Blanc and Chamonix's Aiguilles, Grand Combin, the Grand Desért, the fabulous Vals d'Herens and Moiry, the Twära view of the Dom, Weisshorn, the view of the Matterhorn on the approach to Zermatt 

More Images

# # # # # # # # # # #

Overview

A guidebook to the classic Chamonix to Zermatt trek from Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn. The 225km Walker's Haute Route through the French and Swiss Alps crosses 11 passes, gains more than 14,000m in height and is a strong contender for the title of Most Beautiful Walk in Europe. The high-level route is described in 14 day stages, with optional variants, and is suitable for walkers with a good level of fitness and some previous alpine trekking experience. The final approach to Zermatt adopts the dramatic Europaweg, a high-level traverse of the east wall of the Mattertal, crossing the 500-metre suspension bridge at Randa. An alternative valley route to Zermatt can be taken if this does not appeal.
Alongside clear route descriptions and mapping for each stage of the trek, there is essential practical information on travel to Chamonix and return from Zermatt, as well as advice on accommodation in alpine villages and mountain refuges, trekking safety, equipment, itinerary planning and preparation.
Taking 2 weeks to complete, this challenging but rewarding trek encompasses the greatest collection of 4000 metre peaks in the Alps – Mont Blanc, the Grand Combin, Dent Blanche, Weisshorn and the Matterhorn – and visits some of the most spectacular valleys, including the Val d’Hérens, Val d’Annivers and the Mattertal.

Contents

Contents
Introduction
The Walker’s Haute Route
Getting there and back again
Accommodation
When to go
Notes for walkers
Not enough time?
Equipment
Languages
Paths and waymarks
Safety in the mountains
Wildlife and plants
Maps
Recommended apps
Using this guide
Chamonix to Zermatt
Stage 1 Chamonix – Argentière
Stage 2 Argentière – Col de Balme – Trient
Stage 3 Trient – Fenêtre d’Arpette – Champex
Stage 3A Trient – Col de la Forclaz – Alp Bovine – Champex
Stage 4 Champex – Sembrancher – Le Châble
Stage 5 Le Châble – Clambin – Cabane du Mont Fort
Stage 5A Le Châble (Les Ruinettes) – Col Termin – Cabane de Louvie
Stage 6 Cabane du Mont Fort – Col Termin – Col de Louvie – Col de Prafleuri – Cabane de Prafleuri
Stage 7 Cabane de Prafleuri – Col des Roux – Pas de Chèvres – Arolla
Stage 8 Arolla – Lac Bleu – Les Haudères – La Sage
Stage 9 La Sage – Col du Tsaté – Cabane de Moiry
Stage 9A La Sage – Col de Torrent – Barrage de Moiry/Grimentz
Stage 10 Cabane de Moiry – Col de Sorebois – Zinal
Stage 10A Barrage de Moiry – Col de Sorebois – Zinal
Stage 11 Zinal – Forcletta – Gruben
Stage 11A Zinal – Hôtel Weisshorn/Cabane Bella Tola
Stage 11B Hôtel Weisshorn/Cabane Bella Tola – Meidpass – Gruben
Stage 12 Gruben – Augstbordpass – St Niklaus
Stage 12A St Niklaus – Gasenried
Stage 13 Gasenried – Europa Hut
Stage 14 Europa Hut – Täschalp – Zermatt
Stage 13A/14A St Niklaus – Täsch – Zermatt

Appendix A Walks from Zermatt
Appendix B Climbing from Zermatt
Appendix C Useful contacts
Appendix D Bibliography
Appendix E Glossary

Updates

Receive updates by email
Be notified by email when this book receives an update or correction

July 2019

In 2019 the first part of the Europaweg has been closed between Grat and Galenberg, so the route cannot be completed this way. It may stay this way for some time, and the revisions
will continue whilst a new path is created, but may be long-term.

Please go to our download tab which has the gpx files plus seperate file with the alternative route choices.

Reviews

We do not yet have any reviews for this book

If you would like to send us a review then please use our contact form. They will be published here shortly.

Where to Buy

Google Play

Google Play Books available for Windows, Android, Mac and iOS

Kobo

Kobo eReader devices plus Kobo App available for Windows, Android, Mac and iOS

Kindle

Kindle Reader devices plus Kindle App available for Windows, Android, Mac and iOS

Downloads

Sample route

GPX files

July19Europawegupdate

July19updategpx

Trade Information