A Walking Holiday on the Haute Route, Switzerland. The Haute Route, is a cross-country route running between Chamonix in France and Zermatt in Switzerland. First charted by English adventurers at the end of the 19th century, this route follows a 100 km glacier walk (or ski) from the Chamonix valley; home of Mont Blanc, to Zermatt; home of the Matterhorn.

Our team has specially designed this trip for adventurous hikers who don’t want to compromise on comfort. During 8 days you will discover the best of the famous “Haute Route” from Les Hauderes to Zermatt; picturesque villages, massive glaciers, and majestic peaks! As we transfer your luggage during the day, you need only carry a back pack whilst you walk (except Days 2,4 and 6 when you will need your overnight gear). One Foot Abroad also provides detailed walking notes and maps throughout the hike to help you find your way. Enjoy the highest part of the Alps!

Day 1 – Les Hauderes

After flying to Switzerland and making your way to the Goms d’Annivers, you will spend your first night in a charming hotel in a Valaisan-style town. Why not enjoy some regional specialties for dinner with a glass of local Arvine. The added bonus? An accordion-playing hotel owner!

Town: Shops, bus. Accommodation: 2* hotel. Rooms en-suite with view. Meals: Dinner

Day 2 -To Cabane de Moiry

We begin with a tough enough ascent to the Tsat pass (2868m). As we make our way down, the Glacier du Moiry comes into view. You will be afforded a closer view of the glacier as we make our way up to the “Classic” Cabane de Moiry. Good food and a great atmosphere are on the menu this evening.

Town: No public facilities although food and drinks can be purchased in the hut. Accommodation: Mountain hut. Dormitories. Meals: Breakfast, picnic and dinner

Day 3 – To Zinal

You start the day with a gentle walk overlooking the Lac de Moiry with its impressive dam (148m high). Then, after passing the Col du Sorebois (2896m), your descent features an incredible view across the Zinal valley with Les Diablons (3609m) and the Pointe de la Forcletta (3078m). The village of Zinal is charming and compact. Stroll around its pretty streets and see some fine Valaisan houses.

Town: ATM, shops, Tourist Office, bus, train. Accommodation: 2* hotel with restaurant and bar. Meals: Breakfast, picnic and dinner.

Day 4 -To Gruben via Weisshorn

Today we will begin by walking through woodlands towards a high Alpine trail up to the Hotel Weisshorn (2337m). Pasture lands will then bring you up to the Meidpass (2790m). There, the views on the Schwarzhorn, the Gletschhorn and the Weisshorn are stunning. On your way down, you will pass the Meidsee lake before reaching the isolated village of Gruben – so remote that it is only inhabitated from June to September.

For those who wish to have shorter walking days, you have the option to stay in the Hotel Weisshorn and split the stage in 2. See options table below. Subject to availability

Town: No public facilities although food and drinks can be purchased in the hut. Accommodation: Hotel/Hut. Meals: Breakfast, picnic and dinner

Day 5 – To St Niklaus

On this stage, nature rewards the diligent walker with some of the cleanest air and captivating views. Crossing your final pass today is a highlight in every sense of the word. Although the reward is worth every step, the walk is never as demanding as the total height gain and loss might suggest. Enjoy a hike that traverses spacious woodlands, high pastures and stony wildernesses. Your ultimate descent is full of pleasures and surprises – none greater or more beautiful than the discovery of the little hamlet of Jungen, clinging to the mountain side in the region of St Niklaus.

Town: ATM, shops, Tourist Office, bus, train. Accommodation: 2* hotel with restaurant and bar. Meals: Breakfast, picnic and dinner.

Day 6 – To Europahette

Today is a day of contrasts on this recently-opened trail. Starting with a walk up to the statue of St Bernard, you will then experience a walk through boulder fields – the remains of a massive rock fall in 1991. The path is demanding and is often secured with ropes and chains. A challenging, yet rewarding experience. The Europah¼tte offers great comfort and views over the Weisshorn and its glacier.

Town: No public facilities although food and drinks can be purchased in the hut. Accommodation: Mountain hut. Dormitories. Meals: Breakfast, picnic and dinner

Day 7 – To Zermatt

The scenery on the last day is stunning. At the beginning, the path alternates between boulder fields and forest. After a short climb uphill, you will enter Tachalp glen with fantastic views as you exit. Continuing on, the majestic Matterhorn will stun you as you get closer to Zermatt, following the gentle footpath. Zermatt is the place for mountaineering in Switzerland. The streets are busy and vibrant and your hotel is right in the heart of the action.

Town: Shops, bars, restaurants, ATM, Internet, bus, train, all facilities. Accommodation: 3* hotel in the heart of Zermatt. Meals: Breakfast and picnic.

Day 8 – Zermatt

After breakfast, we bid you farewell.

We recommend taking the famous Gornergrat railway to 3090m, which gives you great views of the spectacular Riffelalp glacier!

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation Day 1

Accommodation Day 2

Accommodation Day 3

Accommodation Day 4

Accommodation Day 5

Accommodation Day 6

Accommodation Day 7

• 1 night in 3* hotel, 3 nights in 2* hotels, 1 night in a Hotel/Hut and 2 nights in mountain huts
• Full Board except no dinner in Zermatt
• Transport of luggage to Zinal, St Niklaus and Zermatt
• Detailed walking notes

• Flights
• Swiss Pass
• Transfers from/to the airport (included with the Swiss Pass)
• Drinks

A Walking Holiday around Mont Blanc in France, Italy, and Switzerland. The “Tour du Mont Blanc”, also called “TMB”, is one of the most famous and iconic walking trails through the Alps. It passes through three countries offering three diverse experiences; the Italian slopes with their large rock faces, the Swiss slopes with their soft valleys and the French glacial slopes.
The route below was selected so as to allow you to carry as little heavy equipment as possible. There is no need for a bivouac, tent, stove or pan so you can hike in comfort with just a day pack. Altitude ranges between 1164 m (Argentiere) and 2671 m (Window of Arpette). The paths are well marked in general and should not cause any trouble for hikers with a reasonable level of fitness.

DAY 1 – Coming to Les Contamines (1150m)**
After your flight to Geneva, you will be pre-booked in a modern hotel in the heart of Les Contamines, close to all facilities.

Town: Internet, ATM, shop, all facilities. Accommodation: 2* chalet-style hotel, right in the centre of the resort and in a quiet and sunny location. Balconies, terraces, swimming pool, sauna and fantastic views of the valley! Double rooms en-suite.

DAY 2 – Col de la Croix du Bonhomme 2433m [6h, +1319m].
Today you will have to carry your overnight gear, while the rest of your luggage is being transported to the next stage at the “Refuge des Mottets” (See Day 3). From Les Contamines (1164m), the path ascends gradually to Notre Dame de la Gorge (1210m). You can visit the small, renovated church before ascending more steeply along the Roman way to the Refuge de la Balme (1706m). Shortly after, you will have the option to go to the “Lac Jovet” (2174m) in a natural reserve (+2hrs return), or to continue straight on.
At the Col de la Croix du Bonhomme (2483m), we enter the Beaufortain province. The Refuge “Croix du Bonhomme” (2433m) is our reststop for the night.

Facilities: Food shop at the refuge, phone. Accommodation: Very comfortable mountain hut [2433m]. Hot water showers. Rooms of 4 & 6 beds. Meal: Breakfast, picnic lunch, 3 course dinner

DAY 3 – To the Refuge des Mottets (1887m) [1: 5h30 +313 -876m, 2: 5h, +316 -879].
For this stage, you have 2 options. Both routes are beautiful, but the first should only be attempted if the weather permits!

1- A challenging route up to the “Col des Fours” (2265m), then steeply down to Les Turfs (1993m). It’s an impressive walk below Mt Tondu (3150m).

2- The easy way down to “Les Chapieux” (1554m) through grassland. Then, an easy trail up to the “Refuge des Mottets” (1887m).

Facilities: Food shop, phone. Accommodation: Rooms of 4 & 6 beds. Hot water showers, open fire. Meal: Breakfast, picnic lunch, 3 course dinner

DAY 4 – Col de la Seigne – Col de Checroui 1956m [7h, +974m, -888m].
The “Col de la Seigne” (2516m) opens on the Italian side on the valley called “Goms Veni”. A short ascent to the summit of Mount Fortin (2758m) will give you breathtaking views of the massive “Brenva” face of Mt Blanc. Then, an easy balcony trail brings you to the “Refuge de Maison Vieille” (1956m), where you will spend the night.

Facilities: Food shop, phone. Accommodation: Rooms of 4 & 6 beds. Hot water showers, open fire. Meal: Breakfast, picnic lunch, 3 course dinner

Please note that all of our hotels, refuges and guest houses have been carefully selected for their comfort, location, food, friendliness and character, and are subject to availability. If the hotel described is not available, we will provide you with one of the same standard of comfort & price.

“Lunch boxes” are provided every day. They are filling and very tasty. They usually contain ham or chicken sandwiches (vegetarian options available), a salad and fruit.

Luggage transported by us from hotel to hotel. During the walks
you only carry your day pack! Except on Day 2 where you will have to carry your overnight gear.

After a luxury breakfast we take an easy path up to the Reckingerbach River at 1760m, here there is a most unusual mountain restaurant by the stream; with its garden gnomes, jokes painted on the walls, and a guardian who insisted to write in his visitors’ book. From here the path crosses a succession of streams, the Walibach, Hilpersbach, Wilerbach and, and crossing green pasture and lovely wooden chalets. The next 3 nights in a 4-star hotel, kids friendly, as they can enjoys numerous of activities like an initiation to the Via Ferrata… The restaurant appears in the famous “Gault Millau” & the “Guide bleu”, is just SUPERB

Town: ATM, Food shop, internet in the hotel Hotel: 4* hotel, great comfort, best views on the valley, swimming pool, and free activities for kids (climbing, via ferrata, pony riding, drawing…) Meal: Breakfast, 3 Course dinner

DAY 6 – Blitzingen. Free day
From the town take the cable car up the Eggishorn (2927m), an unspoiled vantage point, above the hamlet of Kuhboden, offering the finest views of the glacier Aletsch for a 360 degree Alpine Panorama and on the magisterial the Eiger, Matterhorn are just Breath-taking.

Town: Same as Day 5.
Hotel: Same as Day 5, 4* hotel.
Meal: Breakfast, 3 Course dinner

DAY 7 – Blitzingen. Day with Options [5h, 13.5km, +50m, -50m]
As we stay a third night in our luxury hotel, you have the option to relax in town, visit Zermatt, less than an hour away by train, or to come with us for a walk. We start ascending to the Schwarzer Brunnen River at 1371m, and then the path climbs again up to 1622m at Obermatta before gradually descending to the outskirts of Bellwald. From here you can take a chairlift up and get great views of this part of the Goms valley. Later today, we will go back to Blitzingen by a low path mostly on the shade.

Town: Same as Day 5.
Hotel: Same as Day 5, 4* hotel.
Meal: Breakfast, 3 Course dinner

DAY 8 – Blitzingen. End of the adventure
After breakfast, we bid you farewell at the train station below

Meal: Breakfast

From Dublin: BA, Swissair, Aer-lingus fly to Zurich, Geneva.

To the beginning of the adventure

To Obergesteln.
Several trains a day operate to
Obergesteln from Zurich[2h00] & Geneva [3h30]