Haute Route
Types: International, Ski and Snowboarding, Touring, Traverse
Region: International
This high alpine tour from Chamonix to Zermatt is the most renowned Ski Traverse in the world for a reason: amazing mountains, wild glaciers and impeccable ski descents all with just a day pack as you travel between beautiful European lodges.
Next Course:
Leaving Apr 9 2024 from $3,199.00Haute Route
The Haute Route, meaning “High Road”, traverses the French and Swiss Alps from Chamonix, France to Zermatt, Switzerland. A bucket-list tour that every backcountry skier should experience! From Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn, the route traverses some of the most exciting mountain scenery to be found anywhere on the planet while staying at spectacularly located Refugios where the rooms are clean, the food is great and there's always some wine to help wash it all down.
Why 8 days?
While most Haute Route traverses take about 6 days, our trip includes a total of 8 days. This allows us a day of skiing around Chamonix, ideally valley Blanche, before heading off. It also gives us an extra day at the tail of the traverse to break-up the long, 30Km exit. The means that you get a day to start acclimatizing and a chance to test your gear and stretch your legs after all the traveling.
The Accommodation:
There are a number of ways to tackle the Haute Route and of course different Refugios that can be utilized. We generally plan our trips as follows:
- Night 1: Chamonix at Gite D'etape La Tapier
- Night 2: Cabane de Trient (3170m)
- Night 3: Montford Cabane (2457m)
- Night 4: Cabane Prafleuri (2662m)
- Night 5: Cabane des Dix (2928m)
- Night 6: Cabane des Vignettes (3157m)
- Night 7: Cabane de Bertol (3311m)
If you're looking for a more detailed description of the route just click on the "Itinerary" button below.
Wrap-Up:
Of course the official Haute Route trip ends with a ski down to Zermat. But that doesn't mean that you have to leave! There's always the option to stick around Zermat for another day or two of skiing if you're so inclined. It feels like such a shame to not spend a little time there as it's such an amazingly beautiful area.
Waiver & Risk Management:
As you know, outdoor activities involve numerous hazards including, but not limited to, avalanches, crevasses, rockfall, slips and falls, equipment failure, poor weather, etc. And while we do our best to anticipate and mitigate these hazards we cannot completely eliminate them. So, as with anything fun, you will be required to sign our Participant Release to take part in one of our courses or trips.
Custom Dates Available
April 9th to 16th, 2024
Deposit Required: $1,000.00
| Group Size | 6 persons |
|---|---|
| Pricing |
Adult: $3,199.00 |
Fine Print:
- Price $3199 USD (approx. $4249 CAD)
- A $1000 deposit is due upon booking
- The final payment due 90 days prior to the trip
- Trips subject to 5% GST
- We highly recommend Travel & Medical insurance
- Be sure to look over our Booking Policies
- Participants will be required to sign a BlackSheep Participant Release
Haute Route: 8-Day Valley Blanche Option
- Day 0: Meet up in the evening in Chamonix at Gite D’etape La Tapier. A friendly hostel on the edge of Chamonix
- Day 1: Take the bus to the Aiguille de Midi for amazing views of Mont Blanc before heading out for a day of ski touring in the upper Valley Blanche. After skiing some north facing alpine powder we descending the Mer de Glace to the Montvers cog train for a ride back into the valley.
- Day 2: Bus up the valley to Argentier to ride up the Grand Montets Lifts to 3280m and the start of the Haute Route. We then climb up the Col de Chardonnet (3323m) and the Fennetre de Seleina (3261m) before continuing to the Cabane de Trient (3170m) for our first night out. Note: Dinner & breakfast are provided at the hut and included in the trip costs. It is also possible to sample the wine collection, try some beer, have a coffee or tea, etc.
- Day 3: Ski the Glacier D’Arpette towards the town of Arpette/Campex. By late am we’re stepping into a taxi at Champex and heading to Le Chable and a cable car on to Verbier for lunch. We then catch a ski lift back up to approach the Montford Cabane (2457m) where we’ll spend the night.
- Day 4: Travel from Cabane Montford to Cabane Prafleuri. The route takes us through the Col de Chaux (2940m), Lad du Pt. Mont Ford 92764m) and the Col Momin (3003m) before traversing the Grand Desert and climbing the Rosa Blanche (3336m) to descend the glacier de Prafleurei.
- Day 5: Travel from Cabane Prafleuri to Cabane des Dix. Climb to Col des Roux (2804m) and follow Lac de Dix to Pas de Chat. A 3km traverse that we want to dispatch early while the snow is still firm and fast. From there the route climbs 870m to the Cabane des Dix (2928m).
- Day 6: Cabane des Dix to Cabane Vignettes. Ski down the Cheilon glacier and ascend back up the De Tsena Refien glacier and through the Col de las Serpentine. Then through the Col Du Brenay and up Pigne D’Arolla (3796m) to descend to the Col de Vignettes and the Cabane des Vignettes (3157m).
- Day 7: Cabane Vignettes to Cabane Bertol. Descend from the hut to the Col de Charmotane and climb up the Glacier de Mont Colon and circle around to the Col de l’Eveque (3377m) before descending down the Haute Glacier d’Arolla. We then climb up the Glacier de Bertol to the Cabane de Bertol (3311m).
- Day 8: Cabane Bertol to Zermat. From the hut we wrap up and around the Glacier de Mont Colon to the Col de la Tete Blanche. From there we begin the grand descent down to Zermat over 8km of glaciers to many more kilometers of piste through rural farms and finally into town. The Matterhorn, which has been looming in the distance for days, finally towers above.
The trip ends in the town of Zermat which is a combustion engine free zone (helicopters aside). Our luggage would have been moved for us while we were on the ski traverse so you can grab your bags an leave on one of the trains or stay and enjoy the town for a evening or more.
Activities and Add-Ons for this Course
BlackSheep Merino Wool Toque (Beanie)
$35.00
A beautiful fleece lined merino wool toque. They come in black and grey though colours are subject to availability.
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