Highlights:

• Magnificent mountain and alpine scenery

• A classic high country route

• Lush valleys and gorges

• Unspoilt areas of natural beauty

Brief:

⏱ Duration: 12-14 days (lesser where doing segments)
🗺 Distance: 180 km (or segment distance)
⛰ Difficulty: Challenging
🗓 Best Time: July - September
🛏 Accomm: Gasthofs/Hotels/Mountain huts

Walker’s Haute Route Overview

A walk that links Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn, and does so by taking a high route, cannot fail to lift the pulse of any mountain walker. Its name distinguishes it from the similarly-named mountaineering and ski-touring routes that also link Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn and have been followed for more than a century. The appeal of the walk is no doubt heightened by its association with these other historic and highly adventurous routes.

The walk commences in Chamonix, France. Its 180 km route is broadly north-east, until the last few days where it heads south. It finishes in Zermatt, Switzerland. Chamonix and Zermatt are flourishing and attractive outdoor activities centres, with rich mountaineering histories. As such, they are exciting and apt places to start and finish.

That the Walker’s Haute Route is a challenging trek can be demonstrated by the statistics. Over the course of its 180+ km, it traverses 11 passes and delivers an accumulated height gain of over 12,000 metres. The maximum altitude reached is 2,965 metres (Col de Prafleuri). Generally, the full walk takes 12 - 14 days, however, many walkers break it into two halves or smaller segments.

Assistance and further information:

• For assistance in undertaking the Walker’s Haute Route, click the button below.

• For information on other walks in France, click the button below.