Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn

Hike a spectacular Alpine trail from Chamonix to Zermatt

The Haute Route is one of the best-known long-distance ski-touring routes in Europe; running roughly parallel is a spectacular summer trek from Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn. Covering approximately 100mi (160km), it links the valleys of the Haute-Savoie in France to the Swiss Valais. Following our guide, a qualified International Mountain Leader, we pass beneath 10 of the 12 highest mountains in the Alps. Walk through a landscape scattered with glistening glacial lakes and lush, undulating valleys by day and sleep in remote Alpine huts and under canvas by night.

People, Places & Planet

We work hard to create trips that improve life for the people and places we visit and look after the planet we explore. Find out more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here, and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.

Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:

People: How this trip helps improve life for local communities.

• Income and opportunity are provided to locally owned campsites, transfer companies and restaurants in the destination communities. An emphasis is placed on eating locally produced food bought in nearby shops and supermarkets, and supporting local enterprises.
• Several stops on our route are quite rural and the local people there depend heavily on tourism as a means of income; therefore, our visit greatly benefits them. In turn, the local population works hard to keep the area in good condition.

Places: How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.

• Read about our commitment to nature protection and restoration here, including our rewilding commitment for every customer who travels.
• By travelling in a small group, led by a local guide, we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment.
• Guides ensure that visitors always stick to official paths. The paths themselves are constructed to be robust and resilient to the traffic they support and are therefore less susceptible to erosion.
• We recommend and encourage everyone to use rubber stoppers on their walking poles to minimise erosion.
• Generally, camping uses much less energy than a hotel. By their very nature, campsites are green, open spaces and the surrounding areas are usually kept wild. On this trip, we camp on 11 out of 14 nights.
• Walking trips like this have very little detrimental impact on the environment and the locals, as it is a quiet, low-impact activity requiring comparatively few resources to support.
• We work with our partners on the ground to proactively eliminate or reduce waste. On this trip, we recommend drinking tap water, which is safe to drink, thus eliminating the need for plastic water bottles, and also encourage visitors to reuse sandwich bags (or bring them from home). When buying food for included lunches, we buy in large quantities with a reduced need for packaging.

Planet: How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.

• Read about our climate action here, including our carbon reduction and compensation commitments.
• Some campsites on the itinerary have solar panels to help heat All campsites have measures that help to limit water usage; this is usually a push-button timer on the tap.
• Accommodation and restaurants in the itinerary use locally sourced food which has not been transported long distances. When dinners are not cooked in camp, we use local, family-run restaurants who serve locally produced and freshly prepared meals.
• Although meat is a dinner option on most days, we have adapted menus to serve more and more vegetarian and low-meat dishes that contain a high proportion of fruit, vegetables and natural non-processed ingredients.
• All transfers in the local area use public buses or electric trains. Airport transfers are shared between five trips, reducing the need for multiple transfer vehicles.

Tips for sustainable travel on this trip

• Leave no trace: We do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish behind in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same.
• Plastic waste reduction: Please bring your own reusable water bottle on this trip; tap water is safe to drink.

Is this trip for you?

This trip is graded Activity Level 5 (Challenging). For more on our trip gradings, visit our Activity Level Guidelines page.

Some of the days are indeed challenging with up to 5,250ft (1,600m) of ascent and, on other days, similar descents. On some days, when we cross glacial moraine, the terrain is rough and loose underfoot. There are also some steep sections with chains and ladders that are technically simple but not suitable for anyone who suffers from vertigo. The cumulated fatigue of hard trekking for two weeks should not be underestimated. As this is a group trip, you need to be confident your fitness will allow you to enjoyably walk at a consistent and steady pace that matches the group average, therefore allowing the group to finish the day at a reasonable time. You will also enjoy the trek a great deal more if your fitness allows you to walk the route in relative ease.

There is one qualified International Mountain Leader (IML) that accompanies the group throughout and it is their decision if you accompany the group on any particular day. For safety reasons, the group leader may also change their walking style from one where everyone walks at their own pace to one where the group walks together at the speed of the slowest, depending on the conditions, weather and visibility. This scenery on this trip is stunning and may well be the best walking you have ever done, but it is important to be prepared and have a high level of walking fitness and stamina.

While camping, the support leader will put up your tent; in the morning, you will be expected to pack away your own tent (these are modern pop-up tents that are very easy and quick to fold away and pack) and the whole group generally helps to load the support vehicle on the days when we move camp. After breakfast and on the nights when we eat in camp, expect to help with the washing up.

If you are unable to walk during the itinerary and want to opt out of a day, please note: this can sometimes be a little tricky. To reach the next point, you need to take a public bus or train (which run at limited times) or taxi (which can be expensive in more remote locations). Our support vehicle is not suitable for taking passengers, so please be aware of this when deciding to book this trip.

All ascents, descents and distances listed have been measured by our local partner using satellite-based mapping software. Please note, GPS measuring devices can give differing results, especially in mountainous terrain and on winding paths. Measurements stated throughout these Trip Notes are given to help you understand the types of terrain and distances you will encounter. Timings stated include lunch and photo stops and will vary depending on the pace of your group.

If you have any concerns about your suitability for this trip or questions regarding the grading, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Please note: It is essential you have helicopter evacuation cover for this trip.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as generally not suitable for persons of reduced mobility. However if you are a regular traveller on such trips, please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.

Vaccinations and Health

France

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, rabies and tick-borne encephalitis. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Switzerland

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, rabies and tick-borne encephalitis. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Visa

France

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter France. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.
Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.
• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/france
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/france
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/france/entry-requirements
• USA:  www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/France.html

Switzerland

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Switzerland. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/switzerland
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/switzerland
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/switzerland/entry-requirements
• USA:  www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Switzerland.html

Food & Drink

All breakfasts, 10 picnic lunches and 12 dinners are included in this trip.

On eight nights, we take our evening meal in camp; on four nights, we take our evening meal in a nearby local restaurant or it is prepared for us by the hut or inn. The restaurant and hut/inn meals, which are prepared for us, are usually arranged as a ‘menu’ for the whole group and, as they are based on special negotiations made by us, represent better value than eating independently. On free days 9 and 14, dinner is not included and needs to be bought locally. Please note, should flight times change to arrive earlier, or depart later, additional meals will not be included. Please also note that no refund will be given for meals not taken or taken other than where designated.

Typical meals

Breakfast: Usually consists of coffee, tea, cereal, yoghurt, fresh fruit, bread and conserves.

Lunch: Picnic-style lunches will normally include bread, cold meat, cheese, sometimes boiled eggs or tinned fish, fresh salad and fresh fruit. You may wish to bring (or purchase locally) snack bars for an extra energy boost during the day.

Evening meal: Whether in camp or in a nearby restaurant, we endeavour to make dinner something to look forward to. Each day there will be a freshly prepared menu for the whole group consisting of:

• A soup, salad or similar
• A main course of meat, fish or vegetarian option served with a selection of vegetables and carbohydrates
• A dessert

Beer, wine, bottled water, coffee, tea or other drinks are not included in the price of evening meals taken in restaurants. Coffee and tea are included with the evening meal when we eat in camp, and beer and wine are also available for purchase at a modest cost.

Vegetarians: We happily cater for vegetarians – please inform us at the time of booking.

Vegans: If you adhere to a vegan diet, you may find the variety of food offered to be limited, since veganism is relatively uncommon in this region.

The feedback we receive for the food we serve is great but please be aware that facilities and practicality forces us, and the restaurants we use, to put our efforts into making one excellent group meal with a vegetarian option. Of course, any allergies will be respected.

Weather

Expect fair weather from late June to early October, but all mountain ranges create their own weather patterns and the Alps are no exception. It can and does rain and it can be surprisingly cold at times, especially on the high passes.

Expected daytime temperatures are:

• 15C-25C (59F-77F) in the valleys, although it can sometimes reach 30C (86F) in July/August
• 5C-15C (41F-59F) on the passes, though it will feel colder if wet and windy
• 5C-15C (41F-59F) in the valley at night, possibly a little lower early and late in the season.

There is always the possibility of lying snow, especially in the early season, and snowfall even in August and September when we may find new snow on the passes. Please be aware that on late-season treks (September) the days are shorter and we need to make early starts to make the most of the available daylight.