Arolla to Zermatt Haute Route Self Guided in 6 Days

The Haute Route trek is one of the world’s great multi-day treks and is possible only in July, August and early September each year. The route links two renowned alpine mountaineering centres, Chamonix in France, home to Mont Blanc and Zermatt in Switzerland, home to the Matterhorn. It covers 221km of stunning Alpine trails.

The Walkers Haute Route trek is considered a tough to challenging trek, with a variety of terrains and altitude changes, and requiring a good level of fitness and experience in long-distance trekking. The main thing people aren’t prepared for is the elevation, it’s worth pre-trip trying to get in as much training with elevation gain and descent before your trek! This is considered a tougher trek then some of it’s other Alpine treks such as the Tour du Mont Blanc Trek and Alta Via 1.

You don’t need any previous trekking experience but it is worth having some hill-walking experience behind you. This will help prepare you for the amount of walking you’ll be doing on this trek. You must be able to walk comfortably on mixed ground (plenty of ascent and descent) for long periods of time, wearing a backpack.

You need to be able to hike for 6-8 hours at a moderate pace. Trekking is all about having good cardiovascular endurance to be able to continue being active for long periods.

Adventure Base will provide you with a map, .gpx files for navigation, and GPS waypoints for your trip. It’s important you study the route before you set off, preferably the evening before each day of hiking, so that you have an idea of what your next day will entail. Take into consideration distance, elevation gain and loss, and exposure to elements (will you be up high in terrain exposed to the elements, or lower down in perhaps more sheltered terrain) when studying these.

Phone signal is not always available on the trails and battery life on your mobile device can quickly be drained when using a navigation app (especially in areas of weak phone signal, where your phone has to work harder to find signal), as well as by colder temperatures (such as in cold winds). It is a good idea to carry an external battery charger as a backup so that you can charge on the go if necessary. Putting your phone in airplane mode will help preserve its battery life.

Trails are well sign posted but they often present various options. Often there are variation routes that get you to the same place. For example there might be a high pass or a low pass. Deciding which one to take will depend on weather conditions and/or your preference on the day. Each sign will also provide a rough estimate of the time it takes to get to the next stop.

Our advice is to check the map or your device whenever you get to a junction to ensure that you are taking the correct trail to lead you to your destination. Taking these few minutes to confirm you’re going in the right direction will save you time in the long run, as a wrong turn can be costly time-wise but also energy-wise.

They are fairly basic but comfortable. You will sleep in dormitories on a shared basis, sometimes up to 6-8 per room (private rooms can be requested but availability is limited). The lodges offer breakfast and dinner (half board – included in your package), as well as options for buying snacks and a packed lunch for the following day. You can also stop for lunch at a refuge along your way.

Yes. You can pre-book luggage transfers if you would like your main luggage bag delivered to your accommodation each night (excluding mountain huts). Please let us know when you book.

The starting point of the Walkers Haute Route trek varies depending on the route you book, but the most common starting points is Chamonix (France). The nearest major airport to the starting point is Geneva Airport, from which you can take a transfer, bus, or rental car to reach the starting point. If you’re not starting at the beginning of the Haute Route then please get in touch and we can advise on best options. See our direction page here.

You can find a full kit list here. Best tip: don’t carry too much! You’ll always need less than you think. FYI – good trail shoes are fine for the WHR, big bulky hiking boots aren’t necessarily needed.

You will need comfortable, durable trekking boots. Something like the Salomon X Ultra Mid 2 Gore-Tex boot. Gore-tex will ensure your feet stay dry and warm. Trail shoes are also OK, although make sure they fit well and are durable.

We recommend a backpack between 30-35 litres but it all depends on how you like to pack and what you like to bring. It should be large enough to carry all your equipment but light enough to keep the weight down. The backpack should have a waist strap and ideally come with a rain cover for those soggy days.

On the whole you are likely to experience temperatures in the mid 20’s (Celsius) during July to September. However, in the mountains the weather can be quite unpredictable and there is always a chance that the temperature can drop very low (to freezing sometimes) or go as high as the early 30’s, so come prepared. By prepared, we mean having lots of layers and plenty of suncream, a hat, sunglasses etc.

This depends on a few factors and how bad the weather is. You can aim to continue the trek even if it’s raining/snowing as long as it’s safe to do so. Take a look at the available shortcuts/transport options for that stage or get in touch with us for advice (learn more here).

In short, no. Whilst we will always strive to get you along the trek safely, sometimes the weather or other factors like your personal fitness will prevent you from completing the trek. The lead guide will always conduct a meeting with the clients and other guides each evening to check how everyone is doing and to field any questions or concerns. All decisions will have client wellbeing as a top priority. But in 99 out of 100 cases you’ll make it! We will always provide vehicle support if necessary.

Let’s face it, these types of trips don’t come risk free. We’re putting ourselves in amazing environments but also environments that carry an element of risk with them. In order to protect yourself adequately you will need a specialist travel insurance that caters for the types of activities you will be undertaking. It is a condition of our agreement that you are covered by adequate travel insurance for your arrangements. Click here to understand which one is for you.

Whilst we have done our utmost to ensure that your trip will go according to plan, there are certain elements that are beyond our control. We recommend that you carefully read and understand the following section in case you find yourself in need of assistance.

The mountains, if not treated with complete respect, can be a dangerous place. Weather can change quickly and terrain can quickly become treacherous. Making good safe decisions based on the weather forecast and your energy levels when on a self-guided trip is paramount to making sure you have a successful trip.

We have two numbers you can call if there is an emergency but if the situation is critical and requires immediate support then please call 112. This is a European emergency number and will connect you to someone who can then redirect you to the local service you need.

• In resort phone: +33 7497 767 71
• Office: 0044 (0) 20 3813 4779

Access to internet and mobile signal during the Walkers Haute Route trek may be limited in remote areas. Most areas are pretty good for signal apart from some of the higher passes you go over.

There are two types of currencies used while on the trip: Euros and the Swiss Franc, though most if not all Swiss refuges on the Haute Route will accept Euros (€1=1CHF). You will need to carry some cash on the trip as not all businesses accept credit card. Along the route you will find ATM’s in some of the towns you stay in but we recommend planning ahead. You can expect to spend anywhere from €15-€50 per day, depending on what you order.

Do I need to pay a tourist tax?

We do our best to cover all tourist taxes in advance when booking your accommodation. However, some places—especially more remote mountain refuges—require the tax to be paid in cash on departure. If that’s the case it’s usually just a small amount (a few euros per night). We recommend carrying a bit of extra cash just in case.