The Haute Route is the most famous ski tour in the world and with good reason. It is a long, tough, beautiful and highly rewarding ski journey through stunning alpine touring terrain linking the worlds two best known alpine resorts, Chamonix and Zermatt.
With steep slopes from the departure, challenging cols, long descents and huge glaciers this tour will test your skiing, skinning and mountaineering skills as well as your fitness. However, fortunately, the excellent Swiss mountain huts in which to relax each evening are also an integral part of the Haute Route experience. A superb climax to this classic week of ski mountaineering is provided by the long glacial ski descent, under the North Face of the Matterhorn and right down to the streets of Zermatt…
March & April 2026 Ski Haute Route Courses – Booking Now
Enquire now about courses & private guiding for spring 2026 & 2027
2026 Ski Haute Route
2026 Dates & Guiding Fees
Ski Haute Route Conditions
Plateau de Couloir Route Haute Route
Fast Haute Route
En route to the Dix Hut in the second half of the Haute Route. North Face of Mont Blanc de Cheilon beyond. Photo Lou Reynolds.
Whilst most of our guests will want to do the classic ski Haute Route described below, for private guiding we do also offer a couple of interesting alternative variations including the hard Plateau de Couloir Route which is also a 6 day journey plus a training, equipment check & ski day in Chamonix making 7 days in total.
We also offer a faster & physically harder 3 Day Haute Route for experienced and very fit ski mountaineers wanting an an additional challenge & magnificent rapid high mountain traverse.
Thanks for all the smooth organization behind the scenes, every day for me was a superb experience. Lou was inspirational and really made the tour for me she really pulled out all the stops to make it a wonderful week for everyone. I learned a huge amount from her and she has my greatest respect.
Classic Ski Haute Route – 7 Day Open Course
A superb ski tour and now the most popular way of doing the Haute Route….
This journey takes an elegant natural line through the Swiss Valais and avoids some of the tougher mountaineering challenges involved in the Plateau de Couloir and Grand Lui variations. It provides fantastic views, some highly enjoyable skiing and a number of short technical passages. The majority of the terrain however is ideally suited to alpine ski touring and is a pleasure to be journeying through it, whether skinning or skiing. This route offers a fine & logical progression in terms of sleeping altitude as the hut height increases slowly and the higher elevation summits and cols are tackled in the back end of the week. It is also slightly less committing and less susceptible to inclement weather and snow conditions than the alternatives.
En route to the Pigne! Magnificent touring terrain from the Dix to the Vignettes Hut over the Pigne d’Arolla. Matterhorn in the distance on the right and Dent Blanche left
The route described below is our classic Plan A itinerary* and works well for most parties with good fitness and some existing ski touring & basic mountaineering experience. There are some shorter days with early lunch arrival times at the hut and often this gives an opportunity for an optional additional afternoon tour or some technical training around the hut…or a big lunch in the hut and a siesta!
Pre Course
As with all our ski courses, we recommend you prepare as much as possible in advance with relevant ski fit preparation, ideally other off piste & touring trips that season (eg see our alpine ski touring weekends and Haute Route training days) and then arrive at least a day or two early to both warm up your ski legs & check equipment. This is especially important if you will be renting boots or skis & bindings. Please also make sure your skis are well serviced & bindings correctly adjusted by a professional ski technician.
Informal evening meeting, team introductions, chat through the plans for the week with the latest info on conditions and weather forecasts plus equipment checks and questions. Accommodation: Hotel in Chamonix Valley (1050m)
Day 1
Enjoyable ‘shake down’ ski touring and mountaineering day from a base in Chamonix usually with a ski lift approach via either the Skyway Monte Bianco, Aiguille du Midi or Grands Montets Ski lifts. This is an opportunity to fine tune any equipment issues and prepare the ski legs and mountain lungs! Accommodation: Hotel in Chamonix Valley (1050m)
Great snow in the Combe Vierge with the Dent du Geant beyond.
Day 2
Approach via the Grands Montets ski area to access the superb Argentière Glacier and ascent to the Col du Passon for which the final section is booted with crampons and skis on the pack. A traverse across the huge Glacier du Tour takes us to the Refuge Albert Premiere and our first and only hut night in France before we head in to Switzerland tomorrow. Accommodation: Refuge Albert Premiere (2707m)
Lovely sunset and evening views into the Aiguilles Rouges from Albert Premier Hut. The journey has begun…
Day 3
A highly interesting mix of skinning, mountaineering, skiing, taxi and ski lifts today with a veritable ski safari taking us from the French side of the Mont Blanc Massif right in to the Swiss Valais with a base camp in a lovely mountain hut above the famous Swiss resort of Verbier. Accommodation: Cabane du Mont Fort (2457m)
Cabane du Mont Fort above Verbier in the Western Swiss Valais Alps. The Haute Route journey heads east…
Day 4
A classic days ski touring crossing 3 cols and making an ascent of the fine ski peak of the Rosablanche (3336m). A lovely long north facing descent takes us to the comfortable Prafleuri Hut, 5-7 hours. Snow profile analysis training / avalanche emergency procedures training as appropriate.
Accommodation: Prafleuri Hut (2662m)
Arriving at the Prafleuri Hut after the fine ski descent of the Rosa Blanche glacier having come from the Mont Fort Hut at Verbier that morning.
Day 5
An early start with skins on takes us up a short climb to the Col de Roux. A long traverse above the Dix Valley leads into a steady ascent to this large and lively alpine hut, 4-6 hours. If time, energy and conditions allow an afternoon ascent of La Luette (3369m) can be made in 2-3 hours.
Accommodation: Dix Hut (2928m)
The famous Dix Hut providing a hospitable base camp and spring board over the Pigne d’Arolla and penultimate day of the Haute Route
Day 6
Atmospheric dawn departure and skin under Mont Blanc de Cheilon North Face. The ski traverse of the Pigne d’Arolla (4-6 hours) is a classic and provides both fantastic views and, at 3772m, the high point of this tour. Descent to the Vignettes Hut or, occasionally, to make the two final days more even, we can continue over the Italian border to the Nacamuli Hut.
Accommodation: Vignettes Hut (3160m) or Nacamuli (2830m) Hut
Quality chalky firm pack snow on the final steep turns en route to the Vignettes Hut from the Dix having traversed the Pigne d’Arolla
Day 7
The big one! A wonderful days ski touring and a fitting climax to this tour. 3 Cols, 25km distance and 2000m of ski descent culminating in the final descent under the Matterhorn and, snow dependant, down to the streets of Zermatt, 7-8 hours.
We allow time for a celebratory drink / late lunch in Zermatt before taking the train or taxi back to Chamonix.
Accommodation: Hotel in Chamonix Valley (1050m)
The magnificent last day of the Haute Route, skiing the Stockli Glacier in to Zermatt and beneath the Matterhorn. What a finalé
*Please note that all our Haute Route itineraries are subject to possible considerable change according to prevailing weather, snow conditions and even availability of hut bookings. You often need a very flexible approach to make the most of an Haute Route tour, so please embrace this element of ski touring and don’t book if you are not happy embracing a flexible approach.
Thanks once again for last week. It was amazing.Looking to next year Rich and I are considering the Ski Gran Paradiso course.
Oliver Neuberger, Ski Haute Route Open Group, April 2024
Fitness, Ski & Mountaineering Experience Pre-Requirements
Celebrating a fine journey from Chamonix to arrive on the pistes of Zermatt at Stafelalp
The Haute Route is not an ideal beginners ski tour, partly because it has a long and tough first day from Chamonix. The Col du Chardonnet or Passon are not the best places to learn how to kick turn! This is in fact a fairly challenging tour with some big days and steep terrain and therefore is suitable for folk with some previous ski touring experience and a good level of fitness (ability to sustain an ascent rate of 300m/hour for up to 4 hours of ascent). There are some long and steep descents on a wide variety of off-piste snow conditions and folk should have the ski technique and fitness to cope with this whilst carrying a rucksack with all your kit for the week. Good skinning technique, secure kick-turns on steep terrain; experience of using crampons and walking / climbing uphill with your skis on your rucksack are all also important skills. If you don’t have these skills check out our introduction to ski touring course.
Folk joining our Verbier Haute Route will require solid touring & off piste skills with good fitness but the days are not as long or tough as the Plateau route. Thus the pre-requirements are as follows:
- Good off piste skiing ability. Confident in a wide variety of mixed snow conditions, from powder to crust or hardpack, on steep slopes up to the off piste equivalent of black runs, eg up to around 35 degrees. Able to link short radius turns under control on these slopes at altitude as part of a mountain day.
- Existing ski touring experience with a minimum of 5 days using skins / touring bindings and ski crampons
- Good level of mountain fitness with the ability to complete 6-9 hour days without any problems and maintain an overall ascent rate of 300m+ / hour
- Some mountaineering experience using boot crampons and ice axe (we can arrange training for this prior to the trip if you don’t have any)
- Willingness to be part of a team and ski as an open group with all and any issues that may arise accordingly, please see our FAQ on the difference between open groups and private guiding here
Folk wishing to ski the Plateau du Couloir Route will need to be even fitter and more comfortable on steeper terrain whether skinning, skiing or cramponing and those wanting to do the Haute Route in 3 days will need all that but with an exceptional level of fitness & motivation!
En route to the famous crossing of the Col de Chardonnet on the first day of a Verbier Haute Route bound for the Trient Hut. Many teams now cross the Col du Passon instead and some stay at the Albert Premier Hut as an alternative first day.
Course Notes & Equipment List
Please note that the detailed kit list, given via the link below must be followed and all hire kit including boots, skis, skins, ski crampons, poles, transceiver, shovel, probe must be hired in advance or arranged in advance with us.
2025 Ski Haute Route Dates & Prices
Ski Haute Route – Open Course
£1795 Per Person (see details of inclusions & exclusions below)
Maximum guiding ratio 1 Guide to 4 guests
What’s included in the Price?
- 7 full days ski mountaineering with an International Mountain Guide (IFMGA)
- We offer you a ‘guiding only’ package which means that you pay cost price for all other expenses and can choose your own level of accommodation in Chamonix.
- Trip planning & booking of mountain huts
- Loan of transceiver, shovel & probe, crampons, ice axe & harness as required
What’s not included in the price?
Please note that the shared portion of these expenses like the taxis and guides hut fees are split between the number of guests in the team. We usually have a full group of 4 but if there are less then please note that the expenses will be slightly higher, although you will have lower ratio guiding!
- Accommodation. We recommend that you stay in Chamonix eg at the Hotel Pt Isabella Hotel which is very central and near the ski hire shops and ‘apres ski’ area.
- Mountain hut fees, for you and the guides. Allow about 85 euros per night half board accommodation for each person and just over half this for the shared cost of the Guide (shared between all guests on the team).
- The Mont Fort Hut is more expensive – around 130CHF pppn and 70 for the guide.
- The guides hut expenses are split between the group members and are discounted in huts. Often the base way to deal with these expenses is to make a communal group ‘kitty’.
- Lift passes in Chamonix and Verbier eg about 55 -75 euros for 1 day for lift pass
- Taxi from Champex to La Chable. Total price 130 CHF in 2024
- Train from Zermatt to Tasch, around 20CHF per person
- Taxis, from Zermatt (Tasch) to Chamonix. Allow up to around 500 euros total for this trip (split between all guests) although final price could be less and will depend on total number of guests in the team.
- Taxi fees could also be more if the weather dictates various alternative plans are required.
- As an alternative option there is a train from Zermatt to Chamonix, in 2023 this leaves just after 1600 and reaches Chamonix about 4 hours later and costs €121.40 per person
- Food and drink during the course
- Ski equipment. Check the kit list below
Approximate additional costs beyond the course / private guiding fees:
Verbier Haute Route: based on 2 nights 2* hotel accommodation in Chamonix half board single room (approx 110€ per night) and huts/hotels for the planned route, including a share of the guides huts, approximate costs will be about 900 CHF + Chamonix hotel costs.
Plateau de Couloir Route: based on 3 nights 2* hotel accommodation in Chamonix half board single room (approx 110€ per night) and hotels/huts for the planned route, including a share of the guides huts, approximate costs will be about 900 CHF + Chamonix hotel costs.
Fast 3-day Haute Route: based on 3 nights 2* hotel accommodation in Chamonix half board single room (approx 110€ per night) and huts/hotels for the planned route including a share of the guides huts, approximate costs will be about 600 CHF + Chamonix hotel costs.
Private Guiding For Ski Haute Route Programmes
Verbier Haute Route
7 Days, £3995 for a single skier + £300 per additional skier
Group size Max 4
For Groups of 5-8 We highly recommend also taking an Aspirant Guide at increased cost but with a greater level of support for the team.
Fast Haute Route
Mid March – Early April – Please Enquire For Private Guiding Dates To Suit Your Convenience
5 Days, £2975 for a single skier + £300 per additional skier (Group size Max 3)
Plateau Haute Route
7 Days, £4225 for a single skier + £300 per additional skier (Group size Max 3)
The East face of the Matterhorn catches the first rays of the spring dawn. The North face on the right is above teams as they ski off the Stockli Glacier and in to Zermatt.
Plateau du Couloir Route
For many ski mountaineers, this is the Classic Haute Route and it is certainly a longer, tougher and more committing option than the Verbier option. It includes an ascent of the 600m high ‘Plateau du Couloir’ which, from a mountaineering point of view, is the crux of the journey. By taking a more southerly course this line avoids any road travel which certainly adds a more aesthetic feel to a journey which is only possible if conditions are right and the team are fit enough. If all these things come together, it is a magnificent undertaking!
Skiing the steep, sustained and serious pitches of the Plateau de Couloir in descent on a reverse Haute Route from Saas Fee to Chamonix. Normally the Plateau du Couloir is ascended with crampons from the Valsorrey Hut.
Day 0
Evening meet, introductions and equipment checks at Hotel in the Chamonix Valley. *Note 1 above, Pre-Course Build up.
Hotel in Chamonix Valley (1050m)
Day 1
Off-piste skiing and ski touring equipment checks at Grands Montets ski area. Mid afternoon descent to Argentiere Glacier and Hut. Argentiere Hut (2771m)
Day 2
Early start for crossing of Col Du Chardonnet (3323m). Descent to Glacier de Saleina and back up to Col de Grande Lui (3457m). Huge (1800m) descent to La Fouly. NB this day can be split using an intermediate Hut for less fit or acclimatised parties. Hotel / Hostel in La Fouly (C.1600m)
For those who would like to add a tough ski summit to an already tough journey, Mont Velan presents that opportunity from the Velan Hut between Grand St Bernard & Valsorrey.
Day 3
A day of mainly skinning crossing the 2698m ‘Fenetre de Ferret’ and linking the village of La Fouly with the Great St. Bernard Hospice. Great St. Bernard Hospice (2469m)
Day 4
A long day with a lot of climbing and some (a little!) fine skiing and there is an option to use a ski lift to save 600m from Bourg St. Bernard. If the Mont Velan option is taken the route splits on this day to ascend to the Velan Hut instead of the Valsorey, 9-10 hours to the Valsorey Hut. Valsorey Hut (3030m)
Day 5
A magnificent days ski mountaineering and one of the key passages of the Haute Route. The ascent of the 600m Plateau de Couloir is likely to be mostly in crampons with skis on the packs. After crossing the Col du Sanadon (3504m) a fine long and intricate descent can be made to the lovely Chanrion Hut, 7-9 hours. Chanrion Hut (3462m)
The sustained snow slopes of the Plateau du Couloir from near Valsorrey. The target is the flat looking snowy pass centre right….
Day 6
Another superb days ski touring and after ascending the high col of ‘Les Portons’ the crossing of the Pigne d’Arolla at nearly 3800m (the high point of the whole route) gives a big mountain feel, great views of the Matterhorn and other Swiss giants and some good skiing down to the Vignettes Hut, 6-8hours. In poorer weather or if an easier day appeals the steady ascent of the Otemma Glacier can be made to reach the Vignettes. OR – if you prefer a longer day and to save a day on the programme here, it’s possible to continue up the long & steady Otemma Glacier from Chanrion direction to Vignettes (3160m) or Nacamuli (2830m) Huts.
Day 7
The final day, and what a day! Another great days ski touring and a wonderful climax to this tour. 3 Cols, 25km distance and 2000m of ski descent culminating in the final descent under the Matterhorn and into Zermatt, 6-8 hours. Taxi to Chamonix or stay in Zermatt for further ski options. Chamonix Valley Hotel or stay in Zermatt for further options
En route to the Pigne! Magnificent touring terrain from the Dix to the Vignettes Hut over the Pigne d’Arolla. Matterhorn in the distance on the right and Dent Blanche left
Please note that all our Haute Route itineraries are subject to possible considerable change according to prevailing weather, snow conditions and even availability of hut bookings. You often need a very flexible approach to make the most of an Haute Route tour, so please embrace this element of ski touring and don’t book if you are not happy with this flexible approach.
3 Day Haute Route
This traverse includes a couple of days with ascents up to 1700m and all 3 days have well over 2000m of skiing in descent. There are lots of transitions and all three days will feel like major days ski mountaineering and once put together back to back form a substantial ski expedition! This will require a blend of good ski ability, good touring skills, with a solid kick turn and very good fitness.
It will also require pretty good weather and conditions and, due to the nature of the days extending later in to the afternoon, may be best suited to early in the high touring season. In 2015 we completed this 3 day traverse in good style with good conditions in the 3rd week of March. The Huts had just opened but were quiet, the snow cover was good and the slightly cooler conditions meant the later finishes worked ok.
Paul & Ben celebrating an awesome fast journey…so far…At the Col de Valpelline with the Matterhorn behind & Dent d’Herens right. The Stockli glacier ski now leads to the streets and bars of Zermatt…
Following these principles of a fast well trained team wanting to do a swift Haute Route in early season cooler conditions, there are lots of other options for a 2-5 day Haute route to be designed, so get in touch to discuss your preferences!
Day 1
Morning meet, introductions and equipment checks at Hotel in the Chamonix Valley. *Note 1 above, Pre-Course Build up.
Ski Mountaineering Warm Up / Acclimatisation & equipment checks using one of the high lifts of the Mont Blanc Range e.g. Punta Hellbroner on Italian side of Mont Blanc. An opportunity to test all aspects of your ski mountaineering skills at high altitude whilst doing some good skiing on day 1. Hotel in Chamonix Valley (1050m)
Day 2
Early start in Chamonix to ensure all equipment is ready & prepared before being first in the queue for the Grands Montets lift. A rapid ascent to 3300m gives access to the sustained ski down to the Argentiere Glacier which is rapidly followed by the ascent of the Col de Passon and over on to the Tour Glacier. After crossing the Swiss border and on to the Trient Glacier a traverse under the Trient is made to access the famous Val d’Arpette. This is descended all the way to Champex where a swift drink & taxi ride to Verbier allows the team to make the last lifts through the Verbier lift system and check in to the comfortable Cabane de Mont Fort rest & recuperation for the evening. Phew! A great day! Mont Fort Hut, Verbier (2457m)
Haute Route team ready to roll from Les Grands Montets! The first morning of the first day has some tough sustained skiing and skinning and needs to be well prepared for! Col du Chardonnet beyond…
Day 3
Another long days ski touring linking days 3 and 4 of the Verbier Haute Route. From the Mont Fort Hut 3 cols are crossed and a traverse under the Rosablanche (3336m) before a fine long north facing descent leads to the Prafleuri Hut. If conditions allow, and the traverse above Lac Dix can still be made, then the onward jouney takes us a short climb to the Col de Roux. A long traverse from here, above the Dix Valley, leads into a steady ascent towards the Dix Hut. We break off before the hut and cross the famous ‘Pas De Chèvre’ to access the fine long descent in to Arolla Village (2006m) for a welcome night in a Hotel.
Day 4
Another tough & very sustained ascent leads out of Arolla up towards the Bertol Hut. Legs are getting tired now but the there is not far to go before the Col de Valpeline is reached. The fantastic long final descent of the Stockli Glacier leads under the Matterhorn North Face and down in to Zermatt and a drink to celebrate the end of an impressive, swift & scenic journey through the Swiss Valais. A taxi can be taken back to Chamonix or a night spent in Zermatt to enjoy the feeling of a journey well done….and give the legs a break! Hotel in Chamonix or Zermatt
Day 5
This final day can be used to finish the journey in the event of poor weather experienced along the way. In the event of everything going to the Plan A, it could also be used for a final day of skiing around Chamonix although your legs may be ready for a day off by then! Hotel in Chamonix
Please note that all our Haute Route itineraries are subject to possible considerable change according to prevailing weather, snow conditions and even availability of hut bookings. You often need a very flexible approach to make the most of an Haute Route tour, so please embrace this element of ski touring and don’t book if you are not happy embracing a flexible approach.
Ski Haute Route – Latest Conditions
Please check the latest snow & skiing conditions info below for the Haute Route journey and let us know if you have any recent info we can add here as a resource for other teams heading out…
Bon ski, bonne route!
24-30 March 2025, Good Early Season Conditions & A (nearly!) Plan A Along The Ski Haute Route.
Good early season for our American Norweigan team making a full 6 day traverse from the Chamonix Valley to the last day of the Haute Route although an unfortunate resurgence of a pre-existing calf injury meant they ended up skiing down to Arolla on the last day instead of Zermatt.
The tour went well though with good conditions for crossing the Col de Passon and in to the Albert Premier on the first day, see below for current the preferrred route on the lower approach to the Passon in current conditions:
Late March conditions on the approach to the Col du Passon. The left hand approach much better than the right at the moment!
The Tour & Trient Glaciers were well filled in and a pleasure to ski over, this is the upper snow bay of the Col Sup du Tour:
Approaching the Col Sup du Tour with the Tour Glacier below.
The Trient Glacier was also skiing nicely with a good cover of cold velvet snow on the upper easy angled section and almost pisted / skied out channels giving easy grippy skiing right in to the base of the impressively engineered new Via Ferratta route to reach the Col Ecandies.
The snowy ramp and Via Ferratta leading to the Col Ecandies.
The Val d’Arpette was initially a tiring mix of half tracked and crusty but turned lower down in to pleasant warmed pisted style parcours in the little valleys and through the trees before reaching the actual pisted road down to Champex.
The Mont Fort to Prafleuri Hut and on to the Dix all went well but the only poor weather day of the trip here meant a diversion via the Pas de Chevre and Arolla before climbing up the Vignettes Hut.
Climbing the ladders to the Pas de Chevre instead of traversing the Pigne d’Arolla on a poor weather day on the Haute Route
But very good conditions had been reported on the steeper ‘Serpentine’ section on the crossing of the Pigne as had good tracks and good conditions been in place for the Col du Mont Brulé and descent to Zermatt in general.
Climbing the ladders to the Pas de Chevre instead of traversing the Pigne d’Arolla on a poor weather day on the Haute Route
We have places available on our late March Ski Haute Route course in 2026 so do get in touch for more details if you’re interested – and get skiing and training for next year!
7-13 April 2024, High Snow Volume & Very Good Ski Conditions Along The Haute Route
Our team enjoyed the impressively high snow volume along the Haute Route this year with some fresh snow and great skiing between the huts on our classic 6 day ski Haute Route tour. Col du Passon, Ecandies, Prafleuri, Traverse Lac de Dix, Pigne d’Arolla, Stockli Glacier, descent to Zermatt: Great conditions!
More conditions info and photos from the journey here:
18-23 April 2023, Plan A Haute Route Journey – Good Conditions
Well done to Ericka and Erik for a fine completion of the Haute Route despite some inclement weather along the way, but generally good conditions and good snow volume to make it a wonderful journey and brilliant ski mountaineering experience. Report and conditions info on our news page here:
21 March 2019, Good Early Season Conditions On The Verbier Route
Teams on the early spring Haute Route patrol have been enjoying good snow volume, quality and great weather on the Chamonix to Zermatt Ski traverse this week. The only notable exception, which was still fine, was the ascent of the Serpentine on the Pigne d’Arolla which has been scoured by the wind etc and was too icy for skinning. Thus an ascent of a decent boot track with crampons on could be done instead. Another 2 teams heading along the Verbier route next week – with more good weather forecast – so another update later in the month.
3 April 2018, Quiet At Valsorrey & No One Crossing The Plateau Du Couloir
The guardian at the Valsorrey Hut indicated the poor weather had left the crossing of the Plateau du Couloir quiet for a number of days although, with plenty of warm & sunny weather ahead in the forecast, hopefully things will settle down quite quickly with some sunny days and cool nights.
30 March 2018, Lots Teams Crossing The Col de Passon, A Few On The Chardonnet
Despite the powerful foehn winds funnelling down the Argentiere basin there were numerous teams crossing the Col de Passon today from both the Argentiere Hut and first lift at Grands Montets. Conditions are good for the ascent with impressive snow cover to access the snow slopes above the Argentiere Glacier and then the couloir to the Col itself. No info from the Col de Chardonnet so please let us know if you have crossed recently and what the snow conditions were like / anchors available on the Swiss side descent!
