• Chamonix-Zermatt on ski touring, the legendary Haute Route
  • Chamonix-Zermatt on ski touring, the legendary Haute Route
  • Chamonix-Zermatt on ski touring, the legendary Haute Route
  • Chamonix-Zermatt on ski touring, the legendary Haute Route
  • Chamonix-Zermatt on ski touring, the legendary Haute Route
  • Chamonix-Zermatt on ski touring, the legendary Haute Route
  • Chamonix-Zermatt on ski touring, the legendary Haute Route
  • Chamonix-Zermatt on ski touring, the legendary Haute Route
Chamonix-Mont-Blanc / Valais

Chamonix-Zermatt on ski touring, the legendary Haute Route

4,7/5 (11 reviews)
Réf : FCZSR

In summary

  • Sports
    Ski touring
  • Duration
    6 days
  • Level
    Advance

    Levels

    Ski touring
    Beginner
    For those who have never done ski touring or off-piste skiing but are comfortable skiing down red or black runs. You will ski for 3 to 4 hours a day. You must be capable of skinning uphill for a minimum of 2 to 3 hours, covering an elevation gain and loss of between 300m and 600m per day.
    Intermediate
    For those who have already skied off-piste using ski lifts. You will ski for 4 to 6 hours a day. Vertical gain can reach 800 m per day.
    Confirmed
    For those who occasionally go ski touring and off-piste skiing. You are capable of skiing down almost any terrain and ski for several consecutive days. You will ski for 4 to 6 hours a day, with vertical gains of up to 1,000 m per day.
    Advanced
    For regular ski tourers. You are capable of skiing down any type of snow on slopes of up to 40°. You frequently ski in powder. You have perfect control over your speed, sideslipping, and both uphill and downhill kick turns. You have prior experience with ski touring or with vertical gains exceeding 1,200m. You are capable of maintaining this level of activity over several consecutive days.
    Expert
    For regular ski tourers: You are capable of skiing down all types of snow on slopes exceeding 40°. You frequently ski in powder and have perfect control over your speed and sideslipping. You have experience with ski touring involving vertical gains of over 1,400m and have previously completed several consecutive days under these conditions.
  • Destination
    Chamonix-Mont-Blanc / Valais
  • Age
    From the age of 18
  • CO₂-Emissions
    43.11 kg CO2
  • Type of stay
    This group trip is perfect for travelers who want to experience a sporting adventure with other enthusiasts and be guided.
    Type of stay
    In a group
  • Languages
    French
    English

In a few words

Experience the legend of ski mountaineering by linking Chamonix to Zermatt . This exceptional high-mountain expedition takes you from Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn , where you'll encounter some of the most beautiful 4,000-meter peaks along six unforgettable stages. Enjoy the comfort of Swiss mountain huts each evening after exhilarating days on the slopes. The highest point of the route will be the Pigne d'Arolla at 3,796 meters, before concluding with a truly epic stage down to Zermatt. A legendary traverse for advanced skiers seeking breathtaking panoramas!

The highlights

  • The most famous of the great ski raids in the Alps
  • Magnificent panoramas and mountain passes over 3000m
  • Comfortable and welcoming shelters
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Photos

Sport

Level

Ski touring

Advance

Levels

Ski touring
Beginner
For those who have never done ski touring or off-piste skiing but are comfortable skiing down red or black runs. You will ski for 3 to 4 hours a day. You must be capable of skinning uphill for a minimum of 2 to 3 hours, covering an elevation gain and loss of between 300m and 600m per day.
Intermediate
For those who have already skied off-piste using ski lifts. You will ski for 4 to 6 hours a day. Vertical gain can reach 800 m per day.
Confirmed
For those who occasionally go ski touring and off-piste skiing. You are capable of skiing down almost any terrain and ski for several consecutive days. You will ski for 4 to 6 hours a day, with vertical gains of up to 1,000 m per day.
Advanced
For regular ski tourers. You are capable of skiing down any type of snow on slopes of up to 40°. You frequently ski in powder. You have perfect control over your speed, sideslipping, and both uphill and downhill kick turns. You have prior experience with ski touring or with vertical gains exceeding 1,200m. You are capable of maintaining this level of activity over several consecutive days.
Expert
For regular ski tourers: You are capable of skiing down all types of snow on slopes exceeding 40°. You frequently ski in powder and have perfect control over your speed and sideslipping. You have experience with ski touring involving vertical gains of over 1,400m and have previously completed several consecutive days under these conditions.
For regular ski tourers. You are capable of skiing down any type of snow on slopes of up to 40°. You frequently ski in powder. You have perfect control over your speed, sideslipping, and both uphill and downhill kick turns. You have prior experience with ski touring or with vertical gains exceeding 1,200m. You are capable of maintaining this level of activity over several consecutive days.

In figures

Ski touring

  • Average daily elevation gain: 902 m
  • Average daily descent: 1342 m
  • Maximum altitude: 3790 m
  • Exposed Passages: Yes

Management

During this stay, a supervisor will be present to guide and assist you.
Band : 1 supervisor for 4 to 6 people
Languages ​​spoken:
French
English
Guide de haute montagne

Our trip is led by a high mountain guide who will provide you with the technical information necessary for the smooth running of the stay.

Management

Security

The guide may need to modify the program to ensure safety depending on the weather and snow conditions of the mountain as well as the physical condition of the participants.
Learn more about supervision

Program

Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
  • map

    Chamonix - Argentière - Lognan - Albert 1er Refuge

    • Activity Ski touring
    • Positive elevation gain 600 m
    • Negative elevation 1080 m
    • Maximum altitude 3028 m
    • Exposed passages Yes
    • Accommodation Refuge
    • Breakfast not included
    • Lunch included
    • Dinner included

    Meet in Chamonix early in the morning with the group and your guide. Presentation of the raid and check of technical equipment, rental if necessary. Departure in participants' vehicles to reach the village of Argentière.

    You ascend by cable car, then a short descent leads to the Argentière Glacier. The route then climbs to the Col du Passon, the upper section of which requires crampons depending on conditions. From the pass, a gentle descent leads to the Albert 1er Refuge.

    Day 1

Note

This program may be modified at the guide's discretion if mountain conditions, weather or the physical condition of the participants require it.

For safety reasons and to ensure a consistent level corresponding to that announced, the management and organization reserve the right to interrupt your participation if your technical level and/or physical fitness do not correspond to those required.


Splitoboard?

In order to maintain a consistent daily rhythm, splitboards are not suitable for this trip.

Accommodation

🏔️ Mountain refuge - Days 1 to 5

In mountain huts , dormitories accommodate 8 to 10 people and are equipped with blankets or duvets for the night (bring your own sleeping bag liner for hygiene reasons). Slippers or Crocs are available in the huts; there's no need to bring sneakers. Consider bringing noise-reduction equipment: earplugs, etc.

Showers are not available except in the valley at Champex : there is no running water in the mountain huts except for the water flowing down from the glaciers. A few electrical outlets are available in the huts, but it's best to bring a spare battery for your camera and turn off your phone during the day.

Access

Departure
Chamonix, France
Day 1 : 08h00
End of stay
Zermatt
Day 6

The return trip from Zermatt to Chamonix is ​​not included in the price of the stay: some wish to stay in Zermatt at the end of the raid and others to return directly home.

🚌 It is possible to book a shuttle for the group from Zermatt. The guide will make a taxi reservation at the beginning of the trip for the return journey: the cost is CHF 550, payable directly to our transport provider on site (to be shared among the participants).

🚂 Return by train to Visp, then Martigny and finally Chamonix valley: allow €100 per person and on average about 4 hours return journey.

Go to the starting point

Access by train
Take the train toGare de Chamonix

🚂 Once at the SNCF train station of Saint Gervais les Bains le Fayet, you must take the TER tourist Mont Blanc Express to Chamonix.

Access by car
Travel to the place of stay with parking available

🚗 A40 "Autoroute Blanche" to Chamonix.

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Price details

The price includes

  1. The technical organization of the raid
  2. Supervision by a high mountain guide
  3. The ski lifts planned in the program
  4. Accommodation in mountain huts with half-board (breakfast and dinner)
  5. Lunch picnics from Day 1 to Day 6
  6. The transfers planned in the program
  7. The collective technical equipment (ropes, ice screws, safety carabiner)

The price does not include

  1. The return from Zermatt to Chamonix
  2. Individual technical equipment: harness, crampons, ice axe
  3. Ski touring equipment: boots, skis, skins, crampons, poles
  4. Personal safety equipment: avalanche transceiver with batteries, shovel, probe (rental available)
  5. Snacks for the race (cereal bars, dried fruit, chocolate bars, etc.) as you wish
  6. Drinks in mountain huts and personal expenses
  7. Travel expenses to the meeting point and from the dispersal point
  8. Insurance: mandatory helicopter search and rescue in high mountains in Switzerland, hospitalization and repatriation

Options

  1. Flex fare and insurance

Practical information

Specific formalities

Specifics

Before your departure, check with the embassy or consulate regarding the entry and stay requirements for your destination country. You can also find this information on the France Diplomatie website ( https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/dossiers-pays/ ).


In the case of flights with stopovers operated by different airlines, also check the entry requirements of the countries you are transiting through.

It is your responsibility to ensure you are in compliance, particularly regarding the validity of your identity documents (for example, some countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months after your return) , visa requirements, necessary vaccinations, and health recommendations. And don't forget to consider any customs restrictions and other potential requirements of your destination or transit country.


ℹ️ Information may change up to the departure date, remember to regularly check official websites.

Equipment

Equipment provided on site

  1. Group equipment (ropes, carabiners, ice screws)
  2. Slippers are available in the mountain huts.
  3. Blankets and duvets are provided in the shelters: remember to bring your own sleeping bag liner for hygiene reasons.

Equipment to bring

• A comfortable 40-litre mountaineering backpack with ski attachments.

Skis:

1 pair of touring skis with their appropriate bindings, as well as a brake or safety straps, and waxed (in order to maintain a consistent rhythm of the days, splitboards are not suitable for this trip)

  1. 1 pair of touring ski boots with Vibram soles
  2. 1 pair of self-adhesive climbing skins suitable for skis
  3. 1 pair of knives suitable for the fixings
  4. 1 pair of wide-pucked sticks

Others :

  1. Safety equipment: avalanche transceiver, shovel, probe
  2. Cleats with "Antibott" system
  3. Ice axe
  4. Harness and screwgate carabiners
  5. A leash
  6. An ice skewer
  7. Survival blanket
  8. 1 headlamp with batteries and spare bulb
  9. Pocket knife
  10. Thermos and water bottle
  11. Sleeping bag liner for mountain huts

Clothing to bring

Head :

  1. Cap
  2. "Buff" neck warmer
  3. Sunscreen (very high protection factor) and lip balm
  4. Category 4 glacier glasses + ski goggles
  5. A helmet

Upper body:

  1. 2 long-sleeved, breathable technical underwear like "Carline" (not cotton, which dries too slowly)
  2. 1 technical and breathable base layer
  3. 1 thick fleece jacket
  4. 1 down jacket
  5. 1 windproof and waterproof Gore-Tex type jacket
  6. 1 pair of windstopper mittens (fleece or wool)
  7. 1 pair of windstopper gloves (fleece or wool)
  8. 1 pair of glove liners

Lower body:

  1. 1 pair of breathable technical tights, "Carline" type
  2. 1 pair of comfortable mountain pants
  3. 1 pair of windproof and waterproof Gore-Tex type trousers
  4. 2 pairs of socks: 1 thin and 1 thick

Others :

  1. 1 "sleeving bag" type sheet for shelters
  2. 1 small toiletry bag with 1 quick-drying hand towel
  3. 1 x 100L plastic bag and a rain cover to protect belongings and backpack
  4. 1 waterproof pouch in which you will put your identity documents, your phone, your money and your insurance/assistance contract with all emergency telephone numbers

They traveled with us

Discover the authentic experiences of our travelers
4,7/5
(11 reviews)
At Decathlon, the reviews are reliable.
Reviews displayed in reverse chronological order
f

françois - 64 ans

april 2026 In a group
Translated from French
Excerpt from my journal (last day) Okay then, day 6, last day. The night before, during the debriefing, Patrick told us, "That was a Club Med vacation. Now you'll see!" Lots of difficulties with three mountain passes, a nighttime start with headlamps on a completely icy, vertical slope. 4:45 a.m., wake-up, breakfast. I didn't sleep at all, and Arnaud hardly slept any better. 5:30 a.m. We set off. We take the same path we took the day before that led us to the Refuge, which is a snow ridge with sheer drops on both sides. We walk slowly with our headlamps, our packs with our skis strapped on. Arnaud's headlamp isn't working; the battery is dead! He uses the light from the person who came before him. Reaching a certain point, where the slope is vertical and covered in ice, Patrick orders us to put on our skis. We skid straight down into the void. No room for error. Then we reached a plateau, heading towards the Col de l'Évêque. Next, we tackled a second pass, the Col de la Tête va Brûlée. At the foot of the pass, we put on our crampons and climbed roped together to the top. The ski descent was magnificent, where we began to discover the panorama of all the 4,000-meter peaks in Switzerland. Finally, at the bottom, we headed towards the Col de Valpeline, before descending to Zermatt, about a 600-meter climb. It was there that your narrator kindly collapsed on the ascent. My good guide waited for me and told me I wasn't up to it! That said it! Arnaud had been at the top for quite some time. From up there, the panorama of the 4,000-meter peaks is unique. The Matterhorn reigns supreme and wouldn't let us go until Zermatt. We began the descent together to Zermatt, a drop of about 2,000 meters. The snow is great. We're completely alone. What bliss! It's 3 p.m. We've arrived in Zermatt. Today's elevation gain: 1350 m, mine: 2900 m, distance covered: 25 km. Duration: 9 hours. In total, over the six days, we covered 102 km and climbed 6400 m.
Published on 16/04/2026
A

Arnaud - 62 ans

april 2026 In a group
Translated from French
Impeccable organization and an exceptional guide. It was great! 😊
Published on 14/04/2026
M

Mathieu - 27 ans

april 2026 In a group
Translated from French
A magnificent experience on this legendary route. The trip was a complete success, thanks to a superb guide: professional, reassuring, and with excellent terrain awareness. One slight drawback, however, was the group composition: the physical abilities varied considerably. Some participants didn't have the required level for such a trek, which inevitably impacted the group dynamic and pace. A huge thank you to the guide for his adaptability and skillful management of the group despite these differences. I highly recommend his services! Thank you, Patrick.
Published on 14/04/2026

They traveled with us

Discover the authentic experiences of our travelers
4,7/5
(11 reviews)
At Decathlon, the reviews are reliable.
Reviews displayed in reverse chronological order
f

françois - 64 ans

april 2026 In a group
Translated from French
Excerpt from my journal (last day) Okay then, day 6, last day. The night before, during the debriefing, Patrick told us, "That was a Club Med vacation. Now you'll see!" Lots of difficulties with three mountain passes, a nighttime start with headlamps on a completely icy, vertical slope. 4:45 a.m., wake-up, breakfast. I didn't sleep at all, and Arnaud hardly slept any better. 5:30 a.m. We set off. We take the same path we took the day before that led us to the Refuge, which is a snow ridge with sheer drops on both sides. We walk slowly with our headlamps, our packs with our skis strapped on. Arnaud's headlamp isn't working; the battery is dead! He uses the light from the person who came before him. Reaching a certain point, where the slope is vertical and covered in ice, Patrick orders us to put on our skis. We skid straight down into the void. No room for error. Then we reached a plateau, heading towards the Col de l'Évêque. Next, we tackled a second pass, the Col de la Tête va Brûlée. At the foot of the pass, we put on our crampons and climbed roped together to the top. The ski descent was magnificent, where we began to discover the panorama of all the 4,000-meter peaks in Switzerland. Finally, at the bottom, we headed towards the Col de Valpeline, before descending to Zermatt, about a 600-meter climb. It was there that your narrator kindly collapsed on the ascent. My good guide waited for me and told me I wasn't up to it! That said it! Arnaud had been at the top for quite some time. From up there, the panorama of the 4,000-meter peaks is unique. The Matterhorn reigns supreme and wouldn't let us go until Zermatt. We began the descent together to Zermatt, a drop of about 2,000 meters. The snow is great. We're completely alone. What bliss! It's 3 p.m. We've arrived in Zermatt. Today's elevation gain: 1350 m, mine: 2900 m, distance covered: 25 km. Duration: 9 hours. In total, over the six days, we covered 102 km and climbed 6400 m.
Published on 16/04/2026
A

Arnaud - 62 ans

april 2026 In a group
Translated from French
Impeccable organization and an exceptional guide. It was great! 😊
Published on 14/04/2026
M

Mathieu - 27 ans

april 2026 In a group
Translated from French
A magnificent experience on this legendary route. The trip was a complete success, thanks to a superb guide: professional, reassuring, and with excellent terrain awareness. One slight drawback, however, was the group composition: the physical abilities varied considerably. Some participants didn't have the required level for such a trek, which inevitably impacted the group dynamic and pace. A huge thank you to the guide for his adaptability and skillful management of the group despite these differences. I highly recommend his services! Thank you, Patrick.
Published on 14/04/2026
P

Pierre - 51 ans

april 2026 In a group
Translated from French
Superb experience in a dreamlike setting and a very good guide.
Published on 13/04/2026
E

Enric

march 2026 Among friends
Translated from French
Perfect organization; Please note the details. Attentive, friendly and cordial at all times. A very satisfying experience.
Published on 28/03/2026
É

Élodie - 32 ans

march 2025 In a group
Translated from French
A trip booked through Decathlon Travel on the Chamonix-Zermatt ski touring route was a first for me, but we had an excellent guide; Jérôme was attentive to our needs throughout the tour, proactive, rigorous, and professional. I highly recommend this ski touring trip for high-mountain enthusiasts! The only downside was the return taxi ride; we had to pay for it ourselves, and we weren't necessarily informed of this when booking the trip.
Published on 25/03/2025
DT
Decathlon Travel's response
Translated from French

Hello Elodie,


Thank you for your feedback!

We are delighted that you enjoyed the raid and Jérôme's guidance.

The point about the return trip by taxi has been noted, we will clarify this.


The Decathlon Travel team

P

Patrice - 62 ans

april 2024 In a group
Published on 22/04/2024
f

frederic - 53 ans

april 2024 In a group
Translated from French
The high route is definitely worth doing, but it's not for everyone as it requires a high level of fitness and endurance. Excellent group with the same goals. The success of this trek also depends on the weather.
Published on 21/04/2024
B

Benjamin

april 2024 In a couple
Published on 15/04/2024
D

Didier

march 2023 In a group
Translated from French
A very friendly group! For the Chamonix-Zermatt crossing, 6 people is the ideal number. The guides are excellent and attentive to the group.
Published on 27/03/2023
The Alexandre team
Decathlon Travel Partner

The Alexandre team

4.5/5 (302 reviews) • 59 stays
Located in Chamonix, the world capital of mountaineering, our team will take you to the most beautiful mountains in the world. Our guides all share the same mountain philosophy, based on sharing their passion, ensuring the safety of their leaders, and maintaining their professionalism. Whether on the trails of the Alps or on the highest peaks on the planet, the role of our partner's mountaineering team is to remain constantly attentive to your needs, sharing an unforgettable and safe experience. We also want this time spent together to be a sharing of all the riches of the high altitude: the sporting riches of the action, the aesthetic riches of the landscapes and the light, and the human riches of sharing a true "Mountain Culture."
Discover their team and their trips
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