Walker's Haute Route (West)

If you want to enjoy one of the world’s great treks, you can’t go wrong with the Walker’s Haute Route. But you need to be physically fit. As this is a Strenuous, high-mountain trek, you should be very comfortable navigating in poor conditions and have a head for heights. Due to the remote nature of our overnight stops, we cannot provide luggage transfers. You'll need to carry your pack daily, allowing for a more immersive adventure.

Classic Routes | If you’re the active, outdoorsy type, who’s interested in taking on the great routes of the world or looking for a challenge, then our Classic Routes are for you. We’re talking the West Highland Way in Scotland, the world renown Tour Du Mont Blanc and Germany's Moselle Cycle Path, to name but a few!

Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&Bs, inns, and guesthouses.

Long-Distance Trails, Alpine Walking

The minimum age for this tour is: 18 Years

The Walker’s Haute Route is a tough trek with considerable ascent and descent on each day. We have rated this tour Strenuous. This is a challenging high mountain trek and the weather can be poor so you should have previous high mountain experience and good navigation and mountain skills. As this is a self-guided trek you will be responsible for navigation, decision making and safety during your trip. The daily elevation gain is substantial and over the course of 13 days of hiking you will gain approx. 12,000m/39,370ft.  Therefore you must have an excellent level of hiking fitness and be capable of negotiating challenging terrain at high altitude. The route can also be affected by large snowfields on the highest passes early and late season. The terrain is mountainous, exposed, rocky and rough underfoot. There are several sections that include the use of fixed ropes and handrails to aid ascent/descent over particularly tricky sections.

The Walker’s Haute Route is a tough trek with considerable ascent and descent on each day. We have rated this tour strenuous. This is a challenging high mountain trek and the weather can be poor so you should have previous high mountain experience and good navigation and mountain skills. As this is a self-guided trek you will be responsible for navigation, decision making and safety during your trip. You must have an excellent level of walking fitness and can negotiate challenging terrain. The route can be affected by large snowfields on the highest passes early and late season.

The terrain is mountainous, exposed, rocky and rough underfoot. There are several sections that include the use of fixed ropes and handrails to aid ascent/descent over, particularly tricky sections.

 7 nights* accommodation are included in your trip. 4 Nights in 2 and 3-star hotels, 1 night in auberges (private rooms) 2 nights in mountain refuges (dorms). We carefully select small, friendly establishments that offer great value, food and welcome.

Solo Travelers & Single Rooms

This trip is not available to solo travelers. Single rooms are available on 4 nights if you require single rooms in your party.

Extra Nights 

If you have some extra time, we suggest adding a few additional days to your itinerary. We recommend extending your stay in the following locations:

Chamonix - Indulge yourself in this outdoor paradise, with its great restaurants, a buzz on the streets, and a strong mountaineering heritage. It rewards an evening to explore properly, and during the day, a visit to the Aiguille du Midi and Mer de Glace is recommended. 

Meals

7 breakfasts and 6 dinners are included (In Chamonix, dinner is not included). Packed lunches are available from your accommodation (order the night before) or you can stop on the way. Allow about 10 - 15 CHF per day for lunch. Drinks are not included but available at all overnight accommodations.

The Walkers Haute Route features comprehensive waymarking at every junction and regular paint marks throughout, supported by the detailed guidebook and route notes we provide. Navigate with confidence using the Macs Adventure smartphone app, which includes detailed maps, GPS tracks, and daily route information—simply download the tracks for offline use and follow the route directly from your phone. You'll find download instructions in your Macs Adventure Account, and we strongly recommend having the app ready before departure.

Each day's walk typically begins and ends at a central landmark (church, bus stop, etc.), with our distance figures covering the main trail only; short access routes to accommodations are additional, though the app will guide you door-to-door.

While the route is well-marked, alpine conditions require respect and preparation—weather and visibility can change rapidly in the mountains, and snow may be present even in summer, so ensure you're comfortable navigating with map in poor visibility before your trip. You'll use your judgment and experience to choose appropriate routes each day and navigate between overnight stops, as the Walkers Haute Route crosses high mountain passes, where conditions can be challenging year-round, requiring genuine mountain experience and confident navigation skills in all weather conditions.

You can start your Walker’s Haute Route between mid-July and the beginning of September. This short season is due to the weather and potential snow on the trail. Snow patches across the higher passes may remain into early July, and the weather may deteriorate into late September.

Each year in the last week of August, Chamonix hosts the world famous trail running event - Ultra-trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB). We recommend avoiding the area at this time as the area is extremely busy, and most accommodations are full.

By Air: Geneva, Switzerland is the best airport for reaching Chamonix, France. To get from Geneva to Chamonix you can catch a train or bus, but the best option is a pre-booked shuttle. Chamexpress or Mountain Dropoffs are both good and cost around €30 each way.  

By Rail: TGV to Saint-Gervais-Le Fayet and from here catch a regular train to Chamonix. More information on train times and schedules may be found at www.voyages-sncf.com

Optional ski-lifts and transfers during the trip

You can use ski-lifts/cable cars to skip several of big ascents/descents during the trip. These sections are as follows: Le Châble to Les Ruinettes, above Zinal to Zinal village, and Jungen to St Nicklaus. If you wish to skip a stage completely it may be possible to do so using public transport or taxis. We provide you with a detailed transport guide including alternative transport options and timetables for each section. Ski lifts and optional transfers are not included in the package price.

Due to the remoteness of many of the overnight stops, luggage transfer is not available. You will therefore need to carry your kit with you each day. You will need to bring a sleeping bag liner for when staying in dormitory-style accommodation. Bed linen is provided when staying in private rooms.