The Walker's Haute Route - Part I

Tag 1 Individual arrival to Chamonix. Enjoy the special flair of the town for a moment before you leave the hustle and bustle and hike on the high trail from Planpraz to La Flégère and Argentière, of course with a view of the highest mountain in the Alps, Mont Blanc. (Walking time without rests: approx. 3 h, distance: approx. 8 km, ascent/descent: 300/1000 altitude meters).

Day 2 From Argentière the trail leads through the Montagne des Posettes up to the first pass of Walker's Haute Route, the Col de Balme. Enjoy once again the view back into the Chamonix valley before the descent, now back on Swiss ground, leads along the rushing Nate Noir river to Trient. - A small mountain village with a pink church! (Walking time without rests: 5.0 h, distance: 12.8 km, ascent/descent: 955/1040 altitude meters).

Day 3 Step by step and with a bead or two of sweat on your brow, you climb towards the "Fenêtre d'Arpette". The view of the mighty, glaciated Plateau du Trient compensates for the effort. Then the route leads down and through the idyllic Val d'Arpette to Champex-Lac. Who knows, you might be tempted by a refreshing swim in the beautiful lake or simply the view of the mountains from the hotel terrace. (Walking time without rests: 5.30 h, distance: 12.3 km, ascent/descent: 1160/1240 altitude meters).

Day 4 From Champex-Lac you take a leisurely ride to Le Châble. The gondola up to Verbier lets you overcome the first meters of altitude comfortably. Then the path follows high above the Val de Bagnes with a view of the imposing Grand Combin to the Col de Termin. From here you can already see the destination, the idyllic Lac de Louvie and right next to it the cozy cabane. (Walking time without rests: 4.0 h, distance: 10.5 km, ascent/descent: 765/725 altitude meters).

Day 5 Today a lonely stretch is waiting for you. From the lovely Lac de Louvie you hike through the impressive stone desert of the Grand Désert surrounded by the glaciers of the Rossblanche and the Mont Fort. Over the two passes Col de Louvie and Col de Prafleuri you will reach in the evening the Cabane de Parfleuri, a cozy place at the back of the Val d'Hérémence. (Walking time without rests: 5.0 h, distance: 11.2 km, ascent/descent: 1200/780 altitude meters).

Day 6 The Lac des Dix shines turquoise blue. The trail first leads along the shores of the lake, then passes through the moraine landscape and climbs to the impressive Col de Riedmatten, which is once again almost 3000 m high. With a view of the imposing north face of the Pigne d'Arolla you hike towards your final destination Arolla down in the valley. (Walking time without rests: 6.30 h, distance: 18.5 km, ascent/descent: 920/1540 altitude meters).

Would you like to continue straight away and tackle the second part of the Walker's Haute Route from Arolla to Zermatt? This starts from Les Haudères after a well-deserved rest day.