Skitour Haute Route: Saas-Fee - Chamonix
The classic ski tour
Endurance
5Walking time more than 10 hours. Over 1800 metres in altitude. Long, challenging tours for highly trained and high-alpine guests.
Technique
3You are experienced in the terrain. You are proficient in hairpin bends, even in steeper terrain (35°), can ski in a controlled manner in all types of snow and can move safely and with stamina on ascents.
Duration
7 daysAbout 6-7 h per day
Date
Mid-March - Mid-May
Participants
1 - 6 people
Gallery (5)
The Haute Route is the most famous ski tour in the Alps. In contrast to the classic route from Chamonix to Zermatt, this route has an additional start in Saas-Fee. At approx. 150 km, this variant is significantly longer. On the tour, you can expect around 11,000 m of ascent and 11,000 m of descent - what numbers! Experience 7 days full of glacier landscapes, surrounded by the 4,000-metre peaks of the Alps, from the Matterhorn to Mont Blanc!
Description
The Haute Route begins at the valley station in Saas-Fee, where you will meet your mountain guide. The cable car takes you up to the Felskinn and the first ascent to the Hüte awaits.
The next few days are characterized by ascents over breathtaking passes and renewed descents over spectacular glaciers, with each day ending in the mountain huts with food and good conversation before the next day starts.
A must for passionate ski tourers: from Saas-Fee in the Upper Valais, over passes and mountains into the Lower Valais and as far as France to the highest peak in the Alps; Mont Blanc (4,805 m).
Program
Day 1: Saas-Fee - Britanniahütte
- Meet at 3:00 p.m. with your local, IFMGA-certified mountain guide in Saas-Fee
- Take the cable car together to Felskinn, followed by an ascent to the Britannia Hut (3'030 m)
Day 2: Britanniahütte - Zermatt
- Ascent to the Adler Pass (3'789 m)
- Descent to Zermatt and overnight stay in a hotel
Day 3: Zermatt - Schönbielhütte
- Train ride to Klein Matterhorn (3'883 m) and ascent of the Breithorn (4'194 m)
- Descent via Schwarzsee (2'583 m) to Stafelalp (2'200 m)
- Ascent to the Schönbiel Hut (2'694 m)
Day 4: Schönbielhütte - Cabane de Bertol
- Ascent to Tête Blanche (3'710 m)
- Descent to Cabane de Bertol (3'311 m)
Day 5: Cabane de Bertol - Cabane des Vignettes
- Ascent to Col de l'Evêque (3'379 m)
- Descent to Cabane des Vignettes (3'158 m)
Day 6: Cabane des Vignettes - Courmayeur
- Descent via the Otemma Glacier and ascent to the Fenêtre de Durand (2'797 m)
- Descent to Glacier (1'549 m)
- Bus ride to Courmayeur (1'220 m) and overnight stay in a hotel
Day 7: Courmayeur - Chamonix
- Cable car ride to Pointe Hellbronner (3'462 m)
- Descent through the Vallée Blanche to Chamonix (1'030 m)
- (In case of poor snow conditions: Cable car ride from Montenvers to Chamonix)
Additional costs
- any train and bus travel
- Rental equipment:
- Avalanche transceiver, avalanche shovel and avalanche probe: can be rented at the ZERMATTERS Homebase at a special price of CHF 15.00 per person and per day from 5.00 p.m. on the day before. The rented equipment must be returned to the ZERMATTERS Homebase after the tour by 5 p.m. at the latest
- Other equipment: from CHF 80.00, available in a sports store in Saas-Fee or Chamonix
- Touring skis with running binding (binding adjusted)
- Touring ski boots
- Telescopic poles
- Backpack should not weigh more than 8-9 kg (skis must be able to be tied on)
- skins
- crampons
- crampons
- Climbing harness
- 1 carabiner
- ice axe
- shovel
- probe
- AVALANCHE TRANSCEIVER
- Warm, weatherproof touring ski clothing
- Warm gloves
- Finger gloves
- Helmet (optional)
- Hat / headband
- Goggles, sunglasses, sun cream
- Headlamp
- Silk sleeping bag (obligatory)
- Thermos flask, drinks
- Snacks (high-energy food such as chocolate, dried fruit, energy bars)
- Wash kit
- Minimal spare underwear
- Plasters
- Personal pharmacy
- Cash, identity card
After booking
After booking, you will receive a confirmation by email. Please check that your details are correct.
Two days before the tour, you will receive a link to the customer portal.
Please contact us before the tour to go over the details (current weather, conditions, group size, etc.). You can reach us by phone, email or visit us at the ZERMATTERS Homebase.
The Haute Route: Saas-Fee - Chamonix
General information about the Haute Route
- The start is in Saas-Fee and continues to Chamonix via Zermatt and Courmayeur - all dream destinations for mountaineers!
- View of the highest peaks in each country: Dufourspitze and Dom (Switzerland), Gran Paradiso (Italy) and Mont Blanc (France/Italy)
- On this route you will spend the night in 4 mountain huts and two hotels (Zermatt and Courmayeur).
- Length: 150 km
Special features of the Haute Route
- With the ascent of the Breithorn (4,164 m), a 4000-meter peak is part of the tour and therefore also the highest point!
- You enjoy seven days in the Alps, in a safe environment and with a certified ZERMATTERS guide at your side.
Safety and risk warnings
Even though the tour is not technically very difficult, you should not underestimate the alpine risks. The route leads over glaciers where there is always a risk of crevasses. For this reason, you will always be accompanied by a professional and equipped with the necessary safety equipment on ZERMATTERS. Weather changes can occur unexpectedly on the Haute Route, which is why the orientation and experience of our local mountain guides are crucial.
Do I need a mountain guide for a ski tour?
Yes, a mountain guide is highly recommended for a ski tour. Ski tours in alpine terrain require experience in avalanche awareness, route selection and snow conditions. Especially in high alpine regions such as Zermatt, many tours lead through challenging terrain with steep descents and possible crevasses. If you want to get the best out of your ski tour and minimize risks, a professional guide is the best choice.
What are the advantages of a local ski tour guide?
A local ski tour guide from Zermatt knows the mountains, snow and weather conditions like no other. Thanks to his regional expertise, the tour can be optimally planned and flexibly adapted to current conditions. He also enriches the experience with exciting stories and insights into the regional culture and mountain world - for a safe and unforgettable ski tour.
What should I look out for when booking a ski tour guide?
Make sure that your mountain guide is certified according to the standards of the International Union of Mountain Guide Associations (UIAGM/IFMGA). This certification guarantees comprehensive training and compliance with the highest safety standards. All ZERMATTERS mountain guides are trained according to these international guidelines.
What difficulty levels are ski tours divided into?
Ski tours are divided into seven main levels of difficulty according to the SAC ski tour scale:
- L: Easy
- WS: Less difficult
- ZS: Fairly difficult
- S: Difficult
- SS: Very difficult
- AS: Extremely Difficult
- EX: Extremely difficult
Each of these grades can be additionally refined by a minus (-) or plus (+) to allow finer gradations.
The classification is based on main criteria such as steepness, exposure, terrain shape and bottlenecks in the descent. Auxiliary criteria such as the complexity of the route and the correctability of errors can also be taken into account.
How do I choose the right ski tour for my ability?
The choice of ski tour should always be based on your personal ability and alpine experience. Our offers are therefore provided with clear information on the level of difficulty, required stamina and technique to help you make the right decision. We will be happy to provide you with personal advice directly.
- Endurance
5Walking time more than 10 hours. Over 1800 metres in altitude. Long, challenging tours for highly trained and high-alpine guests. - Technique
3You are experienced in the terrain. You are proficient in hairpin bends, even in steeper terrain (35°), can ski in a controlled manner in all types of snow and can move safely and with stamina on ascents. - Duration
7 daysAbout 6-7 h per day - Date
Mid-March - Mid-May - Participants
1 - 6 people
The Haute Route is the most famous ski tour in the Alps. In contrast to the classic route from Chamonix to Zermatt, this route has an additional start in Saas-Fee. At approx. 150 km, this variant is significantly longer. On the tour, you can expect around 11,000 m of ascent and 11,000 m of descent - what numbers! Experience 7 days full of glacier landscapes, surrounded by the 4,000-metre peaks of the Alps, from the Matterhorn to Mont Blanc!
Duration
The Haute Route Saas-Fee - Chamonix ski tour is divided into seven tour days (see program).
Duration
Daily from mid-March to the beginning of May, depending on the conditions and availability in the huts
Description
The Haute Route begins at the valley station in Saas-Fee, where you will meet your mountain guide. The cable car takes you up to the Felskinn and the first ascent to the Hüte awaits.
The next few days are characterized by ascents over breathtaking passes and renewed descents over spectacular glaciers, with each day ending in the mountain huts with food and good conversation before the next day starts.
A must for passionate ski tourers: from Saas-Fee in the Upper Valais, over passes and mountains into the Lower Valais and as far as France to the highest peak in the Alps; Mont Blanc (4,805 m).
Program
Day 1: Saas-Fee - Britanniahütte
- Meet at 3:00 p.m. with your local, IFMGA-certified mountain guide in Saas-Fee
- Take the cable car together to Felskinn, followed by an ascent to the Britannia Hut (3'030 m)
Day 2: Britanniahütte - Zermatt
- Ascent to the Adler Pass (3'789 m)
- Descent to Zermatt and overnight stay in a hotel
Day 3: Zermatt - Schönbielhütte
- Train ride to Klein Matterhorn (3'883 m) and ascent of the Breithorn (4'194 m)
- Descent via Schwarzsee (2'583 m) to Stafelalp (2'200 m)
- Ascent to the Schönbiel Hut (2'694 m)
Day 4: Schönbielhütte - Cabane de Bertol
- Ascent to Tête Blanche (3'710 m)
- Descent to Cabane de Bertol (3'311 m)
Day 5: Cabane de Bertol - Cabane des Vignettes
- Ascent to Col de l'Evêque (3'379 m)
- Descent to Cabane des Vignettes (3'158 m)
Day 6: Cabane des Vignettes - Courmayeur
- Descent via the Otemma Glacier and ascent to the Fenêtre de Durand (2'797 m)
- Descent to Glacier (1'549 m)
- Bus ride to Courmayeur (1'220 m) and overnight stay in a hotel
Day 7: Courmayeur - Chamonix
- Cable car ride to Pointe Hellbronner (3'462 m)
- Descent through the Vallée Blanche to Chamonix (1'030 m)
- (In case of poor snow conditions: Cable car ride from Montenvers to Chamonix)
Additional costs
- any train and bus travel
- Rental equipment:
- Avalanche transceiver, avalanche shovel and avalanche probe: can be rented at the ZERMATTERS Homebase at a special price of CHF 15.00 per person and per day from 5.00 p.m. on the day before. The rented equipment must be returned to the ZERMATTERS Homebase after the tour by 5 p.m. at the latest
- Other equipment: from CHF 80.00, available in a sports store in Saas-Fee or Chamonix
Material
To ensure that you are optimally equipped for the Haute Route, you should definitely have this equipment with you.
- Touring skis with running binding (binding adjusted)
- Touring ski boots
- Telescopic poles
- Backpack should not weigh more than 8-9 kg (skis must be able to be tied on)
- skins
- crampons
- crampons
- Climbing harness
- 1 carabiner
- ice axe
- shovel
- probe
- AVALANCHE TRANSCEIVER
- Warm, weatherproof touring ski clothing
- Warm gloves
- Finger gloves
- Helmet (optional)
- Hat / headband
- Goggles, sunglasses, sun cream
- Headlamp
- Silk sleeping bag (obligatory)
- Thermos flask, drinks
- Snacks (high-energy food such as chocolate, dried fruit, energy bars)
- Wash kit
- Minimal spare underwear
- Plasters
- Personal pharmacy
- Cash, identity card
After booking
After booking, you will receive a confirmation by email. Please check that your details are correct.
Two days before the tour, you will receive a link to the customer portal.
Please contact us before the tour to go over the details (current weather, conditions, group size, etc.). You can reach us by phone, email or visit us at the ZERMATTERS Homebase.
The Haute Route: Saas-Fee - Chamonix
General information about the Haute Route
- The start is in Saas-Fee and continues to Chamonix via Zermatt and Courmayeur - all dream destinations for mountaineers!
- View of the highest peaks in each country: Dufourspitze and Dom (Switzerland), Gran Paradiso (Italy) and Mont Blanc (France/Italy)
- On this route you will spend the night in 4 mountain huts and two hotels (Zermatt and Courmayeur).
- Length: 150 km
Special features of the Haute Route
- With the ascent of the Breithorn (4,164 m), a 4000-meter peak is part of the tour and therefore also the highest point!
- You enjoy seven days in the Alps, in a safe environment and with a certified ZERMATTERS guide at your side.
Meeting point and program
At 15:00 on the church square in Saas-Fee. Afterwards, joint train ride to the Felskinn and start of the Haute Route.
Safety and risk warnings
Even though the tour is not technically very difficult, you should not underestimate the alpine risks. The route leads over glaciers where there is always a risk of crevasses. For this reason, you will always be accompanied by a professional and equipped with the necessary safety equipment on ZERMATTERS. Weather changes can occur unexpectedly on the Haute Route, which is why the orientation and experience of our local mountain guides are crucial.
Do I need a mountain guide for a ski tour?
Yes, a mountain guide is highly recommended for a ski tour. Ski tours in alpine terrain require experience in avalanche awareness, route selection and snow conditions. Especially in high alpine regions such as Zermatt, many tours lead through challenging terrain with steep descents and possible crevasses. If you want to get the best out of your ski tour and minimize risks, a professional guide is the best choice.
What are the advantages of a local ski tour guide?
A local ski tour guide from Zermatt knows the mountains, snow and weather conditions like no other. Thanks to his regional expertise, the tour can be optimally planned and flexibly adapted to current conditions. He also enriches the experience with exciting stories and insights into the regional culture and mountain world - for a safe and unforgettable ski tour.
What should I look out for when booking a ski tour guide?
Make sure that your mountain guide is certified according to the standards of the International Union of Mountain Guide Associations (UIAGM/IFMGA). This certification guarantees comprehensive training and compliance with the highest safety standards. All ZERMATTERS mountain guides are trained according to these international guidelines.
What difficulty levels are ski tours divided into?
Ski tours are divided into seven main levels of difficulty according to the SAC ski tour scale:
- L: Easy
- WS: Less difficult
- ZS: Fairly difficult
- S: Difficult
- SS: Very difficult
- AS: Extremely Difficult
- EX: Extremely difficult
Each of these grades can be additionally refined by a minus (-) or plus (+) to allow finer gradations.
The classification is based on main criteria such as steepness, exposure, terrain shape and bottlenecks in the descent. Auxiliary criteria such as the complexity of the route and the correctability of errors can also be taken into account.
How do I choose the right ski tour for my ability?
The choice of ski tour should always be based on your personal ability and alpine experience. Our offers are therefore provided with clear information on the level of difficulty, required stamina and technique to help you make the right decision. We will be happy to provide you with personal advice directly.
