Ski tour | Valais Haute Route Original | Border tour from Chamonix to Zermatt with a mountain guide

• Procedure and meeting place

  • Meeting place

    10:30 am Argentiere railway station (easily accessible by train)

    We meet at the railway station in Argentière and walk together to the valley station of the Grand Montets cable car.

  • Day 1 – Arrival and ascent to the Refuge d'Argentière

    650 Hm

    450 Hm

    5.5 kilometres

    Arrival in Argentière, cable car ride up and, after a fantastic first descent, we cross the Glacier d'Argentière to the Refuge d'Argentière. We will spend the first night there.

  • Day 2 – Crossing into the Trentino region

    1000 Hm

    850 metres altitude

    8 kilometres

    The second day begins with the ascent to Col du Chardonnet. Once at the top, a very special moment awaits: the transition to the Swiss side via a rope descent, which makes this passage a real highlight. A fantastic descent over snow and ice follows.

    The descent across the glacier takes us in elegant swings through the silence of the high valley until we put our skins back on at the foot of the Aiguille Sans Nom and tackle the short final ascent to the Bivouac de l'Envers des Dorées. The small bivouac appears like a splash of colour in the middle of the endless snowfield, secluded and inviting at the same time.

    There is no five-star hotel waiting for us up there – and that is precisely what makes it so magical. We prepare our own food, cook simple meals and enjoy the warmth that slowly builds up in the small space. The night in the bivouac is something very special: absolute peace and quiet, complete seclusion, just us alone and the mighty granite giants glowing red in the last light of the sun. No trace of civilisation, no sound except the slight crunch of snow underfoot. One of those nights you never forget – because it reminds you how big the world is and how small we are in it, happy and completely in the moment.

  • Day 3 – Morning departure and change of valley

    1300 metres altitude

    1400 metres altitude

    11 kilometres

    The day begins with a long descent across the Glacier de Saleinaz. The slopes stretch endlessly, sometimes gentle, sometimes challenging, and the landscape seems to grow larger with every turn. At the bottom of the glacier, we switch to a foot descent that leads us down to the water intake – a technical section over moraines and rock ledges that can really test your strength reserves. Our taxi is waiting there to take us down to the valley and allow us a brief moment of rest before the day reaches its actual highlight.

    Now begins the ascent to the Cabane de Valsorey, a long, steep path that winds its way across ledges, snowfields and stony terraces towards the mighty Grand Combin. With every metre, the anticipation of reaching the hut grows. The last few metres of altitude are slow going, the wind often picks up, and that's when you realise: this is the longest and toughest day of the whole tour.

    When the Cabane de Valsorey finally comes into view, it towers over the wide valley like a small sentry post – remote, proud and full of alpine character. Inside, a cosy parlour awaits us, the aroma of simple food, and that special feeling of having achieved something great. Up here, at the foot of the Grand Combin, the night is characterised by tranquillity, spectacular views of the mountains and the awareness that every step of the day has led us to this very moment.

  • Day 4 – Under the spell of the Grand Combins, we traverse its southern side

    950 metres altitude

    1500 metres altitude

    11 kilometres

    The morning begins in alpine style: with crampons on our feet, we climb over the snow-covered, often frozen flank to the Plateau du Couloir. The path is clearly marked and our mountain guides skilfully lead us across the crossing. Above us are the mighty walls of the Grand Combin, below us the growing expanse of the glacier. At the top of the plateau, an impressive scene suddenly opens up: a high alpine basin, silent, wide and completely surrounded by ice.

    This is where the glacier descent on the Glacier du Mont Durand begins, a sweeping line through a magnificent glacier world. The turns flow playfully, sometimes gentle, sometimes technical – a descent that makes your body work and fills your soul with joy at the same time. The view stretches far into the Val de Bagnes, and alpine solitude accompanies us all the way down.

    At the end of the glacier, we put our skins back on and tackle the ascent to the Cabane de Chanrion. The path winds its way in gentle but endless serpentines through a wide high valley, past rocky outcrops and glistening snowfields. Step by step, the hut draws nearer until it finally appears on a sunny ridge – friendly, warm and inviting.

    Once you arrive at the Cabane de Chanrion, a moment awaits that you will be particularly looking forward to after these days: a well-deserved shower! The steam, the warm water, the feeling of washing away the entire day – a little luxury in the middle of the mountains. The evening in the hut is relaxed: good food, a cosy lounge and a view out into the vastness of the mountains. A day that was exhausting, but at the same time rich in impressions and beautiful – and which comes to a perfect end at the Cabane de Chanrion.

  • Day 5 – Around or on the Pigne d'Arolla

    1200 metres altitude

    550 Hm

    10 kilometres

    The new day begins with a steady climb across the glacier. With every step, the trail climbs higher, across wide firn, past crevasses and beneath the elegantly shaped flanks of the Pigne d'Arolla. The scenery seems almost unreal: a glowing carpet of snow, framed by rugged peaks and the cool clarity of the morning.

    Whether we reach the summit of Pigne d'Arolla itself or one of its lower peaks is hardly important – the view from the top is breathtaking in any case. The mountain ranges of Valais and the Haute Route spread out before us, a vast, glittering world of ice and rock. A few deep breaths, a sip from the bottle, a smile – and then the descent begins.

    The descent winds its way down the broad glacier in wide turns. The snow is good, the slope is perfectly inclined, and the tracks flow through the high alpine terrain like white brushstrokes. Once at the bottom, there is a short climb back up to the spectacularly situated Cabane des Vignettes.

    The hut itself is an experience: boldly built on a rocky outcrop, it towers high above the glaciers – almost like an eagle's nest watching over the vast, white landscape. The final ascent may be tough on tired legs, but the sight of the hut and the view that opens up with every metre make up for it.

    At the Cabane des Vignettes, we enjoy the evening surrounded by magnificent mountain peaks. The windows look out over the glaciers, the silence is profound, and the feeling of having completed another significant stage of this journey stays with us into the night.

  • Day 6 – From one impressive hut to the next; Cabane de la Vignette – Cabane de Bertol

    1250 metres altitude

    1100 metres altitude

    13 kilometres

    The day begins with a short descent onto the Glacier du Mont Collon, just long enough to get into the rhythm and breathe in the cool morning air. Down on the glacier, our tracks lead into the vastness of the high valley – the silence is palpable, accompanied only by the soft gliding of our skis.

    With the first light of day, we begin our crossing of the glacier at sunrise, a momentous occasion. The colours change from pale blue to warm gold as the slopes around us light up and the shadows grow shorter and shorter. Ahead of us rises the elegant ridge of the Pointes d'Oren, whose summit we are steadily approaching. At the top, a panorama awaits us that makes every effort worthwhile: vast glaciers, rugged rock formations and the sparkling light of a new day.

    The subsequent descent via the Haut Glacier d'Arolla is a real highlight. The snow is often perfect, the slopes wide and inviting, and the descent stretches far down through a majestic high mountain landscape. A pleasure that lingers long in the memory.

    Finally, we put on our skins one last time and tackle the varied ascent to the Cabane de Bertol. The path leads over steep snowfields, rocky ridges and up to the famous ladder passage, which is the last access point to the hut. Step by step, we gain altitude until the Cabane de Bertol finally appears, perched like a fortress of stone and wood on its striking rocky outcrop.

  • Day 7 – Wild glaciers and a unique descent to Zermatt

    600m

    2000m

    18 Km

    The final stage begins high up on the summit of Tête Blanche, where we take in the vastness of the Valais Alps one last time. The panorama is overwhelming: endless glaciers, rugged ridges and the sparkling peaks of the Monte Rosa massif. A moment that makes you realise how much we have experienced and conquered over the past few days.

    This is where the long and impressive descent begins, over the Stockjigletscher glacier and on over the Tiefmattengletscher glacier down to Furi near Zermatt. The descent winds majestically through a varied glacier landscape that will set your heart racing. Thanks to the old slopes, there is still plenty of excellent snow here, making the final stretch a real treat.

    When you reach the bottom in Furi, you can feel the mixture of relief, joy and pride - the tour is done! A sumptuous feast awaits you in Zermatt, a worthy conclusion to these incredible high mountain experiences. The exertion of the last few days dissolves into laughter, good humour and the enjoyment of sumptuous food. A perfect end to an adventure that will definitely be remembered.

     

  • Conclusion

    approx. 3 pm, Zermatt

    If everything goes according to plan, the tour will end in Zermatt. We reckon on 14-15 hrs.

• Requirements

  • Mastering the ski touring technique with its basics (skins, hairpin turns).
  • Safe downhill technique in open terrain and in different types of snow.
  • You have first experience with ice axe and crampons.
  • Stamina for ski tours of around 1300 metres at a normal pace (~300-350m/h).
  • In addition, there are sections where we carry the skis and trudge through the snow.
  • This tour is not suitable with a splitboard.

• Price and services

  • CHF 2090.-
  • Including accommodation costs with half board.
  • Takes place with up to 4-6 guests per guide.
  • Including planning and realisation with mountain guide and his travel expenses.
  • Excluding travel expenses, possible train tickets, personal consumption.

• Material and equipment

  • We have for you a detailed packing list with packing tips compiled.
  • For this tour you need the following material from this PDF. We carry our equipment with us all the time. Pack only what is necessary.

That's what our guests say:

Impressions: Border tour Valais Haute Route