We'll start with a night in beautiful Chamonix, France, the climber's mecca dramatically nestled at the foot of Mont Blanc. Our inn-to-inn trek will include a couple of short transfers, and will take us through beautiful valleys and across high passes to the village of Grimentz, staying a couple nights in modest mountain inns (with private rooms) and 3-star hotels, and 1 great night in a remote alpine club hut (dorms only, no showers, no luggage transport this night). The Haute Route tour then continues on by bus and train to Zermatt to a favorite local hotel and unforgettable hikes along the base of the Matterhorn. If you love pure mountain scenery, the Haute Route Highlights tour offers the ultimate exploration of one of Switzerland's most dramatic hiking routes.

Our typical day starts with a continental buffet breakfast at our inn - delicious fresh baked bread, local cheeses, cereal, fruit, coffee and juice - which gives us the energy needed for a full day of inn-to-inn hiking. Soon we'll be out on the trail for 6-8 hours, where often you'll get to choose between an easier or more strenuous hike for the day. Each morning, you'll be handed a lunch to carry, and at a mid-point along the way we'll choose a beautiful spot to stop and enjoy our picnic. We get a lot of compliments on our imaginative lunches - making them something to look forward to as well!

We should finish our hike around 4-5 pm, giving you time to wash up and relax. You will have your own bedroom every night except for the night at the Dix hut. Each evening we'll enjoy dinner together at our inn. These are multi-course feasts, often featuring local French and Swiss specialties, and will definitely be hearty, filling, well-earned and very delicious.

Day 1 Arrive in Europe and transfer by train or van to our meeting point in Chamonix. The trip is easy and incredibly scenic. If you arrive early, you might consider a daytrip up the Aiguille du Midi cablecar - undoubtedly one of Chamonix's highlights. In minutes the cablecar whisks you up to 12,600 feet, where you can enjoy an extremely close-up look at Mont Blanc and an unforgettable ride suspended above the Geant Glacier. Or just enjoy some walking or relaxing in the lively village center. Relax in the evening at our beautiful village hotel.
Day 2 We'll start our inn-to-inn trek with the justifiably famous hike over the Col du Balme pass and into Switzerland. Sweeping views behind us reveal the whole Mont Blanc chain, while tidy trails lead us down into the verdant valleys of Switzerland, for a night in a popular hiker's inn.(Col de la Forclaz)
Day 3 A morning transfer by train and bus brings us up to the impressive Grand Dixence reservoir, where a 4-hour hike beckons us up to the spectacular Dix hut, perched on a lonely rock outcrop and surrounded by glaciers and mountains. The remote and awe-inspiring location, and friendly reception, have made this one of my favorite huts in the Alps. There is no luggage transport possible to the hut, so we'll carry a few extra clothes with us for the night. (Cabane des Dix)
Day 4 We start the morning with a short, easy glacier traverse, cross the steep Col du Riedmatten pass, and descend to the tiny village of Arolla. We'll continue down the valley through fields and forest to the small hamlet of La Sage with a lovely family-run inn as our home for the night. (Hotel la Sage)
Day 5 Our longest, steepest climb of the tour leads to the beautiful Val d'Anniviers and more stunning mountain scenery. We'll descend to Grimentz, a postcard-perfect village of dark timbered houses bursting with colorful geraniums. (Hotel Alpina)
Day 6 A second night in Grimentz gives us a chance to further explore the Val d'Anniviers, an unforgettable valley with a great blend of ancient villages, quiet trails, and breathtaking views. Perhaps we'll take a balcony walk to the village of Zinal, returning to Grimentz by bus to our same hotel. (Hotel Alpina)
Day 7 Our Haute Route itinerary continues with a morning transfer by bus and train to Zermatt. Zermatt is a lively village, filled with energy and history, and dominated by the towering presence of the Matterhorn. It also retains it's alpine charm, with quiet back alleys, scenic nearby hamlets, and classy shops. You'll have a chance to check out the town, take a short walk around Zermatt, or enjoy the local Matterhorn museum or the pool and spar at our hotel, before settling in for dinner at the very friendly Hotel Europe. (Hotel Europe)
Day 8 It's nice to finish our Haute Route tour with the impressive hike past the Schwarzsee lake and up a ridge to the Hörnli hut, a sort of Matterhorn base camp, perched at the end of the trail on the way up the Matterhorn. This is as close as you can get without climbing it, and the Matterhorn doesn't disappoint. An optional descent brings you past 400-year old dark-timbered hamlets and through larch forests back to Zermatt. Afterwards, we'll enjoy hearty farewell dinner from our hotel on the outskirts of town. (Hotel Europe)
Day 9 After breakfast at our hotel, we'll say our good-byes and leave for our post-trip destinations.

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