I have nothing but kudos to you and Alpenwild for a superb trip. We did very well self-guiding and had a terrific time. - L.J. - New Hampshire
Start by contacting us to determine your preferred itinerary, dates, and any customizations. We'll send you a trip proposal that meets your specifications and provide you with booking instructions. You can then fill out the booking form on our website and make a $500 per person deposit. We recommend planning your trip sooner rather than later (preferably before December 31) as accommodations on the Haute Route fill up quickly!
On a self-guided tour, you’ll hike independently—without a guide—but with all the resources you need: detailed trail notes, topographic maps, a personalized itinerary, hotel bookings, and local travel info. In contrast, guided tours are led by a professional mountain guide.
We handle the logistics—booking and prepaying for accommodations, transfers, and most meals. You’ll receive everything you need for a smooth trip: digital maps, route descriptions, hotel info, and local support if needed.
Yes, the Haute Route is one of our most challenging treks and best suited for hikers with previous experience. You should be in good physical condition and comfortable with daily elevation gains of 3,000-4,000 feet. If you've trained on steep terrain or taken long day hikes, you're likely ready to enjoy this rewarding adventure.
The Haute Route is a network of trails, so multiple variations can be considered the "true" route. Our 12-day itinerary is our prefferred version of the route, with what we consider to be the best portions of the trail and the nicest accommodation options. This 12-day itinerary removes some portions of the trail with poor accommodations and unstable hiking conditions, and replace those with transportation. If you prefer to do the entire route on foot, with no transportation, contact us for the 14-day itinerary. This itinerary is more strenuous and involves more nights in mountain huts and dormitory-style accommodations.
No - this trip is customizable, with several itinerary options. If you prefer to do the entire route fully on foot, it's possible to lengthen the trip to 14 or 15 days. We can also shorten the trip to take out mountain huts. Contact us to establish your preferred itinerary.
No technical climbing is involved. The Haute Route is a demanding hike, but not a climb. There are a few short sections of scrambling, especially between Prafleuri and Arolla, but no equipment is needed. Sure footing, stamina, and a sense of adventure are your most important tools.
Most hiking takes place between 5,000 and 8,000 feet, with daily pass crossinggs near 10,000 feet. If you're coming from sea level, you may feel winded at first. Headaches, nausea, or light fatigue are common at high altitudes and usually pass with rest or descent. Taking it slow the first few days can help.
Daily distances average about 7-12 miles per day with about 3,000 feet of elevation gain. Refer to your itinerary for more specific measurements. Keep in mind that measurements may vary depending on the device you use to record them. Use our stats as an estimate and a reference point while training for this trek.
No. The Haute Route is a trek from inn to inn, so it's not possible to shorten or lengthen the daily routes. If you want to adjust your total mileage, we recommend contacting our specialists to either add or remove days from your trip. Keep in mind that removing a day typically means adding a shuttle.
Yes. This is a point-to-point trekking tour, which means each day involves hiking to reach the next hotel or mountain hut. Unless you customize your itinerary to include rest days or extra transportation, each day will involve hiking.
In the event that you're unable to hike one day, you'll be responsible for covering the cost of extra transportation to the next accommodation. With the exception of the mountain huts, each destination on your route can be accessed with public transportation. Our office staff will be happy to assist you with planning your transportation route and recommending options.
You’ll need sturdy hiking shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, and basic gear such as trekking poles and a daypack. If your itinerary includes mountain huts, you'll also want to bring a thin, packable sleeping bag liner or sheet. We'll provide a full packing list before your trip.
Yes! Luggage transfers are included in the price of this tour. We can’t deliver luggage to mountain huts, but we do arrange service to all hotels. You can hike with a day pack, and your luggage will be waiting for you when you arrive at your hotel each evening. The price of luggage transfers is a set cost per route - not per person or per bag. This means that if your group is larger, the price of luggage transfers will be split amongst each person. This can reduce cost. Another way to reduce the cost of luggage transfer is to customize how often you receive your bags. You may opt to get your luggage delivered every other day, or just twice throughout the trip, for example. You also have the option to remove luggage transfers entirely.
Tap water in the towns and villages is safe and delicious. You'll frequently see water fountains and spigots in the villages you pass through. This water is safe to drink - it's a law in Switzerland to post a sign there if it's not. Fill up here and you should be good to go.
You'll also pass streams while hiking. These alpine streams are generally safe to drink from if they are flowing steadily and aren't below cow pastures or glacier melt.
Yes, just let us know and we'll take care of it! If you inform us ahead of time, we can inform your hotels. Most accommodations on the Haute Route can provide options for vegetarian and gluten-free diets, as well as guests with allergies. Keep in mind that the Swiss alpine diet centers on bread, cheese, and potatoes, so options may be limited. The remote mountain huts cannot accommodate vegan diets.
It's customizable! Typically included are:
Accommodations
Most meals
Luggage Transfers
Shuttle from Geneva to Chamonix
Train ticket from Zermatt back to the airport
Logistics support
Trail documentation
Optional add-ons include extra shuttles or additional nights before or after the trek.
Airfare
Dinners in Chamonix, Verbier, and Zermatt
Cable cars, trams, and buses
Personal expenses (laundry, calls, room service)
Travel insurance
Yes. The most effective way to reduce the cost of this trip is to remove the luggage transfer service. The next best way to reduce cost is to adjust hotel reservations. Let us know if you prefer more basic accommodations and we can book those for you.
We use a mix of hand-picked 3- and 4-star hotels, mountain inns, and—when included—authentic Alpine cabanes (huts). Some hotels on the route offers private rooms with shared bathrooms.
Only if you're completing the full route—you’ll need to stay in huts for two nights in a row. If you prefer to avoid huts, opt for a modified itinerary like the Deluxe Haute Route, which skips them.
No. There are a limited number of huts on the route, and it’s best to stay in just 2–3. Most nights are spent in comfortable hotels or inns.
Yes! Many hikers adapt our Deluxe Guided Haute Route into a self-guided version. It’s a great way to enjoy the route with more flexibility and comfortable accommodations.
Our recommended itinerary takes 12 days, but it can be shortened. We recommend a minimum of 10 days for those completing the entire route. Note that to shorten your number of days will require some shuttles or other transportation to make up for distance.
Contact us to plan your itinerary and choose dates. Once you’re ready, submit a booking request on our website. A $500/person deposit secures your spot while we confirm hotel availability. Final payment is due 120 days before your tour starts.
We accept bookings up to 18 months in advance, with most people booking between September and December for the following summer. Self-guided bookings typically close in late winter/early spring once hotels fill up.
Refer to our Terms & Conditions for details on cancellations. We recommend purchasing travel insurance to protect against unexpected changes.
Our pricing is based on double occupancy in a hotel room. If you’re traveling solo and want a private room, the single supplement covers the cost of the unused half of a double room, as well as the cost of luggage transfers that would typically be split between at least 2 travelers. Some hotels offer true single rooms, and when they do, we pass along the savings. Rest assured, you’re only paying for what you receive.
Fly into Geneva, which is just 90 minutes from Chamonix by shuttle - which we provide. Our provided shuttle operates directly out of the Geneva airport. At the end of your trip, you can fly out of either Geneva or Zurich (both about 4 hours from Zermatt by train).
We recommend waiting to buy flights until your hotels are confirmed. We’ll do our best to match your dates, but hotel availability ultimately determines your itinerary.
Yes, but we recommend kids be at least 12 years old. Keep in mind the trek is strenuous, and children will need to complete the same distances as adults. If you opt to visit the mountain huts on your route, children will need to be able to sleep through the night without disturbing other guests in the dormitories.
Most hotels offer laundry service for a fee. Keep in mind that this laundry service often takes 24 hours, so it's best to use it at the hotels where you spend more than 1 night. Some guests bring a small bag of detergent to hand-wash items in the sink and hang-dry overnight.
Alpenwild Adventures are designed for people who are energetic, active and filled with a spirit of adventure. We rate this trip as strenuous. You should be a strong and experienced hiker with proven endurance and in good physical condition. You should be capable of walking 5 to 8 hours per day on good trails, ascending to 3,900 vertical feet per day, at an elevation up to 10,000 feet above sea level. The distance measurements listed on our itinerary may vary depending on the device you use to record them. Use our listed stats as an estimate and a reference point while training for this tour.
