The Haute Route
This High Alpine hiking tour is for the experienced hiker with a good head for heights, your destination is Zermatt with the towering Matterhorn, the route takes you along two high routes and includes a much less travelled mountain pass starting at Brig, the ever changing scenery, the lonely valleys and most importantly the highest mountains of the Swiss Alps surround you on your way up the Matter valley to your destination Zermatt. You will need an overnight stop in the ‘Europahütte’ mountain hut half way between Grächen and Zermatt.
A reasonable level of fitness and a good head for heights is needed.
Day 1 – Brig to Simplon: You will follow the historic Stockalperweg, which is the traditional track is used for centuries to traverse the important Simplon Pass over the mountains south into Italy, the views open up behind you of the great peaks of the Bernese Oberland on the other side of the Rhone Valley
Today’s hike is about 6.5 hours.
Day 2 - Simplon to Gspon: The day starts with a minor ascent, since you have to get across the Bistinepass (2,417 meters / 7,930ft) in order to reach the absolutely wonderful, untamed, lonely Nanz valley. The route takes you down to the bottom of this cleft, which is embedded into a spectacular mountain range, before you climb yet another pass, named Gebidum, from where the path gently drops to the small village of Gspon.
Today’s hike is about 6.5 hours.
Day 3 - Gspon to Saas-Fee: From Gspon, you have to work your way up to the small settlement of Oberfinilu, from where the track closely follows the bush line, slowly, you ascend to the highest point of the day at Chrizbode underneath the steep slopes of Weissmies, before you drop down the Matter valley to Saas Grund and down again to the traffic free village of Saas Fee.
Today’s hike is about 6 hours.
Day 4 - Saas-Fee to Grächen: It’s a popular route that you follow today, which is no surprise, as you walk high above the Matter valley, right opposite yesterday’s walk. Your efforts are more than rewarded with a panorama that includes views deep down into the valley and over to magnificent, snow-covered mountains, glowing bright and white in the sun, an abundance of flowers accompanies you as you slowly ascend the Hanningalp and descend to the picturesque village of Grächen.
Today’s hike is about 6 hours.
Day 5 - Grächen to Europahütte: For the next two days, you follow the Kings route, connecting Grächen with Zermatt, this walk once had to be done in one day, which was a rather hard adventure, but nowadays, one has the chance to break it in two sections, thanks to the Europahütte, built only a few years ago at the halfway point between Grächen and Zermatt, this spectacular trip with its magnificent panoramic views is without any doubt one of the great Swiss walks.
Today’s hike is about 6 hours.
Day 6 - Europahütte to Zermatt: The panoramic views become even more spectacular as you continue on the king's route and once the Matterhorn is glimpsed in all its glory it dominates your world for the rest of the day, reaching Zermatt is the climax to an unforgettable hike.
Today’s hike is about 5 hours.
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