Classic Haute Route
Anytime from June 15 - Sept 20
Dates | Duration |
|---|---|
Anytime from June 15 - Sept 20 | 9 days - 8 nights |
Wild, rugged, and remote, the Classic Haute Route is a great choice for experienced trail runners looking for something off the beaten-path with a “big mountain” feel.
The Classic Haute Route covers over 180km in distance, from Chamonix, France, to Zermatt, Switzerland. The world’s best-known multi-day backcountry ski route, the Haute Route also makes for a great, mountainous trail running adventure, passing through the traditional Alpine villages, thick pine forests, and colorful flower meadows of the Swiss Canton of Valais. Much of the route is indeed “Haute,” or high, with several mountain passes at close to 3000m elevation. Along the way, you’ll get fantastic views of the Mont Blanc massif and the Matterhorn, as well as experiencing traditional Alpine culture and trying typical mountain dishes.
The Classic Haute Route is usually hiked in 10 days, but you’ll run it in 7 days, covering around 30km per day. The trails are varied, adventurous, and more technical than those on the Tour du Mont Blanc. The Classic Haute Route is one of the most challenging trips offered by Run the Alps, and you should be comfortable on technical and remote terrain. Flowy single track balcony trails lead to steep, rocky climbs, bringing you close to the high mountains.
Day 1: Arrival, Chamonix
Day 2: Chamonix, France to Trient, Switzerland
23km, 1310m ascent, 1060m descent
This first part of the tour is pleasant and runnable as you ascend the valley above Chamonix. From Le Tour, a climb brings you over the border into Switzerland.
Day 3: Trient to Verbier
30km, 1430m ascent, 1870m descent
Today you’ll follow what’s known as the Bovine Route, an enjoyable section with wonderful views of the Rhône Valley. The second part of the day heads down to the Roman town of Sembrancher, before heading up the valley to Verbier.
Day 4: Verbier to Prafleuri
20.2km, 2150m ascent, 990m descent.
Today you head into remote and rugged country, with a lot of climbing. With two passes just under 3000m, the Haute Route really starts to live up to its name! While not the longest day, this route is challenging due to the high and exposed paths.
Day 5: Prafleuri to Arolla
17km, 830m ascent, 1440m descent
Start by crossing a small pass before reaching the large Dixence reservoir. From here, a long, flat stretch skirts the edge of the reservoir along a service road, before a final, steep ascent to the Pas de Chèvres, or Goat Step, pass. A great section of the Haute Route in some wonderful, remote high country.
Day 6: Arolla to Zinal
32km, 2200m vertical, 2610 descent
A long and beautiful venture, crossing two high passes, the Col du Torrent and Col du Sorebois, separated by the azure Lac de Moiry in between.
Day 7: Zinal to St. Niklaus
30km, 2450m ascent, 2260m descent
The Col de la Forcletta is the moment today to say Au revoir to French-speaking Valais and Grüezi as you enter German-speaking Wallis. Next, you cross the remote Turtmann valley, passing through the hamlet of Gruben/Meiden, which is occupied only in the summer. At the end of the day, a cable car takes you 860m down from Jungen to St Niklaus. Or run down if you have the time and energy!
Day 8: St. Niklaus to Zermatt
30km, 2020m ascent, 1520m descent
As well as packing in a lot of vertical gain, today’s trail is one of the best in the region for rolling single track. You’ll cross the world’s third longest hanging pedestrian bridge, traverse deeper into the Matter Valley on the famous Europaweg trail, and get your first views of the Matterhorn.
Day 9: Departure
Say goodbye to Zermatt and depart for you next destination.
Book this tour
$3350 per person
$980 single supplement
Looking for a customized itinerary?
Please get in touch. We’d love to discuss your options with you.
Prefer to go with a guide?
Explore our group guided trips or inquire about our privately guided trips.
- Accommodation in 3 and 4 star hotels and/or mountain huts
- Buffet breakfasts each morning
- Multi-course dinners each evening, except for dinners in Chamonix and Verbier
- Detailed daily run descriptions, GPX files and all the resources you need along the way are provided via our app (see a sample here). We’ll also send you a printed copy of the route and other key information, in case you’d like to take these with you as a back-up
- Shared 90-minute shuttle from Geneva airport to Chamonix at start of tour
- Luggage transfers
- A copy of our Guide to Trail Running in the Alps, which contains thorough travel instructions, regional information and tips from the staff and guide team at Run the Alps
- In-tour support through our WhatsApp Helpline
- Flights
- Transportation from Zermatt to your departure airport at end of tour
- Transport to and from trailheads if you choose to shorten a run
- Drinks with dinners
- Two dinners (Chamonix and Verbier)
- Extra charges made at accommodations such as room service or laundry
- Trail snacks and lunches – our materials include info of where to stop along the way or if bringing trail snacks is a better option based on the day
Your tour will start in Chamonix, France. The closest airport is Geneva, Switzerland. Plan for your flight to arrive no later than 4pm the day your tour starts. Run the Alps will arrange a shared shuttle for you from Geneva Airport to Chamonix, France, based on your arrival time. If you arrive a day or more before the tour starts, the shared shuttle is still included.
Plan your departure flight for late afternoon on the day your tour ends, at the earliest. The closest airports to Zermatt, where your tour ends, are Geneva and Zurich. They are both a little over 3 hours away by train. If you have a morning flight, plan on spending a night at a hotel in your departure city. We can assist you with hotel and city information, if you need.
- Why Run the Alps? See how Run the Alps compares to other trail running companies and what sets us apart here.
- Group Discounts: When we create tours for a group of five or more self-guided guests, there is an opportunity for some savings. We’re pleased to pass them on to you – please get in touch to explore your options.
- Alumni Discount: We love welcoming our alumni back to the Alps and offer a 10% discount on all standard guided and self-guided trips. Simply check the Alumni box on the registration form and we’ll apply the discount when we invoice you.
- Want to shorten or extend your trip or add an Alps Trail Race? Just let us know and we’d be happy to help.
- Can a non-running partner join me on this tour? Yes–read how hiking and sightseeing companions can come too.
- Celebrating a special occasion? Each year we get a number of guests who are celebrating a birthday, anniversary or retirement with a Run the Alps trip. If this is you, let us know!
- Concerned about being ready? We’re here to help. You can check out our Training Resources or get in touch if you’d like to be put in touch with a coach.
- Tour Grants Program: Run the Alps is committed to making our trips more inclusive. If you’d like to join this trip, but don’t think you can afford it, please check out our Tour Grants Program.
- Trip Insurance: Life can sometimes throw us a curveball and wreak havoc upon the best laid plans, which is why Run the Alps requires trip insurance. Learn more here.
- Terms and Conditions: You can read up on them here.
Loading...
Want to know more?
After the Tour du Mont-Blanc: What’s Your Next Big Trail Run?
Depending on what you’re looking for in a multi-day trail running adventure, you just might find these routes preferable to the Tour du Mont-Blanc (TMB).
Read more →
2024 Edition: The Trail Runner’s Underground Guide to Chamonix
Coming to Chamonix to trail run? Here’s the inside scoop, with input from more than a dozen local trail runners.
Read more →
Is a Self-Guided Trail Running Trip for Me?
Just what is a “self-guided” trail running tour? While it’s fairly intuitive how a guided trail running trip is structured, the idea of a self-guided one is often not so well understood. Self-guided trips are some of the most popular ones that Run the Alps offers, so let’s take a moment to explore them! A self-guided tour means you