The Walker’s Haute Route truly showcases the best of the Alps. Incredible mountain passes, pastoral villages, jaw-dropping views, friendly locals, exceptional cuisine, and the sense of completing one of the world’s great hikes.
Traversing from Chamonix in France to Zermatt in Switzerland by foot will give you an appreciation of these mountains that most can only dream of. From Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn you’re sure to have the adventure of a lifetime.
Keep reading to learn everything you need to know to plan the perfect Walker’s Haute Route adventure!
Buy Your 2023 Walker’s Haute Route Guide Now
Get everything you need to plan your perfect Walker’s Haute Route trip with our comprehensive guide. Purchase now to get instant access to our planning portal and downloadable PDF eGuides.
- Access to three unique itineraries, 11-day, 13-day, and 14-day
- Detailed accommodation recommendations and alternative options
- Custom GPS data for each itinerary for offline navigation
- 15-week training plan and gear packing list included
- Video tutorials on using your GPS files to navigate the trail
- And much more
(Limited Time Offer & 100% Money Back Guarantee)
In this post
- About the Walker’s Haute Route
- How long is the Walker’s Haute Route?
- When should I hike?
- How difficult is the Walker’s Haute Route?
- Stage-by-stage Itinerary for the Walker’s Haute Route
- Weather
- Accommodation
- Camping on the Walker’s Haute Route
- Food and drink
- Getting to and from the Walker’s Haute Route
- Maps & Guidebooks
- Budgeting and money
- What to pack
- How to train for the Walker’s Haute Route
About the Walker’s Haute Route
The Walker’s Haute Route is a classic alpine trek that connects the two mountain villages of Chamonix, France and Zermatt, Switzerland. The route traverses over 200 km and crosses 11 mountain passes on its journey from Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn.
You’ll take in a wide variety of landscapes, from rugged mountain passes, to remote alpine villages and spectacular mountain huts. The trek is typically completed by starting in Chamonix and finishing in Zermatt, but it is certainly possible to walk in the opposite direction.
The Walker’s Haute Route does not require any mountaineering skills, but it should be considered a very difficult trek. Over 13 stages you’ll gain nearly 1,000 meters each day and much of your time will be spent above tree line. That being said, the Walker’s Haute Route should be able to be completed by reasonably fit hikers who are adequately prepared for the trek (read more on that below).
To get an overview of the Walker’s Haute Route check out our virtual fly-through video below:
Accommodation options on the Walker’s Haute Route are typical of most multi-day treks through the Alps with an excellent network of mountain huts, campsites, and hotels available to suit all preferences (learn more below).
How long is the Walker’s Haute Route?
The short answer: it depends!
The Walker’s Haute Route has many variations and route options as it winds it way from Chamonix to Zermatt. These variations include options to stay in unique accommodation (such as the Hotel Weisshorn) or to avoid difficult sections in bad weather (such as the Bovine Alp alternate).
All things considered, the most common route is approximately 202 kilometers long. Of course, many trekkers will opt to take several of the alternate routes, which will lengthen or shorten the total distance, depending on the routes chosen. You’ll have the option to walk less or more depending on the weather, your preferences, and the conditions encountered on the trail.
When should I hike the Haute Route?
The hiking season for the Walker’s Haute Route lasts from late-June through mid-September. Generally speaking, we recommend hiking between mid-July and late-August to have the best chance at good weather and to ensure most of the mountain passes will be free from snow. The trail will be at its busiest during this time, so we recommend booking as much of your accommodation in advance as possible. A breakdown by month is below:
June
Early in the season, you are likely to encounter snow on the trail. Depending on the snow levels, there could be sections that will be impassible and you may need to reroute. Be prepared with either micro-spikes or crampons and know how to safely navigate snow covered terrain. Expect cool evenings, bright sunny days, and less crowded trails.
July
Hikers could still encounter some snow along the trail, but chances of significant snow will diminish as the month wears on. Expect beautiful warm days and abundant wildflowers. This is a popular month to hike the trail.
August
Another busy month on the trail, hikers can expect snow-free paths and warm, sunny weather. Accommodation will be busy so be sure to book ahead.
September
A lovely time to trek the Walker’s Haute Route. Expect shorter days and increasingly chilly weather. You’ll be rewarded with fewer people on the trail, although some accommodation may be closed for the season.
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How difficult is the Walker’s Haute Route?
To put it simply, the Walker’s Haute Route is a challenging trek. The distance, elevation gain, exposure on many parts of the trail, steep ascents and descents, and weather conditions all contribute to the difficult nature of the trail. It is certainly more difficult than its popular cousin, the Tour du Mont Blanc.
All that being said we truly believe that most walkers who invest a bit of time in training and preparation can complete the Walker’s Haute Route and have a great time doing it! Our best advice is to be sure you are in good physical condition and also make sound decisions when you encounter bad weather or snow.
A Stage-by-Stage Itinerary for the Walker’s Haute Route
We recommend hiking the Walker’s Haute Route over 10 – 15 days depending on your hiking ability, pace preferences, and weather conditions.
The classic Haute Route itinerary described below takes 13 days to complete and will be the best option for the majority of hikers. Be sure to check out our interactive map and elevation profile for the route to get a comprehensive understanding of all of your options!
Stage 1: Chamonix to Trient
Distance & Elevation: 23.5 km // +1,355 m, -1,111 m
Where to stay: Auberge du Mont Blanc
Description:
The first stage of the Walker’s Haute Route is a perfect introduction to trekking in the Alps. It’s not too technical or demanding, yet it still gives walkers a rewarding challenge.
Beginning in Chamonix, you’ll walk through town before joining a mellow valley trail. From here you’ll reach Argentiere and then wind your way up the relatively undemanding Col de Balme before a steep descent down to the small hamlet of Le Peuty. From Le Peuty continue along the road for 10 – 15 minutes before reaching the town of Trient with its lovely pink church.
If you would like to shorten Stage 1, you can stop roughly halfway in Argentiere. Then, the following day you will continue on to Trient.
Stage 2: Trient to Champex
Distance & Elevation: 14.5 km // +1,489 m, -1,299 m
Where to stay: Hôtel du Glacier
Description:
Stage two of the Walker’s Haute Route is one of the most demanding of the entire trek, but is also incredibly rewarding. You’ll cross the famous Fenêtre d’Arpette en route to Champex. Enjoy stunning views of the Trient Glacier and be sure to exercise caution on the initial descent from the top of the pass. Enjoy a relaxing evening in the lovely lakeside village of Champex.
In addition to the Fenêtre d’Arpette route described above, the alternate ‘Alp Bovine’ route is also an option for Stage 2. This route shares the trail with the Tour du Mont Blanc and is a good bad weather alternative as it never reaches the heights or exposed nature of the Fenêtre d’Arpette. However, it is still a lovely walk and we highly recommend it should you have bad weather. The Alp Bovine route is shown on the map below as an alternate.
Stage 3: Champex to Le Châble
Distance & Elevation: 14 km // +410 m, -1,060 m
Where to stay: Hotel Le Giétroz
Description:
A welcome change after yesterday’s challenging walk, Stage 3 is mellow throughout. The walk from Champex to Le Châble allows walkers to rest their legs a bit before a steep climb the following day.
You’ll leave Champex and wind your way downhill through pastoral farmland and the occasional small hamlet before reaching the lovely village of Sembrancher.
From here, you’ll have a short walk alongside bucolic pastures before reaching Le Châble, your stopping point for the evening.
Stage 4: Le Châble to Cabane du Mont Fort
Distance & Elevation: 12.5 km // +1,824 m, -194 m
Where to stay: Cabane du Mont Fort
Description:
Stage 4 of the Walker’s Haute Route is perfect for those who like to go vertical!
You’ll gain over 1,800 meters of elevation as you make your way from the valley to the spectacularly situated Cabane de Mont Fort. The hike is essentially all uphill, so be sure to pace yourself and take breaks when needed.
Note that many of the trails on this stage are also used by mountain bikes, so it’s important to stay alert for riders whizzing downhill.
It is possible to utilize the cable car in Le Châble to reach Les Ruinettes before continuing on to Cabane du Mont Fort. This will eliminate much of the hiking today if you are in need of an easier trek.
Stage four of the Walker’s Haute Route is perfect for those who don’t enjoy steep descents because it is straight uphill! You’ll gain over 1,800 meters of elevation as you make your way from the valley to the spectacularly situated Cabane de Mont Fort. Note that it is possible to utilize the cable car in Le Chable to Les Ruinettes via Verbier before continuing on to Cabane du Mont Fort. This will eliminate much of the hiking today if you are in need of an easier trek.
Stage 5: Cabane du Mont Fort to Cabane de Prafleuri
Distance & Elevation: 14 km // +1,135 m, -932 m
Where to stay: Cabane de Prafleuri (+027 281 17 80
)
Description:
Stage 5 is a very difficult stage and the route often holds snow well into July.
The primary route follows the spectacular Sentier des Chamois trail before crossing the Col Termin. From here walkers will hike across the hillside before reaching the Col de Louvie and the Grand Desert beyond.
The Grand Desert is an especially isolated area of the trek and care should be exercised, especially when snow is present. Trekkers must then navigate across the Col de Prafleuri before descending to the mountain hut by the same name.
It is important to note that there is a popular alternate route on Stage 5 that avoids the Sentier des Chamois trail altogether. This route, shown in blue on the map above, is more direct and crosses the Col de la Chaux.
Check with the warden at Cabane du Mont Fort before deciding which route to take.
Stage 6: Cabane de Prafleuri to Arolla
Distance & Elevation: 18 km // +795m, -1,440 m
Where to stay: Grand Hôtel & Kurhaus
Description:
Stage 6 is another big day on the WHR. This time the challenge entails the crossing of the Pas de Chèvres and its famous ladders.
In our experience, the hike up to the ladders over the boulder-strewn landscape is much more difficult than the actual ladders themselves.
Regardless, be sure to take your time and exercise caution as you approach the top of the pass and on the ladders.
The alternate option that crosses Col de Riedmatten is often considered more difficult and we would recommend that most trekkers opt for the Pas de Chèvres.
Once over the pass you’ll enjoy a beautiful descent into the lovely Swiss village of Arolla.
Stage 7: Arolla to La Sage
Distance & Elevation: 11 km // +670 m, -1,007 m
Where to stay: Hotel de la Sage
Description:
After several difficult stages, trekkers can finally enjoy a relatively easy day on Stage 7 of the Walker’s Haute Route.
The trail begins rather steeply as it makes its way out of Arolla before flattening out and opening up to some tremendous views. It won’t be long until you reach the idyllic Lac Bleu, which will likely be crowded with day hikers.
From Lac Bleu, the trail takes a fairly mellow descent all the way to Les Hauderes. There is accommodation available here, or you can continue along a short and pleasant climb to the village of La Sage.
Stage 8: La Sage to Cabane de Moiry
Distance & Elevation: 11 km // +1,724 m, -574 m
Where to stay: Cabane de Moiry
Description:
As the elevation change suggests, Stage eight has lots of climbing! You’ll leave La Sage and immediately begin the long ascent up the Col du Tsaté which will bring walkers into the stunning Val de Moiry. After the initial descent from the Col into the valley you’ll then encounter a steep and somewhat exposed final section to bring you to Cabane de Moiry.
The Cabane is certainly one of the most spectacular places to spend the night on the Walker’s Haute Route with its up-close views of the Moiry Glacier.
Alternatively, walkers can opt to take the Col de Torrent alternate route if they do not plan to stay at Cabane de Moiry as shown on the map below. In that case you’ll plan to stay either at the base of the Lac de Moiry at the Cabane Barrage de Moiry or continue on into the town of Grimentz where more accommodation is available. While this may be a good option for some, we highly recommend spending a night at the Cabane de Moiry with its spectacular views!
Stage 9: Cabane de Moiry to Zinal
Distance & Elevation: 16 km // +655 m, -1,806 m
Where to stay: Hotel Le Trift
Description:
You’ll get a head start on the crossing of the Col de Sorebois on stage nine given that you’ve already done much of the climbing on the previous stage. The walk starts with tremendous views as you walk high above the Lac de Moiry as you approach the Col.
Once you reach the Col de Sorebois you’ll be treated to some incredible views of the mountains beyond. Here, the descent winds its way through a ski-area (with the option of taking the cable car down) before arriving in the ski resort town of Zinal.
There is also an alternate route down from the Sorebois ski lift to Zinal that winds its way on much gentler paths than the traditional route. We highly recommend for anyone with tired legs!
Stage 10: Zinal to Gruben
Distance & Elevation: 17 km // +1,239 m, -1,138 m
Where to stay: Hotel Schwarzhorn (option for an alternate route to stay at Hotel Weisshorn)
Description:
On stage 10 of the Walker’s Haute Route you’ll officially cross the ‘Rosti Line‘ – the unofficial boundary between French and German-speaking areas of Switzerland.
The hiking on this day is strenuous, but certainly nothing compared to some of the more difficult stages you’ve already completed. The Forcletta pass marks the high point for the day and from there you’ll descend into the sleepy village of Gruben.
For many years, the only option for accommodation in Gruben was the Hotel Schwarzhorn. That has changed in recent years with the opening of the Grindjisand Mountain Inn, located approximately 10 minutes down the valley from Gruben.
Stage 10 also offers an alternative option for those who wish to spend the night at the Hotel Weisshorn or Cabane Bella Tola. This will add a day to your Walker’s Haute Route itinerary, but many find it a worthwhile alternative. As shown in blue on the map above, rather than crossing the Forcletta you’ll continue along the slope of the mountainside before reaching the Hotel Weisshorn.
You can also continue on further if you wish to stay at the lovely Cabane Bella Tola. For those who opt to take this route, the following day (Stage 11) you’ll cross the Meidpass before rejoining the main Walker’s Haute Route in Gruben.
Stage 11: Gruben to St. Niklaus/Gasenried
Distance & Elevation: 17.5 km // +1,167 m, -1,861 m
Where to stay: Hotel La Reserve (for those staying in St. Niklaus) // Hotel Alpenrosli (for those staying in Gasenried prior to starting the Europaweg – see below)
Description:
Stage 11 brings trekkers over their final mountain pass of the Walker’s Haute Route and into the Mattertal valley, at the base of which sits the town of Zermatt.
The descent from the top of the Augstbord pass rewards hikers with incredible views of the Alps beyond. Upon reaching the quaint village of Jungen you’ll have the option of taking a cable car to cut out the remaining descent into St. Niklaus.
If you plan to hike the Europaweg trail to finish your Walker’s Haute Route adventure you can opt to stay in either St. Niklaus, or just up the hill in Gasenried.
If you have trouble finding accommodation in Gasenried, head a bit further to the village of Grachen.
It is important to note that the Europaweg between Gasenried and Europa Hut has been rerouted in recent years. The main Walker’s Haute Route follows the valley trail from St. Niklaus to the village of Herbriggen before ascending to the Europa Hut.
Note: Distance and elevation are from Gruben to St. Niklaus.
Stage 12: St. Niklaus/Gasenried to Europa Hut
Distance & Elevation: 11.5 km // +1,324 m, -177 m
Where to stay: Europa Hut (Europahütte)
Description:
The Europaweg trail is a two-day trek that completes the final section of the Walker’s Haute Route. The original route has been rerouted between Gasenried and Europa Hut given a number of rockfalls and dangerous trail conditions.
The new route provides walkers with two options to reach Europa Hut. The main WHR follows a mellow valley trail from St. Niklaus to the village of Herbriggen. From here, a steep trail winds its way up to meet the Europaweg just before reaching the Europa Hut.
An alternative route begins in Gasenried and begins on a high trail before heading downhill into the woods. You’ll continue to descend before reaching a trail junction just above Herbriggen, where you’ll pick up the trail described in the paragraph above.
Alternate finish to the Walker’s Haute Route
For those who are not interested in completing the Europaweg trail to finish the Walker’s Haute Route, a mellow valley trail makes a great alternative.
From St. Niklaus, walkers will follow a lovely path that travels through the villages of Randa and Tasch en route to Zermatt. This section can be completed in a single stage, making for a convenient option for those with less time.
Stage 13: Europa Hut to Zermatt
Distance & Elevation: 21 km // +1,102 m, -1,749 m
Where to stay: Hotel Bahnhof
Description:
The final stage of the Walker’s Haute Route will take you across the famous and spectacular Charles Kuonen Suspension Bridge, the world’s longest suspension bridge.
While this is certainly a highlight of the trek, don’t forget to enjoy the stunning views of the Matterhorn as you make your way towards Zermatt. As you approach the finish of the trek you’ll find yourself among Zermatt’s many ski slopes and the increased number of tourists they attract.
Enjoy a final descent before celebrating your incredible achievement!
Buy Your 2023 Walker’s Haute Route Guide Now
Get everything you need to plan your perfect Walker’s Haute Route trip with our comprehensive guide. Purchase now to get instant access to our planning portal and downloadable PDF eGuides.
- Access to three unique itineraries, 11-day, 13-day, and 14-day
- Detailed accommodation recommendations and alternative options
- Custom GPS data for each itinerary for offline navigation
- 15-week training plan and gear packing list included
- Video tutorials on using your GPS files to navigate the trail
- And much more
(Limited Time Offer & 100% Money Back Guarantee)
Weather
Weather on the Walker’s Haute Route can be extremely volatile. You may wake up to heavy rain in the valley, see snow on the mountain tops, and be hiking in the sun by the end of the day! However, generally speaking, the weather during the hiking season is quite enjoyable. You can expect warm, sunny days, cool evenings, and relatively little rain.
However, you also need to be prepared for very hot temperatures, very cold temperatures, rain, and storms (and you could even see all of these in the same day!) Getting caught high up in the mountains during a storm or without the right gear is extremely dangerous, but you can greatly minimize your risk by taking a few important precautions:
- The Meteoblue App is arguably the best resource for predicting the weather on the Walker’s Haute Route. It allows you to see the forecast for specific peaks or coordinates, plus it has excellent radar displays and wind predictions. Check it every time you have cell service.
- Start hiking early in the day! Not only will you enjoy gorgeous sunrises, get to your destination before the crowds, and avoid the heat, but you’ll also greatly reduce your risk of getting caught in afternoon thunderstorms.
Walker’s Haute Route Accommodation
There is no shortage of excellent accommodation options along the Walker’s Haute Route. The villages and towns along the route have a wide variety of hotels, gites, auberges. These will suit almost any taste from more luxurious hotels to simple bunk rooms catering to the budget traveler.
Of course, many of the stops on the Walker’s Haute Route do not occur in alpine villages, but rather at spectacular mountain huts. For those unfamiliar with trekking in the Alps, these mountain huts will be a highlight of your trip.
In stark contrast to the simple mountain huts found in other parts of the world, the huts along the Walker’s Haute Route are downright luxurious. You’ll be treated to fresh-baked bread, excellent dinners, beer and wine, and simple sleeping quarters. Our can’t miss mountain huts along the Walker’s Haute Route are:
Camping on the Walker’s Haute Route
Camping along the Walker’s Haute Route is possible for the majority of the stages with a bit of creativity. Most of the valleys and villages along the route have fully serviced campgrounds, making an easy option for those carrying a tent. There will be a few stops that require a slight detour (Le Chable, for example), but local transportation makes for an easy adjustment here.
Wild Camping
Wild camping along the Haute Route is complicated and discouraged (and often illegal). The trail passes through two countries and several local municipalities, each with their own specific rules and regulations. Generally speaking, wild camping may be allowed in France at high altitudes between sunset and sunrise, but it is strictly forbidden in Switzerland.
If you choose to wild camp outside of sanctioned areas, set up after dusk, pack up at dawn, and utilize leave no trace practices.
Food and drink
One of the many wonderful things about the Walker’s Haute Route is that you don’t need to worry about carrying two weeks’ worth of food. The trail passes through many towns and villages along the way, making resupply easy. Additionally, all of the huts along the route serve excellent meals and will often be able to pack a lunch for you for the following day.
For budget travelers, it is possible to self-cater and keep your food and drink costs quite reasonable. In this situation we’d recommend you bring your own camp stove and cooking equipment if you plan on fixing most of your own meals along the Haute Route. There are several outdoor stores that sell stove fuel in Chamonix and Zermatt.
Additionally (for those with deeper pockets), many of the hotels, gites, and refuges sell meals and offer the option of purchasing meals. You can just show up for lunch, but you’ll need to order ahead of time for dinner.
Whichever way you approach your food and drink strategy, we think you’ll find that trekking in the Alps is every bit as much a culinary delight as a natural one!
Water
All of the hotels, gites, and campgrounds provide potable water. You will pass through many villages with public drinking fountains, but make sure to plan ahead and carry 1-2 liters of water each day. Due to the presence of agricultural activity near large swaths of the trail, we do not recommend drinking any water from natural streams without filtering it first.
Getting to and from the Walker’s Haute Route
Most international travelers starting the trek in Chamonix will arrive at the Geneva Airport. To get from Geneva to Chamonix, you can take a bus or use a private shuttle service. We recommend AlpyBus. On the other end, Zermatt is easily accessed by train from Geneva, Zurich, and many other Swiss cities.
Maps & Guidebooks on the Haute Route
Carrying a good map is essential on the Walker’s Haute Route. While the trail is generally well-marked and easy to follow, there are countless trail junctions, detours, and confusing sections that require some form of navigation.
When we hiked the Walker’s Haute Route we did not rely on traditional, paper maps that are available for the route. Instead, we preferred utilizing GPS maps on our phones to ensure we knew where the trail was as well as where we were in relation to it.
Cell phone service is very limited along the route, so it is critical to have a good offline mapping app such as Gaia GPS to ensure you’ll be able to view the map at any point along the route.
If you’re interested in getting access to the GPS data used to create all of the maps in this post, we are happy to offer our Walker’s Haute Route GPS Digital Download. When you download the GPX file, you’ll get route data for each of the traditional stages of the Walker’s Haute Route as well as all of the common alternate route, plus waypoints for each stop along the way.
You’ll be able to load the GPX file into the mapping software or GPS phone app of your choice!
With all this considered, we still recommend carrying a paper map, or map booklet. While technology has done a tremendous amount to make navigating while hiking easier, there is simply no replacement for carrying a physical map with you. If your phone runs out of battery you’ll be glad you had your handy paper map to rely on.
To cover the entire Walker’s Haute Route at a good scale (1:50,000) we recommend bringing the following Swiss Topo maps:
- Swiss Topo 282T – Martigny
- Swiss Topo 283T – Arolla
- Swiss Topo 273T – Montana
- Swiss Topo 274T – Visp
- Swiss Topo 284T – Mischabel
You can purchase all of these maps on the Swiss Topo website here. In addition, Swiss Topo also has hiking maps at a larger scale (1:33,000), although it would be quite cumbersome to carry maps to cover the entire Walker’s Haute Route at that scale.
As for guidebooks, you’ll have several excellent options to choose from. The first, and the one we recommend is Chamonix to Zermatt: The Classic Walker’s Haute Route published by Cicerone Trekking Guides. The author, Kev Reynolds, is extremely knowledgeable about the Alps and the Walker’s Haute Route in particular.
Another good option is Walker’s Haute Route: Chamonix to Zermatt published by Knife Edge Outdoors. The benefit here is that the guide includes Swiss Topo maps for the entire route.
Budgeting
Although Switzerland has a reputation for being extraordinarily expensive, it is still very possible to hike the Walker’s Haute Route on a tight budget (camping helps tremendously with this!) Furthermore, you can even eat delicious foods and drink some tasty beverages without breaking the bank.
In terms of food, the best thing you can do is to avoid eating meals at restaurants and refuges. Sure, stop for a coffee and a pastry, enjoy a post-hike beer, and definitely pick up some local cheese, but if you cook your own meals you will greatly, greatly reduce your overall spending.
Here are some general guidelines for what you can expect to spend on the Walker’s Haute Route:
- Average Hut Price: 40 CHF (dorm only) or 80 CHF (half pension)
- Average Campsite Price: 15 CHF (per person)
- Meal at hut or restaurant: 20-30 CHF (per person)
- Packed lunch from mountain hut: 10 CHF
What to pack for the Walker’s Haute Route
Packing for the Walker’s Haute Route is a balancing act between ensuring you have everything you need and ensuring you aren’t carrying more than you need. For those staying in huts and hotels, you can avoid the extra weight of a sleeping bag, tent, and associated camping gear.
For a complete packing list, check out this article.
Our best advice for packing for the Walker’s Haute Route is to adopt the mantra less is more. Here’s a few tips for ensuring you pack weight is manageable:
- You only need a couple of shirts. Same goes for underwear and socks. You’ll have plenty of time and sunshine to wash and dry laundry Second, clothes are heavy, so cutting out everything but the absolute essentials will make a huge difference.
- Plan out when/where you’ll restock food provisions and don’t carry more food than you need. This is especially true for those camping along the route.
- Consider leaving your bulky camera equipment at home. Unless photography is your passion, most smartphones take great photos and save a ton of space and weight.
How to train for the Walker’s Haute Route
We can guarantee you’ll have a better experience on the Walker’s Haute Route if you invest some time before your trek ensuring you’re in good hiking shape. You’ll be gaining around 1,000 meters per day in elevation and be on your feet for between 6 – 8 hours. Given those facts, spending some time in the weeks and months before your trip will do wonders to help prepare you.
To be best prepared we recommend focusing on the following:
- Building your physical endurance
- Building your physical strength
- Hiking with a fully packed backpack prior to your trip
Finally, beyond simply being physically fit it is important to make sure you are mentally prepared for the rigors of the Walker’s Haute Route. Long days, bad weather, and empty stomachs can significantly dampen your mood and wear on your mental strength. If you haven’t completed a long-distance trek before you’ll want to be sure you’re keeping a positive attitude and embracing the challenges as a part of the journey!
For more detail on how to best train for the Walker’s Haute Route, check out our post here.
Let Us Make Your Walker’s Haute Route Trip A Success
We’ve channeled our experience, research, and passion into effective and trail-tested resources to help all Haute Route hikers. If you’re planning to trek without the support of a tour company, you’ll find our resources extremely helpful in figuring out the logistics that go into preparing for the trip of a lifetime.
- Walker’s Haute Route Guide (Best Seller): Plan your dream trip on the Walker’s Haute Route with our comprehensive guide. It includes detailed info, offline GPS, maps, itinerary recommendations, and video fly-throughs for a successful trip.
- Walker’s Haute Route GPS Digital Download (2nd Best Seller): Navigate the Walker’s Haute Route with ease using our GPS digital download! With .GPX and .KML files for the complete 13-stage route, as well as alternate routes and instructions, you’ll have all the info you need to navigate the Haute Route confidently.
- Walker’s Haute Route Camping: Camp along the Walker’s Haute Route with confidence using our comprehensive guide! With a downloadable eGuide, custom GPS files, campground descriptions, 3 itineraries, and an ultimate packing list, you’ll have everything you need for a successful camping adventure.
- Walker’s Haute Route Custom Itineraries: Unsure where to start with your Walker’s Haute Route itinerary? Let our custom itinerary service help! We’ll work with you one-on-one to design an itinerary that meets your specific needs, including GPS data, accommodation recommendations, route suggestions, and one-on-one support.
- Walker’s Haute Route Custom GPS File: Navigate the Walker’s Haute Route confidently with our custom GPS file service! We’ll create a personalized GPS file based on your itinerary and route preferences, including accommodations. Compatible with GPS apps, Garmin devices, and any GPS receiver. Send us your itinerary, and we’ll handle the rest.
As passionate hikers, we’ve made it our goal to empower you with all of the information you need to have your best Walker’s Haute Route experience. We’ve helped over 2,500 hikers prepare for their trips, navigate on the trail, and simplify the planning process.
What’s Next?
If you’ve read this far, you’re well on your way to having an incredible experience on the Walker’s Haute Route. However, you still have lots of preparation before you’re truly ready! Be sure to read our entire series on the Haute Route to learn everything you’ll need to know to prepare for your trip!
- Walker’s Haute Route Packing List: Be sure you’ve got everything you need!
- Walker’s Haute Route Logistics: Don’t forget the small details!
- Haute Route Trip Report: Know what to expect on the trail!
- How Much it Cost Us to Hike the Haute Route-Make it work for your budget!
- Haute Route Photo Gallery: Get inspired!
- 10 Essentials for the Walker’s Haute Route: Need-to-know basics
- How to Train for the Walker’s Haute Route: Get in trail-ready shape!
- Walker’s Haute Route | Maps & Routes – Get familiar with the trail!
- Walker’s Haute Route Accommodation and Refuge Guide
Detailed 11, 13, & 14-day plans
