DAY 0

Welcomed by your guide(s) in the hotel in Chamonix for an apertif. Get out the maps for a tour overview, and do an equipment check for the trip.

DAY 1

Prepare for the Haute Route by skiing the famous Vallée Blanche. Ski lifts and a tram access this 3600m+ ski run down intricate and beautiful glaciated terrain. This day will allow us to acclimate to the altitude and to the type of ski terrain found on the Haute Route. This is classic Alps skiing amidst the most spectacular mountains in Europe. Spend the night in Chamonix.

DAY 2

Leave Chamonix for the village of Argentiere where we ascend to the Grand Montets by tram. From there we ski down to the Argentiere Glacier beneath the Aiguille Verte and ascend to the Col du Chardonnet, the technical crux of the route. After a roped technical descent, we climb to the Fenétre de Saleina and ski down the gentle slopes of the Trient Plateau to the Trient hut.

DAY 3

One of the best ski runs- from the Trient Hut, down the amazing Val d’Arpette, to the small lakeside mountain village of Champex. The classic Haute Route, through Verbier, is justifiably the most popular way to go, and is a skier’s favorite. We travel to Verbier by bus, then by ski lift back up into the mountains. We arrive in the afternoon at the Mont Fort hut, complete with showers!

DAY 4

A classic tour day. We will ski up and over two cols through rolling terrain to the Grand Desert Glacier. We traverse the upper reaches of the glacier and ascend steadily toward a beautiful ski mountaineering peak known as the Rosablanche ("the white rose") 3336.3m (10,946’). After reaching the summit, we ski a fantastic run down to the Prafleuri Hut where we relax on the beautiful sun deck, or perhaps make more turns after a tasty, home-cooked meal.

DAY 5

From the Prafleuri Hut we ascend over the Col des Roux and down along the Lac des Dix, the highest "dammed" lake in the Alps. We ascend the Pas du Chat and along the Glacier de Cheilon to the fantastic Dix Hut.

DAY 6

Ski down then across the Glacier de Cheilon and up the beautiful Glacier de Tsena-Refien. We continue upward via a steep, exposed traverse that allows access to the Col du Brenay. From there we climb to the summit of the Pigne d’Arolla at 3790m (12,434’) for a most spectacular panorama and the high point of or trip. We descend a popular heli-ski run to the precariously perched Vignettes Hut.

DAY 7

Vignettes Hut to Zermatt. This is the longest day of the Route. 30km (19 mi.), 3 cols, 7 glaciers, and 1100m (3608 ft.) of ascent, with a pass beneath the North face of the Matterhorn. The glacier rollercoaster ride down from the Col de Valpelline all the way into the town of Zermatt is a dramatic and memorable finish!

DAY 8

Extra day for weather or conditions, if necessary. If we do not use this day on the route we can use this final day to ski in the Zermatt area. One of many options is to ski from Monte Rosa down to the town of Zermatt. This offers a world class ski descent with huge vertical, all made accessible by tram. A day of helicopter assisted touring would be another good way to ski tremendous vertical in both Switzerland and Italy.