The trip

LEVEL ***          

Elevation: +/- 600 to 1250m average per day.
Walking time: 6 - 7 hours average per day.
Type of trek: this tour is not technically difficult, Day 3 involves a ladder climb of 40m, 
possibility to take another route if this poses difficulties.

WHY NOT START IN CHAMONIX?

This is a legitimate question for a route called "Chamonix Zermatt".

We favored a departure from Le Châble, near the Swiss resort of Verbier, for several reasons:
- The complete route linking these two alpine capitals is too long to be done in just 7 days (except for very trained hikers).
- The first stages starting from Chamonix (Col de Balme, Fenêtre d'Arpette/Bovine) are beautiful hikes but also particularly crowded and every hikers who have previously hiked the Tour of Mont Blanc are already familiar with them.
- Starting directly from Le Châble allows you to avoid a long transfer, usually necessary to cross the Val d'Entremont, but also to be able to do the superb high-altitude hike above the Louvie and Prafleuri passes.

GUIDING

Group between 6 and 14 people supervised by a qualified mountain leader.

ACCOMMODATION

5 nights in gites or mountain refuges in dormitories of 8 to 10 persons.
1 night in a hotel in Zermatt in bedroom of 2 persons. 
All accommodation offers hot showers.

RESPONSIBLE TOURISME

Nights 1 and 2 are without luggage, you will have to take with you a toilet set and a change of clothes for the night (max 1 or 2 kg). We made that choice to favour an enchanting route but also to lower the cost and limit the environmental impact. Let us know what's your opinion on that ! 

MEALS

Breakfast and dinner are provided in each accommodation.
Picnics are included and are carefully prepared daily by your guide, comprising a variety of healthy salads and local products.
We do our best to accommodate special diets (gluten-free, vegetarian etc.). However, we encourage you to bring some additional products for your own picnics.

FITNESS LEVEL

Ability to easily walk 20km (on flat trails) in a maximum of 4 hours. 
If this is not the case, we recommend you to train during the three weeks prior departure: running 4-5km or hiking/cycling 3-4 hours, 2 to 3 times per week. Your physical preparation will enable you to enjoy your trek to the maximum.

MAPS

Federal Office of Topography: Grand St Bernard 5027 T, Monté Rosa 5028 T.

Practical information

ACCESS TO DEPARTURE POINT

Meeting point at 1:45pm in front of the train station in Le Châble (Valais, Switzerland).

BY TRAIN
Inbound: depart Gare de Lyon (Paris) at 8:18am arriving in Le Châble at 2:15pm.
Return: depart Zermatt at 2:37pm arrive (Paris) Gare de Lyon at 9:42pm.
Times given are indicative and should be verified in a train station or on
www.oui.sncf and www.cff.ch

BY CAR
Take the A40 motorway to Chamonix, follow direction Martigny (Switzerland), continue direction Italy and follow signs for Verbier.
There is ample parking at the cable car, opposite the meeting point in Le Châble.

End point at 2:00pm in Zermatt.

RETURN TO DEPARTURE POINT

At the end of the tour the return from Zermatt to the departure point in Le Châble will be organised by your mountain leader at the best price with a taxi (about 50 to 60€ per person, 2 hours lift, 6 persons minimum)
Or by train from Zermatt to Le Châble, about 60€ per person (3 hour journey).

ACCOMMODATION BEFORE AND AFTER

Le Châble - Hôtel Le Gietroz: +41 (0)2 77 76 11 84
Tourist Office Verbier: +41 (0)2 77 75 38 88
Tourist Office Zermatt: +41 (0)2 79 66 81 00

INSURANCE

In accordance with regulations, we are covered by Professional Liability Insurance. In no case can we be responsible for your own Personal Liability. If you chose to take out repatriation insurance with EUROP ASSISTANCE whom we propose, Altitude Mont Blanc will only serve as an intermediary between the client and the insurer. We cannot influence either party. We adhere to strict conditions of sale. You are responsible for compliance with the reporting procedures of any incident.

Our insurance can only be sold to European citizens speaking French.
Before making any decision, contact EUROP ASSISTANCE.

CONTACT US

If you are late please contact the agency as soon as possible on: +33 (0)4 50 79 09 16 or +33 (0)6 42 49 76 07

Equipment & baggage

EQUIPMENT LIST

Clothing

• Walking trousers
• Shorts (Bikini/swimsuit, just in case!)
• Breathable or merino wool t-shirts
• Breathable or merino wool leggings
• Fleece or jumper
• Wind stopper or Goretex jacket
• Waterproof poncho + gaiters or Goretex trousers + waterproof rucksack cover
• Pair of gloves and a warm hat
• Sun hat or baseball cap
• Walking socks (1 pair per day)
• Sturdy walking boots with a good sole, already broken in
• 1 change of clothes for the evening
• A pair of comfortable shoes for the evening

Other Equipment

• Toilet bag
• Quick drying towel
• Sunglasses and sun cream
• Water bottle or Camelback (1.5 litre minimum)
• Knife, fork and spoon
• Plastic lunch box/plate for your picnic lunches
• Plastic cup for coffee
• Small First Aid kit (antihistamine, ibuprofen, Compeed type blister pads...)
• Survival blanket
• Head torch or hand torch
• Sleeping bag liner sheet and pillowcase (blankets provided at accommodation)
• Two adjustable walking poles (highly recommended)
• Identity card or passport

BACKPACK

Bring a comfortable backpack of 30 to 40 litres for your personal belongings for the day (warm clothes, waterproofs, water, plate and cutlery for your picnic, sunscreen and your identity papers) and please keep a little room to carry a picnic and snacks.

BAGGAGE TRANSPORT

Your baggage will be transported between accommodation by our vehicle (except day 1 and 2).

You are allowed 1 soft, sports type bag with all your possessions inside, no heavier than 12kg. Your bag has to be carried everyday by the driver, where access is not always easy, please think of their backs! Baggage which is too big and too heavy won't be accepted by the drivers!