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inspirational mountain adventures
 
 
 
 
Haute Route to Zermatt 2010
Ski Skill
Ski Stamina
Photo of arriving at the amazingly positioned Bertol hut after the ascent from Arolla
Course overview Client feedback
The Haute Route route between the two historic mountain centres of Chamonix and Zermatt stretches for 114 miles and there is between 13,000m to 14,000m of ascent and descent taking you through some of the most famous landscapes in the Alps.
Throughout the week you are surrounded by stunning 4000m peaks, and the ski tour provides a challenge that many people repeat several times during their lives. It will appeal to those wishing to escape the hustle and business of the Alpine valley towns and ski slopes.
This course is ideal for those seeking a challenging ski tour, with the opportunity to use some mountaineering techniques, such as an ascent on crampons or an abseil. All roped techniques will be taught during the week, so don't worry if you are a ropework virgin!

Skiing ability should be fairly good as although there is only a little steep skiing, the slopes can be icy or rutted in places, with breakable crusts. There is also often more than a little powder on the descents! You will encounter most types of snow conditions.

A well matched group of people, with an inspirational Guide. We learnt loads and had a great time on our way to Zermatt. Your logistical support was great, as was the attention to detail
Suzanne Teal , Haute Route 2006
Thanks to everyone involved in making this happen for us; the guides, Chamonix team, and the UK office for putting up with my endless queries before the course. You were all great, and I can't thank you enough
Josephine Turner , Haute Route 2009
Great trip thanks... fantastic weather, excellent Guide and good company...
Russ Conway, Haute Route 2009
As this tour is continuous, it is quite physically demanding and requires a good level of fitness. Good stamina will make the route easier and more enjoyable as it involves five days of skiing at altitude with a pack.
The accommodation in the mountain huts is half-board throughout, with plentiful three course cooked evening meals and breakfasts each morning. This level of comfort is important, as you will need a good cooked meal after the efforts of each day, and by staying half-board you avoid having to carry stoves or pans.
Support and assistance from the Icicle Chamonix hosts is included throughout the week for logistics, valley travel, equipment fitting, and briefings. They will store any luggage that you do not want to take on the route, and transport you to the cable cars at the start of the week.
Dates: 14 - 20 March 2010, 21 - 27 March 2010, 28 Mar - 3 April 2010, 4 - 10 April 2010, 11 - 17 April 2010, 18 - 24 April 2010. For current availability on this course click here.
The course at a glance...
7 days, running from Sunday to Saturday. Price £849pp, includes accommodation.
• Classic ski tour from Chamonix to Zermatt, for those with some touring experience
Top tip... book an Intro Ski Tour weekend just before the Haute Route
You could also consider... Paradiso Tour or Ski Mont Blanc


Brief Course Itinerary
Starting in Chamonix, France, you traverse by ski the spectacular high mountain route to Zermatt, Switzerland. By staying each night in comfortable mountain refuges, set high in the mountains, this course will appeal to those who want to spend a week in amazing mountain scenery. Note that the Haute Route has many variations, and that it is often essential to alter itineraries often to cater for weather, conditions, fitness, hut spaces and ski ability.

Sun Travel to Chamonix to arrive for the 18:00 check-in followed by and course safety and itinerary briefings. There is time for kit checks or rental of equipment. Briefings are over by 20:00 and the Chamonix hosts accompany the group to pre-dinner drinks. Night in Chamonix.
Mon Day 1 ski tour, 1:6 Guiding: From Chamonix valley, you ascend the steep Col du Chardonnet, either on skins or crampons. Often this involves an abseil to descend to the Trient glacier. An alternative route to the hut is either by the Col du Passon or from Le Tour, in case of icy conditions. Night in the Trient Hut.
Tue Day 2 ski tour, 1:6 Guiding: An early start from the Trient Hut for the exhilierating ski down to Champex. Transfer by road to Verbier, then ascend the Verbier cable cars to ski to the hut. Night in Prafleuri Hut. If you reached Trient from the longer Passon route, you may stay the night in the Montfort Hut instead.
Wed Day 3 ski tour, 1:6 Guiding: Praflueri Hut via the Lac de Dix and the Pas de Chevre to descend to Arolla, Switzerland. Night in Arolla hotel. If you started from Montfort you might go to the Dix Hut instead, and in this case would ski down to Arolla the following morning before starting the Thursday itinerary.
Thu Day 4 ski tour, 1:6 Guiding: A day of ski touring through amazing scenery as you ascend from the Arolla valley up to Bertol Hut on skins. This is a big height gain, but the day is not especially long, and you should not be too tired so as to enjoy the skiing on the last day. Night in Bertol Hut.
Fri Day 5 ski tour, 1:6 Guiding: An early start for the ascent of Tete Blanche from the Bertol Hut, then descend to Zermatt past the Matterhorn. This is a big day of skiing, but fortunately most of it is downhill, which will be a welcome relief. Return transfer to Chamonix. Celebratory dinner and night in Chamonix.
Sat Breakfast, then course debrief, with feedback and questions and answers session. Depart for home.
ITINERARY NOTES: Where possible we follow itineraries. Mountain adventures are weather and conditions dependant, so occasionaly we are forced to alter the plans. If this is the case, suitable alternatives are offered. Please use this outline itinerary as a guide to the types of route / activity that you will attempt.

This is a slideshow of one of our Haute Route ski tours, so
that you can get a really good impression of what it is like,
and the type of skiing and landscapes that you will see.
These photos are from two of the winter 2009 courses.
Click here to visit the full Icicle photo gallery page.
Scheduled Course Dates Prices
Standard course
5 days guiding, 7 days holiday in total £849
Premium course
7 days guiding, 8 days holiday in total
(Standard course plus Intro Tour weekend)
LINK
£1048
Secure online booking system
Standard Course Inclusions: 1) IFMGA Mountain Guides for five days, 2) Chamonix course hosts for logistics & briefings, 3) Pre course information booklet, 4) Equipment discount voucher for UK shops, 5) Two nights B&B accommodation in Chamonix (inc. bedding & towels), 6) Four nights half board accommodation in mountain huts including three course cooked evening meals. 8) Free 36 page technical Course Instruction Booklet, 9) Road transport in Chamonix valley, 10) Chamonix office support and free Wi-Fi internet access.
Exclusions: 1) Travel to and from Chamonix, 2) Cable Cars (approx £30), 3) Ski hire, 4) Personal laundry, telephone calls, lunches, & any purchases in mountain huts / hotels / restaurants, 5) Return transport from Zermatt to Chamonix, and road transport outside Chamonix valley, 6) Activities insurance, & excess baggage charges.
Notes: The loan of all technical climbing equipment for each client is included* in the course price as required: ice axe, 12 point crampons, helmet, harness, ropes, ice screws, avalanche tranceiver, avalanche probe and shovel.
Upgrade options
Intro Ski Tour Weekend
£199 (throughout the season)
This weekend course is run on every weekend before a Haute Route ski tour, and you get your ski legs back and to work on ski touring techniques, details.
Acclimatisation Weekend
£99 (throughout the season)
To get the most out your course, acclimatisation is essential so that you minimise the chances of AMS (altitude sickness) later on during your course, details.
Avalanche Skills Day
£49 (throughout the season)
To learn avalanche prediction, reutschblocks and use of avalanche tranceivers. Course is available on any day during the week (includes ARVA), details.
Want a private group?
The course price for our scheduled course dates is just £849 per person, and all the dates are guaranteed to run. There's no difference to the scheduled dates course price whether you are booking on your own, or as a small group. However, if you have a group and would like to form a private group,
Number of people
Cost per person
1 person in group
£2099 per person
2 people in group
£1299 per person
3 people in group
£1049 per person
4 people in group
£899 per person
5 people in group
£849 per person
6 people in group
£799 per person
whether you have a group of six people or are on your own, we can run a Haute Route for you on any week of the winter season. The table above shows the group rates for any group size. If there are more than six of you, you will require multiple guides, but can work out the costs based on the table. The prices for the private groups have exactly the same inclusions and exclusions as the scheduled courses, as detailed above.