The Haute Route by Mountain Biking!

The Haute Route from Chamonix to Zermatt, From Mont Blanc to Matterhorn by MTB!

The Haute Route from Chamonix to Zermatt is certainly one of the most famous trip in the Alps. Initialy made by alpinists, this itireray is now adapted for Mtb. Starting from Chamonix, France, and the Mont Blanc and finishing in Zermatt, Switzerland, and the Matterhorn is just a dream for those who like to ride on technical alpine trails and discover splendid sceneries.

This point to point trip takes its roots in heart of the Alps, below the "4000" of the swiss alps, we'll pass several high alpine passes at more than 2500m such as Pas de Lona, Basset de Lona or Illsee pass , ride the well maintained swiss singletracks and take the time to have a look to the breathtaking alpine summits and glaciers such as Weisshorn, Breithorn, Pigna D'Arolla....We'll pass trough old quaint swiss villages, all wood made and their narrow streets to protect them form the cold in winter and meet the local shepards in the alpine pastures taking care of the "Queens", these famous black fighting cows....

More than a bike trip, it's dive in the swiss alpine culture!

Matterhorn (4478m)This Chamonix to Zermatt trip is dedicated to bikers in very good shape, thirsty of epic rides and not afraid of long climbs or to carry their bike. Downhills can be technical in places, but the sceneries are breathtaking and you'll soon forget your pain!!
We propose an original and unencumbered route, where we won't meet loads of bikers and will have the trails just for us ( or perhaps we'll have to share them with the cows..)

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Itinerary / Highlights

Warning: this itineray is given as information and can be changed depending the weather conditions, the physical hability of the day and the options we choose together.

DAY 0( saturday): arrival and transfert to Chamonix, Guest house "Alpenrose" with view on the Mont Blanc!!

happy riders chamonix valley DAY 1( sunday): From Le Tour, top of Chamonix valley , we'll take the gondola to col de Balme and ride the first technical descent down to the village of Trient in switzerland. Than climb the col de la Forclaz and down to Martigny valley and its wineyards. We'll head to val de Bagne and Verbier by following the contours of the valley using both road and trails and take a lift to arrive in Verbier Ski resort for the night .

Outdistance: 40 km
Uneven positive: 1300 m Uneven negative: 1500m
Physical difficulty: 2/5 Technical skills: 3/5

Village of Verbier and Grand Combins in backgroud

DAY 2 (monday): Start from the village of Verbier and heading to Evolene following the itinerary of the "Grand Raid Cristalp race". We first pass the Croix de Coeur pass than descent on a splendid singletrack. The rest of the day is shared with several climbs and descents, one of them will be done with skilift and the reward is a long DHt on a spruce needles covered smooth singletrack... huummmmm! A long last climb (about an hour) awaits us to get top tof the "Sex Pey" than it's the last descent to the quaint swiss village of Evolene nested in a narrow valley. Night in Evolene

Outdistance: 65 km
Uneven positive: 1900m Uneven negative: 2400m
Physical difficulty: 3/5 Technical skills : 2/5

Lake of Moiry descending on Grimentz DAY 3 (tuesday): Today comes the big climb of the two highest passes of this trip ,"Pas de Lona" 2787m and "Basset de Lona" 2792m. We first climb the "pas de Lona" by a jeepable track than it's an hike/bike section to the top. The ride between "Pas de Lona" and " Basset de Lona" is swoopy and the climb of "Basset de Lona" is riddable to the top. The reward is a long and varied descent passing nearby the splendid lake of Moiry and finishing by a nice singletrack to the village of Grimentz. Night in Grimentz .

Outdistance: 45 km
Uneven positive: 1700 m Uneven negative:1900m
Physical difficulty: 3/5 Technical skills : 3/5

On the climb to the illhorn pass, Matterhorn in background DAY 4 (wednesday): Early start for another long day on the bike. We'll pas the Illsee pass 2544m from where we can see the Matterhorn and the Motn Blanc in the time and estimate the distance we did and what there is still to ride ....After a short descent , a pushing section awaits us for about 30mn than an epic and varied Dh is there to forget all these efforts. This descent is a mix of all the best trails you've ever dreamed about, fast tracks, swoopy, technical parts , thigh corners , it's just Toooooo gooooood!!! But the climbs are finished and a road/jeep track will bring us to above Unterbach, our stop for the night and we'll finish by a easy DH to our luxury hotel with sauna, and jacuzzi...

Outdistance: 55 km
Uneven positive: 1400 m Uneven negative: 2000 m
Physical difficulty: 4/5 Technical difficulty: 3/5

On the way to St Niklaus DAY 5 (tuesday): Change of ambiance today. we'll ride on the ridge of the swiss Rhone valley and enter in the german speaking area of switzerland: Achtung!!!! After a warm up on a jeeptrack we'll hit a singletrack and finish the climb by a bike/hike section to the highest point for today: the moose pass 2048m. The view on the neighbooring peaks is stunning as we are standing at the junction of Zermatt and Saas-Fé valleys. The descent towards Saint Niklaus and Zermatt valley is splendid. We'll use singletracks and large trails and pass through alpine villages barely hanged on the mountain side. Night in St Niklaus .

View from Moose alps pass

Outdistance: 40 km
Uneven positive: 1100 m Uneven negative: 1100 m
Physical difficulty: 3/5 Technical skills: 3/5

Matterhorn 4478m DAY 6 (friday): This last day will surely be engraved in your memory for long time!!! From Saint Niklaus we'll go to Zermatt using trails and road and ride the terrific trails of Zermatt valley ..... You'll have the choice to choose the lift you want to take, the train to Gornergrat train 3016m or the Sunnegga funicular. From both of these lift the view on the Matterhorn, the Breithorn, the Monte Rosa is just breathaking!! The descent down to Zermatt valley is fantastic and will make your disc brake burn for sure!! For sure, riding here , in switzerland is truly an experience you won't forget before long...

Outdistance: 40 km
Uneven positive: 700 m Uneven negative: 1800 m
Physical difficulty: 3/5 Technical difficulty: 3/5

DAY 7 (saturday): transfert to Geneva airport. Make sure you book an afternoon or a late/ evening flight due to the time of transfert to Geneva airport.

Other Details

Accommodation Details

7 nights hotels, bunk house and mountain hut