The Haute Route Chamonix - Zermatt via the glaciers

We meet at 1pm at Montroc station, above Chamonix. After introductions, we'll take the Charamillon cable car, then a short balcony walk to the Mountain hut Albert 1er, opposite the Tour glacier.

Once settled in, your guide will present the week's programme, review safety techniques and carry out an equipment check to ensure you're ready for the adventure.

We leave the Mountain hut at dawn for our first glacier experience. We climb up the scree to the Col du Tour, then enter a more mineral and airy world on the Glacier du Trient.

A short abseil takes us to the glacier plateau. We cross it to the Col Blanc, then begin a long descent to Champex, where we return to a greener atmosphere for a restful evening in the gîte.

An early morning transfer takes us to the Mauvoisin dam, the starting point of today's stage. We follow the path to the Col de Tsofeiret (2621m), which marks the entrance to the high pastures of the Val de Bagnes.

We pass small glacial lakes before reaching the Chanrion hut, isolated at the foot of the Otemma glacier. A wild and soothing setting for our night.

We begin one of the longest glacier crossings in the Alps: the Otemma glacier, wild and almost flat, which we cover for almost 7 kilometres. The atmosphere here is unique, with white solitude and endless lines.

Arriving at the Col de Chermotane (3,053 m), we turn off towards the rocky spur that leads to the Cabane des Vignettes, perched like an eagle's nest. A spectacular, panoramic spot for the night.

We set off in the early hours of the morning for a steady climb to the Col glaciaire de l'Évêque (3,382 m), on the Italian border. From here, we plunge down the high Arolla glacier, a superb hanging valley surrounded by slender peaks.

We then climb back up to the Bertol hut, camped on a rocky ridge. The final access is via a series of metal ladders. The view of the Dent Blanche and the glaciers is breathtaking.

We climb the slopes of the Mont Miné glacier to the summit of the Tête Blanche (3,710 m). This magnificent viewpoint offers breathtaking views of the Matterhorn, Zinalrothorn, Dent d'Hérens and Weisshorn.

We then descend the cracked Stockji glacier and join the Schönbiel glacier, which leads us to the hut of the same name. This classic, welcoming Mountain hut is ideally situated facing the great north faces.

We leave the Mountain hut for a final gentle descent to Zermatt, skirting the Zmutt meadows, ancient glacial moraines and a few small high altitude lakes.

We arrive in Zermatt at the end of the morning, at around 12 noon, followed by an organised transfer back to Chamonix, to conclude this week of exceptional alpine touring between France and Switzerland.

* Changes in altitude and duration are given for information only. The programme may be adapted according to the weather, the state of the glaciers and the level of the group.