MTB: Chamonix to Zermatt
Zermatt by bike!
The Haute Route is one of the most famous routes in the Alps; this is the 'high level route' between the two great alpine towns of Chamonix and Zermatt.
We begin our mountain bike trip in Chamonix, which lies in the shadow of the highest mountain in Western Europe, Mont Blanc, and continue over the mountains to Zermatt and the iconic Matterhorn! You'll be following trails which have been used for centuries to link the valleys which lie between.
A week of stunning views of snow capped peaks and glaciers, with great technical riding both up and down! What a route, and what a journey!
- The best of Alpine views
- Excellent technical riding
- Professional mountain bike guide
- Baggage transferred for you
- Great accommodation and fantastic cuisine!
Download PDF version of this pageDepartures
| Trip | Departure date | End date | Price | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MTB: HR1 | Sat 29 June 13 | Sat 6 July 13 | £975 | Places available | Make a Booking |
| MTB: HR2 | Sat 6 July 13 | Sat 13 July 13 | £975 | Places available | Make a Booking |
| MTB: HR3 | Sat 13 July 13 | Sat 20 July 13 | £975 | Trip Guaranteed | Make a Booking |
| MTB: HR4 | Sat 20 July 13 | Sat 27 July 13 | £975 | Trip Guaranteed | Make a Booking |
| MTB: HR5 | Sat 27 July 13 | Sat 3 August 13 | £975 | Places available | Make a Booking |
| MTB: HR6 | Sat 3 August 13 | Sat 10 August 13 | £975 | Trip Guaranteed | Make a Booking |
| MTB: HR7 | Sat 10 August 13 | Sat 17 August 13 | £975 | Trip Guaranteed | Make a Booking |
| MTB: HR8 | Sat 17 August 13 | Sat 24 August 13 | £975 | Places available | Make a Booking |
| MTB: HR9 | Sat 24 August 13 | Sat 31 August 13 | £975 | Places available | Make a Booking |
| MTB: HR10 | Sat 31 August 13 | Sat 7 September 13 | £975 | Trip Guaranteed | Make a Booking |
| MTB: HR11 | Sat 7 September 13 | Sat 14 September 13 | £975 | Places available | Make a Booking |
| MTB: HR12 | Sat 14 September 13 | Sat 21 September 13 | £975 | Places available | Make a Booking |
| MTB: HR13 | Sat 21 September 13 | Sat 28 September 13 | £975 | Places available | Make a Booking |
View MTB: Mountain Biking Chamonix to Zermatt in a larger map
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival Day
Today you arrive in Chamonix valley, France. If you choose to fly to Geneva then we can meet you at the airport and take you to your accommodation. The meeting time for the transfer will be at a time which suits the majority of the arriving group members. Your guide will be available to answer any questions about the trip ahead. Also, bikes will be unpacked and prepared.
Day 2 Chamonix to Verbier
We set off under the highest mountain in Western Europe, Mont Blanc, to ride to Le Tour, at the top of the Chamonix valley, where we save some energy by taking the gondola lift to the Col de Balme and enjoy our first technical descent to the village of Trient, Switzerland. Then it's up to the Col de la Forclaz and a descent into the Martigny Valley with its vineyards. We then head to Verbier via both road and trails, finishing by taking a lift to arrive in the ski resort of Verbier. Approx 40 km. Ascent: 1000m. Descent: 1500m
Day 3 Verbier to Evolène
Starting from Verbier with an amazing view of the Grand Combin and the Mont Blanc range we ride towards Evolène following the itinerary of the 'Grand Raid Cristalp race'. We pass the Croix de Coeur pass and descend on a swooping singletrack which gives you a taste of things to come. The rest of the day provides several climbs and descents over ridges and along high level trails. At one point we take a lift with the reward of a long descent on a brilliant singletrack. A long final climb takes us to the top of Sex Pey, followed by the technical descent of the day to the quaint Swiss village of Evolène. Approx 65 km. Ascent: 1900m. Descent: 2400m.
Day 4 Evolène to Grimentz
Today involves the ascent of the two highest passes of this tour, Pas de Lona at 2787m and Basset de Lona at 2792m. We first climb the Pas de Lona on a jeep track, and with a 30 minute 'hike-a-bike' section to the top with the reward of stunning views of the snow capped peaks of the Weisshorn. The ride between Pas de Lona and Basset de Lona is a great descent through alpine meadows and past a blue green lake. The reward is a long and varied descent passing near the beautiful lake of Moiry and finishing with a fun singletrack right to the village of Grimentz. Approx 45 km. Ascent: 1900m. Descent: 1900m.
Day 5 Grimentz to Eischoll
We will ride via the Illsee pass at 2544m, from where we can see both the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc. After a short descent to the lake, a 30 minute pushing section follows with an epic and well deserved downhill. This descent is a mix of all the best trails you've ever dreamed about - fast tracks, swooping and technical sections and tight corners. No less than 1200m of absolutely brilliant riding. Then a scenic traversing trail on both singletrack, and jeep track, brings us to a point above Eischoll, finishing with an easy downhill for the night. Approx 55km. Ascent: 1650m. Descent: 2000m.
Day 6 Eischoll to St Niklaus
We will ride on the ridge of the Swiss Rhone Valley today and enter into the German speaking area of Switzerland. After a warm up on a jeep track we will hit a singletrack and finish the climb with a 'hike-a-bike' section to the highest point for the day; the 'Moose pass' at 2048m. The view of the neighbouring peaks is stunning as we stand at the junction of the Zermatt and Saas-Fee Valleys. The descent to Saint Niklaus and the Zermatt valley is excellent. We use singletracks and large trails and pass through alpine villages barely clinging to the mountain side. Approx 40km. Ascent: 1100m. Descent: 1100m.
Day 7 St Niklaus to Zermatt
The final day riding will be engraved on your memory forever! From Saint Niklaus we will head to Zermatt using trails and road. We will then ride the terrific trails of the Zermatt valley. The group has a choice of lifts to make the ascent. The Gornergrat train to 3016m or the Sunnegga funicular. From both of these lifts the view of the Matterhorn, the Breithorn and the Monte Rosa is totally jaw-dropping! The descent down to Zermatt is fantastic and will definitely make your disc brakes burn! Riding this tour, is what dreams are made of... Approx 40km. Ascent: 700. Descent: 1800.
Day 8 Departure
Price
Included: Transfer to and from Geneva airport on the arrival and departure days. The meeting time for the transfer will be at a time which suits the majority of the arriving group members. The guiding services of a fully qualified Mountain Bike Guide, hotel accommodation for 7 nights, dinner and breakfast, any transfers and cable cars in Verbier, Chamonix, and Siviez. Picnic lunch is also included. A minibus with driver for assistance each day, along with baggage transfers between accommodation. Return of any hired bikes to Chamonix at the end of the trip.
Not included: Travel Insurance, which must include helicopter rescue from the mountains. It does not include the hire of any mountain bikes should you choose not to bring your own, nor does it include any repairs and maintenance necessary to your bike. Lift passes in Zermatt are not included as the options on this day depend on the weather.
Accommodation
The accommodation is in comfortable and charming alpine hotels based on two people sharing. Sometimes depending on group numbers and gender you may be sharing a larger room for 3/4 people. On this trip we do not normally use any dormitory accommodation.
Bikes
The best bike for this type of trip would be an all-round bike with between 100mm and 160mm of suspension travel on the front and the rear. A bike of less than 14kg is a good idea! If you choose not to bring your own bike then there are a number of hire shops to be found in Chamonix which provide an excellent range of mountain bikes at varying hire costs, but you can expect to pay around 350 Euros for the week to hire a full suspension bike. It is good idea to bring your own saddle and your own pedals if you use 'clip ins' and wish to hire. Hire shops carry out their own maintenance, but it is your responsibility to check that you are happy with the mechanical order of your hire bike. If bringing your own bike It is VITAL to ensure your bike is THOROUGHLY SERVICED to guarantee it is in good mechanical order before departure. If you are not mechanically minded, get your local bike dealer to service it for you
Your Guide
We work with fully qualified professional French mountain bike guides who are hugely experienced and enthusiastic about riding the Alps! It would in fact be fair to say they are in generally addicted to single track. If you want a guide who loves the job and is very happy to share the mountains then this is the trip for you. Your guide will also be a qualified International Mountain Leader. To acquire these qualifications a guide, as well as being a talented biker, also has to demonstrate extensive knowledge of the alpine environment, flora and fauna and local culture. Any questions - just ask!
Minimum numbers
This trip will run once a minimum number of 4 clients have booked. We will take a maximum of 8 clients to one guide. If numbers exceed 8 then you can expect to have two guides on your trip. This allows the group to be split if necessary according to fitness and ability making the whole experience even more enjoyable. We advise you not to make your travel arrangements until the trip is guaranteed to run.
Itinerary
The itinerary is given for guidance, but obviously may need to be changed at the discretion of the guide depending on the weather conditions, physical ability of the clients and the trail options.
Further Information
Chamonix is easily reached from other European and worldwide destinations by road, rail, coach or plane. For suggested travel links please refer to our Booking & Information pages for further details. Geneva is the closest international airport and only 75 minutes away by road, making shared transfers, buses or trains easy to arrange. Please contact us if you need further advise on your specific travel requirements.
