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The hike starts off easy, without tackling the high mountains immediately. The route from Arolla to Les Hauderes takes you past typical Swiss villages and through lush forests; in between, you can detour to the fairytale-like Lac Bleu. The day ends at the tiny village of La Sage.
11km and 250m elevation gain
You’ll start by climbing up from the valley floor towards a ridge above Val d’Hérens, crossing it at its lowest point in Col du Tsate. After a descent to the small Lac Châteaupré, you’ll head up along the Moiry Glacier. After the terrain becomes rocky and you start to get a closer look at the glacier, switchbacks will take you to your goal and one of the best-situated huts on the route. The Cabane du Moiry has a great atmosphere and is for many people a destination on its own.
11km and 1650m elevation gain
After breakfast at the panoramic windows of the dining room at our hut, continue down the path you took yesterday to Lac de Moiry. The ascent then leads towards Col de Sorebois, an outstanding view over Val d’Anniviers and its iconic peaks like Weisshorn (4505 m). The descent to Zinal is steep and long but can be shortened about halfway by a cable car.
16km and 550m elevation gain
Today, you’ll be entering territory in Switzerland that’s primarily German-speaking. The trail ascends high above the Zinal Valley and offers great views of the valley’s head each time you look behind. The shortest route to the Turtmanntal Valley is across Forcletta Pass. If you have more time, you can extend the hike by staying overnight at the Victorian Hotel Weisshorn and then hiking across Meidpass the next day. Either way you the stage in Gruben, a small village inhabited only in the summer.
17km and 1200m elevation gain
Today’s walk is full of contrasts. From the green forests above Gruden, you’ll pass over the Augstbordpass, once a historical trade route used by traders carrying salt and cattle to Italy. After you come around the corner and see the Mattertal valley before you, your jaw will drop. Although you won’t see Matterhorn yet, you can admire the sight of Dom (4545 m), the highest peak entirely in Swiss territory. Past the lovely hamlet of Jungen, you then descend into St. Niklaus.
17km and 1000m elevation gain
One of the best hikes in the alp, the Europaweg is found on the last two-day stretch of the Walker’s Haute. In 2021, it was redesigned because of a landslide; its first part now takes you from Gasenried to Herbriggen at a lower altitude. You can shorten this long stage by taking the valley route from St. Niklaus to Herbriggen. From there, begin a long but grand ascent to your destination, the Europahutte, with epic views at every stop, including Matterhorn.
17km and 1600m elevation gain
The end of your journey will be marked with a crossing over the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in the world, high above the valley floor, with a view of the imposing Matterhorn at the end of the valley. After Sunegga, descend down into Zermatt — the end of your Haute Route.
22km and 600m elevation gain
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If you are shorter on time and cannot hike the full length of the Walker’s Haute Route, this is its perfect short version, covering the stages on its eastern half on a week-long journey.
It leads from Arolla, a lovely Swiss village in the middle of the Pennine Alps, to Zermatt, a world-renowned mountaineering center at the foot of the Matterhorn pyramid.
This route is slightly easier than its western counterpart but arguably more scenic — with many highlights such as the Cabane de Moiry or the final two days on the Europaweg. A typical day of hiking will take you 5-7 hours, whether to a cozy mountain hut up high in the mountains or an authentic inn in the valley.
We’ll handle all the details so you can focus on your adventure. We’ll book your accommodations and other services, and a few weeks before setting off, we’ll send you a detailed itinerary booklet with the planned GPS route for your Walker’s Haute Route East trek.
Those who like a good adventure and limitless flexibility should go on a self-guided tour. We prepare the itinerary and book your accommodations while you enjoy the journey without our guide, being fully in charge of all the daily decisions. While you’ll have the full support of our team in case of any emergencies or concerns, a certain level of self-reliance is required.
Experience the great outdoors on a private guided tour tailored just for you. The tour is for those who want a hastle-free adventure and enjoy the flexibility of a small private group and not stress about the details of everyday planning. The guide will be fully at your disposal to make this experience as personalized as possible, maximizing the enjoyment during and after the tour.
For solo hikers or hikers who wish to meet other like-minded souls, don’t want to stress about tour-planning and other annoying details. We’re going to find you a group of like-minded outdoor enthusiasts and take care of all the other details. The tour will be led by our guide, who’ll make sure everything runs smoothly, ensuring maximum hiking enjoyment.
