Qiusang

Hi! I'm going to trek in the Alps.

Starting point: France, Chamonix.
Fly to Switzerland, Geneva and transfer to Chamonix by 1hr bus.
If you are Singaporean, you need not apply Chengen visa, but still need to have Swiss visa.
I suggest to go to Chamonix one day before the trek as it is a beautiful village.

Destination: Switzerland, Zermatt
You can leave by public transport to Geneva.
I'd stay at Zermatt to ski and take the Glacier Express.
About Glacier Express:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glacier_Express
http://www.glacierexpress.ch/prospek...mage_china.pdf

Expenses: still calculating. Basically, we'd be staying at camps to lower cost, so bring along tents.

Day1: 19 July - Chamonix to Lac Blanc
2hr, 270m ascent
Take cable lift from Brevent Station to La Flegere Station
Walked to Lac Blac, signed along the way
Stay at refuge Chalet de Lac Blac above the small lake.

Day2: 20 July - Lac Blanc to Le Peuty
6-8hr, 12km, 1900m descent
Decent quite steeply. Some places with metal handrails or ladder
Good views of Chamonix valley and Glacier du Trient
Stay overnight at camp Lu Peuty where you can see glacier and nearby fields.

Day3: 21 July - Le Peuty to Champex
5-7.5hr, 14km, 1400 ascent, 1200 descent (fairly demanding)
More close-up views of Glacier du Trient.
Camping at the scenic spot at Relais d¡¯Arpette.
30-45minutes on is the lakeside village of Champex. Can choose to camp at Camping Les Rocailles.
Alternatively, you can continue the journey by taking a bus from Champex to Le Chable and cable lift to Cabane du Mont Fort and save Day4.

Day4: 22 July - Champex to Le Chable by bus, cable lift to Les Ruinette gondola lift station,
3hr, 300 ascent (very easy, rest and relax)
1.5hr trek to Cabane du Mont Fort.
Impressive views from Cabane du Mont Fort. After Day4, we¡¯d going through some of the most rugged and undeveloped terrain of the walk.


Day5: 23 July - Cabane du Mont Fort to Cabane de Prafleuri / Cabane des Ecoulaies
5.5-6.5hr, 13km, 950 ascent, 800m descent (fairly demanding)
Cross 3 high passes, including 2965m Col de Prafleuri, the highest of the walk.
From here, you can see many glaciers and rocky peaks.
Pass Grand Desert Glacier. Some steep sections. Treeless and exposed.
Extend 1.5hr from Cabane de Prafleuri at a quarry village to Cabane des Ecoulaies next to a lake, Lac des Dix.


Day6: 24 July - Cabane de Prafleuri / Cabane des Ecoulaies to Arolla
5.5-7hr, 16km, 750m ascent, 1350m descent
Walk along the lakeside. Cross a suspension bridge across a gorge. Cross a steel footbridge. Views of Glacier de Cheilon and Mont Blanc de Cheilon. Camping at Petit Praz. Alternatively, extend another 3hrs from Arolla is Les Hauderes, camp at Camping Molignon.


Day7: 25 July - Arolla to La Sage
3.5-4hr, 10km, 300m ascent, 650m descent
Past Lac Bleu, fields and alpine villages. Stay at dorm beds of Caf¨¦-Restaurant L¡¯Ecureuil.


Day8: 26 July - La Sage to Cabane de Moiry
4.5-6hr, 10km, 1600m ascent, 450m descent or
2-2.5hr, 10km, 450m descent by glacier crossing at Galcier de Moiry.
Stay at Cabane de Moiry just above the glacier.


Day9: 27 July - Cabane de Moiry to Zinal
5-6hr, 14km, 500m ascent, 1600m descent
Past Lac de Moiry then a dam. Trek through a ski resort to Zinal
Camp at Les Rousse

Day10: 28 July - Zinal to Gruben
6-7hr, 14km, 1200m ascent, 1050m descent
Cross fields, and streams to Gruben, a German-speaking village.
Stay at Restaurant Waldesruh


Day11: 29 July - Gruben to St Niklaus
6-8hr, 16km, 1100m ascent, 1800m descent
Augstbordpass is the final pass of the walk. Past Dom, the highest mountain in Switzerland. See expansive views of the entire walk. Mattertal valley west wall can be seen. Glacial waterfalls. Cross streams by wooden bridge and suspension bridge. Stay at Pension Eldelweiss.


Day12: 30 July - St Niklaus to Europahutte
6-8hr, 18km, 1600m ascent, 500m descent
The final 2 days follow the Europaweg, a 31km route between Grachen and Zermatt. Some part of the route is hacked out of sheer rock. Exposed. Mattertal valley east wall. Through tunnel. Stay at Europahutte.


Day13: 31 July - Europahutte to Zermatt
6-7hr, 18km, 500m ascent, 1100m descent
More waterfalls and tunnels. Great views of valley and mountains. End of trek at Zermatt train station.

jencrs

Hi, what's your purpose of posting this?

stormcontrol

i think she's looking for more ppl to join her? or opinions about her itinerary? Wah going trekking in the Alps... i wish i had the $ for all the cold gear and the time to train up so i could go with you...sounds so fun and exciting...

jencrs

Looks more like advertising.

Anyway, cold gear can be rented easily, or organising agent should provide. As for training, just suffer the first few days, and the rest will be fine. Seems like a simple trek, not actual climbing, so no messing about with axes, crampons and frostbite.

wildswans

Have fun...

Qiusang

Oops, did I mention at all?
I'm looking for companion for the trip. Anyway, it is finalised, just that if more pple going, the merrier.