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Chamonix to Zermatt Heliski Safari

Heliski the Haute Route from Chamonix to Zermatt, why walk when you can fly!  This unique adventure of 6 ski days takes in the best off-piste skiing and heli-accessed skiing between Chamonix and Zermatt, skiing some of the famous Haute Route ski tour and fabulous long descents around Zermatt.

Starting in Chamonix with an off-piste ski day we then head via Verbier to Arolla and onto Zermatt and the Monterosa Massif for 4 days of heli assisted skiing; before ending in Zermatt with an off-piste ski day from the top of the Klein Matterhorn Cable Car.

Itinerary

Day 0: Arrival in Chamonix, equipment check at the hotel at 5 pm.  Group dinner to discuss the week ahead, overnight in a hotel in Chamonix. 

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Day 1: We begin our week with an off-piste day skiing in Chamonix.  We usually take the famous Aiguille du Midi cable car and aim to make a descent of the Vallee Blanche by one of it's steeper routes.  This is an opportunity to get to know your guide and for them to get to know you.  The Vallee Blanche is one of the most famous off-piste run's in the world accessed by the 2-stage cable car from the center of Chamonix to the famous needle of the Aiguille du Midi.  From here we have some time to enjoy the magnificent views of Mont Blanc and her surrounding 4000m peaks and to check the snow conditions for our descent.  There are a number of routes and varients that we can ski and your guide will choose the most appropriate for the conditions at the time.

We often make two descents in the day or head to another ski area in Chamonix for an afternoon of lift-accessed off-piste skiing.  Return to your hotel in Chamonix.

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Day 2: We make a short drive over the border to Switzerland and take the helicopter from the roadside to the Plateau du Trient.  This is a high glaciated plateau overlooked by the peaks of the Aiguilles Dorees, Aiguille du Tour and the Pointe d'Orny.  We land at around 3300m high on the glacier, from here we make a long ski descent to the small Swiss town of Champex, nestled above the main valley.  From here we usually need to take a taxi down to the town of Orsieres and onto Verbier, this is about a 20-30 minute journey by road.  

We then have 2 options the first is to take the helicopter to the Rosablanche where the landing is near the summit of the peak at around 3330m.  This gives us a long ski back to the valley across spectacular glaciated terrain.  Or we can finish the ski day with some off-piste skiing in Verbier from the summit of Mont Fort and from Mont Gele, where there are world-renowned ski descents to challenge the best of skiers.

We overnight in Verbier.

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Day 3: We take the helicopter from La Chable just below Verbier and fly across toward the peak of the Pigne d'Arolla which sits high above the small Swiss village of Arolla at 3796m, the landing area is just below the rocky summit of the peak on a large flat plateau.  The views from the summit are spectacular a 360-degree panorama of the peaks of the Swiss and French Alps and many famous 4000m are close by.  
From the summit of the Pigne we have a number of route options and we usually ski back to the helipad just on the edge of the village each time.  We aim to make between 1-4 flights/ski descents over the day and we finish in Arolla and overnight in our preferred hotel in the village of Arolla.

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Day 4: This morning we take the helicopter from Arolla and fly over to the peak of the Aschhorn (sometimes spelled Aeschihorn) close to the Zinalrothorn.  The main summit of the Aschhorn is at 3669m, we land below the summit and have a long ski into Zermatt itself.  This is a great run to do in the morning as it is south facing and can often hold some powder near the summit and spring snow lower down depending on the conditions.  We can take the helicopter again from Zermatt and do another drop such as the Alphubeljoch, Testa Grigia or the Ebnefluh; or we can enjoy the extensive skiing available off the lift system in Zermatt.

We overnight in Zermatt.

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Day 5: Today we stay in Zermatt and the goal will be to do 1 or 2 flights from Zermatt around the iconic Matterhorn and Monterosa peaks.  All options offer not only spectacular skiing with long powder descents, amazing alpine scenery but also incredible views from the helicopter of the famous peaks that surround the Zermatt Valley. 

We overnight in Zermatt.

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Day 6: Our final day is an off-piste ski day in Zermatt.  There is a famous desent, much like the Vallee Blanche in Chamonix, from the summit of the Klein Matterhorn at 3883m down the UntererTheodulgletscher to the Gorner Gorge to the Furi.  Here we take a relaxing lunch in the sun before we ski a final run in to Zermatt town.

We overnight in Zermatt.

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Day 7: Departure day and onward travel.

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Please note that the itinerary is subject to change and just an idea of the many options that are possible during this week.  We may interchange the heli and off-piste days depending on the weather and conditions at the time.  Your guide will advise you at the start of the week what the most likely program will be and how the days will run.  Your guide makes the final decision on what location and routes you will ski during the week.

Pricing 

Please contact use for pricing, typical inclusions and exclusions are listed below. 

 

Program Cost Inclusions: 

  • 6 days of skiing with a UIAGM/IFMGA certified guide (1:4 maximum ratio) and guides expenses

  • Accommodation in our preferred hotels in Chamonix, Verbier, Arolla and Zermatt on a bed & breakfast basis

  • Helicopter flights based on the program outlined above.  Additional flights can be brought and paid for directly at the time

  • Ground transportation during the program, this includes any road transfers for the program outlined above

  • Use of avalanche transceiver, shovel, probe, climbing harness, and a ski rucksack if required

 

Program Cost Exclusions:

  • Travel to Chamonix and from Zermatt (flights and airport transfers)

  • Lunches and drinks and any additional meals/food not included in the package price as stated above

  • Any additional helicopter flight costs not included, for an idea of costs please contact us

  • Hire of an avalanche airbag rucksack, mandatory to have for most heliskiing 

  • Any ski passes required for skiing during the week

  • Rescue Insurance (required, see options below)

  • Travel Insurance (highly recommended)

  • Personal Ski Equipment or rental of skis/boots/poles

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