10-Nights Hiking the Haute Route

Chamonix

Chamonix sits in the shadow of Mont Blanc and offers some of the most challenging skiing in Europe. The town is in the center of a string of villages spread out along a valley cutting deep through the Alps; the village of Argentiere is six miles up the valley, beneath the renowned Grands-Montets slopes, and Les Houches is a small resort a few miles below. The huge variety of on- and off-piste skiing in Chamonix attracts all levels of skiers, and this shows in the sportive atmosphere in the bars and restaurants. Chamonix is known for its ski-hard-party-hard atmosphere and the nightlife won't disappoint. There is a casino for those wishing to try their luck on the tables. Chamonix's other activities include swimming, bathing in Turkish baths, indoor ice skating, and bowling.

Zermatt

Friendly, welcoming Zermatt, with its grandiose panoramas of snow-capped peaks that include the legendary Matterhorn, boasts the longest winter season in Europe and the highest skiiing area. Horse-drawn carriages in summer and snow sleighs in winter add further ambience to Zermatt's quaint Walliser houses and the elegant, often world famous hotels. The absence of cars has helped bestow an elite status on Zermatt. The picture perfect streets and snow-lined pathways are clean, pristine and romantic in atmosphere. In the summertime, walking and climbing enthusiasts can enjoy the unlimited scope of the magnificent mountains and glaciers, while skiing devotees enjoy the seemingly endless pistes in wonderful powder snow. Zermatt attracts tourists, not only for its fresh and clean mountain air, but also for its excellent restaurants, bars and nightclubs; the tempting, exclusive shops and boutiques and the friendly hospitality of the local residents.