Haute Route Trekking Camp for Teens: Arolla to Zermatt, Switzerland

Course Description: Haute Route Trekking Camp for Teens: Arolla to Zermatt, Switzerland

🎓 Course Overview

This one-week trekking camp takes teenagers aged 13–17 along the eastern half of the Walker's Haute Route, one of the great walks of the Alps, from Arolla to Zermatt and the Matterhorn. Over the week the group crosses four passes between 2,790 and 2,916 m, walks about 68 km with 4,800 m of climbing, and sleeps in three campsites and two historic mountain hotels. The camp is run in English and French, with activities mainly in English.

It is the next step after the Tour of Mont Blanc Camp: longer days, higher passes and new ground in the Valais. A certified mountain leader leads every pass day, a support van carries the tents and big bags, and a bus or a lift is within reach of every stage.

📚 Academic Content

Every teenager camp at the club has a leadership side to it. Each day, teens take turns as leader of the day: with the team beside them, they help plan the day's route, set the pace, keep the group together and make decisions along the way. They learn to communicate, to look out for one another and to solve problems as a team.

Itinerary

Day 1 – Arolla to Les Haudères: train to Sion and PostBus up to Arolla (2,006 m), then an easy, mostly downhill walk past Lac Bleu and La Gouille to Les Haudères (1,450 m); 8.9 km, 350 m up, 885 m down. Night at Camping Molignon.

Day 2 – Col de Torrent to Lac de Moiry: PostBus to Villa, then the highest pass of the week, Col de Torrent (2,916 m), with the Dent Blanche behind and Lac de Moiry below; about 12 km, 1,180 m up, 670 m down. PostBus via Grimentz to Zinal for two nights.

Day 3 – Col de Sorebois and a free afternoon in Zinal: a short recovery day from Lac de Moiry over the Col de Sorebois (2,835 m), with the gondola down to Zinal; about 6 km, 600 m up.

Day 4 – Zinal to the Hôtel Weisshorn: up past the Barneuza alp to the 1882 Hôtel Weisshorn (2,337 m), alone on its balcony facing Zinal's crown of 4,000 m peaks; about 12 km, 950 m up. The highlight night of the week.

Day 5 – Meidpass to Gruben: past the Meidsee lakes and over the Meidpass (2,790 m) into the German-speaking Valais, down to Gruben (1,822 m); 11 km, 450 m up, 970 m down. Night at the Hotel Schwarzhorn.

Day 6 – Augstbordpass to the Mattertal: the last and longest climb, to the Augstbordpass (2,894 m), then down to Jungen, the small cable car to St. Niklaus and the train to Täsch; about 13 km, 1,070 m up. Night at Camping Alphubel.

Day 7 – Zermatt and the Matterhorn: into Zermatt on foot, the Sunnegga funicular to the Leisee for lunch and the classic Matterhorn photo, certificates, then the train back to Lausanne and Geneva Airport.

📍 Campus & Location

There is no fixed campus: this is a travel camp through the Swiss Valais, from Arolla in the Val d'Hérens through the Val de Moiry, Zinal and the Val d'Anniviers, the Turtmann valley and the Mattertal to Zermatt.

International participants are met at Geneva Airport, with the transfer included in the price; Swiss participants meet the group at Lausanne railway station. The group travels by train and PostBus to Arolla on Sunday and returns from Zermatt by train on Saturday early afternoon.

🏫 Accommodation & Meals

The group moves on almost every day and sleeps in three campsites and two mountain hotels: Camping Molignon in Les Haudères (1 night), a campsite in Zinal (2 nights), the Hôtel Weisshorn above St-Luc (1 night), the Hotel Schwarzhorn in Gruben (1 night) and Camping Alphubel in Täsch (1 night). A support van carries the tents and big bags between the campsites; for the two hotel nights the teens carry only a light overnight bag.

All meals are included, with picnic lunches by a lake or on a pass and dinners together in the evening. Dietary requirements are recorded on the registration form before camp so the team can plan for them.

🚌 Excursions & Activities

Highlights include the Col de Torrent above the turquoise Lac de Moiry, a night in the 1882 Hôtel Weisshorn facing the Weisshorn, crossing from French- into German-speaking Switzerland over the Meidpass, the views of the Mischabel peaks from the Augstbordpass and the arrival on foot in Zermatt below the Matterhorn. Transport during the camp includes trains, PostBuses, the Sorebois gondola, the Jungen cable car and the Sunnegga funicular.

⏰ A Day in the Life

An early breakfast, then on the trail while the air is cool: 4 to 6 hours of walking with breaks and a picnic lunch by a lake or on a pass. In the afternoon the group reaches the night's campsite or mountain hotel, settles in, rests and plays games before dinner together. Tuesday is a short day, with a free afternoon in Zinal.

2027 Dates & Fees 📅

This is a residential travel camp. Each trek runs for one week, from Sunday to Saturday, and is offered in four weeks of summer 2027. The route is the same every week. Fees are quoted in Swiss francs (CHF) per week and depend on where the family lives, not nationality.

Sunday 11 July – Saturday 17 July — Length: 1 week — Residential: CHF 2,090 (Swiss residents: CHF 1,430)

Sunday 25 July – Saturday 31 July — Length: 1 week — Residential: CHF 2,090 (Swiss residents: CHF 1,430)

Sunday 8 August – Saturday 14 August — Length: 1 week — Residential: CHF 2,090 (Swiss residents: CHF 1,430)

Sunday 22 August – Saturday 28 August — Length: 1 week — Residential: CHF 2,090 (Swiss residents: CHF 1,430)

The Haute Route weeks fall between the weeks of the Tour of Mont Blanc Camp, so a teen can walk both in the same summer: the Tour of Mont Blanc first, then the Haute Route.

Optional extras: accident, rescue and repatriation insurance and cancellation insurance, both bookable at registration, and extra nights for early arrival or late departure (cost confirmed individually).

Payment: places are confirmed only once payment is received, either in full or as the first instalment where a payment plan is offered. Payment is by card or bank transfer, in Swiss francs only. There are no sibling, friend or multi-week discounts and no VAT is added. Booking can be cancelled free of charge before payment; after payment, the cancellation terms in the camp contract apply. If the camp itself cancels, a full refund is given.

✔️ What's Included

All meals, the six nights (three campsites and two mountain hotels) and the group equipment (tents and camping gear); all transport during the camp (trains, PostBus, the Sorebois gondola, the Jungen cable car and the Sunnegga funicular); a support van for the tents and big bags; a certified mountain leader on every pass day with the club's own leaders all week; and, for international participants, pick-up and drop-off at Geneva Airport.

Not included: travel to and from the meeting point, and personal equipment: hiking boots, a sleeping bag (one can be requested from the camp), clothing and other personal expenses.

🛡️ Safety & Welfare

A certified mountain leader (accompagnateur en montagne / Wanderleiter) leads every pass day, with the club's own trained leaders all week and someone responsible for first aid and crisis management always present. There is one leader for every five teens.

The eastern half of the Haute Route has no ladders and no glaciers to cross, and a bus or a lift is always within reach (Villa, Lac de Moiry, Sorebois, St-Luc, Gruben, Jungen), so a day can be shortened if the weather turns or someone is tired. The camp runs only from early July to late August, when the passes are clear of snow and the summer buses and lifts are running.

All staff are over 18 and are recruited through interviews, background and reference checks; each provides a police record extract. Families must hold travel or accident insurance covering emergency rescue (including mountain and helicopter rescue) and repatriation; the camp's own policy can be added at booking.

Phones go in the box on Sunday and come out on Saturday; parents get the news from the team every evening and can reach the team 24/7 in an emergency.

💡 Who This Programme Is For

This camp suits fit teens aged 13–17 who enjoy long days outdoors and can walk several days in a row. Most days are 4 to 6 hours of walking, and two days climb about 1,100 to 1,200 m. 13-year-olds are welcome if they are particularly fit and have already walked long distances several days in a row (for example on the Tour of Mont Blanc Camp). No climbing skills are needed.

Young Explorers Club — Google Maps ↗

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