High Alpine Treks (Summer)

High Alpine Treks (or summer Haute Routes) are adventurous journeys on foot through the high Alps. They are the perfect way for keen walkers to experience the high mountain environment of peaks, passes and glaciers without getting too far into the intricacies of 'technical' mountaineering.

Using our intimate knowledge of the Western Alps we have devised magnificent High Alpine Treks through the main alpine ranges of Switzerland and the Gran Paradiso range in Italy. Each has its own character and highlights, and each one takes in summits ('trekking peaks') which involve no technical climbing but which provide fantastic viewpoints.

As well as being great alpine holidays in their own right, ISM High Alpine Treks bridge the gap between hill walking and climbing, making them the perfect prelude to many of our mountaineering courses (where the knowledge, fitness and acclimatisation gained during the alpine trekking week will be of great benefit).

The High Alpine Treks are mostly 6 days (7 nights) in duration. The first and last nights are at our hotel in Leysin and we usually have a valley night midweek for a 'freshen up' and to enjoy a little more luxury than mountain huts can provide. To keep pack sizes to a minimum we take half-board at the huts and only carry food for picnic lunch.

On each alpine trek we teach basic mountaineering skills such as the use of ice-axe and crampons and safe crossing of glaciers. ISM provides any technical equipment needed - you just need to arrive with suitable clothing and footwear (click here for High Alpine Trek Equipment page).

Itineraries. We have a number of tried and tested trekking itineraries which we rotate over a period of years to keep the programme fresh. Conditions alter from year to year, occasionally requiring us to vary the itineraries advertised.

Click here for Summer Programme / Course Planner