The last stage of the Haute Route is also one of its most impressive and longest. From the Cabane des Vignettes (3160 m), the route crosses three high alpine cols and vast glaciers all the way to Zermatt (1620 m). After several days in the high mountains, a final descent of around 2000 m below the Matterhorn makes an unforgettable end to the traverse.
Over roughly 30 km, there are another 1200 m or so of ascent and more than 2700 m of descent. The three cols, demanding glacier terrain and the sheer length make this final stage a challenging undertaking, both physically and technically.