Gran Paradiso - Peaks, Passes and Paradiso

Ciao! Welcome to Italy!

Upon arrival at Malpensa Airport in Milan, you'll meet the rest of your group and catch your private transfer to Aosta, deep in the Italian Alps. Normally flights get into Milan just after lunch so all of these transfers will be between 2-4 pm and should take about two hours. Take in the views as you head into Aosta Valley, famous for many things but especially its wine, cheese and awesome mountain views. After you check into your room at the hotel in Aosta, depending on your arrival time, you should have some free time to explore the old town. If you're into a little bit of history you can check out the beautiful and ancient Roman ruins! Tonight you'll get to know the rest of your group over a glass of the local red, definitely some cheese and sample the epic gastronomies of Aosta. 

Meals: -/-/D

It's time to get trekking! After grabbing some breakfast at the hotel you and the rest of the group will take another private transfer to Eaux Rousses (Valsavarenche, 1667m). Here you will meet your trekking guide and have a briefing before starting on the trails.

The trek starts by following a gravel road from the village, passing through some woodland before reaching the open meadows to the ranger's hut at Orvieilles. You'll trek past the gorgeous Djouan lakes before it's time to stretch those legs as the trail gets steeper on the way to your first high pass, Col Entrelor pass (3007m). The views from this vantage point are something else as you can look over to the Gran Paradiso massif and the snow and ice on it's flanks. This stretch taking you over the high pass is challenging but will really help you acclimatize to the altitude. In parts of the trail here, you'll be grabbing hold of a cable as you step onto iron or wooden steps. This part isn't technical but the security of the cable is really useful if there is any snow about. Once you're over this part, you'll reach some gentler trails to the old village ruins at Plan des Feyes before finally reaching Rifugio delle Marmotte (2142m), where you’ll rest and spend the night. An awesome first days trekking!

A+ (m.): 1340
D- (m.): 850
Length (km): 12
Expected duration (h): 7

Meals : B/L/D

It's a day for epic views again! As you leave the scenic Val di Rhemes, one of the most iconic valleys in Gran Paradiso National Park, you'll descend from Rifugio delle Marmotte down to the little quaint village of Rhemes de Notre Dame (1722m). Once down at the valley floor, you'll follow the river and a nice easy trail leading to the end of the valley. Take a breather before you take the trails upwards passing the great waterfalls, across open pastures and finally reaching your stop for the night, Rifugio Benevolo (2287m). As the group will hopefully be reaching this spot nice and early in the day, you'll take an afternoon acclimatisation hike to the scenic viewpoint at Goletta Lake. This awesome place, located between Granta Parei (3.387m) and Becca della Traversiere (3.337m), offers a magnificent panorama over towards the Gran Paradiso and its sister peaks (if you climb slightly from the lake). Once you've spent some time here, you'll take it slow back down to Rifugio Benevolo where you'll be spending the night.

A+ (m.): 560 (+460 with Goletta lake)
D- (m.): 400 (+460 with Goletta lake)
Length (km): 10 (+7 with Goletta lake)
Expected duration (h): 3h30min (+2h30 min with Goletta lake)

Meals : B/L/D

I've heard you like high passes?!! Of course you do and today is an epic one as you trek up over Col Rosset pass (3024m). You'll be trekking along the Gran Vaudala valley, trying to look where you are going without getting distracted by the towering peaks above, until you reach a section where there are some scrambly sections as you near the top of the pass. Your lung-busting efforts will be rewarded for sure as you'll get great views over the Gran Paradiso range and its glaciers. You'll have a first glimpse of some of the sections that you'll be trekking and climbing up in a day or so.

This is one of the best days and one of your best chances to see the famous beasts in this part of the world, the mountain ibex and chamois, so keep a sharp lookout for these beautiful creatures. After crossing the high pass, the descent starts steep but not technical, leading to easier terrain and the mesmerising Nivolet Plateau Lakes. As you draw your eyes away from these lakes, you'll follow the glacial Savara River down the valley, descending to the village of Breuil and your stop for the night, Rifugio Tetras Lyre (1996m), passing by beautiful meadows with breathtaking views keeping you company all of the way!

A+ (m.): 800
D- (m.): 1100
Length (km): 16
Expected duration (h): 6

Meals : B/L/D

You'll be leaving the valley floor for the last time before the Gran Paradiso summit as you take the trails heading up through forest and meadows along the old kings path to reach the rifugio Vittorio Emanuele II (2719 m). This is your base camp and the classic starting point for most climbs of Gran Paradiso. Your group will be spending plenty of time here acclimatising and preparing for the summit attempt tomorrow. There will be heaps of opportunities to hike the trains in and around this place reaching the epic glacial areas for some more awesome views.

As you'll be getting ready in the evening, you will meet another member of the team - your alpine climbing guide, so will have another briefing about tomorrow's plan to take on the summit. It's an early night to get some rest before an epic day to follow!

A+ (m.): 700 (+450 with optional hike in the afternoon)
D- (m.): 0 (-460 with optional hike in the afternoon)
Length (km): 6 (+5 with optional hike in the afternoon)
Expected duration (h): 2h30min (+2/3h with optional hike in the afternoon)

Meals : B/L/D

It's time to reach the high point of the trek and take on a 4000m peak in the Alps and what a peak this one is! The epic Gran Paradiso. You'll get up nice and early, grab some breakfast and your gear and then make your way to the starting point. It's normally a short hike before putting your harness and crampons on. If you've not used these before, your alpine guide will have provided full instruction on how to use these the previous afternoon, but of course any previous experience on crampons is ideal. The initial route from Rifugio Vittorio Emanuele II begins on rocky glacial moraine made of large stone blocks so you'll navigate your way around these and head towards the side of the valley and the glacier itself. you will have a short break near the Schiena d’Asino, then ascend to the Becca di Moncorvé pass. These trails are not super steep but as you get close to 4000m it will seem more difficult due to the altitude. Up and up you go as you head towards the end of the glacier and onto the rock part of the mountain, here there's a summit ridge that will take you all the way to the summit. the climb is not considered technical but whilst you're on the summit ridge you will be attached to fixed lines. To reach the actual summit you will make a short but exposed step up to the summit. It's super safe but something to be mentally prepared for and it's all part of the exciting challenge. Once on top of the summit, take in those epic views with hugs and high fives all around!

You'll take it slow as you and the group head down and over to some different accommodation for the night. You'll be staying at the Federico Chabod mountain hut and here you'll enjoy a nice hot meal and a celebratory drink with a summit well earned! 

A+ (m.): 1330
D- (m.): 1350
Expected duration (h): 10h ca.

Meals : B/L/D

You'll still be feeling on top of the world (No pun intended) after your summit yesterday, but it's time to descend and bid 'Arrivederci' to this beautiful place. You drop down to the valley after a couple of hours trekking to Pont Valsavarenche for a lunch stop, and then the transfer back to Milano Malpensa Airport and the start of your journey home. What an epic several days in one of the most spectacular areas of the Alps. 

Fancy staying on for longer? You can book additional nights accommodation in Milan if you want to extend your stay in Italy - contact us in advance of your trek and we can have everything arranged for you.

A+ (m.): 0

D- (m.): 700
Expected duration (h): 2h ca.

Meals : B/L/-