The trip

LEVEL ***

Elevation : +/- 750m approximately per day. Day 6 +1300m.
Walking time :  5 to 6 hours per day.
Type of trek : stony trails that daily reach high passes between 2800m and 3000m above sea level. Some technical parts, especially in the early season.
Some steep passages possible as well as some technical passages, mainly at the beginning of the season with the crossing of residual snow.

GUIDING

Number in a group between 6 and 14 people supervised by a qualified professional mountain leader. At the beginning of the season group numbers may be reduced depending on snow conditions.

ACCOMMODATION

5 nights in dormitories in mountain refuges and gîtes.
1 night in a cosy hotel bedroom for 2-4 people.
All accommodation offers hot showers.

YOUR BACKPACK FOR THE NIGHT WITHOUT YOUR LUGGAGE

For the night without your luggage at the accommodation (you will get it back the night after), here are the things to add to your backpack (about 2 kilos are enough!):
- small toilet bag
- sleeping bag liner sheet
- change of clothes (bare necessities!)

MEALS

Breakfast and dinner are provided in each accommodation.
Picnics are included and are carefully prepared daily by your mountain leader, comprising a variety of a healthy salads and local products.

MAPS

1/25000 Val Savarenche-Val de Rhême-Val Grisenche N102
Edition Instituto Geografico Centrale

Practical information

ACCESS TO DEPARTURE POINT

Meet on Sunday at 11:45am in the carpark in Pont, in the Valsavarenche, Italy.

A return transfer option may be reserved with Altitude Mont Blanc in our logistics vehicle (1.5 hour journey), supplementary charge on registration, 45€ per person.
Meet at 10am in front of the train station in Chamonix.

BY TRAIN
TO AOSTA VIA TURIN OR
TO CHAMONIX VIA PARIS
Inbound: depart Gare de Lyon (Paris) the day before at 12:45pm arrive in Chamonix at 7:50pm.
Return train: depart Gare de Lyon (Paris) at 6:00pm arrive in Chamonix at 00:13am.
Times given are indicative and should be verified in a train station or on
https://www.oui.sncf

BY BUS
VIA CHAMONIX
From Chamonix to Aosta with SAT bus.
www.sat-montblanc.com
VIA AOSTA
Inbound: depart Aosta at 7:15am, 12:30pm and 4:30pm by bus to Pont, Valsavarenche.
Return: depart Pont at 2:00pm arrive in Aosta at 3:15pm.
Times given are indicative and should be verified on www.savda.it

BY CAR
VIA THE MONT BLANC TUNNEL
Take the A40 motorway towards Chamonix, follow signs for Milan and take the Mont-Blanc Tunnel to Italy (49€ return) www.atmb.net
Follow signs for Courmayeur/Aosta (signed blue), then direction Introd and Valsavarenche, 3kms after the village Aviez continue to to the end of the valley to arrive in Pont.

VIA THE COL DU PETIT ST BERNARD
From the southern regions of France take the A43 motorway to Chambéry, the A30 to Albertville and follow direction Bourg St Maurice. Follow signs to Col du Petit St Bernard and Italy (a very good mountain road) passing through La Thuile to Pré St Didier. Follow signs for Aosta (signed blue), then direction Introd and Valsavarenche, 3kms after the village Aviez continue to to the end of the valley to arrive in Pont.

If you have chosen the return transfer option from Chamonix:
Free parking: Chemin du Biolay, opposite the Montenvers train station in Chamonix.
If you wish to leave your car in a covered garage, contact:
Chamonix Auto Park: 04 50 53 65 71 (40 to 50€ per week).

End point Saturday at 2:00pm in Pont. 
Transfer to Chamonix if you have chosen this option (1h30 transfer).
Warning: the tunnel may be very busy on Saturday. Think of a little bit more time if you need to book a bus or train from Chamonix.

ACCOMMODATION BEFORE AND AFTER

Chamonix - Hôtel de l’Arve: +33 (0)4 50 53 02 31                                                      
Hôtel Vallée Blanche: +33 (0)4 50 53 04 50
Chamonix Tourist Office: +33 (0)4 50 53 00 24
www.chamonix.com

Pont, Valsavarenche - Hotel Gran Paradiso: +39 01 65 95 454
Hotel Genzianella: +39 01 65 95 393
Aosta Tourist Office: +39 01 65 23 66 27
www.aoste.ialpes.com
www.lovevda.it

INSURANCE

In accordance with regulations, we are covered by Professional Liability Insurance. In no case can we be responsible for your own Personal Liability. If you chose to take out repatriation insurance with EUROP ASSISTANCE whom we propose, Altitude Mont Blanc will only serve as an intermediary between the client and the insurer. We cannot influence either party. We adhere to strict conditions of sale. You are responsible for compliance with the reporting procedures of any incident.

Before making any decision, contact EUROP ASSISTANCE.

CONTACT US

If you are late please contact the agency as soon as possible on: +33 (0)4 50 79 09 16 or +33 (0)6 42 49 76 07

Equipment & baggage

EQUIPMENT LIST

Clothing

• Walking trousers
• Shorts (Bikini/swimsuit, just in case!)
• Breathable or merino wool t-shirts
• Breathable or merino wool leggings
• Fleece or jumper
• Wind stopper or Goretex jacket
• Waterproof poncho + gaiters or Goretex trousers + waterproof rucksack cover
• Pair of gloves and a warm hat
• Sun hat or baseball cap
• Walking socks (1 pair per day)
• Sturdy walking boots with a good sole, already broken in
• 1 change of clothes for the evening
• A pair of comfortable shoes for the evening

Other Equipment

• Toilet bag
• Quick drying towel
• Sunglasses and sun cream
• Water bottle or Camelback (1.5 litre minimum)
• Knife, fork and spoon
• Plastic lunch box/plate for your picnic lunches
• Plastic cup for coffee
• Small First Aid kit (antihistamine, ibuprofen, Compeed type blister pads...)
• Survival blanket
• Head torch or hand torch
• Sleeping bag liner sheet and pillowcase (blankets provided at accommodation)
• Two adjustable walking poles (highly recommended)
• Identity card or passport

BACKPACK

Bring a comfortable backpack of 30 to 40 litres for your personal belongings for the day (warm clothes, waterproofs, water, plate and cutlery for your picnic, sunscreen and your identity papers) and please keep a little room to carry a picnic and snacks.

BAGGAGE TRANSPORT

Your baggage will be daily transported between accommodation by our vehicle (except day 1). You are allowed 1 soft, sports type bag with all your possessions inside, no heavier than 12kg. Your bag has to be carried everyday by the driver to refuges, which access is not always easy! 
Please use one bag per person; gathering the belongings of two people often results in a heavy bag. Two bags of 10kg is better than one bag of 20 !

Luggage which are too big and too heavy won't be accepted by the drivers!