The Gran Paradiso National Park, the first nature park in Italy and Europe, borders a high massif with deep valleys. Created in 1922 on the initiative of King Victor Emmanuel II to protect the ibex, it is still a reference for nature conservation: chamois, ibex, marmots, foxes, bearded vultures...
This is an original tour, taking in some of the most beautiful mountain passes between Valgrisenche and Valsavarenche.
The highlight of this trek is the ascent to the summit of Gran Paradiso, which offers a panoramic view of the entire massif, crossing the mythical 4,000m mark. A journey through alpine pastures and high mountains, to discover one of the jewels of the Italian Alps...
Dates | Status | Prices | |
---|---|---|---|
From 15/06/25 To 21/06/25 |
Guaranteed departure | 1270 € | Book online |
From 22/06/25 To 28/06/25 |
Guaranteed departure | 1270 € | Book online |
From 29/06/25 To 05/07/25 |
Guaranteed departure | 1270 € | Book online |
From 06/07/25 To 12/07/25 |
Guaranteed departure | 1270 € | Book online |
From 13/07/25 To 19/07/25 |
Guaranteed departure | 1270 € | Book online |
From 20/07/25 To 26/07/25 |
Guaranteed departure | 1270 € | Book online |
From 27/07/25 To 02/08/25 |
Guaranteed departure | 1270 € | Book online |
From 03/08/25 To 09/08/25 |
Guaranteed departure | 1270 € | Book online |
From 10/08/25 To 16/08/25 |
Guaranteed departure | 1270 € | Book online |
From 17/08/25 To 23/08/25 |
Guaranteed departure | 1270 € | Book online |
From 24/08/25 To 30/08/25 |
Guaranteed departure | 1270 € | Book online |
From 31/08/25 To 06/09/25 |
Guaranteed departure | 1270 € | Book online |
From 07/09/25 To 13/09/25 |
Guaranteed departure | 1270 € | Book online |
From 14/09/25 To 20/09/25 |
Open departure | 1270 € | Book online |
The price includes:
The price does not include:
The price is all inclusive from departure to end point.
Personalised tour available
Contact us !Meet at 11.45am on Sunday at Pont, departure of the trek (picnic lunch will be taken at the start of the walk).
PONT - VALSAVARENCHE - VALLON DE NIVOLE
Entering the Gran Paradiso National Park via the Nivolet mountain pasture to the 'Col de Nivolet'. This route immediately immerses you into wilderness, between 'Pointe Galisia' and the summit of Grand Paradis (4061m). Night in a refuge on the banks of 'Lac de Nivolet', without luggage transfer.
3 hour walk / Elevation: +700m -100m
COL ROSSET - REFUGE BENEVOLO
The walk begins on a wide plateau punctuated by a dozen lakes: Rosset, Lieta... leaving unforgettable images. After the 'Col Rosset' at 3023m, descend into the pastures to reach the Gran Vaudala valley, then cross over to the Benevolo cirque. An alternative route is via the 'Col Basei' to get closer to the glaciers. Night in refuge.
5.5 hour walk / Elevation: +500m -750m
COL BASSAC DERE - REFUGE BEZZI
Climb to the 'Col de Bassac Déré' at 3082m, below the Grande Sassière. This high altitude stage runs alongside the Goletta glacier, its glacial lake and a small sandy beach! Descent along the Gliairetta glacier. Out there on the trails, ibex sometimes lurk, lying peacefully on the rocks.
6.5 hour walk / Elevation: +800m -800m
COL DE FENETRE - VILLAGE DE BRUIL
A long crossing over 'Lac de Beauregard', facing the Ruitor massif, to reach the refuge de l'Epée. Climb to the 'Col de Fenêtre' via the 'Lac de Tei', a wild valley where wildlife may still be present. Descent to the typical village of Bruil in Val de Rhême. Here in summer, shepherds live at the pace of their flocks. Night in gite.
8 hour walk / Elevation: +1350m -1800m
COL DE L’ENTRELOR - EAUX ROUSSES
Easy gradual climb through the Entrelor valley. Cross the mountain pass, facing the Gran Paradiso summit, descend from the mountain pastures passing by Lakes Djouan and Nero then up to the Col di Manteau to finally go down to the village of Pont. Possible encounters with chamois, ibex, marmots and soaring vultures. Night in a gîte.
8.5 hour walk / Elevation: +1560m -1320m
CLIMB TO THE BASE CAMP AT REFUGE VICTOR EMMANUEL II FOR THE SUMMIT
Morning rest and getting ready for the ascent of Grand Paradis. Climb to the Victor Emmanuel II refuge in the afternoon. Meet your mountain guide and prepare your gear (crampons, harness). Night in gite, without luggage transfer.
3 hour walk / Elevation: +800m
GRAN PARADISO 4061M
Rope climb to the summit of Grand Paradis at 4061 m. Back to the refuge and descent to Pont.
8 hour walk / Elevation: +1300m -2000m
End point Saturday around 4:30pm in Pont. Return transfer if you have chosen the option - arrive in Chamonix around 6:30pm.
The itinerary is established according to the latest information available, the possibility of unknown factors affecting this itinerary is possible including situations beyond our control which may change the route, timings etc.
Elevation: +/-1100 to 1300m approximately per day.
Walking time: 6 to 8 hours per day.
Type of trek: Stony paths that cross passes at altitudes of between 2800m and 3000m on a daily basis. Some pass crossings are steep, as are several aerial or technical paths, mainly at the start of the season with the crossing of residual snow. The paths are relatively well marked, except on the approach to certain passes.
Climbing to the Gran Paradiso summit involves walking with crampons without any major technical difficulty, however it is a long glacial walk. The last 100m to the summit are steep and more technical and may induce vertigo in those sensitive to heights. It is always possible to not carry out this stage.
You need to be in a good overall physical condition. Regularly practise an endurance sport such as walking, running, swimming or cycling, 3 to 4 hours a week. Your fitness training will make your walk easier and make it all the more enjoyable. Click here for a description of the different levels: levels of difficulty
Number in a group between 6 and 12 people supervised by a qualified professional mountain leader and high mountain guide.As a thank you, it is usual to tip your guide at the end of the trek, depending on your satisfaction. It is not mandatory but, it is very much appreciated.
5 nights in dormitories in mountain refuges and gîtes and 1 night in a cosy hotel bedroom for 2-4 people. All accommodation is equipped with hot showers. However, due to increasingly recurrent periods of drought, access to showers is not guaranteed.
Breakfast and dinner are provided in each accommodation. Picnics are included and are carefully prepared daily by your mountain leader, comprising a variety of healthy salads and local products. Please inform us about your food allergies and special diets at the time of booking. We do our best to accommodate special diets (gluten-free, vegetarian, etc.). However, we encourage you to bring some additional products for your own picnics.
1/25000 Val Savarenche-Val de Rhême-Val Grisenche N102, Edition Instituto Geografico Centrale
Meet Sunday at 11:45am in the carpark in Pont, in Valsavarenche, Italy.
Optional return transfer organised by Altitude Mont-Blanc in minibus, to be booked at registration, €60 per person.
Meet at 9:45am in front of Chamonix SNCF train station and transfer to Pont (1h30 journey).
If you are coming by car, there are several free car parks in the village of Les Houches, in the Prarion sector. Meeting point 9.15am in front of the Jacquier bakery at Le Prarion, Les Houches. Your driver will meet you there.
If you wish to leave your car in a secure covered car park, please contact: Chamonix Auto Park at 04 50 53 65 71.
BY TRAIN
TO AOSTA VIA TURIN OR
TO CHAMONIX VIA PARIS
Inbound: depart Gare de Lyon (Paris) the day before at 12:18pm arrive in Chamonix at 7:10pm.
Times given are indicative and should be verified in a train station or on www.oui.sncf
BY BUS
VIA CHAMONIX
From Chamonix to Aosta by SAT bus.
www.sat-montblanc.com
VIA AOSTA
The Savda buses drive you 3 times a day to Pont. Departure from Aosta at 7:15am, 12:30pm and 4:50pm (1.5 hour lift).
Times given are indicative and should be verified at https://aosta.arriva.it/area/alta-valle/
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 (58€ return) www.atmb.net
Follow signs for Courmayeur/Aosta (signed blue), then direction Introd and Valsavarenche, 3kms after the village Aviez continue 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 for 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 the end of the valley to arrive in Pont.
If you chose the return transfer option Chamonix/Pont
Free parking: several free car parks in the village of Les Houches, Prarion sector. Meet at 9:15 a.m. in front of the Jacquet bakery in Le Prarion, Les Houches. You will meet your driver there.
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 of the hike Saturday at around 4:30pm in Pont Valsavarenche. Transfer to Chamonix if you have chosen this option (90 mins transfer). Please note: the tunnel may be very busy on Saturday. Allow an extra time if you have to take a bus or train from Chamonix.
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 - Hôtel Gran Paradiso: +39 01 65 95 454
Hôtel Genzianella: +39 01 65 95 393
Aosta Tourist Office: +39 01 65 23 66 27
www.aoste.ialpes.com
www.lovevda.it
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
Clothing
Other Equipment
Bring a comfortable backpack of about 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.
Crampons, harness, helmet and ice axe for climbing the Gran Paradiso summit are provided. An ascension at 4000m requires warm clothing in case of deterioration in the weather (thermal leggings, warm hat, waterproof gloves, waterproof jacket and supplementary warm layers to add if necessary). High rising walking boots with a good rigid sole are mandatory. Poles are essential.
You are allowed 1 soft, sports type bag, with all your possessions inside, of 10kg maximum per person. Your luggage will be delivered daily, except on days 1 and 6. Access is not always easy. Baggage which is too heavy won't be accepted by the drivers, please think of their backs!
For nights 1 and 6, you won't have your luggage at the accommodation (you'll find it the next day). Here's some advice on what to bring (around 2 kg is enough!):
- a small toilet bag
- your sheet-bag
- a change of clothes for the next day (just what you need!) and comfortable clothes/shoes for the evening.
Randonnée superbe avec Thierry Franz qui est un guide très professionnel. Nous avons passé une excellente semaine. L'organisation était top. Rien à dire.
Anne le 19/09/2022