The trip

LEVEL ****

Elevation: +/-1100 to 1300m approximately per day.
Walking time: 6 to 8 hours per day.
Type of trek: Stony trails that take daily passes located between 2800m and 3000m altitude. Some passes are steep as well as several aerial or technical paths, mainly at the start of the season with the crossing of residual snowfields. The trails are relatively well marked except when approaching certain passes.

The route in general is well indicated, and the roadbook provided sufficiently complete to allow you to hike in complete safety. However, it is essential to be able to read an 1:25,000 map and to be sufficiently autonomous in the mountains to be able to tackle the itinerary with confidence, whatever the weather (fog, snow, etc.). Guiding is not included in the self-guided package. For your own safety, you may wish to bring along a radio or the latest generation telephone with satellite connection.

Snow and névés will be present on the paths until end of june at least. You may walk on long snowy sections that can make the tour a bit more challenging. High mountain boots, gaiters and walking poles are mandatory.

Climbing to the Gran Paradiso summit: it 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 not to carry out this stage.

You need a good endurance level and a mental capacity for long-term efforts. An experience in hiking is required. Please practice a cardio sport such as hiking, running, cycling, from 6 to 8 hours a week. Your physical preparation will enable you to enjoy your trek to the maximum.
Please find the description of the levels by clicking here: levels of difficulty

ROAD BOOK

One month prior to departure, we will send you your travel documents. We offer two roadbook versions:
The "paper" version we send by post:
- 2 IGN TOP 25 maps with route layout
- 1 road book with all the necessary information for the hike
- 1 card holder
- The list of accommodations
The "digital" version is an application to download on your smartphone, accessible to each of the participants of the file. The information for downloading and using it is sent by e-mail.

TRAIL MARKERS

The trail is marked with yellow signs and regular ground markings. The paths are identified by numbering.
It is essential to be able to read a topographical map at 1/25000.

LUGGAGE TRANSFER

Two options:
without luggage transfer: you carry your luggage.
with luggage transfer: your luggage is delivered each day to your accommodation (except on day 6) by our logistics vehicle.

ACCOMMODATION

2 nights in a mountain hotel in room for 2 to 4 people.
4 nights in refuge in a dormitory. All accommodation is equipped with hot showers. However, due to increasingly recurrent periods of drought, access to showers is not guaranteed.

MEALS

Breakfast and dinner are provided in each accommodation. Picnics are not included and can be pre-ordered at each accommodation in the evening. Possibility to buy picnic supplies in small local shops on day 2 in Breuil. 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.

PERSONALISED TOURS

We can personalise a tour according to your requirements (number of days, participants, level of route, accommodation, etc.)

MAPS

Instituto Geografico Centrale: 
n°102 VALSAVARENCHE, VAL DI RHEMES, VALGRISENCHE

Practical information

ACCESS TO DEPARTURE POINT

Meeting point at the parking in Pont to collect your baggage.

BY TRAIN
To Aosta via Turin. From Aosta, Savda buses run 3 times a day to Pont. Departures from Aosta at 7:15am, 12:30pm, 4:30pm (1.5 hour lift).
www.savda.it
From Chamonix, join Aosta with SAT buses www.sat-montblanc.com
For trains in France, please consult SNCF website : https://www.oui.sncf/

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 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-Saint-Maurice. Follow signs for "Col du Petit Saint Bernard" and Italy (a very good mountain road) passing through La Thuile to Pré Saint 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.

End point at the parking in Pont to collect your baggage.

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
Tourist office Chamonix : +33 (0) 4 50 53 00 24

Hostellerie du Paradis, Eaux Rousses : +39 0165 90 59 72
Hôtel camping Grivola : +39 01 65 90 57 43
Tourist office Aoste : lovevda.it and aoste.ialpes.com

TO 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 & luggage

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
• Down jacket
• 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, already broken in with a good sole stiff enough to support crampons (no trail running shoes or flexible hiking shoes). Crampons to suit all types of hiking boots will be available, it is not necessary to have glacier mountaineering boots.
• 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 (0.40L to 0.50L)
• 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 40 to 50 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.

EQUIPMENT FOR THE SUMMIT

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, gloves, waterproof jacket and supplementary warm layers to add if necessary). High rising walking boots with a good rigid sole are mandatory.

BAGGAGE TRANSPORT

You are allowed 1 soft, sports type bag, with all your possessions inside, of 10kg maximum per person. Your baggage will be transported daily, except nights 3 and 6, between accommodation by our logistics vehicle where access is not always easy.
Baggage which is too big and too heavy won't be accepted by the drivers, please think of their backs! 

YOUR BACKPACK FOR THE NIGHTS WITHOUT LUGGAGE

On nights 3 and 6, your luggage won't be dropped off at your accommodation (you will get it back the day after). Here are the things to bring with you (about 2 kilos are enough!):

• small toiletries bag
• sleeping bag liner sheet
• change of clothes for the day after (bare necessities!) and comfortable for the evening.