Founded in 1922, the first natural park in Italy and Europe, the Gran Paradiso National Park defines an impressive high mountain range furrowed by deep valleys. Created on the initiative of King Victor Emmanuel II to protect ibex, the park remains a safe haven and protective area for animals including: chamois, ibex, marmot, fox and vultures.
We propose an unusual circuit crossing some of the finest high mountain passes between the Valgrisenche and Valsavaranche, with the imposing summit of the Gran Paradiso at 4061m in view. Seven days of trekking, escaping civilization to discover a universe shared with wildlife of valleys, traditional pastures and high mountain wilderness.
Your roadbook can be provided in a digital format with an app to download on your phone, or with the traditional paper format send by mail (or even both versions, with a supplement of 25€). Please tell us your preference!
Departure from end of June to mid September 2023
7 day tour, classic, daily departures.
Without baggage transport
1060€/ person, for 2 persons, classic accommodation
925€/ person, groups of 3 persons, classic accommodation
830€/ person, groups of 4 persons, classic accommodation
940€/ person, groups of 5 persons, classic accommodation
870€/ person, groups of 6 persons, classic accommodation
Single departure supplement : 110€
With baggage transport (except on Day 6)
1250€/ person, group of 2 persons, classic accommodation
995€/ person, group of 3 persons, classic accommodation
910€/ person, group of 4 persons, classic accommodation
990€/ person, group of 5 persons, classic accommodation
910€/ person, group of 6 persons, classic accommodation
Information and booking by phone or email.
Secure payment
The price includes:
The price does not include:
The price is all inclusive from departure to end point.
Departure from Pont, Valsavarenche, in the Aosta Valley.
PONT - VALLON DE MEYES - EAUX ROUSSES
Climb to the dry stone built hamlets Paradis and Meyes then descend to the village Eaux Rousses. Night in a gîte.
4.5 hour walk / Elevation: +650m -900m
LAKES DJOUAN AND NERO - COL DE L’ENTRELOR - BRUIL
Long steady climb without difficulty to Col de l’Entrelor (3023m) via the pastures and Lakes Djouan and Nero. From the mountain pass, view on the Gran Paradiso summit. Descend to the village Bruil. Night in a gîte.
7 hour walk / Elevation: +1300m -1280m
LAKE SAN MARTINO - REFUGE BEZZI
Taxi transfer to the Valgrisenche and climb to refuge Epée. Balcony trail between the Grande Sassière and the Ruitor to reach refuge Bezzi.
5.5 hour walk / Elevation: +950m -600m
COL BASSAC DERE - LAKE GOLLETA - REFUGE BENEVOLO
Trek close alongside the Glairetta Glacier. Climb to the Col Bassac Déré (3083m) and descend to Lake Goletta, under the Goletta Glacier, then on to refuge Benevolo.
6.5 hour walk / Elevation: +/-800m
COL ROSSET - PONT
Cross through mountain pastures and climb to Col Rosset at 3023m. Descend to the Rosset plateau passing numerous lakes including lake Chavaney, Lieta... Dreamlike landscape! A last easy traverse through pastures facing the Gran Paradiso summit. Descend to Pont via the shepherds trail. Night in Pont in a comfortable refuge.
6.5 hour walk / Elevation: +750m -1050m
CLIMB TO BASE CAMP AT REFUGE VICTOR EMMANUEL II FOR THE SUMMIT
Rest morning to prepare for climbing the Gran Paradiso summit. Climb to refuge Victor Emmanuel II in the afternoon. Meet your high mountain guide and prepare technical equipment including crampons and harness.
Night in refuge (*without baggage).
3 hour walk / Elevation: +800m
GRAN PARADISO 4061M
Roped climb to the Gran Paradiso summit at 4061 m. Return to the refuge and descend to Pont.
8 hour walk / Elevation: +1300m -2000m
Endpoint Saturday around 4:30pm in Pont.
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 remains essential to know how to read the 1:25,000 map and to be sufficiently autonomous in the mountains to be able to approach the route confidently, whatever the weather.
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 not to carry out this stage.
Before departure, we send you a travel folder containing:
- 1 IGN TOP 25 with the route highlighted.
- 1 road-book containing all the information necessary for the trek.
- 1 waterproof map holder.
- Accommodation list.
Your roadbook can be provided in a digital format with an app to download on your phone, or with the traditional paper format send by mail (or even both versions, with a supplement of 25€). Please tell us your preference!
The route is marked with a yellow arrow and regular ground markings (in both directions).
The trails are numbered.
It is preferable to know how to read a topographical map at 1/25000.
Two options:
without baggage transport: you carry your own bag.
with baggage transport: your baggage is transported daily (except day 6) by our logistics vehicle.
2 nights in a gite in a bedroom or dormitory of 2 to 8 people.
4 nights in refuge in a dormitory of 4 to 8 people.
All accommodation offers hot showers.
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.
Ability to easily walk 20km (on flat trails) in a maximum of 4 hours.
If this is not the case, we recommend that you train during the three weeks prior to departure, for example running 4-5km or hiking/cycling 3-4 hours, 2 to 3 times per week. Your physical preparation will enable you to enjoy your trek to the maximum.
For the night without your baggage 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!)
We can personalise a tour according to your requirements (number of days, participants, level of route, accommodation, etc.)
Instituto Geografico Centrale:
n°102 VALSAVARENCHE, VAL DI RHEMES, VALGRISENCHE
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: 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.
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 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.
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.
Your baggage will be transported daily (except Day 6) between accommodation by our logistics vehicle. 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, where access is not always easy, please think of their backs! Baggage which is too big and too heavy won't be accepted by the drivers!
If you wish to prolong your holiday, we can safely hold another bag for you which you may leave with us at the departure point and it will be deposited at the end point with your other baggage.