The Giants Trek, From Gressoney to Courmayeur
From Gressoney to Courmayeur on Haute Route 1 in the Aosta Valley
Walking in the Valle d'Aosta alpine scenery in the presence of the giant of rocks is an unforgettable hiking experience. The Alta Via 1, known as "the giants trail", begins at the foot of the highest peaks in Europe, including Monte Rosa, the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc. The mountain scenery is without a doubt the highlight of the trip from the bucolic valleys to typical alpine villages and traditional regional food. Through these footpaths, from the hills surrounded by peaks of 4000m and glaciers, we encounter some magnificent villages of the valleys and mountain huts that make us feel at home.
Highlights:
Alpine flora and fauna of the mountains
Traditional food from the Aosta Valley
Day 1: Gressoney
Individual arrival in Gressoney St. Jean Check-in at the hotel and meeting with the guide at 1800hrs to brief you on the trip. Dinner and overnight in Hotel** in Gressoney St. Jean.
Day 2: Gressoney – Champoluc (5h walking + 1500m – 800m ; 18 km)
Our adventure along the legendary Alta Via 1 starts from the Walser village of Gressoney. Leaving the Lys Valley at the foot of Monte Rosa, we reach the town of Cunèaz, where it will be possible to see the "rascard", typical huts of the Ayas Valley used for the conservation of cereals. Dinner and overnight in Hotel** in Champoluc.
Day 3: Champoluc – Cretaz en Valtournenche (7h walking +1335m –1800m ; 15 km)
We leave the bucolic Ayas Valley following the Via and passing by splendid rural villages and forests providing shelter for deer and roe deer. Walking near to the foot of the "Palon de Resy" and the "Valle di Bettaforca". The noble Matterhorn makes its first appearance of the trip...Dinner and overnight in Hotel*** in Crétaz.
Day 4: Cretaz – Refuge Cuney (8h walking +1700m – 760m ; 20 km)
Baggage transfer to Closè. Today you travel with a set of spare clothes for overnight in your rucksack.
The star of today is "her majesty" the Matterhorn. The elegant pyramid figure stands high over the valleys below, dominating the mountain scenery. Passing by green pastures, the environment becomes rockier and we enter the realm of mountain goats and eagles. From the "Fenetre de Tsan" (2736m), the descent to grassy meadows takes us to the "Rifugio Cuney" (2652m), where we also find the highest sanctuary in Europe. Dinner and overnight in Alpine Hut.
Day 5: Refuge Cluney – Closé (5h walking +434m – 1683m ; 14 km)
Today's trip gives our legs a rest after the long hike yesterday. The Refuge Cuney is located in the Valley of St. Barthelemy, home of the production of "fontina" cheese and also one of the most famous astronomical observatories in Europe. Dinner and overnight in Youth Hostel in Bionaz.
Day 6: Closè – Rey (5h walking +1030m -1100m ; 13 km)
The Valpelline is cut into by the "torrente Buthier" that comes from the Tsa de Tsan Glacier. The valley is dominated by another gigantic rock and glaciers, the "Grand Combin" (4314m), the highest peak in the mountain chain between Mont Blanc and La Dent d'Herens. Dinner and overnight in Hotel*** in Ollomont.
Day 7: Rey – St Remy ( 7h walking 30min +1530m – 1340m; 20 km)
The history of Ollomont has traditionally been linked to copper extraction and the trade of metal with the neighbouring valleys. We reach the "Col de Champillon" (2709m) with magnificent views over the Aosta Valley and on a good day we can see as far as Mont Blanc. Dinner and overnight in Hotel***in Saint-Rhemy en Bosses.
Day 8: St Remy – Col Malatrà (4h walking + 1100m -30 m; 14 km)
Today you travel with a set of spare clothes for overnight in your rucksack. Before the hike, we visit the "prosciutteria" of Saint Rhemy in order to learn the production and conservation techniques for cured ham. We cross the base of the Valle del Gran S. Bernardo, an ancient transalpine crossroads that has been crossed by foot since antique times. Dinner and overnight in Alpine Hut.
Day 9: Col Malatrà – Courmayeur (6h30 walking +650m – 1940m ; 16 km)
Mont Blanc awaits us at the "Col Malatrà" (2952m): from here the view of the highest mountain in Europe is stupendous. The Giant's Tooth rises from the ice towards the sky and the Grand Jorasses represent bastions of rock defending the mountain. The footpath allows us to admire the group of Mont Blanc as we descend towards the town of town of "Courmayer", the last stop of our alpine adventure in the Aosta Valley and along the Alta Via of the Giants. Dinner and overnight in Hotel*** in Courmayeur.
Day 10: Departure
Individual departure after breakfast. From Courmayeur there are many connection to Aosta, Turin and Milan train stations.
Individual arrival in Gressoney St. Jean Check-in at the hotel and meeting with the guide at 1800hrs to brief you on the trip. Dinner and overnight in Hotel** in Gressoney St. Jean.
Day 2: Gressoney – Champoluc (5h walking + 1500m – 800m ; 18 km)
Our adventure along the legendary Alta Via 1 starts from the Walser village of Gressoney. Leaving the Lys Valley at the foot of Monte Rosa, we reach the town of Cunèaz, where it will be possible to see the "rascard", typical huts of the Ayas Valley used for the conservation of cereals. Dinner and overnight in Hotel** in Champoluc.
Day 3: Champoluc – Cretaz en Valtournenche (7h walking +1335m –1800m ; 15 km)
We leave the bucolic Ayas Valley following the Via and passing by splendid rural villages and forests providing shelter for deer and roe deer. Walking near to the foot of the "Palon de Resy" and the "Valle di Bettaforca". The noble Matterhorn makes its first appearance of the trip...Dinner and overnight in Hotel*** in Crétaz.
Day 4: Cretaz – Refuge Cuney (8h walking +1700m – 760m ; 20 km)
Baggage transfer to Closè. Today you travel with a set of spare clothes for overnight in your rucksack.
The star of today is "her majesty" the Matterhorn. The elegant pyramid figure stands high over the valleys below, dominating the mountain scenery. Passing by green pastures, the environment becomes rockier and we enter the realm of mountain goats and eagles. From the "Fenetre de Tsan" (2736m), the descent to grassy meadows takes us to the "Rifugio Cuney" (2652m), where we also find the highest sanctuary in Europe. Dinner and overnight in Alpine Hut.
Day 5: Refuge Cluney – Closé (5h walking +434m – 1683m ; 14 km)
Today's trip gives our legs a rest after the long hike yesterday. The Refuge Cuney is located in the Valley of St. Barthelemy, home of the production of "fontina" cheese and also one of the most famous astronomical observatories in Europe. Dinner and overnight in Youth Hostel in Bionaz.
Day 6: Closè – Rey (5h walking +1030m -1100m ; 13 km)
The Valpelline is cut into by the "torrente Buthier" that comes from the Tsa de Tsan Glacier. The valley is dominated by another gigantic rock and glaciers, the "Grand Combin" (4314m), the highest peak in the mountain chain between Mont Blanc and La Dent d'Herens. Dinner and overnight in Hotel*** in Ollomont.
Day 7: Rey – St Remy ( 7h walking 30min +1530m – 1340m; 20 km)
The history of Ollomont has traditionally been linked to copper extraction and the trade of metal with the neighbouring valleys. We reach the "Col de Champillon" (2709m) with magnificent views over the Aosta Valley and on a good day we can see as far as Mont Blanc. Dinner and overnight in Hotel***in Saint-Rhemy en Bosses.
Day 8: St Remy – Col Malatrà (4h walking + 1100m -30 m; 14 km)
Today you travel with a set of spare clothes for overnight in your rucksack. Before the hike, we visit the "prosciutteria" of Saint Rhemy in order to learn the production and conservation techniques for cured ham. We cross the base of the Valle del Gran S. Bernardo, an ancient transalpine crossroads that has been crossed by foot since antique times. Dinner and overnight in Alpine Hut.
Day 9: Col Malatrà – Courmayeur (6h30 walking +650m – 1940m ; 16 km)
Mont Blanc awaits us at the "Col Malatrà" (2952m): from here the view of the highest mountain in Europe is stupendous. The Giant's Tooth rises from the ice towards the sky and the Grand Jorasses represent bastions of rock defending the mountain. The footpath allows us to admire the group of Mont Blanc as we descend towards the town of town of "Courmayer", the last stop of our alpine adventure in the Aosta Valley and along the Alta Via of the Giants. Dinner and overnight in Hotel*** in Courmayeur.
Day 10: Departure
Individual departure after breakfast. From Courmayeur there are many connection to Aosta, Turin and Milan train stations.
Grade : challenging, 4 to 8 hours walking each day. Long distances and big gradients. Terrain whit large dirt road, mule track and wooden/mountain path. A prior hiking experience is mandatory.
Accommodation :
- 6 nights in hotel *** / ** in ensuite double / triple room
- 1 night in Youth Hostel in dormitory with shared showers/facilities
- 2 nights in Alpine Hut in dormitory with shared showers/facilities
Equipment :
trekking shoes, trekking socks, trekking t-shirt, warm shell, wind and water proof jacket, hat and gloves, bathing suit, sun glasses and sun cream, daily backpack (min. 30 liters), trekking poles advised.
Getting there : The destination airport is Turin.
Accommodation :
- 6 nights in hotel *** / ** in ensuite double / triple room
- 1 night in Youth Hostel in dormitory with shared showers/facilities
- 2 nights in Alpine Hut in dormitory with shared showers/facilities
Equipment :
trekking shoes, trekking socks, trekking t-shirt, warm shell, wind and water proof jacket, hat and gloves, bathing suit, sun glasses and sun cream, daily backpack (min. 30 liters), trekking poles advised.
Getting there : The destination airport is Turin.
Included:
- 6 nights in Hotel **/*** with breakfast included- 1 night in Youth Hostel in dormitory with shared showers/facilities with breakfast included
- 2 nights in Alpine Hut in dormitory with shared showers/facilities with breakfast included
- 9 dinners
- Picnic lunch from day 2 to day 9
- Baggage transfers on day 2 and day 9
- Tourist taxes
- Hiking Guide English spoken
Not included:
- Drinks and any other personal items- Transfer to hotel in Gressoney on day 1
- Transfer from Courmayeur to the airport or train station on day 10
- Anything that is not mentioned in the part « included in the price »
Trips Note
Destination: Aosta Valley
Travel Style: Guided walking holiday
Interest: Alpine Landscape
Duration: 10 days / 9 nights
Departures: Jun Jul Aou Sep
Group size: from 4 to 15 people
Airport: Turin and Milan
