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Valle d'Aosta-Mountain hiking trip
- Spellbinding views, wild open spaces, luxury forests, snowy peaks
- Warm, comfortable family-run accommodation
- Rich flora and fauna
- Friendly locals with a unique cultural heritage
- Quaint little villages to discover
From: 675 €
Tripcode: ITSW190
2.5 Comfort
Level 1 - EN:
Simple accommodation, often with multiple rooms like huts, cottages or guesthouses. Sometimes with bunk beds and often with shared bathrooms. All camping trips fall into this category.
Level 1 - EN:
Simple accommodation, often with multiple rooms like huts, cottages or guesthouses. Sometimes with bunk beds and often with shared bathrooms. All camping trips fall into this category.
Level 2:
Simple to good inns, small family hotels, B&Bs and agriturismo (farmsteads), generaly with private bathroom. Often chosen for their excellent location in relation to the itinerary.
Level 2:
Simple to good inns, small family hotels, B&Bs and agriturismo (farmsteads), generaly with private bathroom. Often chosen for their excellent location in relation to the itinerary.
Level 2:
Simple to good inns, small family hotels, B&Bs and agriturismo (farmsteads), generaly with private bathroom. Often chosen for their excellent location in relation to the itinerary.
Level 3:
Good hotels, inns, B&B, agriturismo (farmstead) with ensuite private bathroom, often wel located and serving good meals
Level 3:
Good hotels, inns, B&B, agriturismo (farmstead) with ensuite private bathroom, often wel located and serving good meals
Level 3:
Good hotels, inns, B&B, agriturismo (farmstead) with ensuite private bathroom, often wel located and serving good meals
Level 4:
Special hotel with excellent food, ambiance and service. Accommodations with a special touch.
Level 4:
Special hotel with excellent food, ambiance and service. Accommodations with a special touch.
Level 4:
Special hotel with excellent food, ambiance and service. Accommodations with a special touch.
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2.5 Difficulty
Level 1:
Walking levels:
Trips with short walks of generally three to four hours (excluding breaks) and/or optional day excursions; flat or slightly hilly terrain using well kept paths.
Cycling levels:
Easy biking in nearly flat landscape; also possible for people with little or no bicycle experience. The daily distances are approximately 30-50 km in general. Bicycles with up to 3 gears can do the job. All our adult rental bikes have at least 21 gears.
Level 1:
Walking levels:
Trips with short walks of generally three to four hours (excluding breaks) and/or optional day excursions; flat or slightly hilly terrain using well kept paths.
Cycling levels:
Easy biking in nearly flat landscape; also possible for people with little or no bicycle experience. The daily distances are approximately 30-50 km in general. Bicycles with up to 3 gears can do the job. All our adult rental bikes have at least 21 gears.
Level 2:
Walking levels:
Moderate day walks, 4-5 hours per day (excluding breaks) on hilly to mountainous areas using well kept, sometimes stony paths.
Cycling levels:
Biking on gently undulating terrain, you may encounter short climbs from time to time. The daily distances vary between 30 and 65 km. A bicycle with minimum 7 gears will do. All our rental bikes have at least 21 gears.
Level 2:
Walking levels:
Moderate day walks, 4-5 hours per day (excluding breaks) on hilly to mountainous areas using well kept, sometimes stony paths.
Cycling levels:
Biking on gently undulating terrain, you may encounter short climbs from time to time. The daily distances vary between 30 and 65 km. A bicycle with minimum 7 gears will do. All our rental bikes have at least 21 gears.
Level 2:
Walking levels:
Moderate day walks, 4-5 hours per day (excluding breaks) on hilly to mountainous areas using well kept, sometimes stony paths.
Cycling levels:
Biking on gently undulating terrain, you may encounter short climbs from time to time. The daily distances vary between 30 and 65 km. A bicycle with minimum 7 gears will do. All our rental bikes have at least 21 gears.
Level 3:
Walking levels:
Trips with strenuous day walks or trekking in mountainous areas. 5 to 7 hours walking maximum per day, sometimes carrying backpacks with stuff for one night; height differences between 500 & 1000 m. per day
Cycling levels:
Strenuous biking trips in areas where you cannot avoid steep slopes. Some bicycle experience in short trips is needed. The daily distances range from 30 up to 75 km.
Level 3:
Walking levels:
Trips with strenuous day walks or trekking in mountainous areas. 5 to 7 hours walking maximum per day, sometimes carrying backpacks with stuff for one night; height differences between 500 & 1000 m. per day
Cycling levels:
Strenuous biking trips in areas where you cannot avoid steep slopes. Some bicycle experience in short trips is needed. The daily distances range from 30 up to 75 km.
Level 3:
Walking levels:
Trips with strenuous day walks or trekking in mountainous areas. 5 to 7 hours walking maximum per day, sometimes carrying backpacks with stuff for one night; height differences between 500 & 1000 m. per day
Cycling levels:
Strenuous biking trips in areas where you cannot avoid steep slopes. Some bicycle experience in short trips is needed. The daily distances range from 30 up to 75 km.
Level 4:
Walking levels:
Trips with heavy excursions in high mountains, sometimes carrying backpacks with stuff for several nights. 6 to 8 hours maximum per day; height differences up to 1200 meters per day; only for participants with an excellent condition and without fear of heights.
Cycling levels:
Serious and strenuous biking trips in mountainous area, the slopes are longer and/or steeper than at the previous category. Requires a good physical condition, a broad cycling experience and adequate mountain climbing bicycle. The daily distances range between 30 and 80 km.
Level 4:
Walking levels:
Trips with heavy excursions in high mountains, sometimes carrying backpacks with stuff for several nights. 6 to 8 hours maximum per day; height differences up to 1200 meters per day; only for participants with an excellent condition and without fear of heights.
Cycling levels:
Serious and strenuous biking trips in mountainous area, the slopes are longer and/or steeper than at the previous category. Requires a good physical condition, a broad cycling experience and adequate mountain climbing bicycle. The daily distances range between 30 and 80 km.
Level 4:
Walking levels:
Trips with heavy excursions in high mountains, sometimes carrying backpacks with stuff for several nights. 6 to 8 hours maximum per day; height differences up to 1200 meters per day; only for participants with an excellent condition and without fear of heights.
Cycling levels:
Serious and strenuous biking trips in mountainous area, the slopes are longer and/or steeper than at the previous category. Requires a good physical condition, a broad cycling experience and adequate mountain climbing bicycle. The daily distances range between 30 and 80 km.
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Duration: 10 days
Details
At the foot of the mountains
In the shadow of famous peaks like the Grand Combin, Matterhorn, Gran Paradiso and Mont Blanc, of course, lies the Valle d'Aosta. Stunning views of the snowy peaks will stretch before your eyes, giving you the most beautiful sight you could ever think of.
The castels, villages, vineyards on very steep slopes form the heart and soul of this valley. Val d'Aosta lies at the foot of the highest mountains of Europe, surrounded by Italy, France and Swiss and its strategic position will enable you to discover many different cultures and traditions.
Get ready for an unforgettable vacation!
Itinerary
Expand itinerary Collapse itineraryDay 1: Arrival in Allein
Villages along the way: Allein
Day 2: Walk from Allein to Arpuilles
After a descent deep into the valley a short climb follows. Then you follow for some time a beautiful, diverse and gradually descending path along a (channelled) stream. You finally reach Arpuilles after a short steep descent.
Challenge: 12,6 km, 140m in ascent, 550m in descent, 4 hrs
Villages along the way: Arpuilles
Day 3: Walk From Arpuilles to Homene Dessus
The walk starts with a tough climb to above 2000 meters. Then you gradually descend, and through a beautiful green valley you reach Bellon. Walk through woods and along flowery meadows, overlooking the valley, now 1000m lower, and the high mountains around. You will be warmly received at the farm, beside a lonely chapel..
Challenge: 15 km, 1300m in ascent, 800m in descent, 7 hrs
Villages along the way: Homene Dessus
Day 4: Walk From Homene Dessus to Lac Fallère and back via Becca France
This part of the tour goes through the shady Bois de Verrogne and after a gradual, sometimes tough climb you reach a beautiful lake situated in an alpine world. En route, you have beautiful views on the many high mountain peaks in the distant environment. The descent beyond Becca France is a real wander trip through a forest on a slope where a path is missing.
Challenge: 15,7 km, 1000m in ascent, 1000m in descent, 7 hrs
Villages along the way: Homene Dessus
Day 5: Walk From Homene Dessus to Vens
Today you walk, each time after a pity climb, over wider paths so you can look around you to enjoy the wonderful mountain scenery. You walk on the slopes of the foothills of the Monte Rosso. En route you will see some effects of the devastating rains of autumn 2000.
Challenge: 12,2 km, 650m in ascent, 400m in descent, 5 hrs
Villages along the way: Vens
Day 6: Walk from Vens to the Pointe Oilletta (2616 m) and back
The route begins via an alternating path through a shady area of the former gold mines with a bit of climbing. Over a harmless short distance the path is secured with a steel wire. Then follows a sometimes tough climb of 2.5 km to the mountain top, where the first kilometre is running through a forest.
Challenge: 8,6 km, 950m in ascent, 950m in descent, 5 hrs
Villages along the way: Vens
Day 7: Walk From Vens to Villeneuve
Today you start in a mountain environment and end your walk in a warm Italian atmosphere. The total descent is long, but is going on good paths, alternated with flat pieces. During the long descent to the Dora Baltea, the main river of the Valle d'Aosta, you will see the vegetation change. Less conifers, deciduous trees more. It is drier, there are fruit trees at the bottom of the valley and even some small vineyards. Culturally too, there is a lot to see: castles and churches from different periods of history. If you arrive by car: from St. Pierre take the train to Aosta, then the bus to Etroubles where you parked you car at the first accommodation. From there drive to Aymavilles to collect your luggage at Bar Gelateria Zenit. If you arrive by train: in St Pierre you collect the luggage at Gelateria Chez Mario, take the train to Aosta and from there the bus to Cogne. Always discuss it first with the owner of the hotel in Vens.
Challenge: 10,1 km, 100m in ascent, 1150m in descent, 4,5 hrs
Villages along the way: Gimillan, Cogne
Day 8: Roundwalk from Lillaz
After a tough climb, of which the first 1.5 hours is shady, you reach the Lago delle Loie, one of the sources for the waterfall of Lillaz. Later you will pass two smaller lakes after which you gradually descend towards the valley Valle di Urtier.
Challenge: 10 km, 800m in ascent, 800m in descent, 8 hrs
villages along the way: Gimillan, Cogne
Day 9: Round walk Gimillan - Colle Tsa Sètse - Gimillan
The walk is a long climb to the col, with a break halfway through the mountain pastures at the farm. On the back way the path beyond the farm is for a short distance unclear, after which a beautiful downhill forest path can be followed.
Challenge: 14,8 km, 1100m in ascent, 1100m in descent, 7 hrs
Villages along the way: Gimillan, Cogne
Day 10: Departure from Gimillan
The trip ends after breakfast.
Practical info
Included:
- 9 night accommodation on B&B basis
- 9 dinners
- Luggage transfer from day 2 to day 7
- 24-hour telephone assistance, just a phone call away
- Detailed road book and maps in English
Not Included:
- Flights and public transportation
- Lunches
- Travel insurance
- Admissions and entrance fees of any kind
- Tips and gratuities
- Personal expenses such as meals, drinks, phone calls, extra transfers etc.
- Any items that have not been specifically mentioned in the program
Getting there and away:
The closest airport is Turin (TRN). From there you can travel by public transport further to your destination. Therefore it is advisable to choose a morning flight back and /or an afternoon flight back. Of course you can always book an extra night in Turin before or after your trip.
From the airport of Turin take the train to the center of town. Travel time approximately 30 minutes. Get off at Porto Susa. From here you travel by train in about 2 hours to Aosta (approx. 70 km). Travel by bus from Aosta (Aosta-Martigny line) through to Etroubles. There is a bus in the late afternoon, which takes about 20 minutes. In Etroubles you will be met by the owner of the first accommodation and taken there for a small fee.
Please call the accommodation owner the day before about the arrival time.
At the end of the trip you travel by bus from Cogne to Aosta (about 1 hour) and from there take a train to Turin. Travel time is approximately 2 hours. From Porta Susa station in Turin, go to the airport (30 min).
For the busses, check at www.savda.it
For the train check at www.trenitalia.com.
Reviews
Start: Allein
Finish: Gimillan
Dates & prices
Trip availability: Starting any day from 1 June to 31 July and from 20 August to 21 September.
| Dates of the trip | Price |
|---|---|
| triple room: | 675 €/person |
| twin room: | 700 €/person |
| double room: | 700 €/person |
| single room: | 715 €/person |
| solo, single room: | 785 €/person |
| Dates of the trip | Price |
|---|---|
| triple room: | 730 €/person |
| twin room: | 760 €/person |
| double room: | 760 €/person |
| single room: | 775 €/person |
| solo, single room: | 845 €/person |
| Dates of the trip | Price |
|---|---|
| triple room: | 765 €/person |
| twin room: | 795 €/person |
| double room: | 795 €/person |
| single room: | 810 €/person |
| solo, single room: | 880 €/person |
| Dates of the trip | Price |
|---|---|
| triple room: | 765 €/person |
| twin room: | 795 €/person |
| double room: | 795 €/person |
| single room: | 810 €/person |
| solo, single room: | 880 €/person |
| Dates of the trip | Price |
|---|---|
| triple room: | 685 €/person |
| twin room: | 710 €/person |
| double room: | 710 €/person |
| single room: | 730 €/person |
| solo, single room: | 800 €/person |