Trekking among the 3 Giants of the Alps
Trekking among the three giants of the Alps
This adventure travel itinerary will take you to some of the most breathtaking sites in the Alps. You will walk on trails along side three of the highest peaks in Europe, the Monte Rosa (15,203 feet) the Matterhorn (14,692 feet) and the Mont Blanc (15,781 feet).
Day 1. We will meet in Verres at the local B&B for a great dinner and a good night sleep to get ready for the next day.
Day 2. We will start our trek in the Val d'Ayas and hike to the Grand Tournalin where we will spend the night in a mountain inn with fantastic food and friendly ambiance.
Day 3. We will cross the Col de Nannaz and walk along the border of Italy and Switzerland with fantastic views of both the Mont Rosa and the Matterhorn. We will spend the night in a very comfortable hotel in the town of Cervinia at the foot of the Matterhorn.
Day 4. We will start our walk down the valley along a beautiful clear water river. We will then hike up to the Col Fenêtre with a beautiful view of the lake "Cignana" and follow the trail to the mountain chalet.
Day 5. We will trek down the valley and take a transport to the historic city of Aosta. You will be able to explore amazing Roman ruins dating back to 25BC, neolithic sites from when the Celtics populations lived in the area, and an array of cute little traditional shops and restaurants. We will have dinner along the Roman wall that surrounds the city, and then spend the night in a magnificently renovated 1500’s century house.
Day 6. Our journey will take us up the valley of the Grand St. Bernard and follow the haute route to a mountain inn with splendid views of the Grand Combin.
Day 7. We will hike to the narrow panoramic passage of the famous Col Malatrà at almost 3000m. This col is one of the most picturesque you will ever see. Once through the col, the immensity of the Mont Blanc is breathtaking. We will then follow the trail to the valley below and finish our trek in the town of Courmayeur.
You will never forget the scenery of this beautiful valley.
Trekking on the King's path
Trekking on the King's path
This trip will allow you to experience sections of the Alta Via II route along the Italian and French border. You will walk on the King’s path, an ancient royal mule tracks built in the 1800’s by the king of Italy in what used to be the Royal Hunting Reserve, and it is now the oldest national park in Italy, Parco Nazionale Grand Paradiso. Some of the most famous mountains in the world will come into view as you travel from one valley to the next, crossing dramatic mountain passes, and quaint little villages built in the shadow of amazing glaciers.
Day 1. We will meet in Verres at the local B&B for a great dinner and a good night sleep to get ready for the next day.
Day 2. Our trek will start with a trip to the charming mountain village of Champorcher. We will follow the scenic path that leads to the beautiful but still naturally rugged Lago Miserin. We will spend the night by this beautiful lake. The mountain Inn has comfortable dormitory style accommodations, excellent food and a warm atmosphere.
Day 3. Today’s trekking will take us up to 9.300 feet between two splendid valleys. The descent on the other side of the pass meanders through amazing alpine flora and fauna. You will have the opportunity to see wildlife like ibex, chamois, marmots, and golden eagles in their natural habitat. We will relax in the evening in a very comfortable hotel with delicious food in the tranquil but picturesque town of Cogne.
Day 4. We will take a break by visiting the historical city of Aosta. You will have the option to explore amazing Roman ruins dating back to 25BC, beautiful medieval castles, and neolithic sites from when the stone age populations first settled in the area. You will also be able to relax and enjoy the array of cute little traditional shops and restaurants of Aosta. We will have dinner along the Roman wall that surrounds the city, and we will spend the night in a magnificently renovated 16th century house.
Day 5. A shuttle will take us to Val Savarenche, a valley that is sparsely developed therefore is still wild and unspoiled by human touch. We will hike up through larch woods and rocky crags with panoramic views then across the valley of Dora del Nivolet. We will have the beautiful 13,000 foot Grand Paradiso behind us and the pastures of Grand Collet in front of us. After a traverse through the Plan, we will relax in the warm hospitality of a cozy mountain Inn.
Day 6. We will traverse from Valsavarenche to Valle Di Rhêmes, a spectacular trek across the Col Col Nivollet through an alpine terrain full of mountain flowers and surrounded by glaciers and snow cover peaks. We will hike near the Glacier Basei then follow the path through the mountains to a beautiful mountain Inn in one of the most pristine valleys in the Aosta region.
Day 7. We will trek near the Goletta Glacier and traverse the Comba di Goletta before descending to Thumel for transport to Courmayeur for our final night.
Day 8 Departure
Additional Tour Activities
These Activities can be added on to an existing tour or used to create a custom tour
Cooking Class -
Everybody likes Italian food! In this class you will not only taste great Italian food but also learn from an expert Italian chef how to create delicious local dishes. Enjoy the intimate and friendly atmosphere in the chef’s residence, where you will learn the special ingredients and techniques needed to make a real 4 course Italian meal.
The class includes the following:
- Aperitivo con stuzzichini - Appetizers with prosecco, wine or a non-alcoholic aperitif
- A first dish - pasta with a meat sauce (and/or a vegetarian variation of the meat sauce upon request)
- A second dish - meat or fish with vegetables (and/or a vegetarian variation upon request)
- Salad from the chef’s garden
- A traditional Italian dessert
The price includes: 4 course meal and all beverages (all wines, water, soda, coffee)
Castle Visits -
The valley has about 200 castles and fortresses strategically located. We have chosen the best ones as part of our castle tour. The first castles date all the way back to the XI century. They were originally fortresses built on easily defensible rocky outcroppings throughout the valley. Throughout the century some went into disrepair and others were upgraded to residences by the local lords of the time. You will have the opportunity to visit one or more of the castles, with a tour guide and learn about the history of the rulers and people of the region's history.
Historic Walking Tour of Aosta -
On this tour you will retrace the footsteps of the ancient Romans by walking on the very same roads they built more than 2000 years ago. You will visit a majestic amphitheater, cross bridges and aqueducts, and stroll by city walls and old crypts. Aosta was founded in 25 B.C. by the Romans because of its strategic location. It is in fact situated at the end of the Great and the Little St Bernard Pass, giving it a considerable military importance. The Romans called it Augusta Praetoria Salassorum in honor of Emperor Augustus. Nowadays Aosta is known as “the Rome of the Alps” because of the numerous very well preserved Roman ruins.
Winery Tour -
Aosta valley is the smallest region in Italy and it is nestled among really high mountains. Viticulture in the Aosta Valley is focused towards quality rather than quantity because of the unique location. Despite the size of the region, Valle d'Aosta enjoys a DOC appellation which requires wines to follow stringent rules regarding permitted grape varieties, harvest yields, minimum aging, minimum alcohol content, and other factors.
The wine tasting tour will take you inside the cellars of the producers and you will learn everything, from the planting of the grape vines to the production of the wine. It will mostly include wines made with native vine varieties. This is because the high altitudes and harsh temperatures wouldn't allow many non-local species to survive. The local white grape varieties that can be found are Petite Arvine and Prié blanc, and the black grape varieties include Petit Rouge and Fumin.
Cervinia-La Thuile-Courmayeur Ski Tour
Italian Alps Ski Tour
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The Experience of a lifetime. Ski three of the largest and most impressive ski areas in Europe. You will be able to Ski across the magestic borders between Italy and Switzerland as well as Italy and France. Our accommodations are a combination of Agriturismo B& B, which is ski-in ski-out and nestled in the mountains above Valtournanche, to a comfortable and quaint hotel in the heart of Courmayeur. After several days of skiing we’ll take a rest day at the fabulous thermal hot baths located in the valley.
The Valtournanche valley.
The Breuil-Cervinia Valtournenche Zermatt area is one of the largest in the Alps, with a varied terrain beyond compare. The ski area stretches through three valleys in two countries, Italy and Switzerland, from the 3,883 m of the Piccolo Cervino descending to the 1,524 m of Valtournenche. This resort offer the chance to ski all day without ever repeating the same run twice, alternating easier pistes with those of increasing difficulty, you will spend each day in the shadow of one of the most impressive mountains in the world.
Next, we will head to La Thuile on the border with France. La Thuile is part of the Espace San Bernardo ski area with access to 160km of downhill skiing, with 77 marked pistes, and served by a total of 37 ski lifts. La Thuile also hosts the women’s world cup races. In addition to the skiing in La Thuile itself (146km of pisted ski runs), a day pass will allow you to ski or snowboard in the other Espace San Bernardo ski resort of La Rosière. With lifts and ski runs that seem to go on forever, you will be assured of an unforgettable day on the mountain.
Last but not least is the resort Courmayeur, located next to the highest mountain in Western Europe: Monte Bianco. With lots of character and plenty of Ski terrain, Coumayeur finds the perfect balance between lively town activities and a mountain ready to satisfy any skier. Although mostly intermediate and beginner terrain, there are options for more demanding ski adventures ranging from tree skiing to off piste skiing.
This skiing throughout the valley ranges from beginner to advanced, with each resort having well laid out trail maps to navigate.
The 2019-2020 ski season is just around the corner, we hope to see you on our next adventure!