Tha Alta Via 1 -also called the Via dei Giganti- is a 6-day amazing hut to hut hiking traverse, across the foothills of the highest peaks in Europe, like the Matterhorn, Monte Rosa and Mont Blanc, with an IFMGA certified guide.
6 Days
Jun - Oct
High
Intermediate
The Alta Via N° 1 -also called the Via dei Giganti (the giants’ trail)-is a 6-day hiking traverse that covers the northern part of the Aosta Valley. This amazing itinerary takes us through a spectacular scenery, across the foothils of some of the highest peaks in Europe, like the Mont Blanc, Matterhorn and Monte Rosa.
The trek leads us from the east to the west. We cross the Gressoney valley, through Champoluc, Valtournanache, Valpelline, Gran San Bernando and Val Ferret to Courmayeur. Along the way, we spend every night in a different hut. You can take a look at the day-by-day itinerary at the bottom of this text.
Every day, we will walk an average time of 6/7 hours. This is a trekking of intermediate level, with no technical difficulties. However, you need to be in good physical shape.
The trail follows ancient paths that mountain people have traveled through the centuries. Most important, these paths are nowadays accesible to all those, like you, who want to live an unforgettable experience!
Also, along the way, we will have the chance to enjoy many extraordinary panoramic views over the giant mountains of Europe! This is definitely a must-do route if you are passionate about mountain and hiking.
So are you in for this extraordinary Alta Via N° 1 hiking traverse? Send me a request and we will start planning your trip! I will be happy to be your guide in such an incredible journey.
From Gressoney we hike up to the Pinter Hill. Then, we descend along green meadows in the Ayas Valley to Champoluc. From here, we transfer to the Grand Tournalin Hut. Dinner and overnight stay. Altitude difference: 1250m – 950m. Average time: 5 h / 6 h.
We head towards Valtournenche. After lunch, we hike up to the Barmasse Hut, located by the Lake Cignana, where we will eat and drink. Altitude difference: 1050m -1300m. Average time: 6 h 30 min.
From the Barmasse hut, we go down to the Torgnon basin and go back to the Fenetre de Tzan hill. From this point, we hike down to the Reboulaz bivouac and head to the Cuney refuge with the nearby highest sanctuary in Europe. Dinner and overnight stay. Altitude difference: + 900m; -800m. Average time: 6 h.
We hike through a panoramic path on the valley of Saint Barthelemy and reach the Vessona hill. From here we will go down to Valpelline. Dinner and overnight stay. Altitude difference: + 550m; -1400m. Average Time: 6 h. 00 mins
From Bionaz we transfer to Ollomont. From here we hike up the way to the Letey hut and then to the Champillon hill. Then we hike downhill into the valley of Gran San Bernardo to Saint Rhemy en Bosse, where we will have dinner and spend the night. Altitude difference: +1250m; -1200m. Average time: 6 h 30 minutes.
From St. Rhemy en Bosse we climb to the Merdeux basin to the hill of Maltrà, the highest point of all the Via dei Giganti (2925m). From this point, we are able to enjoy a magnificent panorama of Mont Blanc!!Then we hike downhill in the beautiful Val Ferret and stop at the Bonatti hut for a toast, with the view of Mont Blanc, the highest of the Giants in this trekking !! Altitude difference: + 1300m ; -1150m – Average time: 6 h 30 min.
More info
For the midday picnic, you can buy sandwiches and snacks when stopping at the refineries or in the villages we cross.
Meeting point
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4.8
(30)
Mountain Guide
Tomas and his team of IFMGA/UIMLA-certified mountain guides & leaders and rock climbing instructors (Anna, Andrea, Elis, Enrico, Ivan, Julia, Lucia, Marika, and Oreste) are some of the top outdoor adventure professionals in Italy.
Whether you wish to climb the Gran Paradiso or go on an exciting via ferrata in the Dolomites, among other amazing options, they will be able to show you the top spots and the ropes to ensure you have an unforgettable and safe adventure.
Tomas will be your main point of contact during the booking process and will be able to help you with all the questions you have in order to make sure you receive the best possible guiding service.
Pick one of the programs featured for E-S Adventure Guides Italy and start planning an awe-inspiring experience in the mountains!
Languages
Italian | English
Certificates
UIMLA | UIAGM | IFMGA
Man
Climbing with guide Guillaume was absolutely a highlight of my 2-week Europe vacation. Originally, we were planning on climbing in the Calanques, but the park was closed due to wind and fire danger. Guillaume chose another amazing location (Pic de Bretagne) based on my climbing abilities and preferences and kindly offered train station pick-up and hotel drop off, which I appreciated very much. The multi-pitch route we did was not only fun but also the right amount of challenge, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The communication from the team (Gauthier) was prompt and clear—highly recommend!
Maxine
Luis Silva was a great climbing guide and belayer! He taught me how to do moves that were difficult and encouraged me to try routes that were challenging for me! Because of his encouragement, I managed to complete these routes! I really enjoyed the climbs and completed 8 routes in the Sesimbra/Azoia area. The weather was perfect, no direct sun and cool enough to enjoy the climbs. Explore-Share made booking an outdoor climbing experience in Lisbon extremely easy. Luis, our guide, was fantastic, and the platform’s organization was flawless.
Valeriya
You’re simply the best!!! :))) Explore-Share made everything easy and stress-free. Will definitely use again.
Joshua
We had Léo as a guide for our day climb in Fonty. We were blessed with a knowledgeable, warm, and instructive guide. Communication with Léo and Ivan was smooth and swift. Explore-Share was excellent in arranging everything for our day climb. The communication was quick, and the platform was easy to use, making our adventure stress-free.
Cami
Patrick was a great guide. He took us on an intermediate Via Ferrata at Passo Sella. Renato was quick to respond with any outreach on the Explore-Share platform. The booking process was straightforward, and once Patrick was confirmed, all went well. It was a wonderful experience, and I’d highly recommend the platform.
4.8
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