Gran Paradiso - A Guidebook for Walkers and Trekkers

Guidebook to walking in Italy's Gran Paradiso national park, includes the Alta Via 2 Trek and a range of 28 walks from gentle strolls to full scale traverses of the region. The Gran Paradiso is a protected national park, just to the south of the Mont Blanc massif accessible from France and northern Italy. A range of deep valleys and passes give excellent walking. Refuge and valley accommodation is plentiful.

The Gran Paradiso National Park (GPNP), in the North West corner of Italy, is a spectacular alpine mountain area and this guide book is most welcome. The book begins with general information which includes everything you need to plan a visit: maps, transport, accommodation of all types, with phone numbers and web addresses, as well as the geological and historical background, and notes on the animals and plants.
The second section, of particular interest to Long Distance Walkers, covers the Alta Via 2, a long-distance path which runs from Chardonney in the East through the heart of the GPNP before turning North up to Courmayeur in the Mont Blanc region. The suggested itinerary takes 12 days with 6 nights in mountain refuges, 6 in guest houses, or for a more economical tour, camping, but there is scope for varying the pace or taking additional days for side trips along the way. And, of course, f you have energy left at the end, you can always do the Tour de Mont Blanc as a follow-on!
The routes are all illustrated with clear sketch maps and the guide is dotted with some lovely photographs which give a good idea of the delights in store. All in all, an excellent investment for anyone contemplating, or planning, a visit.

Strider, August 2008