Italy's Grande Traversata delle Alpi - Front Cover

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GTA: Through the Italian Alps from the Swiss border to the Mediterranean

A guidebook to the 809km Grande Traversata delle Alpi trek through the western Italian Alps traversing the Lepontine, Pennine, Graian, Cottian and Maritime Alps to finish at Ventimiglia. The guide splits the route into 3 sections with 55 day stages. A good level of fitness is required to tackle the route as it contains nearly 60,000m of ascent.

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Printed book £18.95 Full guidebook with maps & profiles. Available and ready to dispatch

eBook £18.95 Digital edition for your eReader. Download from your Cicerone Library

The eBook is also sold by Google Play Books, Apple Books, Amazon Kindle and Rakuten Kobo.

After completing your purchase, GPX files will be available to download from My Library

Quick facts

Location: Western Italian Alps, from the Swiss border (Nufenen Pass) to Ventimiglia on the Mediterranean coast
Number of stages: 55 stages (can be split into 3 sections with transport options)
Distance: 809km (503 miles)
Duration: Around 2 months (full route); daily stages 7–26km (4–16 miles); also can be tackled in three separate walks of around three weeks.
Areas covered: Lepontine Alps, Pennine Alps, Graian Alps, Cottian Alps, Maritime Alps; passes Monte Rosa, Rocciamelone, Rocca la Meja, Monviso, and Argentera
Route type: Mountain trails, high passes, alpine meadows, ancient footpaths, and traditional villages
Difficulty: Strenuous long-distance trek for experienced and fit walkers; no technical skills required
Terrain: Over 57,000m of ascent/descent, wildflower meadows, sparkling lakes, remote valleys, historic Walser settlements, and vineyard slopes
Navigation: 1:100,000 mapping for each stage, detailed route descriptions, downloadable GPX files, route summary tables
Best season: Early June to late September (high passes may hold snow early in the season; accommodation closes in autumn)
Highlights: Authentic Walser culture, Nebbiolo vineyards, slow food movement, unspoilt landscapes, rich wildlife including ibex, chamois, wolves, and traditional alpine livestock
Equipment: Sturdy trekking boots, weatherproof clothing, trekking poles, lightweight sleeping bag or liner for mountain accommodation
Accommodation: Mountain inns (rifugi), guesthouses, simple hotels, and village lodgings at the end of each stage

Author Highlight

"There is no doubt that this is one of the great alpine treks. Just over 800km, over 57,000m of ascent and descent, trekking across Italy from the Swiss border in the high Alps, all the way to the sea, where you can walk no further. The aficionado of mountaineering peaks will appreciate passing Monte Rosa, Rocciamelone, Rocca la Meja, Monviso and the epic spires of the Argentera. In the course of this great journey, you will pass through no less than five unique alpine regions; the Lepontine Alps, the Pennine Alps, the Graian Alps, the Cottian Alps and the Maritime Alps. Yet none of these facts will form the memories you are most likely to treasure from this journey.”

David Jordan, author of Italy's Grande Traversata delle Alpi

Detailed overview

Trek Italy’s wild and unspoilt western Alps from the Nufenen Pass on the Swiss border to Ventimiglia on the Mediterranean coast on the Grande Traversata delle Alpi (GTA). This often-overlooked long-distance route covers an epic 809km (503 miles) through the Lepontine, Pennine, Graian, Cottian, and Maritime Alps.

Perfect for experienced and fit alpine trekkers, this comprehensive Cicerone guidebook describes the full GTA in 55 stages, each ranging from 7 to 26km (4–16 miles), with a total ascent and descent of over 57,000m. The route is presented in three sections, north, central, and south, enabling flexible planning for those wishing to break the journey into shorter trips, with convenient transport options at each section end.

Discover the majestic peaks of Monte Rosa, Rocciamelone, Rocca la Meja, Monviso, and the Argentera spires, and immerse yourself in the wildness of the Italian alpine chain, where chamois skip across scree slopes, ibex clash horns, and ancient sheepdogs still guard flocks against elusive wolves.
Each stage is clearly described, with distance, ascent/descent, and estimated walking time, plus details on accommodation and refreshment options to help you plan every day of your GTA adventure.
Handy route summary tables, 1:100,000 mapping, and downloadable GPX files for every stage ensure straightforward navigation and itinerary planning, whether you aim for the full two-month journey or wish to complete the GTA in shorter sections.
Includes essential advice on preparation, weather and when to go (best walked from early June to late September), transport, mountain safety, local wildlife, history, and what to pack, ensuring you are ready for every aspect of your trek across the Italian Alps.
The GTA is suitable for any reasonably fit walker; while the daily ascents and descents are strenuous, no technical skills are required. Public transport options let you tailor your route and avoid less interesting road sections, making the trek accessible to a range of abilities and timeframes.
Experience authentic Walser culture, Nebbiolo vineyards, and the slow food movement as you traverse remote landscapes largely untouched by modern tourism.

Plan your journey across Italy’s Grande Traversata delle Alpi with the definitive Cicerone guidebook, and discover a classic long-distance trek where every stage brings new alpine vistas, and the spirit of wild exploration guides you from the high Alps to the shores of the Mediterranean.

Where and when to go

Seasons

The route is best walked from early June, when any snow on high passes is diminishing, until late-September, when declining weather, and limited accommodation becomes a factor.

Centres

Access local transport to key mountain trailheads from Airolo (Switzerland), Domodossola, Ivrea, Susa, Pinerolo, Saluzzo, Cuneo or Ventimiglia.

Difficulty

This route with strenuous daily ascent/descents is best for fit and experienced alpine trekkers. No special equipment is needed beyond good footwear and appropriate clothing, although trekking poles are recommended. It is a mountain route, however, with high passes daily so allow extra time initially for legs and lungs to acclimatise and strengthen.

Must See

High mountain passes, turquoise glacial lakes, summer meadows and alpine forest would be enough, even without the Walser culture, the Occitan valleys, Nebbiolo vineyards and the slow food movement. Ancient, cobbled ‘mulattiera’, pilgrim routes and fortifications add to the sense of history and the stories of the people that make this route so special.

Which format is best for me?

Printed book

A guidebook with detailed route descriptions, stage breakdowns, accommodation listings, profiles and maps — everything you need on the trail.

ISBN	9781786310408
Availability	Published
Published	20 June 2023
Pages	296
Weight	340g

eBook

The complete digital edition of the guidebook, with full route descriptions, accommodation listings, profiles and maps, ready to use on any device.

What is the Cicerone app?

The Cicerone App is your on-trail companion: GPS-enabled maps, route information and planning tools from our guidebooks, built for use on the move. Browse and buy guides directly in the app, then follow expert-curated routes, explore local landmarks and points of interest, and check facilities information as you go.

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Please note: GPX files are downloaded separately and are designed for use in other mapping apps or GPS devices. They cannot be viewed within the Cicerone app.

Updates

Updated 6 January 2026
Route updates
An update to start of route - the section of track up to Griesee Dam is currently closed due to rockfall. The best alternative is to get off the bus one stop earlier at Alpe Di Cruina and walk via the Capanna Corno-Gries Hut or stay there overnight instead of in Airolo) to rejoin the route just before crossing into Italy at Griespass.
A GPX file for this alternative is available in downloads.
Stage 1
The final section of path approaching Rifugio Margaroli was badly eroded in 2025. Leaving Passo di Nefelgiu, the marked path crosses the torrente several times on the way down the hill and it is in the lower half that it is eroded. It is better to now remain on the west bank and stay parallel to the torrente all the way down to the lake.
Stage 48
There also now appears to be a bus to/from Limonetto, connecting the railway station in Limone to the route. This could be useful to be aware of. See
www.limoneturismo.it/pagina.php?id=128&lang=eng
Updated 5 August 2024
Stage 53
Following the unfortunate closure of the Rifugio Gola di Gouta, and with no other accommodation available close to the ridge, the best option is to descend toward Pigna. There is a B&B there, La Casa Rosa +393475227119, Corso de Sonnaz, 35, 18037 Pigna IM, www.bebcasarosa.com), but the recommended and closer) option is Agriturismo La Seusa +393482462304, 18037 Pigna, IM), a delightful, family run farmhouse at affordable rates.
You could descend around 600m and 4.3km SE from the main route at Gola di Gouta, and return the same way. Alternatively, you could take an alternate route south from Colle Melosa via the small hamlet of Buggio to Pigna, and just beyond to La Seusa 17.1km, ?? 1051m, ?? 2013m), returning to the main route at Gola di Gouta to continue the following morning.
The author has provided GPX tracks to La Seusa, both from Gola di Gouta, and from Colle Melosa via Buggio, which are available in the download section.

Meet the author

David Jordan

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Hiking, trekking and camping since a young age, David Jordan's earliest memories of walking adventures were family holidays, let loose among trees and fields with a Kodak 'instamatic' camera and notebook. Many years on, little has changed, although the boots are bigger and camera technology has definitely improved. Still the highlights of each passing year are the opportunities to roam, explore, photograph and document what was found.

David has hiked and camped extensively across much of the higher ground of the UK, Europe and Norway, as well as the US. A first taste of long-distance walking started with a circuit of the Tour du Mont Blanc in 1992 and led through sections of the Appalachian Trail to a full thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail in 2016. Returning to the Alps David spent four years researching and exploring the Grande Traversata Delle Alpe. In 2023 David hiked the PCT for a second time and became one of fewer than 200 people ever to thru-hike the trail more than once.

When not travelling David lives on the Arnside and Silverdale peninsula, a designated 'area of outstanding natural beauty' on the edge of the English Lake District with his wife and dog.

Italy's Grande Traversata delle Alpi