Walking and Trekking in the Gran Paradiso

This guidebook presents 28 day walks in the Gran Paradiso National Park in the Italian Alps south of Mont Blanc, and the 12-day Alta Via 2 trek. The Alta Via covers over 148km of rugged mountains and valleys between Chardonnay and Courmayeur. The graded walks vary from 2 to 33km and range from easy paths to routes for the experienced alpine walker.

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Overview

A guidebook to the Gran Paradiso National Park in the Valle d'Aosta, in north-western Italy, describing the 12-stage 148km Alta Via 2 trek, and 28 day walks ranging from 2 to 33km.

The first part of this guidebook describes the Alta Via 2, a strenuous trek in 12 day stages from Chardonnay to Courmayeur, passing beneath the foot of Mont Blanc, which is best suited to experienced Alpine hikers. The successive chapters contain walks suitable for visitors who prefer to make their base in a valley hotel or campsite and embark on shorter excursions. A handful of excellent traverses is also included, brilliant routes that convey walkers to wild exhilarating heights and act as links between the valleys. Suggestions are given for combining these into a further series of long-distance routes.

The guidebook provides plenty of practical information on getting to and around the region, as well as advice on accommodation, language, equipment, planning and how to make the most out of any adventure in one of Italy's most spectacular national parks. A wealth of detail of information on wildlife, history, geology and flowers is also included.

Table of Contents

Contents
Introduction
The Gran Paradiso National Park
Valleys and bases
Information
Access
When to go
How to use this book
Path marking
Dos and don'ts
Emergencies
Mountaineering and guides
Maps
Accommodation
What to take
Wildlife
Vegetation
Local traditions
Further suggestions
Alta Via 2
Stage 1 Chardonney to Rifugio Dondena
Stage 2 Rifugio Dondena to Rifugio Péradzà
Stage 3 Rifugio Péradzà to Cogne
Stage 4 Cogne to Rifugio Vittorio Sella
Stage 5 Rifugio Vittorio Sella to Eaux Rousses
Stage 6 Eaux Rousses to Rhêmes-Notre-Dame
Stage 7 Rhêmes-Notre-Dame to Rifugio Chalet de l'Epée
Stage 8 Rifugio Chalet de l'Epée to Planaval
Stage 9 Planaval to La Haut
Stage 10 La Haut to La Thuile
Stage 11 La Thuile to Rifugio Elisabetta Soldini
Stage 12 Rifugio Elisabetta Soldini to Courmayeur
Day Walks
1 The Lillaz Waterfalls
2 Lago di Loie
3 The Money Glacier Terrace
4 The Casolari dell'Herbetet Traverse
5 Punta Pousset – the local ‘Gornergrat’
6 Beneath the Grivola
7 Passo d'Invergneux and the Mines Circuit
8 Laghi di Lussert
9 Pondel's Roman Bridge
10 The 2205m Mont Blanc
11 At the Foot of the Gran Paradiso
12 Over Gran Collet to Col del Nivolet
13 The King's Path in Valle delle Meyes
14 Vallon di Sort
15 Col Rosset
16 Punta Basei
17 Becca della Traversière
18 Legendary San Grato
19 Becca dei Quattro Denti
20 The Royal Track to Ceresole Reale
21 Sentiero Glaciologico Lago Serrù
22 Beneath the Tre Levanne
23 The Villages of Valle dell'Orco
24 Beyond the Dam in Vallone di Piantonetto
25 Nivolastro to Andorina
26 Frescoes and Fridges en route to Bivacco Davito
27 Sanctuary of San Besso
28 Col Larissa

Appendix A Italian-English Glossary
Appendix B Route Summary Table

Updates

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January 2022

Walk 9 - Pondel's Roman bridge

The bridge has been restored and the inner passageway opened up to
visitors. Opening times apply and a modest entry fee is now charged.

August 2019

Route updates and corrections

Walk 13, p149

Near Alp de Turin the unnumbered path L is currently closed off (while
the bridge is being rebuilt) so for the moment you're pointed R on n.3A
via the abandoned farm buildings then over L to a bridge to rejoin the
main path n.3 just above La Croix.

p20 trains between Aosta and Pré-St-Didier, and Rivarolo and Pont Canavese have been replaced by buses.

Free summer shuttle buses link Cogne with Valnontey, Gimillan and Lillaz.

p21 The on-demand minibus Trekbus tel no: is now 380 9010162

p28 Fraternali do a handy 1:25000 map covering the whole of the Gran Paradiso Park

GPX tracks for the AV2 can be downloaded from www.lovevada.it - go onto the Alta Via 2 page.

Walk 11: welcoming new Rifugio Tetras Lyre is located on the valley floor 15min on foot from Pont on the path for Rif Vittorio Emanuele II. www.rifugiotetraslyre.it tel 335 6001921 or 348 6723645

Walk 12: Ceresole Reale also has Mon-Sat summer free shuttle buses to Col del Nivolet.
The water at Rif Città di Chivasso is now suitable for drinking

Walk 13: Hotel Genzianella has closed.

Sept 2018

p47 Chardonney: Hotel Chardoney is now closed but walkers can find rooms
and meals at Lo Ski Man Gontier tel 01251865237 www.loskiman.it

Aug 2018

There's been an increase in cases of TBE (tick-borne encephalitis) across Europe, Italy included. Walkers should be aware that they may pick up ticks while walking through grass and woodland up to approx 1500 metres altitude. Not all ticks carry the disease but better safe than sorry. Simple precautions and plenty of useful information is available on the website: https://ecdc.europa.eu/en/tick-borne-encephalitis. Vaccination is also an option.

Reviews

"It has been my pleasure to follow in Gillian's footsteps all over Italy"

I have used Gillian Price's books for the Dolomiti, Stelvio, and Gran Paradiso, and most recently last year for Alpi Maritime and Mercantour. It has been my pleasure to follow in her footsteps all over Italy. Thanks so much for her wonderful books and sense of humour.
- Sandy

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A very useful guide to walking in the beautiful Grand Paradiso

Thank you for writing a very useful guide to walking in the beautiful Grand Paradiso. My wife, Oonagh and I were lucky to squeeze in seven-day trip, primarily on the AV2 in July this year.

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Invaluable in planning an itinerary and a regular reassurance on the trail.

A profound thanks for your guidebook. Hiking the AV2 this past summer was a glorious experience. Everything - the wildlife, wildflowers, hospitality, food - was breathtaking. Thanks so much for such a wonderfully-written guide: it was invaluable in planning an itinerary and a regular reassurance on the trail. Staying at La Haut is one of our most cherished experiences. We can't wait to get back.

Josh & Liz

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Gillian Price gives detailed information about the area, when to go there, where to stay, and much more.

Another guidebook published this year by this prolific writer [Gillian Price] is about walks in northern Italy. This time she focuses on the beautiful landscape of the Valley of Aosta and surrounding areas of the Gran Paradiso, Italy's first national park declared by King Vittorio Emanuele Ill, grandson of the 'Hunter King' in 1922 to protect the flora and fauna, as well as the beauty of its gorgeous scenery.

Once again, Gillian Price gives detailed information about the area, when to go there, where to stay, and much more. The Valley of Aosta is breathtaking especially in summer. Walks off the beaten track along country and mountain pathways appreciating incredible landscapes and encounters with ibex and chamois in healthy fresh air are out of this world. lt is real paradise for the sporty, as well as for the less equipped and experienced mountain lovers.

The writer recommends various places to see and a large choice of day walks, routes, maps and accommodation shelters for enthusiasts like herself, who enjoy hiking and wish to persevere along their discovery of nature.

Living Italy Magazine

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Your wonderful guides have been a pleasure to read, and have been particularly helpful, thank you!

Dear Ms Price,

For the last 20 years, my wife and I have relied heavily on Cicerone guidebooks. Your wonderful guides for Amalfi, Dolomites, and Gran Paradiso have been a pleasure to read, and have been particularly helpful, thank you!

Thanks again!

Dan & Cheryl
Seattle, WA

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