A guidebook to 32 walks and scrambles in the Aosta Valley. Exploring the dramatic scenery of the Italian Alps there’s something for both beginner and experienced walkers, from short leisurely walks to scrambles and protected routes bordering on mountaineering.

Routes range from 4 to 20km (2–12 miles) in length and can be enjoyed in 1–6 hours. A handful of trail runs and via ferrata are also summarised in brief.

• 1:50,000 maps are included for each route
• GPX files available to download
• Detailed information on accommodation, public transport and wildlife
• Highlights include walks to Forte di Bard and Grand St Bernard Monastery

Map key

Overview map

Route summary table

Introduction

Geography

Geology

Wildlife

Plants and flowers

Weather

History

Art and culture

Trail running

Places of interest

When to go

Access and travel

Accommodation

Clothing

Food and drink

Language

Maps and navigation

Waymarking

Safety and emergencies

Insurance

Using this guide

Main Valley

Route 1 Forte di Bard and the Roman road, Donnas

Route 2 Napoleon’s diversion route

Lower Lys Valley

Route 3 Plan des Sorcières and Col Portola

Route 4 The Two Monts: Mont Roux and Mont Bechit

Route 5 Colma di Mombarone

Route 6 Mont Mars traverse

Upper Lys Valley

Route 7 Via Regina to Castel Savoia

Route 8 Punta Regina: the queen’s peak

Route 9 Alpenzu and the Walser villages

Route 10 Source of the Lys

Route 11 Punta Indren and Indren glacier crossing

Route 12 Bettolina ridge to Rifugio Quintino Sella

Valtournenche and Cervin/Matterhorn

Route 13 Eastern balcony: Cervinia to Valtournenche

Route 14 Western balcony: Cervinia to Valtournenche

Route 15 Becca d’Aran

Valpelline

Route 16 Rifugio Prarayer

Route 17 Ru di-z-Aagne and Fontina

Route 18 Lac Mort

Route 19 Ru du Rey: a marvel of hydro-engineering

Route 20 Pointe Cornet

Route 21 Alta Via 1: Col de Breuson

Route 22 Rifugio and Col Champillon

Great Saint Bernard Pass

Route 23 Via Francigena to Great St Bernard Monastery

Route 24 Mont Fourchon

Route 25 Two Cols

Route 26 Grande Chenalette and Pointe de Drône via ferrata

Upper Aosta Valley – Courmayeur

Route 27 Mont Chétif

Route 28 Mont de la Saxe and Col Sapin

Route 29 Rifugio Bonatti and Mont Blanc panorama

Route 30 Mont Fortin

Route 31 Tour of the Pyramides Calcaires

Route 32 Mont Chétif via ferrata

Appendix A Useful contacts

Appendix B Useful phrases

Appendix C Clothing and equipment

Seasons

The lower walks are feasible from Easter through to late October. The mountain walks really open up from late June through to late September.

Centres

Gressoney St Jean, Valpelline, the Matterhorn Valley and the world-famous Grand St Bernard Monastery

Difficulty

From short walks of around an hour to two-day summits twice the height of Ben Nevis, there's something for everyone and every level of fitness. Normal walking equipment will suffice for almost every walk.

Must See

Forte di Barde guarding the lower valley; the Grand St Bernard Monastery which has welcomed travellers for a thousand years; views of Monte Rosa, the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc

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