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Alta Via 1 of the Aosta Valley: The Giants’ Trek
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  • If canceled 90 or more days before departure, a 70% refund of the total trip price will be issued.
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  • Booking fees are non-refundable after a 48 hours grace period.
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  • If canceled within 48 hours of booking, a full refund will be issued.
  • If canceled 90 or more days before departure, a full refund of the total trip price will be issued.
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  • If canceled within 59 days of departure, no refund will be issued.
  • Booking fees are non-refundable after 48 hours grace period.
Super Flexible
  • If canceled within 48 hours of booking, a full refund will be issued.
  • If canceled 60 or more days before departure, a full refund of the total trip price will be issued.
  • If canceled within 59 days of departure, a 50% refund of the total trip price will be issued.
  • Booking fees are non-refundable after 48 hours grace period.
Summary
Alta Via 1 of the Aosta Valley: The Giants’ Trek
Itinerary
Alta Via 1 of the Aosta Valley: The Giants’ Trek
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  • Alta Via 1 of the Aosta Valley: The Giants’ Trek - 1
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  • An 8-day guided Alta Via 1 Aosta Valley trek from Valtournenche to Courmayeur, covering the full route across seven stages of hiking. We stay four nights in traditional alpine rifugios on a half-board basis and three nights in valley hotels. The final day offers an optional panoramic loop hike in Val Veny before departure. The price of $1,350 USD per person includes a certified guide, all accommodation, four dinners, seven breakfasts, and local transfers at the start.

    • We meet in Aosta in the morning—a 30-minute bus to Châtillon, then an hour’s ride up to the starting village of Valtournenche, nestled beneath the Matterhorn. From here, the trail climbs steadily through lush summer pastures and quiet woodland, opening up quickly to striking views of the surrounding peaks. The stage finishes at the scenic shores of Lago di Cignana, where Rifugio Barmasse sits at 2,150 m. A short and manageable first day—exactly right for settling in before the bigger stages ahead.

      Meals: Dinner, breakfast
      Hiking: ~5 km (~3.1 mi)
      Elevation: +700 m (+2,300 ft)
      Accommodation: Rifugio Barmasse (private rooms for 2, 4, or 6 people, shared bathrooms)

      valtournenche valley matterhorn

    • A long, demanding, and spectacular stage. We navigate rugged high-altitude terrain and cross the panoramic Col Terray at 2,750 m, where the landscape turns wild and rocky and the views stretch in every direction. The effort is considerable—seven hours on trail—but what waits at the end is worth it: Rifugio Cuney at 2,650 m, built around a centuries-old sanctuary and one of the most atmospheric overnight stops on the entire Alta Via 1.

      Meals: Dinner, breakfast
      Hiking: ~16 km (~9.9 mi)
      Elevation: +1,300 m (+4,265 ft) / -800 m (-2,625 ft)
      Accommodation: Rifugio Cuney (large traditional dormitories, shared bathrooms)

      lake cignana

    • Today is defined by a long, spectacular descent. We climb first to Col de Vessonaz at 2,800 m, the highest point of the trek, before leaving the barren rocky ridgeline behind and dropping steadily through one of the most beautiful sections of the entire route—a pristine, deep valley filled with ancient larch forest. We finish in the quiet village of Oyace at 1,400 m, a genuine alpine village little changed by tourism.

      Meals: Breakfast
      Hiking: ~15 km (~9.3 mi)
      Elevation: +500 m (+1,640 ft) / -1,800 m (-5,905 ft)
      Accommodation: Local hotel (private rooms for 2 or 3 people)

      hikers sunny day aosta

    • A steep but rewarding climb out of Oyace leads us to Col de Brison at 2,500 m, an exceptional viewpoint over the Grand Combin massif—one of the great glacier-clad peaks of the Swiss Alps, visible in full across the border. The descent brings us into the peaceful, untouched valley of Ollomont, as green and quiet as anywhere on the route.

      Meals: Dinner, breakfast
      Hiking: ~13 km (~8.1 mi)
      Elevation: +1,100 m (+3,610 ft) / -1,100 m (-3,610 ft)
      Accommodation: Dortoir de Ollomont (single shared dormitory with 13 beds, shared bathrooms)

      grand combin views

    • The toughest day of the trek in terms of total elevation change. We climb through sunny alpine meadows to Col de Champillon at 2,700 m, with sweeping panoramas toward Mont Velan and the Swiss border, then descend into Étroubles—a beautifully preserved medieval village at 1,300 m, filled with outdoor sculpture and traditional stone architecture, and well worth the legs it costs to reach.

      Meals: Breakfast
      Hiking: ~16 km (~9.9 mi)
      Elevation: +1,600 m (+5,250 ft) / -1,500 m (-4,920 ft)
      Accommodation: Hôtel Beau Séjour (standard rooms with twin beds)

      feeding horses aosta

    • Leaving the valley floor, we follow a steady uphill route along ancient water channels—the bisses that historically irrigated these mountain communities—before climbing into high alpine terrain beneath the iconic peaks above Courmayeur. At 2,542 m, Rifugio Frassati is a proper high-mountain hut: spare, beautiful, and with a sense that tomorrow’s finish is genuinely within reach.

      Meals: Dinner, breakfast
      Hiking: ~14 km (~8.7 mi)
      Elevation: +1,200 m (+3,940 ft)
      Accommodation: Rifugio Frassati (shared dormitories from 4 to 12 beds)

    • The final stage of the Alta Via 1. We tackle the last ridge of the route before a long descent into Courmayeur, the famous alpine town sitting directly at the foot of Mont Blanc. It’s a big day—20 km and 2,000 m of descent—but a free shuttle is available halfway down for anyone who wants to save their knees. Arriving in Courmayeur with the whole massif above you is a proper finish.

      Meals: Breakfast
      Hiking: ~20 km (~12.4 mi)
      Elevation: +700 m (+2,300 ft) / -2,000 m (-6,560 ft)
      Accommodation: Local 3-star hotel (standard rooms with twin beds)

      An Italian Alpine town of Courmayeur with a medieval church.

    • A flexible final morning. Choose a relaxed breakfast and some time exploring Courmayeur’s mountain town center, or join an optional panoramic loop hike through Val Veny for close-up views of the Brenva glacier on the south side of Mont Blanc. Hourly buses run from Courmayeur back to Aosta (1 hour), where direct buses to Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) depart at 7 am, 11 am, and 3 pm.

      Hiking (optional): ~16 km (~9.9 mi)
      Elevation (optional): +800 m (+2,625 ft) / -1,000 m (-3,280 ft)

    • Included:

        • An experienced, certified guide (International Mountain Leader) for the full duration of the trek
        • 8-day Alta Via 1 Aosta Valley hiking tour (6 or 7 days of hiking)
        • Accommodation for 7 nights
          • 4 nights in mountain rifugios
          • 3 nights in village hotels
        • 7 breakfasts
        • 4 dinners (at rifugios)
        • Local bus transfers from Aosta to Châtillon and from Châtillon to Valtournenche
        • Pre-trip briefing call with your guide

      Not included:

        • Transportation to Aosta and return travel at the end of the tour
        • Packed lunches for all trekking days
        • 3 dinners at hotels in Oyace, Étroubles, and Courmayeur
        • Beverages and personal extras at huts and hotels
        • Anything not mentioned above
        • Insurance — recommended, available to add at checkout
        • Guide gratuities — optional

    • To join this Alta Via 1 Aosta Valley trek, great fitness is required. While you will hike at a steady, unhurried pace, keep in mind that this is still a challenging multi-day hiking experience.

      The most you’ll hike in a day is up to 20 km (12.4 mi), with up to 1,600 m (5,250 ft) of elevation gain. Several stages run 6–7 hours on rugged, high-altitude terrain with significant cumulative ascent and descent. You’ll be carrying your own pack throughout, no luggage transfers, so keep it light.

      If you’re regularly active—long weekend hikes, trail running, or similar—and comfortable spending full days on mountain terrain, you’re in good shape for this route. The guide recommends building up your daily distance and elevation in the weeks before departure.

      Want to see what else is in the area? Discover more Dolomites hiking tours here!

    • Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:

        • Trekking backpack, 35–45 L (50 L max)
        • High-cut, well broken-in trekking boots with a rugged grip sole (e.g., Vibram) — do not bring brand-new boots
        • Trekking poles (mandatory)
        • Waterproof shell jacket (Gore-Tex or similar)
        • Lightweight down jacket or heavy thermal layer
        • Fleece or mid-layer
        • Technical t-shirts (3–4 pairs, synthetic or Merino wool—no cotton)
        • Trekking pants (long, lightweight; a spare pair is recommended)
        • Waterproof overpants
        • Technical hiking socks (3–4 pairs)
        • Spare technical underwear
        • Waterproof backpack cover
        • Sleeping bag liner (mandatory in all alpine huts)
        • Microfiber towel
        • Indoor footwear/slippers for huts and hotels
        • Earplugs (highly recommended for dormitory nights)
        • Water bottle or hydration bladder (1.5–2 L capacity)
        • Headlamp with charged batteries
        • Sunglasses (Category 3 or 4 UV protection)
        • Warm beanie, sun hat, and lightweight gloves
        • Sunscreen and lip balm (SPF 30 or 50)
        • Personal first aid kit: blister pads (e.g., Compeed), antiseptic wipes, bandages, personal medications, emergency space blanket
        • Toiletry kit (biodegradable soap/shampoo)

      Dress in layers and always pack for rapid weather changes—temperatures at high passes can drop quickly even in summer.

      Got everything you need? Grab your gear through Active Junky and earn cash back on top outdoor brands — plus a $10 bonus on your first $25+ purchase. Shop now at Active Junky!

    • Group sizes and pricing

        • This is a private tour—it takes a minimum of 4 people for the tour to operate. The maximum group size is set at 12 participants.
        • For this Alta Via 1 Aosta Valley trek, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 8:1.

      Alta Via 1 Aosta Valley treks can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

      Min. age requirements

        • If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
        • Minors younger than 18 may be permitted to join the Alta Via 1 Aosta Valley trek on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.

      If your group has participants under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

    • 4 nights are spent in shared dormitories in mountain rifugios, 3 nights are spent at hotels. For the rifugio nights, a single room isn’t possible, but it can be arranged for the hotel nights. Leave us a note at checkout if interested.

    • The starting point of your Alta Via 1 Aosta Valley trek is Aosta, Italy. To get there, most people fly into Turin Airport (TRN) or Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP). From either airport, direct buses to Aosta are available—the journey takes approximately 1.5–2 hours from Turin and about 2 hours from Malpensa.

      You will meet your guide in Aosta on the morning of Day 1. From there, we take local buses together to the trailhead at Valtournenche. Buses depart Aosta at 10:15 am to Châtillon (30 minutes), with an onward connection at 11:50 am to Valtournenche (1 hour).

      At the end of the tour, hourly buses run from Courmayeur back to Aosta (1 hour). Direct buses from Aosta to Milan Malpensa depart at 7 am, 11 am, and 3 pm (2 hours).

    • We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with insurance. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, you’ll be offered to simply insure your trip with Redpoint at checkout.

      Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner—tailors protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations! Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.

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