Welcome to Paradiso
The National Park of Gran Paradiso, located in the Aosta Valley, has been imagines by the King Victor Emmanuel II in 1856 to protect ibexes. Becoming National Park in 1922, the beauty of these preserved mountains is delightful.
From the two main refuges, Chabod & Victor Emmanuel II, discover high mountain and glacial mountaineering by climbing up two beautiful peaks, including the easy Gran Paradiso at 4061m altitude. From the Valsavarenche valley, in Italy, we'll slowly start climbing towards our first refuge, Chabod (2750m). The following day, we'll learn some techniques at snow & ice school on the great glacier of Laveciau : this will allow you to become familiar with crampons, ice axes and roping.
It will then be a small step to join our second refuge, Victor Emmanuel II. Short lesson with climbing school near the refuge in the afternoon to stretch our arms and getting used to rock climbing. On the forth day, we will contemplate the Gran Paradiso massif from a nice and easy summit, the Tresenta, at 3609m.
It will then be the big day, the ascent of this National Park monarch, the Gran Paradiso at 4061m altitude : beautiful glacial run with a rocky end to reach the statue of the Virgin Mary at the top. We'll take a deep breath to enjoy our victory before heading back down, fulfilled, to the Victor Emmanuel II refuge and finally to the village of Pont.
Itinerary
-
Day 1 Pravieux (1834m) in the Valsavarenche, Chabod refuge (2750m)
Meeting point at 10am in Chamonix. Your guide will welcome you, brief you on the following days program, verify your equipment and it will then be time to leave towards the Valsavarenche Valley, in Italy (70lm).
Arriving at the mountain pasture of Pravieux (1834m), we continue our trip climbing to the Chabod refuge (2705m) on a nice and steady path.Positive difference in altitude : 916m | Altitude Max : 2750m | Accommodation : Chabod Refuge
-
Day 2 Laveciau glacier, Chabod refuge
We start our day by climbing on a pathway, then on a moraine and finally on the Laveciau glacier for a technical day : ice & snow school lessons with rope, ice axe and crampons.
Our backpacks will be light because we'll sleep at the same refuge as the day before.Positive difference in altitude : 300m | Negative difference in altitude : 300m | Altitude Max : 3050m | Accommodation : Chabod Refuge
-
Day 3 Victor Emmanuel II Refuge (2732m)
Crossing the mountain pastures and moraines to join the hearty and warm Victor Emmanuel II refuge (2732m).
We spend the afternoon climbing on a cliff located a few minutes away from the refuge. It's a great opportunity to discover rock climbing, learning rope manoeuvres and getting used to the void, in total serenity !Positive difference in altitude : 300m | Negative difference in altitude : 320m | Altitude Max : 2732m | Accommodation : Victor Emmanuel II Refuge
-
Day 4 Tresenta Peak (3609m), Victor Emmanuel II refuge
Departure for a training summit crossing a gentle slope on the Montcorvé glacier. Then, glacial ascent with a high screes end of the Tresenta (3609m). Finally, we get back down to the Victor Emmanuel II refuge to have a good night sleep.
Positive difference in altitude : 877m | Negative difference in altitude : 877m | Altitude Max : 3609m | Accommodation : Victor Emmanuel II Refuge
-
Day 5 Gran Paradiso Ascent (4061m), Victor Emmanuel II refuge
Very early start for the Gran Paradiso ascent on the normal way, back and forth. It is one of the most magnificent belvederes in the Alps, with panoramic view on the Monte Viso, the Monte Rosa, the Mnnt Blanc massif and many other peaks ! Varied glacial slopes, with and rocky but aerial ending before reaching the statue of the Virgin Mary at the top.
Gentle descent to the refuge for a well-deserved break !
We descend by flowered mountain pastures and a beautiful larch forest before reaching the village of Pont (1960m), in the Valsavarenche valley. We regain pour starting point, the mountain pasture of Pravieux (1834m), crossing Pessey. Finally, we return to Chamonix and say goodbye to each other late in the afternoon.Positive difference in altitude : 1330m | Negative difference in altitude : 2330m | Altitude Max : 4061m
Important: This program may be modified by the guide or tour organizer, according to mountain and weather conditions, required physical condition of participants and, above all, your safety. For safety reasons and to ensure the conduct of the announced program, we need to ensure that all participants have the required level of mental and physical conditions demanded by the program. We reserve the right to end your participation if your technical and/or physical form does not match the minimum required level. The interruption cannot result in a reimbursement or payment compensation.
Dates & prices
International departures:
No departure for now
Trip code: RGPAR
Included
The 30% deposit has to be paid when registering. The remaining balance will be paid 30 days before departure.
- The technical organisation of the trip
- A high mountain guide's supervision
- Accommodation in refuges half-board
- Picnics
- Collective equipment necessary for safety
- The Mont Blanc tunnel crossing (with a type 1 vehicle)
It is possible to privatise this trip :
Price per person for 1 person : 2495 euros
Price per person for 2 people : 1395 euros
Price per person for 3 people : 995 euros
Price per person for 4 people : 865 euros
Price per person for 5 people : 895 euros
Not included
- Individual technical equipment
- Registration fees
- Drinks & personal expenses Snacks (cereal bars, dried fruits, chocolate bars, etc.) according to your own convenience
- Insurance & assistance: cancellation, research and rescue by helicopter in high mountain (in France, Italy and Switzerland) hospitalization and repatriation
- Everything that isn't mentioned in the "included" section
- Transport between Chamonix and Valsavarenche
International flights
We can book your international flight to Geneva. Feel free to ask our team !
Terms and conditions
Subscription
Subscribe to one of our activities or travels means accepting general sales conditions. Each client must fill a subscription form, which will be accepted only after the payment of a deposit accounting for 30% of the travel’s price and according to the availability. If you subscribe less than 30 days before the trip, you must pay the whole price during the subscription. You can pay by bank transfer (SWIFT/IBAN) or with your credit card directly through our website (available soon). A booking confirmation will be sent to you be e-mail very soon.
Invoice procedure
Once your booking is registered, we will send you an email containing the invoice. Full payment is required at least 30 days before your arrival. If the customer does not settle the payment of the travel price within the period agreed upon, Altaï Alpes has the right to cancel the booking free of charge.
Cancellation policy
If for any reason, you decide to withdraw from a journey, the amount already paid will be refunded subject to the following exceptions:
- More than 30 days before departure, you will be charged for the amount of 50€
- From 30 to 21 days before departure, you will be charged for the amount of the deposit (30% of the trip’s price)
- From 20 to 14 days before departure, you will be charged for 50% of the trip’s price
- From 13 to 7 days before departure, you will be charged for 75% of the trip’s priceLess than 7 days before departure, you will be charged for the whole trip’s price
Particular case :
Whatever the cancellation or contract change date, the following fees will be added to the charges above:
- Airline fixed costs: plane tickets are bought in advance to avoid too high airline prices, however they are non refundable in case of cancellation or plan changes. In that case, the charges above apply to the price of your trip without the plane ticket’s price
- Ground fixed costs: you will be charged for the fees that were paid early
- Insurance fees: Insurance fees will not be refunded if you have subscribed to a multi-risk or cancellation insurance. The specific conditions will be written on your subscription confirmationIf you have no choice but to cancel your trip before departure, you must inform Montagne Expeditions and your insurance provider with a written statement as soon as possible, you will get a receipt.
The receipt date will be taken as the cancellation date to charge cancellation fees.
If Montagne Expeditions has no choice but to cancel a group travel due to an insufficient number of participants, the decision will be taken and the clients informed at least 31 days before departure. Altaï Alpes can also cancel a departure due to exceptional events threatening participants safety (social events, strikes, weather conditions). In that case, the trip’s price will be fully refunded but the participants will not get any compensation.
Changes to travel contract
If any change in travel contract is made at the customer’s request, the customer shall pay any fee that might arise from this change. In any case, every request for changes shall be notified in writing. In case of external events that could not be foreseen, Altaï Alpes might change some aspects of the travel contract. We will inform you of any changes as quickly as possible.
Pricing
All group travel prices on our website have been calculated for the indicated number of participants for each trip. The price list is confirmed after the booking. If the number of participants is lower than expected, an additional payment charge might be applied. For each travel and program, we mention the price per person – valid for the minimum number of participants – and we provide you with detailed explanations about the services included or not. Any change in the exchange rates or in the price of travel services in particular regarding the cost of the fuel, might entail price revision.
Contract transfer
In case of contract transfer by the customer to an assignee, modification and cancellation conditions apply.
Insurance
We recommend to get your personal insurance before your departure to cover the activities undertaken by Montagne Expédition. If you have not purchased any of our insurances, we ask you to email us your insurance contract information (company, contract name, contract number, phone number) and bring those information with you on your trip.
Practical info
Staff
The tour is supervised by a mountain guide who has been chosen for his field experience, his specific knowledge of one geographical area and the culture attached, as well as his passion for the region.
Food
- Lunch – picnic
- Dinner at the cottage, traditional and generous meals prepared by shelters keepers
- Dinners in Chamonix at your own charge
- Remember to bring snacks that you like (cereal or energy bars, chocolate, dried fruits) before departure
- Drinks are not included in the price (water, tea, coffee, beer, cola, etc ...)
Bring change or coins for the coffees, juices, or sodas during the breaks. Trust us, you will need that refreshing beer to get some energy back!
Keep in mind that often shelters do not accept credit card payment- Bottled water is not free in shelters. In some shelters there is tap water, still we advise you to take purification pills (type Aquatabs) that will allow you to consume tap water
Accommodation
In Shelters : Nights are in shared bedrooms. Blankets and quilts are provided in refuges. Bathrooms are shared with other travellers. Slippers are available at the shelter. Remember to take sleeping sheet for hygiene issues.
Transportation
You will carry your personal items and picnics for lunch (10 kg bag maximum). Your guide will help you arrange your bag the first day. For a comfortable trip, it’s important that your bag does not exceed 10-12 kg with water and food for the day.
Budget & exchange
Italy and France are in the Eurozone. Therefore, the unit of the currency is the Euro.
Credit cards and debit cards are very useful for cash advances (but don’t forget to bring your PIN number!).
ATMs are available in most of the towns you will cross during your stay, but there are no guarantees that your credit card will actually work in France or Italy.
Also, refuges often don’t have EPT (Electronic Payment Terminal): it is best to bring cash.Be aware of the fees usually applied when purchasing products or services on a credit card.
Always take more rather than less, as you don’t want to spend your trip constantly feeling short on funds.
As currency exchange rates can often fluctuate, we recommend to check the following website for daily exchange rates: https://www.xe.com/
Tips
Clients usually pay for the guides’ drinks : you might find it practical to make a group kitty at the beginning of your stay (no obligation).
Supplied equipment
- Collective equipment (ropes, carabiners, ...)
- Slippers and blankets while in refuges
Vital equipment
- High mountain shoes
- A comfortable mountaineering backpack (40/50L)
- Ice axe, crampons, harness with locking carabiner, helmet
- One or two telescopic walking poles (depending on what you are used to)
- Gaiters
- Light-weight sleeping bag liner, preferably silk (wool covers are provided by the refuge)
- A small toiletry bag
- Sunscreen (face and lips)
- A head lamp with spare batteries and bulb
- Pocket knife
- A rain cover for your backpack (optional)
- Biodegradable toilet paper
- A waterproof pouch to put your papers, your money, your phone, your insurance contract and all of your emergency numbers
- Climbing shoes for those who have some
Material
- A warm bonnet
- A hat, cap and/or a scarf
- Sunglasses for glacier, category 4
- A pair of shorts
- A pair of fleece or wool gloves or mittens
- A pair of warm gloves or mitten
- 1 breathable undershirt, preferably long sleeves (e.g. Capilene or polypro)
- Fleece jacket
- Wind and waterproof shell jacket with hood (Goretex or similar)
- 1 breathable technical pair of tights
- A pair of comfortable mountaineering pants
- 2 pairs of socks : a warm one and a lighter one
Luggage
In your anatomic daily backpack, you will carry your food (snacks and picnic), all your belongings and your equipment. It has to have a 40 to 50L capacity and not weigh more than 10 to 12kg. Your bag should be pretty comfortable to carry all day !
Medicine
First aid kit : Your guide will carry a collective first aid kit.However, it is important that you brought your individual pharmacy :
- Analgesic (avoid aspirin)
- Anti-inflammatory (pills and cream)
- Bandages and second skin- elastoplast (excellent to prevent blisters)
- Sunscreen
- Biafine cream
- Pills to cleanse the water (e.g. Aquatabs). Water in bottles is VERY expensive in huts
- Light sleeping drug (if you need some) and/or Quies ear plugs
- You own medicine...
Passport
Please make sure your passport and travel documents are valid.
Visa
- Up to 90 days visit : citizens from most countries do not need a visa to visit France and Italy.
- Over 90 days visit : non-EU or non-EFTA citizens must have a visa to visit France and Italy over 90 days.
For further information, please check the following website : https://france-visas.gouv.fr/
Mandatory vaccines
There are no mandatory vaccines needed.
Health information & recommendations
Before departure, it is important to have a good physical condition, corresponding to the program’s requirements and activities. Daily physical activity and a regular practice of a sport with elements of endurance are mandatory for high mountain activities. You can jog, cycle, swim or hike. Thank you for informing the agency about any medical information and particularities concerning your health: food allergies, diabetes, heart and vascular accidents you might have had, asthma, etc...
It is important to consult your doctor for medical travel information well before departure. We recommend that you carry a First Aid kit as well as any personal medical requirements.
Please keep in mind that we are often in remote areas, away from medical facilities. Please carefully read the brochure and itinerary when selecting your trip, to make sure our travel style suits you.
Please note you will travel to high altitude. Most people can travel to 2 500m with minimal effects. However, everyone reacts differently to altitude and altitude sickness can occur. For details on how to best prepare your trip please consult your physician.
Weather
The best time of year to climb Gran Paradiso is from June through September. However, the weather here is still decent enough for ascents in the late spring and early autumn as well. Indeed, during the summer months, the average temperatures on the mountain fluctuate between 8ºC to 12ºC, but once you reach the glacier and above, it gets much colder.
Temperatures at the base of the mountain are generally around 20°C. Thus, we recommend to dress in layers.
While temperatures do not drop too much during the spring and autumn, it is definitely cooler and will require warmer clothing than the summer.
Late spring and early summer is when it precipitates the most in this area. While the weather is generally clear, squalls and afternoon thunderstorms are not uncommon. July through October are generally drier than May and June.
Electricity
There will be electricity in most places you will stay. If you are scared to run low on battery, we advise to bring an external battery charger.
Power plugs in France have the particularity of being male and female at the same time : they have 2 prongs and a receptacle. If you need an adapter, please purchase if before departure. In France the power plugs and sockets are of type E. The standard voltage is 230 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz.
Italy uses three types of plugs : types C, F and L. Plug type C is the plug which has two round pins, plug type F is the plug which has two round pins with two earth clips on the side and plug type L is the plug type which has three round pins. Italy operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz. Check that you can use your personal electrical appliances safely whilst abroad. If not, you will surely need the use of a travel adaptor.
Local time
France and Italy are in the Central European Time Zone. Central European Standard Time (CET) is 1 hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+1).
Sustainable tourism
We do our best to offer trips subscribed to the principles of responsible and sustainable tourism. Our aim is to allow visitors to discover the many facets of Italy by taking you off the beaten path and getting you in touch with its nature and residents, while ensuring that your visits do not have a negative effect on its natural environment and people.
- Most of our accommodations are run by locals, thus ensuring that the largest part of the revenue generated through your trip will stay within the region.
- France is known for its exquisite cuisine. The art of cooking and the joy of eating are part of everyday life. Each region has its particular foods and flavors which we would like you to explore and appreciate.
- Water is a precious and rare good. Our team and those travelling with us are thus advised to use it with consideration and avoid excessive water use where possible.
- Please try to recycle your waste whenever possible, even though recycling may not be a well-known concept in all areas.
- Be cautious and respectful when hiking. Make sure to wear suitable footwear and avoid picking flowers, moving stones or lighting fires.
My local agent
Quentin
- Educateur sportif touche à tout, Quentin sillonne les massifs francais depuis son plus jeune âge. C'est avec plaisir et passion qu'il partage ses bons plans et concocte pour vous le séjour de vos rêves quand il n'est pas en encadrement de séjours randonnée ou kayak.
- Region
- Italy
- Activity
- Alpine summits Alpinism autonomy course Summer
- Duration
- 5 days
- Group
- 4 to 8 people
- Code
- RGPAR
- Price
- From €895
- Level
- 3/5
- Comfort
- 3/5
- Language(s)
- English
Strengths
- The ascent of an easy '4000m peak' : Gran Paradiso at 4061m
- The discovery of the National Parc of Gran Paradiso and the exceptional fauna and flora
- 1 guide for 4 participants whilst ascending Gran Paradiso
- Comfortable and welcoming Italian refuges
Guide's advice
« This trip is ideal to discover high mountain softly, with its gentle preparation and discovery days of this National Parc, and in awe with the glacial ascent of the Gran Paradiso summit - 4061m »