Dolce Vita in the Italian Aosta Valley
The Aosta Valley is located behind the Mont Blanc massif, in Italy.
Is this part of the Alps, sunnier then the close Haute Savoie region, numerous summits lends perfectly themselves to great quality ski touring, with varied orientations and slopes, changing landscapes between forests and large hillsides conducive to heady bends. A "white" pleasure with a South perfume.
The first day, we start from Chamonix with a minibus transfer to the Italian hillsides for a first step at the Punta Croce (2478m). The next day, we start by the Fetita pass and we will then follow the ridge leading us to the Testa dei Frà summit (2818m), where the important difference in altitude and the steep slopes will delight good skiers.
We start the third day in a forest, then in mountain pastures to finally allow us to climb on the Pointe de la Pierre (2653m). Then, we'll leave for the Serena pass (2547m) and finish the trip by the Pointe de Chaligne (2608m).
Itinerary
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Day 1 Punta Croce (2478m).
We meet early in the morning in Chamonix to leave on a minibus transfer to the small village of Arpy, in Italy (1670m). From there, we start ski touring on gentle slopes leading us to the end of the valley. We will climb up varied slopes in a beautiful larch forest before reaching the Arpy lake plateau. Slightly steeper slopes will bring us to the top, with its ancient military forts. Breathtaking view on the Mont Blanc massif. We descend to the village on the same itinerary.
A great way to start the week, whilst reviewing ski touring and avalanche search specific techniques.Positive difference in altitude : Around 800m | Negative difference in altitude : Around 800m | Altitude Max : 2478m | Accommodation : hotel
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Day 2 Testa dei Frà (2818m)
Above Morgex and La Salle, the hamlet of Morge will be our starting point of todays hike. On a forest path, then on the Ors pasture, we climb the incredible West carved valleyleading to the Fetita pass (2557m). The more technical part starts with the ascent of the aerial South ridge of Testa dei Frà, at 2818m, which we will reach on skis of snow conditions allow us.
We return on the same itinerary, but we'll choose the most beautiful slopes and the best snow to get down.Positive difference in altitude : 1124m | Negative difference in altitude : 1124m | Altitude Max : 2818m | Accommodation : hotel
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Day 3 Pointe de la Pierre (2653m)
From the village of Ozein, at the beginning of the Val de Cogne, by Champchenille pastures, we will ascend pleasant snowy slopes of the Pointe de la Pierre at 2653m. We return following the same tracks.
Positive difference in altitude : Around 1230m | Negative difference in altitude : Around 1230m | Altitude Max : 2653m | Accommodation : hotel
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Day 4 Serena pass (2547m)
Today starts with a minibus transfer to the village of Rosière (1660m, Saint Rhémy en Bosses). Through a nice larch forest, we follow the pasture road in direction of Ponty to reach the Arp du Bois at 1940m. Then looms a great carved valley, leading us to the Sereina pass on a regular slope. Whilst ascending, we will learn how to make our own trace according to the relief. When descending, we will linger on the slopes evaluation as well as ski touring specific techniques. During our hike, we can train on the DVA search.
Positive difference in altitude : Around 900m | Negative difference in altitude : Around 900m | Altitude Max : 2547m | Accommodation : Hotel
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Day 5 Punta Chaligne (2608m)
We start our day climbing from the small village of Buthier (1350m) towards the pasture and refuge of Chaligne (2940m) going through the large clearings of Plenot Désot, Arolla Désot and Arolla Damon. Going through the larch forest, we will join the mountain pasture of Tsa de Chaligne (2240m) and then on the Southeast ridge we will reach the top.
We return to Chamonix late in the afternoon and say goodbye.Positive difference in altitude : 1290m | Negative difference in altitude : 1290m | Altitude Max : 2608m
ITINERARY CHANGE
The program can be modified by your guide due to weather conditions or participants physical conditions. For safety reasons and to ensure a uniform level corresponding to the one announced, the supervision and organisation boards have the right to interrupt your participation if your technical or physical level are lower than the one required. The interruption will not give you any right of refund or payment of compensation.
Dates & prices
International departures:
No departure for now
Trip code: SRVAO
Included
- A deposit of 30% of the trip’s price will be needed during the booking, the whole price must be paid at least 30 days before departure.
- The technical organization of the stay
- Mountaineering with high-mountain guides
- Collective equipment provided (ropes)
- Half-board accommodation in refuges, cottages and lodges
- Lunch picnics
- Safety equipment : avalanche transceiver (batteries non provided), probe, shovel
- Minibus transfers
Not included
- Individual equipment : harness, crampons, ice axe, helmet
- Ski-touring equipment : shoes, skis, skins, knifes, poles
- Batteries for the avalanche transceiver (4 batteries LR03 AAA)
- Drinks and personal expenses
- Snacks (cereal bars, dried fruits, chocolate bars, etc...) at your own convenience
- Transfers to the meeting and dispersion points
- Insurance / assistance : research fees and helicopter rescue, hospitalisation and repatriation mandatory
International flights
If you wish, we can take care of booking your international flights to the closest airport of your destination.
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 you to get your personal insurance before your departure to cover the activities undertaken by Montagne Expedition. 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
Meals
- Lunch picnics
- Diners : meals prepared by shelter keepers
- Take some race food according to your own tastes (cereals bars, chocolate bars, dry fruits,…).
Drinks
- Water is not for free in refuges (from 5 to 8 euros one bottle). We advise you to bring some water purification tablets (Aquatabs or Micropur) in order to drink tap water.
- Personal drinks are not included in the trip's price
- Bring cash for coffees, fruit juices, coke or beers during breaks… Shelters usually don’t accept bank card payments and Euros.
Accommodation
Two hotel accommodation are planned in the Aosta Valley : rooms are shared (2 to 4 people according to the group) with private sanitaries in each room.
If the trip is confirmed late, the first hotel might be changed with the OStella di Arpy lodge : rooms and sanitaries are shared.
Budget & exchange
Italy is 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 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
- The group equipment (ropes, carabineers) is provided
- Slippers and blankets are available at the lodges and refuges : plan to bring your own bed sheet
- Individual safety equipment (beacon, probe and shovel) : thank you for letting us know if you have your own
Vital equipment
Skis
- 1 pair of ski touring skis, light and with adapted fixations as well as a break or safety strips, and sharpened
- 1 pair of ski touring shoes with VIBRAM soles
- 1 pair of adhesive seals skin adapted to your skis
- Knifes adapted to fixations
- Poles with large disks
Other
- Safety equipment : beacon, probe and shovel
- crampons with "Antibott" system
- Ice axe
- Harness and carabineers
- Survival blanket
- 1 headlamp with extra batteries and bulb
- Pocket knife
- Thermos
Material
Upper body :
- Windstopper bonnet
- Hat or cap
- Neck scarf
- Sunscreen (high protection) for skin and lips
- Sunglasses for glacier category 4 + ski goggles
- 2 technical breathable long sleeve underwear type "Carline" (no coton which dries too slowly)
- 1 technical and breathable shirt to put under your jumper
- 1 thick fleece jacket
- 1 fuzz jacket
- 1 wind stopper and waterproof jacket type Goretex
- 1 pair of wind stopper mittens (fleece or wool)
- 1 pair of undergloves
Lower body :
- 1 technical and breathable pair of tights type "Carline"
- 1 pair of comfortable mountain trousers
- 1 pair of wind stopper and waterproof trousers type Goretex
- 2 pairs of socks : 1 thin and 1 thick
Other :
- 1 bed sheet for refuges
- 1 small toiletry bag with 1 fast drying towel
- Cream for sunburns (Biafine)
- Biodegradable toilet paper
- 1 or 2 100L plastic bags and an overbag to protect your belongings and your bag
- 1 waterproof pouch in which you will put your identity paper, your phone, your money and your insurance/assistance contract with all of your emergency numbers
Luggage
- A comfortable 40L backpack with ski straps
- A second bag which will stay at the hotel with your replacement belongings
Medicine
Your guide has a pharmacy of first urgency.
Plan with your doctor your personal pharmacy:
- Personal medicine
- Pain reliever (preferably paracetamol)
- Double skin
- Elastoplast
- Local disinfectant
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antispasmodic
- Anti-diarrheal
- Anti-vomiting
- Intestinal antiseptic
- Eyewash
- Light sleeping pills
- Earplugs
- Broad spectrum antibiotic
- Vitamins C
Non-exhaustive list.
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 Italy.
- Over 90 days visit : non-EU or non-EFTA citizens must have a visa to visit 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 to travel to Italy.
Health information & recommendations
For this trip, you must be fit : you can train with other sports such as running, cycling, swimming or sportive walk. To have a reasonable chance of success, a high degree of fitness and stamina, some previous experience of altitude is highly recommended.
Training advices to check with your general practionner : six months before departure, try to do at least 1 to 2 endurance sport sessions a week (each one must last at least one hour) and do a 6 hours trekking during the week-end with an elevation of 400m/hour during three hours. Three months before departure, try 2 to 3 endurance sport sessions a week and increase your trekking time during the week end from 7 to 8 hours.
Please inform us of any health issues : allergy, diabetes, asthma, or old strokes...
Weather
The weather in the French Alps varies up and down the mountain chain. It is a mountainous region between 800 and 4000 meters, so altitude plays a big part in the local weather.
As you climb higher into the mountains it gets 1 degree cooler every 100 meters. It is the case all year around but other factors such as temperature inversions and winds influence the climate. The sun plays a very important role too. In the winter, when the sun is lower in the sky, some lower or north facing valleys are blocked from the sun by mountains for a large part of the day and are colder.
Keep in mind that weather conditions are unpredictable. Therefore, the trip organization can me modified for your safety.
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.
For Italy there are three associated plug types : 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
Italy is 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 the Alps 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
Olivier
- Born in Chamonix
- Passionate about polar environments
- Ski touring and freeride specialist
- Region
- Italy
- Activity
- Ski Ski-Touring
- Duration
- 5 days
- Group
- 6 to 8 people
- Code
- SRVAO
- Price
- From €1,095
- Level
- 3/5
- Comfort
- 3/5
- Language(s)
- English
Strengths
- A true discovery of ski touring in the Aosta Valley and its many possibilities
- Different summit every day around the vallée and with varied orientations
- Nice difference in altitude every day with progress in difficulty to challenge yourself
- Minibus transfers during the week
Guide's advice
« Its a tonic week for ski-touring amateurs wanting to discover nice and snowy slopes in the Aosta Valley, with infinite possibilities. The varied orientations allows a great amount of descents during the whole winter ! »