Gran Paradiso Goal
It's the only 4000m entirely in Italy : the famous Gran Paradiso, with wide glaciers and accessible slopes, is an emblematic summit but reachable.
Surely an ideal destination to cross the mythical 4000m mark for those who dream about peaks and altitude. From the Valsavarenche valley in Italy, we slowly start climbing to our first refuge, Chabod (2750m). It will then be the big ascent day of this National Park monarch, Gran Paradiso, at 4061m altitude. Beautiful glacial run with a rocky end to arrive at the statue of the Virgin Mary at the peak. We will be fulfilled whilst descending to the refuge Victor Emmanuel II.
On our last day we return to the valley, in the village of Pont. Lovely descent amongst flowers and larches. We will contemplate the Gran Paradiso massif from a nice and easy summit, the Tresenta (3609m) before descending to the valley.
Itinerary
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Day 1 Pravieux (1834m) in the Valsavarenche valley, Chabod refuge (2750m).
We meet early in the morning in Chamonix. Your guide will welcome you, brief you on the following days program and verify your material (renting is possible), before leaving towards the Valsavarenche valley in Italy (70km). Arrival at the alpine pasture of Pravieux (1834m). Climb to the Chabod refuge (2750m) by a nice path.
Difference in altitude : 916m| Altitude Max : 2750m | Accommodation : Chabod Refuge
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Day 2 Gran Paradiso Ascent (4061m), Victor Emmanuel II refuge
Very early start for the Gran Paradiso ascent. It is one of the most beautiful belvedere in the Alps with views on the Monte Viso, the Monte Rosa, the Mont Blanc massif and many other summits ! Varied glacial slopes with a final rocky and aerial climb to reach the statue of the Virgin Mary at the peak. We'll breath in some of that fresh air and capture this magical moment ! We'll then slowly descend towards the Victor Emmanuel II refuge.
Positive difference in altitude : around 1350m | Negative difference in altitude : around 1350m | Max Altitude : 4061m | Accommodation : Victor Emmanuel II Refuge
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Day 3 Tresenta Summit (3609m), Victor Emmanuel II refuge
We start our day with the gentle slope of the Montcorvé glacier. Glacial ascent with an end in the highest screes of the Tresenta (3609m) : another marvelous belvedere of the Gran Paradiso massif. We'll then descend to the Victor Emmanuel II refuge and back down to the valley in the afternoon.
Positive difference in altitude : 877m | Negative difference in altitude : 1650m | Max Altitude : 3609m
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
Departures for French-speaking groups:
| From | To | Price per person | Guaranteed | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| €660 | Yes | Fully booked | ||
| €660 | No | Book now! | ||
| €660 | No | Book now! | ||
| €660 | No | Book now! | ||
| €660 | No | Book now! | ||
| €660 | No | Book now! | ||
| €660 | No | Book now! | ||
| €660 | No | Book now! | ||
| €660 | No | Book now! | ||
| €660 | No | Book now! |
Trip code: AGP3
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
- Half-board accommodation in refuges, cottages and lodges
- Lunch picnics
- Safety equipment : avalanche transceiver (batteries non provided), probe, shovel
- Mont Blanc tunnel passage (with a vehicle type classe 1)
Not included
- Individual equipment : harness, crampons, ice axe, helmet
- Ski-touring equipment : shoes, skis, skins, knifes, poles
- Drinks and personal expenses
- Snacks (cereal bars, dried fruits, chocolate bars, etc...) at your own convenience
- Transfers back and forth between Chamonix and Valsavarenche
- 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
Booking conditions
Booking a trip with Montagne Expedition implies acceptance of the terms and conditions of sale. Each customer is required to complete a registration form and, subject to availability at the time of registration, travellers are expected to pay a deposit of 35% of the total price to complete their booking. Payments can be made online or by bank transfer. You will receive an e-mail with your booking confirmation.
Invoice procedure
Once your booking is confirmed you will receive an invoice by e-mail. The full balance of the trip must be received at least 30 days before your departure date. Montagne Expedition reserves the right to cancel your booking, free of charge, if this deadline is not respected.
Cancellation policy
If for any reason you have to cancel your trip, Montagne Expedition requires written confirmation of your decision. The money you have paid will then be refunded according to the following deductions:
- Cancellation received more than 30 days prior to the departure date: a sum of €50 per person will be retained
- Cancellation received 30 to 21 days before the departure date: your deposit, 30% of the total trip price will be retained
- Cancellation received 20 to 14 days before the departure date: 50% of the total trip price will be retained
- Cancellation received 13 to 7 days before the departure date: 75% of the total trip price will be retained
- Cancellation received less than 7 days before the departure date: 100% of the total trip price will be retained
Special cases:
Please note that, regardless of the date of cancellation or modification if you have agreed to pay for services such as hotel reservations, flights or additional activities, these services are usually non-refundable so additional fees may apply.
- Fixed airfares: if your airline ticket was issued in advance, often done to avoid significant surcharges, you will be charged 100% of any non-refundable fees if you wish to change or cancel your flight plan.
- Fixed in-country costs: early charges for firm bookings will be charged if you cancel or modify your trip.
- Insurance costs: if you have taken out comprehensive or cancellation insurance, the cost of insurance is due and cannot be refunded.
Please note that fees apply according to the date Altaï Canarias receive your cancellation or modification request in writing
If we have to cancel a departure due to an insufficient number of participants, you will be informed no later than 21 days before departure and a full refund will be issued, you will not be entitled to further compensation. We reserve the rights to cancel departures due to exceptional circumstances which may impact the safety of participants. Such circumstances include those amounting to 'force majeure' in which case participants will receive a full refund but they will not be entitled to any compensation.
Changes to travel contract
If you wish to make a change to your booking please contact us in writing; you will be expected to pay any fee which might arise from this change. In the event of unforeseen external events, Montagne Expedition may change some aspects of the travel contract. If any changes are necessary you will be informed as quickly as possible.
Pricing
The prices on our website are updated regularly and all of the prices we advertise are accurate when published. Montagne Expedition reserve the rights to make changes to any of these prices. Before you make a booking we will give you the up-to-date price of your chosen holiday including any supplements, upgrades or additional activities you may have requested. If the number of travellers is fewer than the indicated number of participants on the website, a small group surcharge may be applied. For all of our trips we include details of services, prices and what is/is not included but please be aware that changes to the prices may be necessary in accordance with exchange rates or price changes of various components of the journey.
Contract transfer
If you are unable to travel for any reason with Montagne Expedition, you can transfer your booking to another person in which case our modification conditions apply. Both the transferor and transferee will be jointly and severally liable for payment of the total holiday price and other associated expenses. Some airline carriers treat name changes as cancellations and you may be required to pay for the cost of a new ticket.
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
Your trip will be supervised by a high-mountain guide who will teach you technical elements needed for the good progress of your stay. He may need to modify the program in order to ensure safety regarding weather conditions and participants physical conditions.
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
- Every refuges of this itinerary are comfortable and warm. Dormitories are equipped with blankets for the night (plan to bring your personal bed sheet for hygiene reasons).
- Slippers are at your disposal : no need to bring trainers.
- We advise you to bring protection against noise (ear plugs).
- A few electrical plugs are available in refuges, but plan to bring an external battery to charge your camera and switch off your phone during the day.
Transportation
Your guide will help you finalize your bag on the first day. It will be under 10 to 12kg including water and snacks for the day.
Rendez vous : Early morning in Chamonix.
Where to stay before and after your trip ?
Hôtel Les Campanules**
450 Route de Coupeau
74310 Les Houches
Tel : 04 50 54 40 71
Chalet du Club Alpin du Tour
Chemin du Rocher Nay
74400 ARGENTIERE - LE TOUR
Gardienne : Véronique Barbier
Tel : 04 50 54 04 16
Parkings during your trip :
Parking de Pravieux inItaly (free) 85km away from Chamonix.
Access :
By train : Terminal of classic trains at the Saint-Gervais-les-Bains le Fayet train station, then change trains for the tourtistic train of Le Fayet-Martigny, stop at Chamonix "Aiguille du Midi".
Timetable and prices on www.voyages-sncf.com, or by phone at 3635.
By road : A40 "autoroute blanche", Cluses, Servoz, Les Houches, and Chamonix.
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
- The group equipment (ropes, carabineers) is provided
- Slippers and blankets are available at the lodges and refuges : plan to bring your own bed sheet
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
You will carry all of your belongings in your 40/50L comfortable backpack, as well as your picnics and your technical equipment.
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 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 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 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.
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
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 France 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
Lena
- Passionnée d'aventure et de sports en tout genre, Lena sait mettre à profit son grand sens de curiosité pour sortir constamment de sa zone de confort. Elle saura vous conseiller et aiguillier au mieux en français, italien et anglais.
- Region
- Italy
- Activity
- Alpine summits Alpinism autonomy course Summer
- Duration
- 3 days
- Group
- 4 to 4 people
- Code
- AGP3
- Price
- From €620
- Level
- 3/5
- Comfort
- 3/5
- Language(s)
- English / French
Strengths
- A three days ascent for those who don't have much time
- A program crossing all type of landscapes and allowing us to discover this magnificent Italian Natural Park
- A first 4000m peak accessible
Guide's advice
« Once we've done a first alpinism trip or glacial trekking travel, we often aspire to discover the world of the 4000m peaks. Gran Paradiso is the goal to achieve this desire. »