Gran Paradiso Circuit Trek

24
Italy
4 Days
3B 3L 3D
From€700 EUR
Gran Paradiso Circuit Trek
Gran Paradiso Circuit Trek
Gran Paradiso Circuit Trek

Four days of challenging hut-to-hut hiking through the Italian Alps, passing stunning mountain glaciers and waterfalls.

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Itinerary

Day 1: Rhêmes-Notre-Dame to Rifugio Benevolo

We'll pick you up at Fermi metro station in Turin at 9:30 AM. If your flight arrives in the morning, we can also collect you at the Turin airport (meeting at 10:00 AM). If you have a car we can also meet directly at Rhemes Notre Dame at 11.30AM.

We then drive to the start of the trek at Rhêmes-Notre-Dame (about 2hrs drive). From here, we begin the hike through alpine meadows to the top of the Rhemes Valley, passing incredible waterfalls along the way.

In the evening, we'll arrive at the remote Benevolo mountain hut. At 2,285m of altitude, this hut has fantastic views over the surrounding valleys, and you can often spot marmots and ibex in the distance.

Hiking Distance: 10.7 km, Ascent 770m, Descent 210m

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Day 2: Rifugio Bezzi

This is a truly spectacular day and also one of the toughest climbs. We hike up the valley, reaching an altitude of 3,082m at Col Bassac Dere*. After a break to enjoy the views, we'll then continue to the stunning Goletta Lake.

From Goletta, we pass some incredible glaciers before continuing along the valley to the remote Mario Bezzi hut (2,284m).

Hiking distance: 10.3Km, Ascent 830m, Descent 830m

*For those who have the energy, we can walk an extra 1 km (about 150 meters up and down) to reach Bec de Traversiere at 3333m, a peak in the middle of glaciers between Italy and France.

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Day 3: Rifugio Chalet de l'Epée

The day begins by hiking through alpine meadows, to San Martino Lake. If you like, you can cool down with a swim in the lake, enjoying stunning views of Mont Blanc in the background.

We then continue along the next valley, crossing a few streams. We will see the quaint Italian town of Valgrisenche. In the afternoon, we arrive at the Chalet de l'Epee where we'll spend the night.

Hiking Distance: 12 km, Ascent 840m, Descent 750m

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Day 4: Return to Rhêmes-Notre-Dame

We'll hike up the Col Fenetre, a slit in the mountain at 2,700m with a mesmerising view of the Gran Paradiso peak. From here we will head down towards Rhêmes-Notre-Dame.

From Rhêmes-Notre-Dame, you will be transferred back to Torino at Fermi metro station (around 5:00 PM). You may want to spend time in Torino city afterwards.

Otherwise, we'll drop you off at Caselle Turin Airport (if your flight is on the same evening). It's recommended you book your flight after 7:00 PM. Contact us if it's slightly earlier, so we can make necessary arrangements.

Hiking Distance: 7.5 km, Ascent 470m, Descent 1150m

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What's Included

Included
  • Qualified mountain guide.
  • Transfer from Turin to the mountains and back.
  • Accommodation in mountain huts/hotels in dormitories (shared bedrooms).
  • Meals (Day 1: dinner. Day 2: breakfast, lunch, dinner. Day 3: breakfast, lunch, dinner. Day 4: breakfast, lunch).
Not Included
  • International flights.
  • Any visa fees.
  • Personal travel and rescue insurance (recommended).
  • Tips and gratuities.
Have a question?

If you have any questions about this trip or want to speak with an expert, get in touch.

We're ready to help.

Team Images
Team Images
Team Images

Rated 5.0

24 verified reviews

Mark
Mark

(Aug 2024)

It was certainly very challenging, but I really enjoyed it. I would recommend anyone considering it does ensure they are fit enough as it requires a great deal of stamina and determination. Beautiful scenery! If you don’t like heights and very narrow paths it’s possibly not for you!

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Andrew
Andrew

(Aug 2024)

After doing the Tour du Mont Blanc last year, this years hike is definitely for the more experienced hiker. Personally, I found this hike a huge challenge. The trek goes through some pretty hair raising terrain, with some very risky drops and challenging climbs, which I found really hard to get through. However, now I’m safety at home reflecting on the whole experience, I can say that this is one of the hardest, but most rewarding things I have ever done. The scenery is absolutely breathtaking, and not just because of the relentless upward steep climb…. they are truly amazing! The organisation of the hike is well worth all the effort, and the sleeping arrangements and the evening meals etc are a huge part of the fun aspect of the trip. Our guide, Roberto is a fantastic guy. His knowledge of the mountains is brilliant, and I have never seen anyone skip across a glacier to rescue a fallen hiker so amazingly quickly in my life. There are only a few points that I do feel could have made it all so much better, and that’s the breakfasts and packed lunches from the chalets. The coffee was great, but the breakfast food on offer could have been better. There were better chalets than others for the breakfast offering, and that was the same for the packed lunches. The last thing I wanted to eat when I was hot, tired, thirsty and hungry was a really stale bread roll with a single slice of ham. However, the evening meals absolutely made up for it, great Italian hospitality. Chalet de Epeé being a huge favourite. Anyway, this was an awesome experience that I was able to share with my amazing family, and made some great friends along the way, but it is certainly not for the faint hearted!!!

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Michael
Michael

(Aug 2024)

Last year our group did the 4 day tour of Mont Blanc through SkyHook, so we were expecting an easier hike after looking at the details of this one - how wrong we were! The Grand Paradiso is a beautiful and really spectacular hike. It has some tough climbs, especially on the second day, but worth it when you get to the highest peak of the day. If you are thinking of doing this trip, then a really good level of fitness is required, also a head for nights, as in places the footpaths are very precarious. The accommodation is good if you don’t mind dorms; the evening meals are good and breakfast is basic - bread and cereal. Our guide Roberto was excellent. He is very experienced and was patient with those slower walkers in our group. Also offered good tips on using poles and walking up and down the mountains. This was an experience of a lifetime and we are really pleased we took up the challenge. We would highly recommend this hike, but make sure you train for it.

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Laura
Laura

(Aug 2024)

The view, the mountains, the landscape was amazing, spectacular and beautiful. The guide Enrico was really nice, funny,communicative and shared a lot of information about the nature, hiking experience, Italian culture, etc. It would have been useful to get more information about the daily route types, km-s, ascent, descent,timing, etc. The last day descent part was really challenging..and we had to go back to the initial point. The accomodations were good, clean and nice, but once the lunch box included dry white bread.. First dinner was acceptable but the quantity was really few. The breakfasts were too expensive taking into consideration that they were only dry white bread with sweet things, and salty options were never provided. I also missed the group building from the first evening.

Gareth
Gareth

(Jul 2024)

Good trip with a different and varied itinerary each day which was enjoyable. The effort required for the four days is not to be underestimated. Overnight refuges provided good food and hospitality.

FAQs

Before you go

You need a good level of fitness for this hike but will be rewarded by some of the most breathtaking scenery in Europe!

We recommend you have experience hiking in mountainous terrain which by nature includes rocky and sometimes snow-covered pathways (depending on time and the conditions of the season). A typical day in the mountains can be trekking for 4-7 hours with a rucksack of 5-8 kg. The guide maintains a gentle pace with lots of breaks but you will need to be up for the challenge and have a good level of endurance!

For those who have done 'Tour Du Mont Blanc Highlights' or 'Matterhorn' with Skyhook, this is a more challenging trek. This route is a more off-the-beaten path. The trails are narrower and the terrain has more ups-and-downs. Day 2 is the most challenging day when you will reach the Col Bassac Dere at 3100 meters. From there only those who will have energy and skill will reach the Bec Traversiere at 3300 meters in case the conditions will allow it.

We recommend training for this trek so that you can fully enjoy the experience. This should focus on endurance and we suggest regular cardio (e.g. running, swimming, tennis). You need to be able to keep going. Steadily increasing your walking distance and including hills (or stairs) will also help.

Training hikes will also help, ideally for a full day with a 5-7 kg rucksack.

Please make sure you read the rest of the information and FAQs carefully including daily trekking distances, terrain and heights.

If you are not fit enough to keep up with the group continuously, slowly, walking uphill, then you may be asked to leave. This is for your own safety and the interests of the whole group. You will then need to meet your costs including staying extra nights in the huts or return transport.

Mental preparation is as important as physical for this trip. Having a positive attitude will help you with the challenge and get you the reward of a fantastic journey.

Briefly: This is a challenging hike on mountainous terrain. If you are doing sport regularly and accept the challenge of being outside your comfort zone, you will have a memorable experience!

Documents
• Passport
• Travel insurance details
• Boarding passes for flights
• Cash – Euro’s
• Credit/Debit Card

Sleeping
• Sleeping bag liner

Footwear
• Trekking boots: 3 or 4-season, lightweight

(flip flops are provided in the huts)

Clothing
Please make sure that you have non-cotton fast-drying clothing for trekking.
• 1 x pair of synthetic under-top and bottom (Long johns or similar)
• 4 x t-shirts for the hike
• 1 x comfortable shirt for the evening
• 2 x socks for hiking
• 3 x pairs of underwear
• 1 x fleece
• Light down or Primaloft jacket
• Rain and windproof jacket with hood
• 1 x pair of hiking trousers: We recommend a pair that zips off into shorts.
• Hat and gloves
• Buff or scarf
• Swimming shorts/Costume

Other
• A daysack: 35 - 45 litres – All your kit should fit in this bag
• Travel towel
• Dry Liner or Dry Bag
• Water bottle: At least 2L. Nalgene bottles are best.
• Sunglasses
• Suncream and additional sun protection such as a baseball cap or similar
• Personal medication – Inhaler, Blister pads etc
• General Toiletries, Contact lenses, Glasses (if needed)
• Electronics - Head torch, travel adaptor, phone & charger
• Hand sanitiser, toilet paper

It depends what you are looking for;
 
July is probably more spectacular(more flowers and more water in the rivers and waterfall) but snowpatches will be more. So possibly snow spikes will be required.

In Late August and September usually(and unfortunately)the glacier will be not covered with snow anymore and the flowers blooming will be less intense. Said that, it is still amazing and definitively easier to complete the full tour.

Due to the distances and ascents covered on this trip, it is geared towards adults. Therefore the minimum age for this trek is 18 years. However, those aged 16-18 years are welcome to attend in the company of a responsible adult. 

Absolutely! We get lots of solo travellers - it's a great way to meet like-minded people. You will be able to chat to others in the group through the chat feature on the Skyhook dashboard.

Yes, whether you are vegetarian, vegan or have allergies. You must inform your guide via your Skyhook dashboard about your dietary requirements at least 30 days prior the trip. We will inform the accommodation to prepare for you. 

It’s highly recommended you take out personal travel insurance. Travel cover protects you in the case of unforeseen circumstances, including cancellations, injuries, equipment loss, flight changes and other events that could negatively impact your trip.

We suggest specialist adventure travel insurers, Rise & Shield. They cover 100s of activities and are easy to deal with if you need to make a claim.

They also cover unique scenarios, like trekking at altitude or emergency evacuation in hard-to-reach places, that ordinary travel insurance doesn’t cover.
On your trip

Distances are approximate.

Day 1:
Distance: 10.7km
Ascent: 770m
Descent: 210m
Max altitude: 2,350m

Day 2:
Distance: 10.3km
Ascent: 830m
Descent: 1830m
Max altitude: 3,330m

Day 3:
Distance: 12km
Ascent: 840m
Descent: 750m
Max altitude: 2,700m

Day 4:
Distance: 7.5km
Ascent: 470m
Descent: 1150m
Max altitude: 2,700m

Usually, we stick with the same itinerary but if there are blockages on the paths or parts of the trail are deemed dangerous due to weather conditions, it could change if we need to adjust the route

You need to carry clothes for the trip as well as a few things for the specific day, such as a bottle of water. Your full bag should be around 5kg.
Pack as light as possible, but do bring all the items on the packing list. It is very important that you follow this advice.

If you have extra luggage for after the trip, you can ask your guide to organise storage. Please let us know 30 days before the trip departure if you need this.

We stay in mountain refuges (huts) which are quite basic/dormitory-style with shared bathrooms. Rooms generally sleep 6-8 people. Private rooms are not an option (it's a good idea to bring earplugs and a sleep mask!).

Electricity, warm showers, snacks are available. Most accommodations do not generally have wifi, but some are in 4G areas. Bedding will be provided for you in each hut - you just need to bring a sleeping bag liner.

Night 1: Gian Federico Benevolo mountain hut - awesome views, showers, dorm room.
Night 2: Mario Bezzi hut - gorgeous flat in the middle of the valley, showers, dorm room.
Night 3: Chalet de l'Epee - set in between stunning mountain pastures, showers, dorm room.

The trek involves a fair bit of ascent and descent on a mix of trails. This includes – rocky terrain, forest trails and sometimes gravel tracks. It is important that you are steady on your feet and have experienced walking on mountain paths. Do try and get some practice in before you come. We go at a slow steady pace that everyone can keep up with. 

Ideally, we will meet in Torino in the Fermi metro station. If your flight arrives on the morning of the hike or your departure flight is on the last day of the hike, we can pick you up and drop you off at the airport. Otherwise, the meeting point will be Fermi metro station.

Pick-up time on the first day can be at 10:00 AM at Torino Caselle Airport.
Drop-off time on the last day is around 5:00 PM at Torino Caselle Airport. So, we recommend booking your flight from 7:00 PM onwards.

Please update your 'Trip Form' (on your Skyhook dashboard) so we know if you will be on the provided shuttle or making your own way to the Rhemes Notre Dame. 

Meals are prepared by the mountain huts and, given their remote location, can be basic. The quality of food from one hut to another tends to vary.

You can generally expect very simple options like bread and cereal for breakfast.

Packed lunch will be prepared by the huts we stay at. This is also usually something very simple like a sandwich. Unfortunately, the food on this hike is beyond our control so we do recommend you pack extra snacks like nuts and energy bars to supplement during the day,

Dinner in the evening is generally a hearty 3-course with generous servings.

If you have any food allergies (vegetarian, vegan, gluten intolerance etc) please make us aware of this when completing your registration form, found on your Skyhook dashboard. We will advise the huts accordingly and do our best to accommodate you.

Water;
During the summer it can be quite warm so it is important to carry enough water. We strongly recommend taking two litres of water. The tap water at the accommodations you will stay is usually drinkable but there are limited resources along the way to fill up your bottle. Your guide can give you advice on this for each day. If this is a concern for you then pack iodine tablets or a filter bottle.

During the summer in the Alps (June – September) you can experience usually fair and quite warm weather. It is often sunny and the temperatures can reach 25° Celsius. In case of rain and wind the temperature can also go around 5° Celsius. The weather in the mountains can be quite unpredictable and weather situations can change very quickly. Therefore, it is necessary to be always prepared for such a change. On a rainy day, temperatures can drop quite low and it is necessary to have a good rain jacket and sometimes even a hat and a pair of gloves. See the kit list for full details.

We normally organise the pick up at Fermi Metro Station. It is a very convenient location and easy to reach from Torino City centre via the Metro.

From Torino Porta Nuova, it's 20 minutes on the metro. If, for some reason, it's a problem to meet at Fermi metro station, please inform your guide via your Skyhook dashboard at least 30 days prior to the start of the trip.  

There is a certain degree of flexibility in terms of starting time. In case you arrive really late you can take a Jeep Taxi to Benevolo Hut (at your own expense).

The currency used in Italy is Euro’s. We recommend changing your money before you arrive as it is not possible once you've left the airport. Credit cards are not accepted in most locations along the trek.
Other FAQs

Included:
- Qualified mountain guide
- Transfer from Turin to the Mountains and back
- Accommodation in mountain huts/ hotels in dormitories / shared bedrooms
- Food (Day 1: Dinner, Day 2: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Day 3: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Day 4: Breakfast)

Excluded:
- International flights
- Any visa fees
- Personal travel and rescue insurance

If you spend the night before in Torino it is better for you to leave it in your hotel. In case you can't do this, or you arrive directly at the airport we will make a plan.

It is not mandatory to tip in the Alps, but always appreciated by the hard-working guides.

We recommend you check on your government travel website - for the UK this is the NHS Fit for Travel website.

Yes, there's free parking available.

Turin was the first capital of Italy and is a very nice place to visit. It's worth spending a day or two here before or after your trip.

We recommend getting a hotel near Torino Porta Susa train station which has a train connecting to the airport or Torino Porta Nuova where the old city center start. Our meeting and end points are also very easy to reach from Torino Porta Susa, only a few underground stations away.

There are hundreds of choices and it's worth looking at Booking.com to find what suits you best. Anything near Torino Porta Nuova or Torino Porta Susa will work well. Here are a few suggestions for different budgets;

-Tomato Backpackers (near Torino Porta Nuova), hostel/private room.
-Turin Palace (near Torino Porta Nuova), 4-star hotel.
- Hotel Roma (near Torino Porta Nuova), a 3-star hotel.
- NH Torino Centro (near Torino Porta Susa) 4-star hotel.

Torino Porta Nuova is in a nicer area in terms of being closer to the historical city centre but it is connected to the airport by bus and not the train. The train is new and more convenient to reach Torino Porta Susa. So if you are only spending one night, it's probably better to opt for Torino Porta Susa.

If you want to spend time exploring the city, we'd suggest a hotel near Torino Porta Nuova.

Heights are part of a real alpine environment. The route has a proper path, but some of the sections can be quite rocky and even snowy. There are no exceptional drop-offs along the way but there are two or three spots where it is precarious and could be a little scary for people who "don't like heights". In these sections, the guide will walk with you to help you feel comfortable. We wouldn't suggest letting this put you off but if you do have a severe phobia of heights, you may want to consider a different trip.

The pictures on the itinerary give a fair indication of what to expect. Obviously, you do not need to sit or pose on rocky outcrops if you do not want to😉!

Although we usually stick to the routes and itinerary as described, it is possible that the guide can change the itinerary.

The hike is located in a real mountain environment and safety is our priority. This means that the guide may decide to change the itinerary based on the mountain conditions(snow in the passes mainly, but also bridges collapsed or paths washed out by landslides) and weather forecast.

It is possible that path closures, weather conditions or other circumstances out of our control, make it necessary to adapt the plan. If this happens, we will send you a message as soon as possible to make you aware of any changes.
Your head guide is Roberto

All trips on Skyhook are run by small, hand-picked local guiding companies. For this trip you'll be led by Roberto and the guiding team based in Caprie.

By booking through Skyhook you'll be joining a small-group trip. This can make it nice and sociable (you'll be added to a group chat after booking), and guarantees great value for money!

Roberto
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