Climb of Gran Paradiso
in Italy with Mountain Guide

Day 1
Valsavarenche - Night at the Rifugio Chabod (2710 mt)

The group will meet the guide at the hut Rifugio Chabod around 6:30 p.m. before dinner time. Briefing on the next days’ ascent, equipment check and a pleasant relaxing evening at the refuge.

Click on the Map below to see the departure point: you can park the car just aside the river.

Day 2
Rifugio Chabod - Gran Paradiso (4061 mt) - Rifugio Chabod

Departure from the Refuge between 4 – 5 am to begin the ascent to the peak of Gran Paradiso at 4061mt. The first hour is along a barely visible footpath, then the first easy steps on a snow covered glacier up to around 3800mt, at which point the conditions change to a mixture of easy rock and snow passages up to the peak itself. The ascent takes between 4 – 6 hours. At the summit is the awarding breathtaking panorama, unique due to it’s central high position.The descent will be on the same route and it takes between 2 - 3 hours depending on the group. Once back at the hut, you can enjoy a nice pasta before heading back down the valley again (you can also choose to spend one more night at the hut on yourself - to be organised upon booking).  

CLIMBING TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT

• Hiking Goretex shoes suitable to crampons 
• crampons, ice axe and harness (can be hired at the Refuge Chabod, please book in advance directly with the refuge)
• walking poles 
• helmet

Covid 19 Special:

• a pair of light shoes or sleepers to walk inside the hut
• a light sack sheet / sleeping sheet for the refuge
• a pillowcase or light inflatable cushion for the refuge
• hydroalcolic gel and masks

HOW TO DRESS for the CLIMB TO GRAN PARADISO

First layer on the skin:

• (merino wool) thermal/breathable long sleeve
• (merino wool) long thermal/breathable underwear
• woolen warm socks

Second layer:

• warm technical sweater
• waterproof & windproof hiking pants

Third layer:

• thin but warm duvet (to wear just in case of cold temperatures)

Last layer:

• waterproof & windproof Goretex jacket

Important Additionals:

• warm winter hat
• buff/head-neckband
• warm winter gloves
• headlamp
• suncream (protection factor 50+)
• sunglasses
• camera

N.B. Consider a change for when you are back to the hut (you can leave some stuff at the hut).

Tips for renting mountaineering boots:

Difficulty and level required for climbing Gran Paradiso

Gran Paradiso is one of the easiest 4000 peak of the Aosta Valley and it is the one that best suits people who want to approach the mountaineering world.
The ascent does not present special technical difficulties, but it is mandatory to use harness and crampons: it is necessary to have good physical training and good resistance to walk for long hours as the second day counts a total of 6 to 8 hours walk, depending on the training and speed of the group.

You should be in good physical shape without health problem, if you have any doubts contact us at 00 33 7 84 98 29 80 to discuss it, Mickaela or Jean Luc will be happy to explain more in detail the ascent to this summit.

Insurance

We recommend to have your own personal travel insurance, covering accident abroad and repatriation.

Booking

Once you have booked your place online, we will take care of booking the hut for you, no need to worry about it (places for online dates have been pre-booked in advance).

How to reach Aosta Valley

• Via Chamonix Mont Blanc – you can reach Chamonix by train from the main French airports or from Geneva airport – then you can reach Courmayeur – Aosta Valley through the Mont Blanc Tunnel (there are buses connections from Chamonix to Aosta Valley, but if you would like to be free to move it is advisable to rent a car).
• Via Geneva or Martigny (Switzerland) – you can easily reach Martigny by train from Geneva airport - then you reach Aosta city center via the tunnel of Grand Saint Bernard (there are buses connections from Martigny to Aosta Valley, but if you would like to be free to move it is advisable to rent a car).
• Via Milan/Turin airport:
  • Rent a car directly to reach Aosta via the highway;
  • By train: https://www.trenitalia.com/en.html
• Or via Bourg Saint Maurice (73700, France) - Col du Petit Saint Bernard - you can reach Bourg Saint Maurice by train from the main French airports. Once in Bourg Saint Maurice you will need to rent a car to reach the Aosta Valley via the Col du Petit Saint Bernard (2 hours drive). It's a slightly longer trip but you can save the toll at the Mont Blanc Tunnel.

If you are coming only for the climb, we can organize you a taxi to pick you up or the mountain guide can come to pick you up on the road nearby Aosta (organization upon booking).

Public transport in Aosta Valley

• Bus transport within the Aosta Region: https://aosta.arriva.it/en/timetables-and-routes/
• Bus transport from Chamonix to Courmayeur: https://aosta.arriva.it/courmayeur-chamonix/
• Bus transport from Courmayeur to Aosta: https://aosta.arriva.it/line/aosta-courmayeur/ (to directly take the bus to Valsavarenche, stop in the village of Villeuneuve)
• Valsavarenche Valley bus - departure from the village of Villeneuve and stop at "Valsavarenche - Refuge Chabod": https://aosta.arriva.it/en/line/villeneuve-valsavarenche/
• Bus transport from Milan to Aosta: https://aosta.arriva.it/en/aosta-milano/

Meeting on the first day

The group will meet the guide at the hut Rifugio Chabod around 6:30 p.m. before dinner time. Briefing on the next days’ ascent, equipment check and a pleasant relaxing evening at the refuge.

Click on the Map below to see the departure point: you can park the car just aside the river.