Gran Paradiso 4061m, Alpine introduction course

Day 0: Chamonix

Telephone appointment with your guide for a Program briefing, plus gear check, and confirm meeting time in the morning of Day 1.

Dinner free in Chamonix center. 

Night in the hotel (2 or 3 *** depending availability) shared twin room on Bed & Breakfast base.

Day 1 : Vittorio Emmanuele Hut

You will go to Italy by car, count 1h3O drive max, in the beautiful Valsavarenche valley in the Val d’Aoste. The Vittorio Emanuele hut is at the bottom of the west side of the Gran Paradiso, facing the beautifull summits of Ciarforon, Becca di Montclair and the Testa del Gran Etret. The path throught the larch forest and pastures is marvellous and after a 2 - 3 hours of walking we will reach the Vittorio Emanuel hut with the legendary welcome of the hut-keeper. 

Hours: 2 to 3 h

Altitude covered: +900m

Dinner and night in the hut.

Day 2 : Tresenta 3609 m

We start in the fresh morning for the climb of the pyramid of the Tresenta. We start with an easy walk through the glacier moraine to reach the bottom of the Tresenta. From here we start climbing in easy rocks and in the beggining of the season, crampons will be usefull as hard snow is covering the mountain. Your guide will teach you how to use them, how to climb and you'll be roped up with your guide. The top will offer you a wonderfull sight on Gran Paradiso, on the Ciarforon and the wild south side of the range. Way down by the same itinerary and will gently go back to the hut.

Hours: 5 to 6 h

Altitude covered: + and - 850m

Dinner and night in the hut.

Day 3 : Gran Paradiso 4061m

An early start brings us to the steep moraine which leads us to the glacier’s flank. We put on our harness and crampons, rope up and start climbing the Laveciau glacier. As we reach the shoulder at 3750m, the sunrise in the east sets a glow on the full sweep of the southern Alps. There is still 300m to go but now we can see our goal : the summit and its white Madonna. A last steep section, then we start the final rocky ridge. We leave our crampons here and finish the ascent on the easy rocks that support the virgin statue at the summit.  Every famous summit in the western Alps is laid out before us from Monte Rosa to the Viso. We soak up the majestic view then concentrate on the descent to the hut.

Back to Chamonix by car.

Altitude covered : +1300 m and -2200 m.

Dinner free in Chamonix center.

Technical difficulty

6 to 12 hours of walking covering 800m to 1300m per day (day 3). You must get used to walk in mountain on rough terrain, and scrambling on rocks. The climb of Gran Paradiso it is physically demanding despite of the easiness of it's climb. Walking with stiff boots is physically more demanding as it change the way of walking. You must be prepared to this!

Snow slopes up to 30°

Easy rock climbing alpine grade II

Your guide

High mountain guide (alpinism state qualified). English-speaking

Group size

4 persons maxi per guide.

Accommodation

In mountain huts in Italy & hotel*** in Chamonix

Meals

Hotel*** - bed and breakfast, dinner at your charge

Huts -  Half board (have cash on your for the drinks)

Packed lunch included for every day (vegetarian option available)

Meeting point

Will be confirmed by your guide Day 0 late afternoon by phone : the meeting on DAY 1 @ 10 am. 

Local Transport

Free train/ bus in the Chamonix valley, car ( either guide or one of the participants car) to go in Valsavarenche valley in Val d'Aoste, Italy

Cost and availability for the Gran Paradiso Alpine introduction course

We need a minimum of 4 persons to run this group course. Participants are mixed nationalities, if necessary guides can speak both French & English.

Our planning is changing constantly due to availabilities in the huts  - GET IN TOUCH directly by e-mail or phone/what's up +33 6 95 04 23 02 as we have other different dates/ program / routes available too.

If you are a private group, or a family please get in touch as we are able to offer tailor-made courses with choice of date and duration.

Cost includes:

• Organisation of the 3 day course trip
• High mountain guide (alpinism state qualified)
• 2 nights in mountain huts and 1 night in a  3* hotel B&B in Chamonix (shared twin room)
• All meals, except dinner in Chamonix Day 0
• Safety equipment provided by your guide (ropes, carabiners, ice screw)
• Transport from Chamonix to Italy and back, shared car with the other participants

Cost does not include:

• Transport to and from Chamonix before and after your course
• Dinner in Chamonix on day 0
• Personal expenses (drinks in the refuges for you and your guide, additional snacks, etc)
• Equipment can be hired from CMBG, please ask (harness, crampons, ice axe, helmet...)
• Single room supplement for the previous night 97 € per night
• Alpine climbing insurance
• Gratuities
• Any extra expenses due to unforseeable circumstances like (bad weather, injury, lack of fitness)