Mount Gran Paradiso is the only "4000" completely rising on Italian soil; it stands within the Gran Paradiso National Park. It is a majestic and superb mountain that represents a marvelous ski destination. This mountainous massif features several marvelous and extremely evocative peaks that offer fantastic slopes with declivities that allow extremely rewarding ascents and spectacular ski rides.

The Gran Paradiso Haute Route is a very beautiful tour that offers six days of full immersion in the endless beauty of this alpine area; an unforgettable itinerary in a grand and spectacular environment.

  • Gran Paradiso
  • 6 days
  • Medium difficulty
  • Presence of nearby refreshment point
  • Maximum number of participants
  • Suitable for adults only

Information about the Gran Paradiso Haute Route

Gran Paradiso Haute Route Day One

Ascent to Rifugio Vittorio Sella (2584 meters).
Start: Valnontey (1666 meters)
Arrival: Rifugio Vittorio Sella (2584 meters)
Elevation gain: 918 meters

The excursion starts from Valnontey. After crossing the creek the itinerary goes up through the mule track that crosses the valley and it keeps going through the summer trail that climbs through the larch woods. The hikers will, then, cross creek Gran Lauson and they will go up through sweet slopes before reaching the Gran Lauson huts and the plateau where they will find the rifugio.

Gran Paradiso Haute Route Day Two

Gran Serz (3552 meters)
Start: Rifugio Vittorio Sella (2584 meters)
Arrival: Rifugio Federico Chabod (2750 meters)
Elevation Gain: 1370 meters

From the rifugio the path resumes going up through the valley and -for as short stretch- it goes up on glacier Ghiacciaio del Lauson before going up a steep couloir that goes up all the way to glacier Ghiacciaio Gran Val. Going up on the glacier the hikers will get to the east ridge of Mount Gran Serz on the highest possible point and they will, then, go up all the way to the summit. Going down through an evocative little couloir the path gets to glacier Ghiacciaio di Timorion on which the hikers will go down on wonderful slopes and they will reach the ridge that delimits the glacier. A marvelous and steep slope will lead them to glacier Ghiacciaio del Gran Neiron from where, then, they will go back up to the east hill of Mount Gran Neyron, at an elevation of 3404 meters, on which bivouac Bivacco Sberna stands. Going down, the path gets to glacier Ghiacciaio di Montandayne and it keeps going all the way to Rifugio Chabod (2750 meters).

Gran Paradiso Haute Route Day Three

Mount Gran Paradiso (4061 meters)
Start: Rifugio Chabod (2750 meters)
Arrival: Rifugio Vittorio Emanuele (2735 meters)
Elevation Gain: 1311 meters
Elevation loss: 1326 meters

Following the summer itinerary the path goes up to glacier Ghiacciaio di Laveciau and with a wide “S” it reaches a plateau and it keeps going south-east until it gets by Mount Becca di Moncorvé. With step declivities that get milder as the path goes up the hikers will get close to the summit that will be reached with the help of rope and crampons. The super fun descent ski ride takes place through the climb route until the snowy hump of Schiena d’Asino that divides glacier Ghiacciaio del Gran Paradiso frm glacier Ghiacciaio di Laveciau; through lacier Ghiacciaio del Gran Paradiso the hikers will go down through wonderful slopes and they will reach Rifugio Vittorio Emanuele.

Gran Paradiso Haute Route Day Four

Mount Monte Tresenta (3608 meters)
Start: Rifugio Vittorio Emanuele (2735 meters)
Arrival: Rifugio Vittorio Emanuele
Elevation Gain: 873 meters
Elevation loss: 873 meters

From the rifugio the hikers will reach glacier Ghiacciaio di Moncorvè on which they will go up heading for Colle del Gran Paradiso before turning and getting to the center of the north-west side of Mount Tresenta. On steeper and steeper slopes the path goes up towards the summit until it reaches the wide west ridge on which -on skis in case of abundant snow- the hikers will reach the summit. The descent ski ride is wonderful and it takes place on spectacular and constant slopes through the climb route.

Gran Paradiso Haute Route Day Five

Colle del Gran Paradiso (3345 meters) - Colle dei Becchi (2990 meters)
Start: Rifugio Vittorio Emanuele (2735 meters)
Arrival: Rifugio Pontese (2200 meters)
Elevation gain: 833 meters
Elevation loss: 1365 meters

From the rifugio the itinerary resumes reaching glacier Ghiacciaio di Moncorvé; on the glacier the path goes up towards Colle del Gran Paradiso that is reached through a very steep stretch. From there, then, the hikers will reach glacier Ghiacciaio di Noaschetta and they will go down east on comfortable and wonderful slopes. Once it reaches the base of the north-east buttress of Mount Punta di Ceresole the path enters valley Vallone di Noaschetta and it goes through it until a wide hump on which bivouac Bivacco Ivrea (2770 meters) stands. As they keep going east the hikers will go back up towards Colle dei Becchi. Going down through the Piantonetto side through a sequence of valleys the path reaches river Rio di Piantonetto and Pian Teleccio before turning and reaching Rifugio Pontese in its marvelous position on a rocky hump at the south side of the plateau.

Gran Paradiso Haute Route Day Six

Punta d’Ondezana (3492 meters) - Colle Teleccio (3304 meters)
Start: Rifugio Pontese (2200 meters)
Arrival: Cogne - Lillaz (1617 meters)
Elevation gain: 1292 meters
Elevation loss: 1875 meters

From the rifugio the path goes up through the plateau until the Muanda huts before entering a little and very steep couloir that leads to glacier Ghiacciaio di Teleccio. Heading east the hikers will go towards the north-east wall of Mount Punta d’Ondezana. Another steep couloir leads to the west ridge through which the hikers will reach the summit. Once back on the glacier, on comfortable slopes the hikers will go up north all the way to Mount Colle di Teleccio. The path, then, keeps going down on the opposite side through Glacier Ghiacciaio di Valleille and it reaches the bottom of valley Valle di Valleille from where a mule track leads to Lillaz.

Guide price for the Gran Paradiso Haute Route, a six-day ski mountaineering tour

€ 1980 - Price up to 2 persons

€ 2160 - Price up to 3 persons

€ 2400 - Price up to 4 persons

Where to meet your mountain guide for the Gran Paradiso Haute Route

  • Meeting point On the day of your excursion, meet your guide at:
    Paradiso Park
    Frazione Valnontey, 12
    11012 Cogne AO
  • Meeting time to be defined
  • Geographic coordinates 45°35'15.4"N 7°20'28.7"E

What to bring

  • Skis
  • Ski boots
  • Telescopic poles
  • Skins
  • Ski crampons
  • Crampons
  • Mountaineering ax
  • Avalanche kit
  • Avalanche backpack
  • Climbing harness
  • Carabiners

What you need to know

  • Equipment Remember to bring the minimum required equipment for the activity. If you do not own the equipment let us know, we will provide it for you, if available or for hire.
  • Reservation The reservation for this experience is individual, with a dedicated mountain guide. It may be reserved for a number of participants no greater than the maximum number allowed.
  • Excursion price The price shown is for the excursion with the dedicated mountain guide and possible transfer using the guide's private vehicle. It is valid for individual reservations for a number of participants that does not exceed the maximum number allowed.
  • Price includes The price shown includes the following services: mountain guide, transfers, technical equipment.
  • Safety The mountain guide may cancel or suspend the excursion or change the itinerary if minimum safety conditions are not guaranteed. Please view the terms.
  • Rigid terms of cancellation The terms of cancellation and change for this experience are rigid. Please view the terms.

How to reserve your mountain guide

To reserve a mountain guide for the Gran Paradiso Haute Route, you must send a request that provides and specifies your contact information, the number of participants and the date/period in which you wish to take the Gran Paradiso Haute Route.
We will respond immediately to confirm the availability of the guide, the deadline, if any, to confirm the option for the reservation, methods of payment, characteristics and organization of the activity.
Once the reservation is confirmed, we will send you the receipt and the presentation voucher with the details of the service, the name of the mountain guide or the mountaineering school, and all the contact information.