The 5 most beautiful high routes in Aosta Valley

Aosta Valley is not just a region of side valleys: it is an Alpine crossroads where two official High Routes, loops around Europe's most iconic massifs, and a hut network make weeks of hiking possible without dropping too far into the valleys. Here are five itineraries that, for landscape, variety and character, deserve a place at the top of any wish list.

1. Alta Via 1 — of the Giants

The Alta Via 1 is the classic traverse: 17 stages from Donnas to Courmayeur, crossing Monte Rosa, the Matterhorn and finishing on the Mont Blanc walls. It is not the easiest — many stages are graded E and EE — but it is the most complete photographically and geologically.

Start early on stages exposed to Monte Rosa: afternoon weather can close cols quickly.

Highlights: historic huts such as Bonatti, panoramic ridges, and the shift from larch forest to high glacial terrain. If this is your first major traverse in the valley, it remains the benchmark.

2. Alta Via 2 — of the Shepherds

Less crowded and wilder, the Alta Via 2 crosses the southern flank of the region with a more pastoral, remote feel. Ideal if you want solitude, active pastures and views of the main chain without the tourist pressure of AV1.

Preparation matters: longer stretches between huts, sometimes subtler waymarking. In return, slow rhythms and silence — the true face of the Aosta Valley mountains.

3. Tour du Mont Blanc — Italian side

Not a regional «high route», but the great European classic. The Tour du Mont Blanc from the Italian side — Val Ferret, Val Veny, huts such as Bonatti and Bertone — offers vertical walls, glaciers and an international atmosphere without losing the local identity.

Perfect for a 6–7 day loop with solid infrastructure and options to shorten if weather turns.

4. Tour of Gran Paradiso

In Gran Paradiso National Park you walk among ibex, glacial valleys and carefully managed refuges. The right choice if you love wildlife, visible geology and a balance between moderate difficulty and high mountains.

Val di Cogne and Valnontey are natural gateways; pair well with day hikes such as Lago Djouan for gentle acclimatisation.

5. Tour of Monte Rosa

The Tour of Monte Rosa closes the circle between Italy and Switzerland with 4,000 m peaks always on the horizon. More technical and alpine than AV1, it demands good fitness and attention to high-altitude weather.

The reward: glaciers, ridges and the pride of completing one of the most spectacular loops in the Western Alps.

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How to choose

Before you leave, always check official trail conditions and safety guidance. The mountains reward those who plan — not those who rush.