E
Bassa Valle
High Route 1 — Stage 1: Donnas → Perloz
The start of the High Route of the Giants, from the valley floor up to Perloz meadows through Walser villages and chestnut groves.
12.5 km+950 m5 h
Where to spot
55 trails to spot Alpine chamois
55 trails where Alpine chamois is listed in flora/fauna: difficulty T–EE, elevation gain 0–1644 m.
55 · 4.7–18.2 km · +0–1644 m
EE
Valtournenche — Val Saint-Barthélemy
High Route 1 — Stage 10: Rifugio Jean Barmasse → Rifugio Oratorio di Cuney
The wild heart of the Alta Via: 17 km across Fenêtre de Tsan, Col Terray and on to Rifugio Oratorio di Cuney, with Matterhorn and Grand Combin dominating a horizon of 2700-metre passes.
17.1 km+1397 m7 h
EE
Valpelline
High Route 1 — Stage 11: Rifugio Oratorio di Cuney → Oyace
From the Sanctuary of Cuney to the Valpelline: a long descent over exposed ridges with short scramble sections, ending at Oyace in the heart of the Aosta Valley's most untouched valley.
15 km+504 m5.5 h
EE
Valpelline
High Route 1 — Stage 12: Oyace → Ollomont via Col Brison
The wild Valpelline: Oyace and Ollomont sit at nearly the same elevation, but Col Brison at 2520 m demands over 1100 m of climbing with views to Mont Vélan and Grand Combin on the Swiss border.
12.4 km+1145 m5.5 h
E
Valpelline — Conca di By
High Route 1 — Stage 13: Ollomont → Rifugio Champillon
From Ollomont to Rifugio Champillon in the Conca di By: 1000 m of climbing through forests and summer farms to one of the AV1's most distinctive huts, complete with mountain sauna and yurt.
9.5 km+1070 m3.5 h
E
Valle del Gran San Bernardo
High Route 1 — Stage 14: Rifugio Champillon → Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses
Over Col Champillon (2709 m) with panoramic views from Mont Blanc to Gran Paradiso, followed by a long descent to Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses in the historic upper Grand Saint-Bernard valley.
14 km+522 m5.5 h
E
Valle del Gran San Bernardo
High Route 1 — Stage 15: Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses → Rifugio Frassati
A steady climb through the Merdeux basin to Rifugio Frassati at 2540 m, the last overnight stop before tackling Col Malatrà (2925 m), the highest pass on the entire Alta Via 1.
10 km+905 m4 h
EE
Val Ferret
High Route 1 — Stage 16: Rifugio Frassati → Rifugio Bonatti via Col Malatrà
Col Malatrà at 2925 m is the rooftop of Alta Via 1: from the panoramic crest above Mont Blanc the trail descends into Val Ferret to the legendary Rifugio Walter Bonatti.
10 km+430 m4 h
E
Bassa Valle — Mont Mars
High Route 1 — Stage 2: Perloz → Rifugio Coda
From Perloz hill the trail climbs through Lillianes forest and into the Mont Mars Nature Reserve, where Rifugio Coda at 2280 m opens the view to the high valley.
11 km+1150 m5.5 h
E
Mont Mars — Valle di Gaby
High Route 1 — Stage 3: Rifugio Coda → Rifugio Barma
A high-level traverse between Mont Mars and the Barma Lakes: a skyline path linking two historic huts across a landscape of peat bogs, glacial slabs and end-of-summer bilberry.
9 km+320 m4 h
E
Valle di Gaby
High Route 1 — Stage 4: Rifugio Barma → Niel
From Barma Hut the trail descends to Niel, Gaby's most remote Walser hamlet: a village frozen in time where dark-stone houses preserve centuries of alpine culture.
10 km+180 m4 h
EE
Valle di Gressoney
High Route 1 — Stage 5: Niel → Gressoney-Saint-Jean
The longest stage in this sequence: 18 km of solitary ridge walking above the Lys valley with Monte Rosa views, ending in the Walser town of Gressoney-Saint-Jean.
18.2 km+1380 m7.5 h
EE
Valle di Gressoney — Valle d'Ayas
High Route 1 — Stage 6: Gressoney-Saint-Jean → Rifugio Vieux Crest
Crossing Col Pinter at 2777 m is the highlight of this stage: a wild pass between two alpine valleys where Monte Rosa dominates the entire eastern horizon.
12.7 km+1427 m6.5 h
EE
Valle d'Ayas
High Route 1 — Stage 7: Rifugio Vieux Crest → Rifugio Grand Tournalin
From the ridges above Champoluc to Rifugio Grand Tournalin with the Matterhorn always in view: high-mountain terrain with sweeping panoramas over the Ayas valley and its pastoral landscape.
11.6 km+1162 m5.5 h
E
Valtournenche
High Route 1 — Stage 8: Rifugio Grand Tournalin → Valtournenche
The great descent: from Rifugio Grand Tournalin losing over a thousand metres to the valley floor of Valtournenche, passing through the scenic plateau of Cheneil with Matterhorn views.
8.7 km+309 m4.5 h
E
Valtournenche
High Route 1 — Stage 9: Valtournenche → Rifugio Jean Barmasse
The shortest stage on the entire AV1: 4.7 km of sustained climbing from Valtournenche to Rifugio Jean Barmasse on the shores of Lago di Cignana, in preparation for the hardest day ahead.
4.7 km+682 m2.5 h
E
Val Veny
High Route 2 — Stage 1: Courmayeur → Rifugio Elisabetta Soldini
First stage of AV2: from Courmayeur to Rifugio Elisabetta in Val Veny, at the foot of Mont Blanc.
15 km+1406 m6 h
E
Val di Cogne
High Route 2 — Stage 10: Cogne → Rifugio Sogno di Berdzé
Climb from Cogne centre to Rifugio Sogno di Berdzé at Péradzà.
12 km+1100 m5 h
E
Champorcher
High Route 2 — Stage 11: Rifugio Sogno di Berdzé → Rifugio Dondena
Cross Fenêtre de Champorcher and Lake Misérin to Dondena.
7 km+301 m2.5 h
E
Champorcher
High Route 2 — Stage 12: Rifugio Dondena → Champorcher
Descent along the «Scaletta» trail to Champorcher village.
6 km+0 m2 h
EE
Champorcher
High Route 2 — Stage 13: Champorcher → Crest
Long stage to Crest-Damon with climb to Colle della Fricolla.
18 km+1254 m7 h
E
Bassa Valle
High Route 2 — Stage 14: Crest → Donnas
Final AV2 stage: from Retempio sanctuary to Donnas in the valley floor.
18 km+980 m7 h
E
Val Veny
High Route 2 — Stage 2: Rifugio Elisabetta Soldini → La Thuile
Descent from Col des Chavannes to La Thuile across pastures and the La Thuile valley.
12 km+456 m5 h
E
La Thuile
High Route 2 — Stage 3: La Thuile → Promoud
Climb to Rifugio Deffeyes and Promoud bivouac in the Rutor valley.
16 km+1428 m7 h
E
La Thuile
High Route 2 — Stage 4: Promoud → Planaval
Cross Col de la Crosatie and descend toward Planaval in Valgrisenche.
14 km+810 m5 h
E
Valgrisenche
High Route 2 — Stage 5: Planaval → Rifugio Chalet de l'Épée
Cross Valgrisenche to Rifugio Chalet de l'Épée.
12 km+915 m4.5 h
E
Valgrisenche
High Route 2 — Stage 6: Rifugio Chalet de l'Épée → Rhêmes-Notre-Dame
Descent from Col Fenêtre to Val di Rhêmes and Rhêmes-Notre-Dame.
10 km+475 m3.5 h
E
Val di Rhêmes
High Route 2 — Stage 7: Rhêmes-Notre-Dame → Eaux-Rousses
Iconic AV2 stage: Col Entrelor, Lake Djouan and descent to Eaux-Rousses.
16 km+1281 m6.5 h
EE
Valsavarenche
High Route 2 — Stage 8: Eaux-Rousses → Rifugio Vittorio Sella
Highest stage on VdA High Routes: Col du Loson (3296 m) and Rifugio Vittorio Sella.
16 km+1644 m7 h
E
Val di Cogne
High Route 2 — Stage 9: Rifugio Vittorio Sella → Cogne
Scenic descent from Vittorio Sella to Cogne via Valnontey.
8 km+0 m2.5 h
E
Val di Cogne
Lake Djouan from Valnontey
From the heart of Gran Paradiso National Park to an alpine lake surrounded by ibex. A classic.
11 km+850 m5.5 h
E
Valtournenche
Matterhorn Tour — Stage 1: Breuil-Cervinia → Rifugio Duca degli Abruzzi
Climb from Cervinia to Rifugio Duca degli Abruzzi below the east face.
10 km+780 m4.5 h
E
Valtournenche
Matterhorn Tour — Stage 2: Rifugio Duca degli Abruzzi → Rifugio Oriondé
Traverse toward Rifugio Oriondé and Plateau Rosa.
8 km+200 m4 h
EE
Valtournenche
Matterhorn Tour — Stage 3: Rifugio Oriondé → Colle del Teodulo
Climb to Colle del Teodulo, pass toward the Swiss side of the tour.
9 km+850 m5 h
E
Valpelline
Gran Combin Tour — Stage 1: Ollomont → Rifugio Prarayer
Climb from Ollomont to Rifugio Prarayer in Valpelline.
11 km+700 m4.5 h
E
Valpelline
Gran Combin Tour — Stage 2: Rifugio Prarayer → Colle del Gran San Bernardo
Traverse toward Great St Bernard Pass.
14 km+500 m5.5 h
EE
Valpelline
Gran Combin Tour — Stage 3: Colle del Gran San Bernardo → Combin de Tsessione
Approach to the Gran Combin massif.
12 km+400 m5 h
EE
Valpelline
Gran Combin Tour — Stage 4: Combin de Tsessione → Oyace
Descent to Oyace closing the VdA Gran Combin loop.
14 km+100 m6 h
T
Val di Cogne
Gran Paradiso Tour — Stage 1: Cogne → Valnontey
Approach in the heart of the Park: Cogne to Valnontey.
6 km+150 m2 h
E
Valsavarenche
Gran Paradiso Tour — Stage 2: Valnontey → Lago Djouan
Climb to Lake Djouan, jewel of Gran Paradiso National Park.
12 km+850 m5 h
E
Valsavarenche
Gran Paradiso Tour — Stage 3: Lago Djouan → Eaux-Rousses
Descent from Djouan basin to Eaux-Rousses in Valsavarenche.
10 km+200 m4 h
EE
Valsavarenche
Gran Paradiso Tour — Stage 4: Eaux-Rousses → Rifugio Vittorio Sella
Climb to Col du Loson and Rifugio Vittorio Sella.
16 km+1644 m7 h
E
Val di Cogne
Gran Paradiso Tour — Stage 5: Rifugio Vittorio Sella → Cogne
Return to Cogne closing the VdA loop of the tour.
8 km+0 m2.5 h
E
Val Ferret
Tour du Mont Blanc — Stage 1: Courmayeur → Rifugio Bertone
First Italian TMB stage: climb to Rifugio Bertone above Courmayeur.
11 km+1000 m5 h
E
Val Ferret
Tour du Mont Blanc — Stage 2: Rifugio Bertone → Rifugio Bonatti
High traverse of Val Ferret to the famous Rifugio Bonatti.
8 km+250 m4 h
E
Val Ferret
Tour du Mont Blanc — Stage 3: Rifugio Bonatti → Rifugio Elena
From Bonatti to Elena along the Val Ferret balcony.
7 km+180 m3.5 h
E
Val Ferret
Tour du Mont Blanc — Stage 4: Rifugio Elena → Col de la Seigne
Final Italian stage: climb to Col de la Seigne (FR border).
12 km+500 m4.5 h
E
Valle del Lys
Monte Rosa Tour — Stage 1: Gressoney-Saint-Jean → Rifugio Gabiet
Walser climb from Gressoney to Rifugio Gabiet below Lake Gabiet.
9 km+990 m4.5 h
EE
Valle del Lys
Monte Rosa Tour — Stage 2: Rifugio Gabiet → Colle del Teodulo
Traverse toward Colle del Teodulo (3301 m) and Breuil-Cervinia.
14 km+950 m6 h
E
Valtournenche
Monte Rosa Tour — Stage 3: Valtournenche → Breuil-Cervinia
Connection in the Matterhorn valley toward Breuil-Cervinia.
12 km+600 m5 h
E
Valle del Lys
Monte Rosa Tour — Stage 4: Breuil-Cervinia → Gressoney-Saint-Jean
Closing the VdA loop: return toward Gressoney.
18 km+400 m7 h
E
La Thuile
Rutor Tour — Stage 1: La Thuile → Rifugio Deffeyes
Climb to Rifugio Deffeyes in the Rutor valley.
10 km+1100 m5 h
E
La Thuile
Rutor Tour — Stage 2: Rifugio Deffeyes → Lago Rutor
Traverse to the Rutor glacial lakes.
6 km+150 m3 h
E
La Thuile
Rutor Tour — Stage 3: Lago Rutor → Rifugio Verney
Descent toward Rifugio Verney above La Thuile.
8 km+300 m4 h
T
La Thuile
Rutor Tour — Stage 4: Rifugio Verney → La Thuile
Return to La Thuile closing the Rutor loop.
5 km+0 m2 h