Where to spot
9 trails where Genepi wormwood is listed in flora/fauna: difficulty E–EE, elevation gain 430–1427 m.
9 · 4.7–18.2 km · +430–1427 m
Valtournenche — Val Saint-Barthélemy
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.
Valpelline — Conca di By
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.
Valle del Gran San Bernardo
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.
Val Ferret
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.
Valle di Gressoney
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.
Valle di Gressoney — Valle d'Ayas
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.
Valle d'Ayas
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.
Valtournenche
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.
Val di Cogne
From the heart of Gran Paradiso National Park to an alpine lake surrounded by ibex. A classic.