Where to spot
48 trails where Alpine ibex is listed in flora/fauna: difficulty T–EE, elevation gain 0–1644 m.
48 · 5.0–18.2 km · +0–1644 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
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.
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.
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.
Val Ferret
The final AV1 stage: the Val Ferret balcony trail with Mont Blanc and Grandes Jorasses always in sight, ending at Courmayeur, Italy's alpine capital.
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.
Val Veny
First stage of AV2: from Courmayeur to Rifugio Elisabetta in Val Veny, at the foot of Mont Blanc.
Val di Cogne
Climb from Cogne centre to Rifugio Sogno di Berdzé at Péradzà.
Champorcher
Cross Fenêtre de Champorcher and Lake Misérin to Dondena.
Champorcher
Descent along the «Scaletta» trail to Champorcher village.
Champorcher
Long stage to Crest-Damon with climb to Colle della Fricolla.
Bassa Valle
Final AV2 stage: from Retempio sanctuary to Donnas in the valley floor.
Val Veny
Descent from Col des Chavannes to La Thuile across pastures and the La Thuile valley.
La Thuile
Climb to Rifugio Deffeyes and Promoud bivouac in the Rutor valley.
La Thuile
Cross Col de la Crosatie and descend toward Planaval in Valgrisenche.
Valgrisenche
Cross Valgrisenche to Rifugio Chalet de l'Épée.
Valgrisenche
Descent from Col Fenêtre to Val di Rhêmes and Rhêmes-Notre-Dame.
Val di Rhêmes
Iconic AV2 stage: Col Entrelor, Lake Djouan and descent to Eaux-Rousses.
Valsavarenche
Highest stage on VdA High Routes: Col du Loson (3296 m) and Rifugio Vittorio Sella.
Val di Cogne
Scenic descent from Vittorio Sella to Cogne via Valnontey.
Val Ferret
Balcony trail along Val Ferret facing the Mont Blanc massif. Quite possibly Italy's finest panorama.
Val di Cogne
From the heart of Gran Paradiso National Park to an alpine lake surrounded by ibex. A classic.
Valtournenche
Climb from Cervinia to Rifugio Duca degli Abruzzi below the east face.
Valtournenche
Traverse toward Rifugio Oriondé and Plateau Rosa.
Valtournenche
Climb to Colle del Teodulo, pass toward the Swiss side of the tour.
Valpelline
Climb from Ollomont to Rifugio Prarayer in Valpelline.
Valpelline
Traverse toward Great St Bernard Pass.
Valpelline
Approach to the Gran Combin massif.
Valpelline
Descent to Oyace closing the VdA Gran Combin loop.
Val di Cogne
Approach in the heart of the Park: Cogne to Valnontey.
Valsavarenche
Climb to Lake Djouan, jewel of Gran Paradiso National Park.
Valsavarenche
Descent from Djouan basin to Eaux-Rousses in Valsavarenche.
Valsavarenche
Climb to Col du Loson and Rifugio Vittorio Sella.
Val di Cogne
Return to Cogne closing the VdA loop of the tour.
Val Ferret
First Italian TMB stage: climb to Rifugio Bertone above Courmayeur.
Val Ferret
High traverse of Val Ferret to the famous Rifugio Bonatti.
Val Ferret
From Bonatti to Elena along the Val Ferret balcony.
Val Ferret
Final Italian stage: climb to Col de la Seigne (FR border).
Valle del Lys
Walser climb from Gressoney to Rifugio Gabiet below Lake Gabiet.
Valle del Lys
Traverse toward Colle del Teodulo (3301 m) and Breuil-Cervinia.
Valtournenche
Connection in the Matterhorn valley toward Breuil-Cervinia.
Valle del Lys
Closing the VdA loop: return toward Gressoney.
La Thuile
Climb to Rifugio Deffeyes in the Rutor valley.
La Thuile
Traverse to the Rutor glacial lakes.
La Thuile
Descent toward Rifugio Verney above La Thuile.
La Thuile
Return to La Thuile closing the Rutor loop.