Exploring the French and Italian Alps: Mont Blanc and Gran Paradiso National Park

The Trip

This hiking trip samples some of the best that the French and Italian Alps have to offer. We begin our trip in the French resort town of Annecy and then spend four days in the Mont Blanc area. Mont Blanc (15,777 feet) is the highest mountain in Western Europe and one of the most beautiful mountains in the world. We explore the awe-inspiring Mont Blanc Massif from various places, including the charming town of Chamonix and even enjoy a view from Switzerland. 

After crossing from France to Italy (through a 7-mile tunnel), we’ll visit Gran Paradiso national park, the quiet side of the Alps. The park is in the Val d’Aosta (Aosta Valley), which has a population of about 130,000 and is the least densely populated region of Italy. A unique experience will be to visit quaint Val d’Ayas, the least visited area of our trip. From there, on a clear day, we’ll have a good view of the beautiful Monte Rosa Massif, the second-highest mountain range of the Alps. 

While this is a hiking trip, we’ll also experience local French and Italian culture and food. We’ll visit the city of Aosta, with its impressive architectural heritage from its Roman and medieval past. Local guides will lead our hikes and tours, further enhancing our adventure, and our travel will be by private bus. Our trip ends in Turin, Italy.

The leaders will make every reasonable effort to follow the posted itinerary. Please keep in mind that weather or other conditions beyond our control may cause us to modify our plans to ensure the safety and well-being of the group.

Day 1: Annecy

Our tour starts in the French town of Annecy. In the early evening we will meet for an orientation talk and a welcome dinner to meet your travel companions. Overnight in Annecy.

Day 2: Lac d’Annecy

For the first hike of the trip, we’ll hike along the shores of the beautiful alpine lake, Lac d’Annecy. In the afternoon, we’ll visit the heart of Annecy’s old quarters with its fascinating history. Total hiking time: 3 hours, with an elevation gain of approximately 1,200 feet. Overnight in Annecy.

Day 3: Lac Blanc and Chamonix

In the morning we leave Annecy and drive towards Chamonix to visit one of the world’s most famous ice caves. We’ll take Chamonix’s famous rack and pinion railway to get to Montenvers that sits at 6,276 feet. From there, we can admire the gorgeous panorama of the Mer de Glace glacier, the Drus and the Grandes Jorrasses. From there we go down (480 steps) into the very heart of the glacier, the Grotte de Glace and learn about its erosion over the past century. This is one of the most visible places to watch the tragic consequences of climate change. After a traditional alpine meal, we’ll take a short but steep hike to another gorgeous viewpoint where we can enjoy the view of Grands Montets, Aiguille des Grands Charmoz, and Aiguille de la République. Hiking time to Signal Forbes and back is about 3 hours with 1,100 feet elevation gain, plus visiting time at the Grotto (with 480 steps to get to the entrance of the ice cave). Overnight in Chamonix.

Day 4: Lac Blanc and Chamonix

The hike to Lac Blanc is one of the hiking highlights of the “Tour du Mont Blanc." To get to the trailhead, we’ll take the La Flegere gondola. The hike goes through a nature reserve, and we may see ibex and marmots. The view from Lac Blanc, (at 7,700 feet) is one of the most iconic in the Alps, where we see the entire Mont Blanc Massif. The Massif contains many of the highest mountains in Western Europe: Mont Blanc, the Grandes Jorrasses, and several more. Hiking time: about 3 hours (5 miles) and 1,700 feet of elevation gain. Overnight in Chamonix.

Day 5: Switzerland; Lac d’Emosson 

To get a different view of the majestic Mont Blanc Massif, we cross the border to Switzerland. Our destination is Lac d’Emosson, a large reservoir in the canton of Valais, which has been producing hydroelectric power for the surrounding area since 1925. This impressive civil engineering project, perched high above the France-Swiss border, forms a large blue lake with walking paths and forest all around it. Overnight in Chamonix.

Day 6: Aiguilles du Midi and Skyway to Italy

Today, we take the two stage Aiguille du Midi panoramic gondola to one of the most breathtaking viewpoints of the Alps. From the summit terrace of Aiguilles du Midi, at 12,604 feet, we will enjoy the 360-degree view of the Italian, French, and Swiss Alps. After exploring the French side, we take the Skyway Gondola (3 miles long) to Italy to explore the Italian side of the Alps. Overnight in Cogne.

Day 7: Rifugio Bonatti

Our first hike in Italian Alps is the first leg of the “Tour Du Mont-Blanc." The trail goes along the slopes of the Mont de la Saxe to reach Rifugio Bonatti, which sits at about 6,600 feet. Along the way, we’ll be mesmerized by the beauty of the Val Ferret, as well as views of Tete of Ferret, Mont Blanc, and Grandes Jorasses. Before reaching the Rifugio, we go through a beautiful forest of fir trees and learn about what locals hunt and harvest there. We also pass by typical mountain cabins, baite, used by shepherds as shelters in the summer months during which they live at alpine altitudes with their flock. Hiking time: about 3 hours, with approximately 1,100 feet of elevation gain. Overnight in Cogne.

Day 8: Hike Gimillan to Grausson; Great views of Gran Paradiso Mountain

After a short drive from Cogne we reach the trailhead at the village of Gimillan. The uphill hike follows the Grausson Creek with great views. We’ll have a picnic lunch in the tiny village of Grausson Inferiore. The hike is about 7 miles round trip with 2,000 feet of elevation gain. Overnight in Cogne.

Day 9: Gran Paradiso National Park -Lillaz Waterfalls to Valnontey

Gran Paradiso, established in 1922, was the first national park of Italy, but previously it was the private hunting ground of King Victor Emanuel II. Nowadays, the park protects the Alpine ibex and other wildlife. The park is named after the glaciated Gran Paradiso Mountain, which is a prominent feature of the park.

Our forest hike today is from the Lillaz Waterfalls to Valnontey. During the hike we’ll see variety of plants and maybe some mushrooms. After the hike we will drive to Antagnod, where we will stay for the next two nights.

Day 10: Lago Blu Loop Hike

The village of Antagnod is in the quaint Val d’Ayas, which is of one of the least touristy areas of the Alps. From there, on a clear day, we’ll have a good view of the beautiful Monte Rosa. Our day starts with a drive to the trailhead in the village of Saint Jacques, which is the starting point of many trails in this area. Our destination is Lago Blu (the Blue Lake), which is more turquoise than blue, and is very beautiful. We will take a long break there to enjoy this enchanted lake. The round-trip hike is about 9 miles with 2,200 feet of elevation gain. Overnight in Antagnod.

Day 11: Aosta Tour

The city of Aosta, an important Roman outpost, is today’s capital of the Italian region Val d’Aosta. You will be surprised by the lesser-known beauties of this dramatic region and the impressive architectural heritage from its Roman and medieval past. We’ll visit one of the many castles in the area as well as Bard, a medieval village. Overnight near Turin airport.

Day 12: Turin, Departure Day

After breakfast, you can catch a flight back to the U.S. or go to other destinations in Italy. You may consider spending a day or two touring the underrated, but interesting, city of Turin.

Getting There

Our trip begins in Annecy, France and ends in Turin, Italy. The nearest airport to Annecy is in Geneva, Switzerland, a little over an hour away by shuttle van. Geneva is a major airport and can easily be reached by flights from the U.S., or hub airports in Europe. Details for the shuttle or taxis between Geneva airport and Annecy will be sent to approved participants, but you are responsible for your own travel arrangement. Our last night will be in a hotel close to Turin airport. 

You are encouraged to arrive at least a day or two early to help overcome jetlag. It would also help should your luggage be delayed in arriving. Annecy, with its nice lake, is a relaxed town with a variety of optional activities, should you elect to arrive early.

You will need a passport that is valid until at least six months after the end of the trip. U.S. citizens do not need a visa to enter any of the counties we visit. Please do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until notified to do so by the trip leader.

Accommodations and Food

We will be staying in comfortable, family-owned hotels. All are 2 or 3 stars. We have made an effort to use local hotels that give us a true flavor of Italy and France. You will find that some do not have elevators and some do not have air conditioning; some have larger rooms and some smaller. All offer an excellent breakfast with a variety of food choices, and a true taste of authentic French and Italian cuisine. The lodging is double-occupancy with private bathrooms. Singles will be assigned a roommate of the same gender. If you prefer a single room, you may elect to pay a single supplement charge, depending on availability.

We will have breakfast in our hotels, lunches along our hiking route, and dinner in restaurants (some of the restaurants will be in our hotels). The emphasis will be on fresh, local produce, regional wines and cheeses. All meals are included with the exception of three dinners, when each participant will be able to choose among recommended restaurants.

Trip Difficulty

This is a moderate trip with occasional steep and uneven trail segments. Daily hikes will be 5-9 miles, with most elevation gains less than 2,200 feet. As with all hiking outings, the better shape you are in, the more you will enjoy it.

Equipment and Clothing

A detailed equipment list will be sent to each approved participant.

References

• Annecy: https://en.lac-annecy.com/
• Chamonix: https://www.chamonix.com/chamonix-mont-blanc,0,en.html
• Gran Paradiso: http://www.pngp.it/en

Conservation

Since its founding in 1892, the Sierra Club has worked to preserve and restore the natural environment we all share on this planet. Thousands of grassroots-level volunteers spearhead our efforts to conserve and sustain resources, both in our own backyards and on a global scale. Through direct experience in the outdoors, Sierra Club outings enable participants to better understand, advocate, and participate in the environmental conservation goals of the Club.

Partly in response to ecotourism, France and Italy have created many parks and nature reserves to protect some at-risk ecological communities. Both countries also assure protection of wildlife like the ibex, which almost became extinct. Mont Blanc is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world, and for this reason, some view it as threatened. Around Mont Blanc we’ll experience very closely the effects of climate change when we visit the ice caves in a receding glacier. In Switzerland we’ll observe the use of hydroelectric power to replace coal and oil for electric power. In Italy, we’ll hike in Gran Paradiso, the first national park of Italy, which previously was the private hunting ground of King Victor Emanuel II. Nowadays, the park protects the Alpine ibex and other wildlife. The conservation theme of our outing will address sustainability in the context of regional issues and the interplay among post-industrial culture, tourism, and environmental protection.

Evacuation and Travel Insurance

The Sierra Club provides evacuation insurance to all participants on international trips. Since this coverage does not include any trip cancellation or interruption insurance, we suggest you purchase another policy separately to provide coverage for your trip and other travel costs. This policy also does not cover pre-trip and post-trip travel. Please note the evacuation insurance provided does not cover claims resulting from any pre-existing condition that occurs within 60 days of the trip departure. If you have specific questions about this exclusion, please review the insurance brochure. For information on purchasing a separate policy, please see our travel insurance page.