Gran
Paradiso Ski Tour 2024 
Ski the highest peak situated completely
in Italy, and its national park |
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| Course
overview |
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If
you dream of climbing a summit and skiing
from it, this ski tour is for you! You summit
the highest peak entirely in Italy, the
4061m Gran Paradiso, and have a ski descent
with a vertical drop of over 2000m. |
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During
the week you make undertake a hut to hut ski
tour, set within the stunning Gran Paradiso
National Park. No previous mountaineering
skills are necessary, but any you have will
allow you to take in more summits. |
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Normally
two classic route choices are selected from,
either the approach via the Benevolo to Val
Savaranches and then the ascent of Gran Paradiso,
or the circuit of the mountain starting in
Val de Cogne. The exact choice of route is
usually left until the last minute to take
account of conditions and avalanche risks.
Whatever option you go for, you are assured
of some great ski touring in breathtaking
scenery each day. |
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This
is a challenging ski tour, with the ability
to use some Alpine skills, such as ascents
on crampons and the occasional easy abseil.
Skiing ability should be good as although
there is only a little steep skiing, the
slopes can be icy or rutted in places, with
breakable crusts. There is often plenty
of powder on the descents! |
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On
the tour you are based in comfy mountain huts, including
a three course cooked evening meal and breakfast.
This
course will also appeal to those wishing to
escape the hustle of the Alpine valley towns,
and yet not escape the creature comforts too
much. Many of the huts in this region have
an impressive wine list! |
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You
will also develop your technical abilities,
such as crossing crevasses, route finding,
crevasse rescue, and becoming efficient at
avalanche prediction and avalanche tranceiver
searches. |
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Dates: these
are listed in the column on the right, and
they show the live availability from our secure
online booking system. When you book online,
you receive immediate confirmation, your Alpine
Information Booklet, course specific kit list
and invoice. |
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Brief
Course Itinerary |
| Sun |
Travel
to Chamonix to arrive for the 17:00 check-in followed
by and course safety and itinerary briefings. There
is time for kit checks or rental of equipment. Briefings
are over by 19:00 and the Chamonix hosts accompany
the group to pre-dinner drinks. Night in Chamonix. |
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Itinerary
1: Hut-to-Hut |
Itinerary
2: Circuit |
| Mon |
Drive
through the Mont Blanc tunnel to the Val di Rhemes,
and from there skin up to a summit such as the
Punta Pallato 3050m, before skiing down to the
Benevolo mountain hut for the night. |
After
a short drive from Chamonix to Cogne, you ski
up the wooded valley famed for its ice climbing,
before ascending above the treeline to the Sella
refuge high above the valley. Night in mountain
hut. |
| Tue |
From
the hut you set off very early to ascend another
classic ski tour summit such as the Gran Vaudale
3400m, descending by skis all the way to the Benevolo
hut for the night. |
From
the hut, you ascend towards the watershed col
separating the Cogne and Savaranches valleys.
The traverse and descent from the col is steep,
leading down to the Chabot mountain hut. |
| Wed |
A
typical day would be to traverse from the Benevolo
to the Chivasso mountain hut, and this ski tour
is through complex terrain, which is very challenging
in poor visibility. |
Today
is the big ascent day to reach the summit of Gran
Paradiso 4061m. You can ski to within about 100m
of the summit, then scramble to the top. Long
ski descent to Victor Emmanuel hut. |
| Thu |
From
Chivasso you ski down into the head of the Val
Savaranches, and from there skin up to reach the
Victor Emmanuel hut, where you stay for the night
in preparation for the big day tomorrow. |
Here
you enter into the most remote section of the
route, passing Tresenta to pass to the south of
paradiso massif. Don't worry, as today doesn't
involve much uphill! Night in mountain hut. |
| Fri |
Today
is the big ascent day to reach the summit of Gran
Paradiso 4061m. Ski to within 100m of the summit,
then scramble to the top. Then the long ski descent
to valley, and return to Chamonix. |
The
final stage of this classic circular route as
you descend to Cogne again by a different valley
system. After a final Italian coffee, you return
to Chamonix for a celebratory meal and drinks. |
| Sat |
Breakfast
then the accommodation check out is by 10:00. Most
arrange their airport transfers to leave around
this time, to catch a flight from Geneva about midday. Depart for home. |
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| ITINERARY
NOTES: Where possible we follow itineraries. Mountain
adventures are weather and conditions dependant,
so occasionaly we are forced to alter the plans.
If this is the case, suitable alternatives are offered.
Please use this outline itinerary as a guide to
the types of route / activity that you will attempt. |
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| Course
Prices |
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Standard
course |
5
full days IFMGA guiding, 1:6 max ratio
7 days holiday in total, Sunday-Saturday |
£1499 |
Live
availability |
Click
on the planner logo to the right to
see the real time live course availability
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Secure
online booking system |
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| Standard
Course Inclusions: 1)
IFMGA Mountain Guides for five days, 2) Chamonix course
hosts for logistics & briefings, 3) Pre course information
booklet, 4) Equipment discount voucher for UK shops, 5)
Two nights B&B accommodation in Chamonix (inc. bedding
& towels), 6) Up to four nights half board accommodation
in mountain huts including three course cooked evening
meals. 8)
Free 36 page technical Course Instruction Booklet, 9)
Road transport in Chamonix valley and to and from Italy. |
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| Exclusions:
1) Travel to and from Chamonix, 2) Cable Cars (not usually
required), 3) Ski hire, 4) Personal laundry, telephone
calls, lunches, & any purchases in mountain huts /
hotels / restaurants, 5) Activities insurance, & excess
baggage charges, 6) Sunday pre-dinner drinks & Friday
celebratory meal & drinks. |
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| Group
sizes: 3 - 6 people per IFMGA
mountain guide. For group sizes of over 6 people, there
are multiple guides, and the teams travel independently
of each other. |
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| Upgrade
options |
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Avalanche
Skills Training
£75 (throughout the season) |
To
learn avalanche prediction, reutschblocks and use
of avalanche tranceivers. Course is available on
any dates, either scheduled or private, details. |
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