Monte Rosa to Lake Maggiore

MAJESTIC WONDERS OF VALLE D’AOSTA AND PIEMONTE

This extraordinary 10-day trip features two of Italy’s most important geographical features in the form of Monte Rosa and Lake Maggiore, while, at the same time, covering several lesser-known areas and hidden gems and providing a good picture of what life was and is still like in these secluded corners of Valle d’Aosta and Piedmont.

The trip starts in the Gressoney Valley, which is located on the southern side of Monte Rosa (the second highest mountain in the Alps and western Europe, after Mont Blanc!) and was once the largest and oldest of the German-speaking colonies (the Walsers) formed by settlers who crossed over from Valais in the Middle Ages. Here we enjoy several superb alpine walks on or near the slopes of Monte Rosa (which rather than just being one mountain, is really a massif with multiple high peaks), which, with its extensive glaciers and snowcapped peaks, serves as a striking backdrop to what is already astonishingly beautiful scenery. 

From here we move to the Biellese territory in the neighbouring region of Piedmont and walk amongst the beautiful traditional landscapes of the Biellese Alps, which are a sub-range of the Pennine Alps (one of the major mountain range in the western part of the Alps) and are renowned for their historic textile and wool industries and the monumental alpine sanctuary of the Sacro Monte di Oropa (1181m), the most popular pilgrimage destination in Piedmont and the most important Marian shrine in the Alps, as well as being a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The last part of the trip takes us to the remote valley of Valsesia, where we spend one night a in a lovely riverside town featuring another important sanctuary, before continuing via Lake Orta to the magnificent Lake Maggiore. Lake Maggiore became well known at the beginning of the 19^th century as a European resort, visited for its romantic scenery and good climate. It is surrounded by picturesque mountains, islands, towns and villages and is the second largest lake in Italy after Lake Garda. Here we do a couple of wonderful walks along and above the lake and spend the last 3 nights of the trip in absolutely delightful lakeside hotel in a beautiful small town on the upper west side of the lake.

The variety of landscapes is exceptional, and the walking is along well-established paths, pilgrimage routes and historic mule tracks connecting one village to the next. At the end of each day, we repose in some wonderful and rather unique and well-situated hotels, featuring some excellent facilities and with time to enjoy them.

KEY INFORMATION

The fitness level for all trips is classified according to the average distance and elevation gain of the walks offered, with fitness levels ranging from 1-5, see here for more details.