SUMMER IN THE AOSTA VALLEY
Pila Bikeland
Pila is also known for being the alpine kingdom of Mountain Biking: since the 1990s, the locality has invested in facilities and structures for the practice of MTB, taking advantage of the steep descents and natural trails that wind through the enchanting woods of the landscape surrounding. Today the area dedicated to mountain biking enthusiasts includes numerous routes of varying difficulty for Downhill, Freeride and Cross Country. The Downhill courses, which are divided into the 16 tracks of the Bike Stadium, are chosen as the venue for prestigious international competitions and attract the most passionate bikers every year, even from beyond the Alps. Freeride lovers will find up to 11 km of slopes on the Pila-Aosta route, with an overall altitude difference of 1730 meters. The tracks are traced on natural terrain and are also frequented by the most adventurous bikers who practice Extreme Free-ride. For the Cross Country, 12 itineraries of varying difficulty are traced for a total of 185 km of descent, with a vertical drop of 1700 meters. The routes along the steep slopes offer the thrill of descending by bike and the emotions suggested by a natural landscape of rare beauty.
Trekking and
Mountaineering
During the Aosta Valley summer, mountain nature exhibits its most incredible splendour, attracting trekking and mountaineering enthusiasts to the paths that wind for hundreds of kilometers around the highest peaks of the Alps. The trekking routes are innumerable and suitable for all types of technical levels, the landscapes show off a wild and uncontaminated nature, the high-altitude panoramas offer pure emotions. There are also numerous alpine refuges in the area, which offer hikers and mountaineers pleasant moments of refreshment and the possibility of waking up at dawn to enjoy the spectacular view of the mountains flooded by the rosy light of the morning, living a truly unique experience.
Among the numerous itineraries, there are the spectacular Alta Via n. 1 and Alta Via n. 2 and the wonderful tours around the giants of the Alps, reached every year by skyrunners from all over the world for the now famous "Tor des Géants" competition.
Alpine Paths
The Alta Via n. 1, known as the "Via dei Giganti", is a hiking route that develops in the medium and high mountains, skirting the "giants of the Alps", Monte Rosa, the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc, to arrive in Courmayeur in 13 stages. The Via is also accessible to less experienced hikers, as it offers well-marked and fully signposted paths. There are 17 daily stages which require 3-5 hours of walking each, interspersing the walk with stops at the numerous alpine huts, bivouacs and campsites located along the route.
The Alta Via n. 2, known as the "high naturalistic route", winds through the uncontaminated territories of the Gran Paradiso National Park and the Mont Avic Regional Park. The route does not require particular technical skills and is traced by well-signposted paths. It starts from the locality of Courmayeur to reach the municipality of Donnas in 14 daily stages which include 3-5 hours of walking each and overnight stays in refuges, bivouacs and campsites. You cross expanses of pastures, woods and stony ground, encountering unique examples of traditional villages and rare species of alpine fauna and flora.
The tour of Mont Blanc
The most trained cannot miss the spectacular Tour du Mont Blanc, a 170-kilometre route that winds at the foot of the enchanting roof of Europe, among rock faces, glaciers, moraines and pastures crossing the Italian, Swiss and French territories. A tribute to the unattainable beauty of Mont Blanc, to its mysterious charm and its incredible high altitude landscapes.
The tour of Grand Combin
An evocative route that crosses the paths of two nations, Italy and Switzerland, around one of the most spectacular mountains in the valley, the Grand Combin, which stands out against the background of the Aosta plain in all its magnificence, drawing a postcard landscape. The route extends for about 100 kilometers which can be covered in 7 days of walking and crosses the Swiss Corbassière glacier, offering the thrill of an experience reserved for the most trained hikers.
The tour of Gran Paradiso
A complete tour in the heart of the Gran Paradiso National Park, in the presence of the breathtaking massif and its incredible glaciers, which can be covered with numerous variations based on ability and time, with the possibility of climbing to the summit at 4061 meters accompanied by alpine guides.
Matterhorn and Monte Rosa
It is one of the most exciting trekking tours, a spectacular crossing of the Walser Valleys and the Matterhorn Valley, with an optional ascent to the summit of Monte Rosa and an overnight stay at the highest refuge in Europe, the Capanna Margherita refuge in Gressoney, built at 4554 meters high on the Piedmont side of Monte Rosa.
The wonderful Aosta Valley lakes
The Aosta Valley alpine lakes are small treasure chests of rare beauty, guarded by the majestic mountains that are reflected in their waters. They arise from the snow of the glaciers and are formed in small basins, which offer the eye a show of intense colours, with shades ranging from dark green to deep blue. They are perfect destinations for summer trekking, both for short walks and for more demanding excursions. Among the most spectacular lakes, the Blue Lake of Valtournenche is much appreciated by mountain lovers, in whose waters the splendid pyramid of the Matterhorn is reflected; the fabulous Lake Miage of Courmayeur, at the foot of the glacier of the same name; the picturesque Lago d'Arpy which draws the profile of the fascinating Mont Blanc bewitching any visitor; the Rutor lakes, a complex of glacial lakes that colours the landscape dominated by the Rutor glacier.
Summer Trekking
The variety of trekking routes that cross the majestic landscapes of the Aosta Valley mountains allows you to satisfy any level of training, physical preparation and difficulty. If for the less experienced the woods, the lakes, the medium-height refuges and the enchanting expanses of pastures become destinations for short but suggestive walks, for the more prepared hikers it is possible to organize amateur tours, for which it is advisable to evaluate the preparation physics, the suitability of the equipment and the weather conditions. Among the most popular destinations are the beautiful alpine refuges, the peaks of the 3000 meters of the Aosta Valley, the glacial lakes and the beautiful hills that unite the highest peaks. More expert hikers can organize medium and high difficulty tours to reach the highest peaks and the most demanding routes, which require a specific technical level, supported by the Aosta Valley mountain guides. Valle d'Aosta boasts a historical heritage linked to mountaineering of great prestige and has numerous mountain guide companies, whose professionalism is combined with a deep knowledge of the area and a great passion for the mountains.
