Gran Paradiso Circuit Trek

This is a great first multi day trek, but you do need a good base level of fitness. A typical day in the mountains can be trekking for 4-7 hours with a rucksack, at a gentle pace with lots of breaks. We recommend training regularly with any sport that you enjoy (e.g. running, swimming, tennis).

Documents • Passport • Travel insurance details • Boarding passes for flights • Cash – Euro’s • Credit/Debit Card Sleeping • Sleeping bag liner Footwear • Trekking boots: 3 or 4-season, lightweight • Lightweight shoes for the evenings (such as house shoes, flip flops, sandals etc.) Clothing Please make sure that you have non-cotton fast-drying clothing for trekking. • 1 x pair of synthetic under-top and bottom (Long johns or similar) • 2 x t-shirts for the hike • 1 x comfortable shirt for the evening • 4 x socks for hiking • 3 - 4 x pairs of underwear • 1 x fleece • Light down or Primaloft jacket • Rain and windproof jacket with hood • Rain and windproof trousers • 1 x pair of hiking trousers: We recommend a pair that zips off into shorts. • Comfortable trousers for the evening • Hat and gloves • Buff or scarf • Swimming shorts/Costume Other • A daysack: 35 - 45 litres – All your kit should fit in this bag • Travel towel • Dry Liner or Dry Bag • Water bottle: At least 2L. Nalgene bottles are best. • Sunglasses • Suncream and additional sun protection such as a baseball cap or similar • Personal medication – Inhaler, Blister pads etc • General Toiletries, Contact lenses, Glasses (if needed) • Electronics - Head torch, travel adaptor, phone & charger • Lipsil • Hand sanitiser, wet wipes

It depends what you are looking for;   May to early June - there will be more snow which often means we may need to adapt the route slightly. Late June to August - the flowers are at their best but there is a slightly higher chance of rain. It's also warmest during these months. September - It's cooler again, this can be a very peaceful time to come.

Due to the distances and ascents covered on this trip, it is geared towards adults. Therefore the minimum age for this trek is 18 years. However, those aged 16-18 years are welcome to attend in the company of a responsible adult. 

Absolutely! We get lots of solo travellers - it's a great way to meet like-minded people. You will be able to chat to others in the group through the chat feature on the Skyhook dashboard.

Yes, whether you are vegetarian, vegan or have allergies. You must inform your guide via your Skyhook dashboard about your dietary requirements at least 30 days prior the trip. We will inform the accommodation to prepare for you. 

Day 1: Distance: 8km Ascent: 600m Descent: 150m Max altitude: 2,350m Day 2: Distance: 12km Ascent: 1200m Descent: 1200m Max altitude: 3,330m Day 3: Distance: 13km Ascent: 600m Descent: 600m Max altitude: 2,700m Day 4: Distance: 9km Ascent: 450m Descent: 1192m Max altitude: 2,700m

You need to carry clothes for the trip as well as a few things for the specific day, such as a bottle of water. Your full bag should be around 5kg. Pack as light as possible, but do bring all the items on the packing list. It is very important that you follow this advice. If you have extra luggage for after the trip, you can ask your guide to organise storage. Please let us know 30 days before the trip departure if you need this.

We stay in mountain refuges (huts) which are quite basic/dormitory-style with shared bathrooms. Rooms generally sleep 6-8 people. Unfortunately private rooms are not an option (it's a good idea to bring earplugs and a sleep mask!). Electricity, warm showers, snacks are available. Most accommodations do not generally have wifi, but some are in 4G areas. Bedding will be provided for you in each hut - you just need to bring a sleeping bag liner. Night 1: Gian Federico Benevolo mountain hut - awesome views, showers, dorm room. Night 2: Mario Bezzi hut - gorgeous flat in the middle of the valley, showers, dorm room. Night 3: Chalet de l'Epee - set in between stunning mountain pastures, showers, dorm room.

The trek involves a fair bit of ascent and descent on a mix of trails. This includes – rocky terrain, forest trails and sometimes gravel tracks. It is important that you are steady on your feet and have experienced walking on mountain paths. Do try and get some practice in before you come. We go at a slow steady pace that everyone can keep up with. 

Ideally, we will meet in Torino in the Fermi metro station. If your flight arrives on the morning of the hike or your departure flight is on the last day of the hike, we can pick you up and drop you off at the airport. Otherwise, the meeting point will be Fermi metro station. Pick-up time on the first day can be at 10:00 AM at Torino Caselle Airport. Drop-off time on the last day is around 5:00 PM at Torino Caselle Airport. So, we recommend booking your flight from 7:00 PM onwards. Please update your 'Trip Form' (on your Skyhook dashboard) so we know if you will be on the provided shuttle or making your own way to the Rhemes Notre Dame. 

Water; During the summer it can be quite warm so it is important to carry enough water. We strongly recommend taking two litres of water. The tap water at the accommodations you will stay is usually drinkable but there are limited resources along the way to fill up your bottle. Your guide can give you advice on this for each day. If this is a concern for you then pack iodine tablets or a filter bottle. Food; Whilst trekking, you will have the chance to taste a great variety of local specialities. The breakfast is continental, often with a variety of juices, tea and coffee. The three-course dinner in the evening is hearty and the plate sizes are quite big. Packed lunch will be prepared by the huts we stay at. If you have any food allergies (vegetarian, vegan, gluten intolerance etc) please make us aware of this when completing your registration form, found on your Skyhook dashboard.

We normally organise the pick up at Fermi Metro Station. It is a very convenient location and easy to reach from Torino City centre via the Metro. From Torino Porta Nuova, it's 20 minutes on the metro. If, for some reason, it's a problem to meet at Fermi metro station, please inform your guide via your Skyhook dashboard at least 30 days prior to the start of the trip.  

During the summer in the Alps (June – September) you can experience usually fair and quite warm weather. It is often sunny and the temperatures can reach 30° Celsius. The weather in the mountains can be quite unpredictable and weather situations can change very quickly. Therefore, it is necessary to be always prepared for such a change. On a rainy day, temperatures can drop quite low and it is necessary to have a good rain jacket and sometimes even a hat and a pair of gloves. See the kit list for full details.

There is a certain degree of flexibility in terms of starting time. In case you arrive really late you can take a Jeep Taxi to Benevolo Hut (at your own expense).

The currency used in Italy is Euro’s. We recommend changing your money before you arrive as it is not possible once you've left the airport. Credit cards are not accepted in most locations along the trek.

Included: - Qualified mountain guide - Transfer from Turin to the Mountains and back - Accommodation in mountain huts/ hotels in dormitories / shared bedrooms - Food (Day 1: Dinner, Day 2: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Day 3: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Day 4: Breakfast) Excluded: - International flights - Any visa fees - Personal travel and rescue insurance

If you spend the night before in Torino it is better for you to leave it in your hotel. In case you can't do this, or you arrive directly at the airport we will make a plan.

It is not mandatory to tip in the Alps, but always appreciated by the hard-working guides.

We recommend you check on your government travel website - for the UK this is the NHS Fit for Travel website.

Yes - you must have travel insurance including search and rescue. Unfortunately we can't legally offer advice on travel insurance, but popular providers for clients in the past have included the British Mountaineering Council, Snowcard (UK residents) and the Austrian Alpine Club (All nationalities, an annual policy comes with other benefits).

Yes, there's free parking available.

Turin was the first capital of Italy and is a very nice place to visit. It's worth spending a day or two here before or after your trip. We recommend getting a hotel near Torino Porta Susa train station which has a train connecting to the airport. Our meeting and end points are also very easy to reach from Torino Porta Susa, only a few underground stations away. There are hundreds of choices and it's worth looking at Booking.com to find what suits you best. Anything near Torino Porta Nuova or Torino Porta Susa will work well. Here are a few suggestions for different budgets; -Tomato Backpackers (near Torino Porta Nuova), hostel/private room. -Turin Palace (near Torino Porta Nuova), 4-star hotel. - Hotel Roma (near Torino Porta Nuova), a 3-star hotel. - NH Torino Centro (near Torino Porta Susa) 4-star hotel. Torino Porta Nuova is in a nicer area in terms of being closer to the historical city centre but it is connected to the airport by bus and not the train. The train is new and more convenient to reach Torino Porta Susa. So if you are only spending one night, it's probably better to opt for Torino Porta Susa. If you want to spend time exploring the city, we'd suggest a hotel near Torino Porta Nuova.

Heights are part of a real alpine environment. The route has a proper path, but some of the sections can be quite rocky and even snowy. There are no exceptional drop-offs along the way but there are two or three spots where it could be a little scary for people who "don't like heights". In these sections, the guide will walk with you to help you feel comfortable. We wouldn't suggest letting this put you off but if you do have a severe phobia of heights, you may want to consider a different trip. The pictures on the itinerary give a fair indication of what to expect. Obviously, you do not need to sit or pose on rocky outcrops if you do not want to😉!

Although we usually stick to the routes and itinerary as described. It is possible that path closures, weather conditions or other circumstances out of our control make it necessary to adapt the plan. If this happens, we will send you a message as soon as possible to make you aware of any changes.