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Mountaineering Gran Paradiso
Duration:
3 days
Price from: 735€
Fitness:
Infobulle physique
Physical Level 1: For individuals who engage in occasional physical activities, positive elevation gain of up to 300m.
Physical Level 2: For individuals who engage in regular physical activities, positive elevation gain of up to 600m or routes above 3500m.
Physical Level 3: For individuals who engage in regular endurance activities, positive elevation gain of up to 900m or routes above 4000m.
Physical Level 4: For individuals who engage in regular endurance activities, positive elevation gain of up to 1300m.
Physical Level 5: For individuals who engage in intensive endurance activities, positive elevation gain exceeding 1300m.
Technique:
Infobulle technique
Technical Level 1: For regular hikers wishing to discover mountaineering. The route is not very steep and is well-marked, or the activity may also take place in beginner-friendly areas.
Technical Level 2: For experienced hikers wishing to discover mountaineering. The route includes short, steep sections and may involve scree or rocky ridges, requiring surefootedness.
Technical Level 3: For occasional mountaineers (2 to 5 recent outings). The route includes steep sections requiring prior climbing experience at a French grade 3c level and/or mastery of crampons and ice axe use.
Technical Level 4: For regular mountaineers (5 to 10 recent outings). The route requires climbing at a French grade 4c level and mastery of mountaineering techniques, including the use of crampons and an ice axe, as well as basic roping and belaying techniques.
Technical Level 5: For experienced mountaineers (more than 10 recent outings). The route requires climbing above a French grade 4c level and mastery of mountaineering techniques, including the use of crampons and ice axes for ice climbing, as well as advanced roping and belaying techniques.
General information
Climbing Gran Paradiso in Three Days
Located in the Aosta Valley, Gran Paradiso (4061 m) is the only 4000-metre peak entirely within Italy. Starting from Valsavarenche, the ascent leads through larch forests before gradually reaching the rocky and glacial terrain of the high mountains. The final 50 metres are rockier and more exposed, leading to the Madonna that marks the summit. We offer this ascent over three days, with nights at the Chabod and Vittorio Emanuele huts, to spread the physical effort more evenly and allow plenty of time to discover and enjoy the Gran Paradiso massif.
An Ascent Shaped by Glacier Retreat
Glacier retreat has gradually changed the route on Gran Paradiso. Except early in the season, the ascent is no longer the predominantly snowy climb it once was. Reaching the glacier now involves more rocky terrain and requires sure-footedness. Later in the season, depending on conditions, a short equipped section similar to a via ferrata may also be used.
Group booking
The group option brings together participants who may not know each other. It allows you to follow a set program on fixed dates while benefiting from an attractive price and the friendly atmosphere of a group.
Dates
See the group booking module below.
For September departures, due to the closure of the Mont Blanc Tunnel, the journey will be via the Great St Bernard Tunnel.
Price 2027
€760 per person based on a minimum of 3 participants.
Registration possible from age 18.
✅ This price includes
- IFMGA English-speaking mountain guide
- Two nights in mountain huts on a half-board basis (dinner, overnight stay and breakfast)
- Lunch at the hut after the ascent on Day 2
- Transfers mentioned in the program
❌ This price does not include
- Drinks at the huts and personal expenses (we recommend bringing euros)
- Picnic lunches on Days 1 and 3
- Transport to the meeting point
- Personal technical equipment, including mountaineering boots
Private booking
The private option allows you to climb Gran Paradiso with your own group and benefit from a guide dedicated exclusively to you. You can choose your departure date subject to hut availability, and the program can be adjusted according to your level, mountain conditions and expectations.
Prices 2027
Registration possible from age 16.
2 people: €1290 per person
3 people: €920 per person
4 people: €735 per person
✅ This price includes
- IFMGA English-speaking mountain guide
- Two nights in mountain huts on a half-board basis (dinner, overnight stay and breakfast)
- Lunch at the hut after the ascent on Day 2
- Transfers mentioned in the program
❌ This price does not include
- Drinks at the huts and personal expenses (we recommend bringing euros)
- Picnic lunches on Days 1 and 3
- Transport to the meeting point
- Personal technical equipment, including mountaineering boots
Further information
To prepare for your trip, read our guides’ tips, which provide useful advice and recommendations for our mountaineering trips.
Meeting point
Meet at 10.00am on Day 1 at the Chamonix Guides office, 190 place de l’Église, Chamonix.
Fitness level
Regular endurance training is necessary. You should be prepared for up to 8 hours of physical activity per day at altitude.
Technical level
Some previous mountaineering experience is required. You should have already used crampons. Previous participation in a mountaineering basics session is sufficient.
Guiding policy
3 to 4 people per guide. Participants must be at least 18 years old.
Accommodation
2 nights in mountain huts on a half-board basis (dinner, overnight stay and breakfast).
⚠️ Formalities
Participants must have mountain sports insurance including repatriation cover. We strongly recommend cancellation insurance. Insurance can be purchased when booking. Participants must also carry a valid ID.
Documents available for download
Equipment
We recommend taking particular care when choosing your equipment, as it directly contributes to your comfort during the trip. Choose lightweight equipment suitable for high-altitude mountaineering, while ensuring adequate protection from cold and bad weather.
Equipment
- 35-litre backpack
- Mountaineering boots, available for rent
- Gaiters, if required with your trousers
- Telescopic trekking poles, available for rent
- Crampons with anti-balling plates, available for rent
- Helmet, available for rent
- Harness, available for rent
- Straight ice axe, available for rent
Clothing
- Warm hat compatible with a helmet
- Sun hat or cap
- Neck warmer such as a Buff
- Long-sleeved technical base layer
- Fleece
- Gore-Tex shell jacket with hood, available for rent
- Lightweight down jacket
- Thermal leggings
- Summer mountaineering trousers
- Gore-Tex overtrousers, available for rent
- Walking socks
- Warm gloves
- Lightweight gloves
- Change of clothes for the nights in the huts
Accessories
- Category 4 sunglasses
- Headtorch
- Sleeping bag liner
- Water bottle of at least 1.5 litres
- A personal first aid kit including at least sunscreen, lip balm, blister treatment, as well as your usual medication for headaches and nausea
- Earplugs
- Waterproof pouch containing your ID and euros
Our Rental Partners
You can rent equipment at preferential rates from our partner shops: Millet (excluding crampons, ice axes and helmets), Sanglard Sports, Ravanel & Co and Concept Pro Shop.
Our Equipment Partners
Millet, Dynastar, Julbo, Grivel and Monnet.
Itinerary
Day 1
Walk up to the Chabod Hut (2710 m)
Transfer from Chamonix to Valsavarenche via the Mont Blanc Tunnel. From the hamlet of Pravieux (1834 m), near the village of Pont, we follow an old mule track lined with dry-stone walls through a larch forest. We reach the Lavassey alpine pasture (2194 m), then continue above the tree line to the Chabod Hut (2710 m). Overnight at the hut.
Vertical ascent: 876 m
Day 2
Ascent of Gran Paradiso
We head out by the light of our headtorches to reach the Laveciau Glacier, which we follow on gentle slopes below the imposing northwest face of Gran Paradiso. At around 3600 m, we join the Gran Paradiso Glacier and continue along the normal route. The final 50 metres are rocky and exposed, leading to the summit (4065 m), with an extensive panorama across the Alps. We then descend by the normal route to the Vittorio Emanuele Hut (2732 m), where we have lunch before spending the night.
Vertical ascent: 1355 m - Vertical descent: 1353 m
⚠️ Program adjustment in case of poor weather
If conditions on Day 2 do not allow an ascent of Gran Paradiso, we make our way to the Vittorio Emanuele Hut along the panoramic trail and postpone the summit attempt until Day 3. In this case, we return to Chamonix in the middle of the afternoon.
Day 3
Descent to Pravieux
We return to Pravieux along a panoramic trail offering numerous views of the peaks surrounding Valsavarenche. The route passes below the Chabod Hut before rejoining the trail we followed two days earlier for the final part of the descent. Return to Chamonix around midday.
Vertical ascent: 200 m - Vertical descent: 1000 m
Booking
Book your activity
Calculate your carbon footprint
Discover the carbon emissions of this activity and add your trip to the meeting point.
CO2 emitted per person for the activity: 42 kg. Learn out more about the footprint calculation of this activity
CO2 emitted per person for the activity: 42 kg. Learn out more about the footprint calculation of this activity
CO2 emitted per person for this activity & journey(s) = 0 kgIn order to limit global warming to +2°C by 2100, the COP-21 agreement stipulates that each human should emit no more than 2t of CO2 per year. According to the French Ministry of Ecology, today European citizens emit an average of 11t per year, and American citizens emit an average of 21t annually., or 4.2€The price for a ton of CO2 is currently 100€ in the European Union to offset.
Find out more about our zero impact strategy.
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