1860
4,061 m
J.J. Cowell, W. Dundas, M. Payot, J. Tairraz
GRAN PARADISO
Normal route (F)
Südtirolalpin
Certified Mountain Guide
IFMGA - Mountain Guides Associations
Mail suedtirolalpin@gmail.com
Prices from
560,- €
THE MOUNTAIN
A big, honest four-thousand-metre peak in Gran Paradiso National Park – ideal if you want to get your first taste of alpine mountaineering and tick off a true classic at the same time.
4,061 m · Difficulty F (alpine tour) · 2 days · Aosta Valley
It is Italy’s only four-thousander located entirely within its own national territory, and the pride of the Gran Paradiso National Park, from where almost the entire ibex population, which had been nearly wiped out in the rest of the Alps, was successfully reintroduced.
The Gran Paradiso is also one of the technically easiest four-thousanders in the Alps and an ideal introduction to the world of the highest Alpine summits. All the difficulties are concentrated directly below the summit, where a small rocky outcrop rises from the ice. After the glacier ascent, there is still a short but very الجميل and engaging climbing section to enjoy. The cherry on top.
All in all, this is a wonderfully scenic and highly rewarding tour to Italy’s highest summit. With the Rifugio Vittorio Emanuele II as base and the long summit day, the tour offers exactly the right mix of hut experience, glacier ascent, and a summit that does not feel like a compromise, even for a first four-thousander.
ABOUT THE TOUR
The Gran Paradiso via the normal route is a tour that offers a surprising amount without becoming unnecessarily complicated. You move through an incredibly beautiful landscape in the heart of Gran Paradiso National Park and can reach the White Madonna without major technical difficulties.
Only directly below the summit is there a short climbing passage to overcome. That is exactly what makes the tour feel so complete: first the long ascent over glacier and boulder terrain, then, right at the end, a short and elegant finish on rock. The Gran Paradiso via the normal route is therefore perfect for getting your first taste of the air above four thousand metres.
Our base is the Rifugio Vittorio Emanuele II, which we reach from Pont. Historically and scenically, the mountain is something special anyway: Italy’s only four-thousander entirely within its own national territory, and a summit with the aura of a genuine classic.
INFO
Services
Included in the price:
- Entire organization and guidance by a state-certified mountain guide
- All necessary reservations are made in advance
Additional costs:
- 1 night with half board at the Rifugio Vittorio Emanuele II (approx. €60)
- Transfer to and from the meeting point
- Mountain guide expenses (accommodation)
- Individual tips
* Rental equipment (€10 per piece of equipment)
Facts
Location:
Gran Paradiso National Park
Best time of year:
Mid-June - end of September
Duration:
2 days
Meeting point:
Pont car park at the head of the Valsavaranche valley in Aosta
What you need
Safety-relevant requirements
- Sure-footedness
Requirements for enjoyment
- Fitness for 1,300 meters of altitude (even at high altitudes)
- Previous acclimatization is advantageous
PRICING
Participants:
max. 4 people
Prices:
1 person:
2 people:
3 people:
4 people:
1.500,- €
900,- €
680,- €
560,- €
If you have any questions or need further information, please write them in the comment field of the inquiry form.
Before submitting your request: Please read the "important information" about risks in mountaineering carefully.
Dates:
upon request
PROGRAM
Day 1: Approach to the hut
We meet at the large car park in Pont at the head of the Valsavarenche. Of course, we can also arrange a different meeting point when booking and travel together into the Aosta Valley. After a short equipment check, we begin the roughly 2.5-hour ascent to the Rifugio Vittorio Emanuele II. At the hut, we will have plenty of time to clarify technical questions, gear-related questions, or anything else concerning the planned tour for the following day.
Walking time: 2.5 h | ↑ 750 m
⌂ Rifugio Vittorio Emanuele II (2,732 m)
Day 2: Summit day on Gran Paradiso
After a substantial breakfast, we first follow a well-trodden path the next day to the start of the glacier-polished rock slabs and continue up over them to the glacier. Here we rope up and ascend across the ice in the heart of this beautiful Gran Paradiso National Park, passing crevasses all the way to the summit of the only four-thousander located entirely on Italian soil. Just before the summit, a short but not overly difficult climbing section awaits us. From the top, there are magnificent views of Mont Blanc as well as many other four-thousanders of the Western Alps. Perhaps plans for future summit goals will already be quietly taking shape. We descend along the ascent route back to the Rifugio Vittorio Emanuele II and onward to Pont.
Total time: 9.5 h | ↑ 1,350 m | ↓ 2,100 m | Difficulty: F (alpine tour)
The story of the first ascent
The first ascent of Gran Paradiso took place on September 4, 1860, by J.J. Cowell and W. Dundas, accompanied by their two guides, M. Payot and J. Tairraz. They also chose the still common and easiest route for their ascent, via the Gran Paradiso Glacier, which has few crevasses. In 1856, the Italian King Vittorio Emanuele II noted the beauty of this area and declared it a royal reserve. In 1922, King Emanuele III donated the land to the Italian state to protect the ibex, and the Gran Paradiso National Park became one of Italy's first national parks.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - (FAQs)
Is Gran Paradiso a good first four-thousander?
Yes, Gran Paradiso is a very good introduction to the world of the four-thousanders. Overall, the tour is technically rather easy, but it does require fitness for the long summit day and confident movement in high-alpine terrain. The short climbing section directly below the summit makes it more exciting than complicated.
Where do we stay during the tour?
We stay at the Rifugio Vittorio Emanuele II. The hut is the classic base for the normal route on Gran Paradiso and is ideally located so we can set off early and relaxed for the summit on the second day.
What equipment do I need to bring?
You will receive the exact packing list in the confirmation email. Most important are suitable mountaineering boots and clothing for an alpine tour. Technical equipment can be hired from the Südtiroler Bergführern for a small wear-and-tear fee.
