Advanced Aosta Valley Trek 1

From the road end at Pont, the path heads gently into the Vallone del Nivolet, swapping the bustle of the car park for the sound of water and cowbells. The valley narrows and then slowly opens again onto a high plateau of tarns and broad grass slopes. All the while, Gran Paradiso and its glaciers watch from the horizon. By the time you reach the lakes around Nivolet, you are fully in high-mountain country.

From the bus stop you cross the river and follow a clear track along the Dora del Nivolet, passing stone barns and old shepherd settlements. The trail climbs steadily beside the stream, with small waterfalls and cascades never far away. Higher up, the slope steepens into zigzags that lead to wider meadows and views back over Valsavarenche. A last rise brings you onto the Nivolet plateau, where a necklace of lakes and marshes reflects the surrounding peaks.

The route continues easily between pools of water and patches of alpine flowers, with Taou Blanc and other summits lining the skyline. Soon the outline of Rifugio Savoia appears near Lago Rosset, its stone buildings sitting just above the shore. Once you arrive, you can drop your pack, fill your bottle at the fountain and wander down to the lakeside. Evening is a good time to sit on the terrace and watch the light fade from the Gran Paradiso massif.

Leaving the lakes and marshes of the high plateau behind, this stage crosses from the world of Gran Paradiso’s glaciers towards the head of the Rhêmes valley. The day begins gently along the shores of Lago Rosset and the Trebecchi lakes, then turns wilder as you climb towards the main ridge. After cresting Col Rosset (3,025 m), a long descent unfolds into a broad glacial valley, where pastures, streams and waterfalls lead you to the next mountain hut.

From the refuge, the path winds between pools and grassy ribs, following waymarks across the Nivolet plateau. You soon pass Lago Rosset and the smaller Trebecchi lakes, their surfaces reflecting Taou Blanc and distant ice fields. The trail then steepens, climbing over rock and rubble towards Col Rosset, where you straddle two valleys and enjoy wide views of the surrounding peaks. On the far side, a stony path descends into the upper Vallone di Rhêmes, gradually softening into meadows.

Lower down, the route follows the stream along a gentle valley floor, passing stone barns and grazing cows. Wooden bridges and short forest sections mark the transition back towards civilisation, though the surrounding mountains still feel close. A final easy approach across flat pastures brings you to the buildings of Rifugio Benevolo, tucked beside the torrent. Here you can drop your pack, rinse the dust from your boots and watch evening light slide along the walls of the Rhêmes peaks.

Leaving the open basin around the hut, the route follows the Dora di Rhêmes downstream towards more gentle country. You start among wide pastures and rocky moraines, with the high ice of the Gran Rousse and Grande Sassière still close at hand. Gradually the valley narrows and the sound of the river grows louder. By the time you reach the first clusters of trees and stone houses, the wild upper valley feels pleasantly far behind you.

The path descends beside the torrent, passing waterfalls, wooden bridges and small summer farms where cows graze on bright green slopes. Larches become denser and the trail alternates between soft forest paths and stony stretches near the water. You walk through the hamlet of Thumel and continue along riverside tracks towards Bruil, with frequent views back to the snowy skyline. Old barns, chapels and hay meadows lend the valley a calm, lived-in feel.

Near the bottom of the valley, the route leaves the river and climbs briefly through pastures and scattered chalets. A final rise brings you to the Rifugio delle Marmotte, tucked on a grassy knoll just above the main village. From the terrace you can look down on the roofs of Rhêmes-Notre-Dame and up towards the peaks where you started the day. It is an inviting place to kick off your boots and enjoy a quiet evening in the park.