contact@bookatrekking.com +31 (0)85 01613 54

Intermediate Alta Valsesia

Name: Intermediate Alta Valsesia
Brand: Bookatrekking
Price: 374.00 EUR
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.4 (1611 reviews)

Duration: 4 days

Trails: T2 trails

Distance: 0 - 10 km per day

Ascent per day: 500 - 1000 m ascent per day

Overview
Itinerary
What's Included
FAQ

> Hike the Alta Valsesia Traverse from hut to hut
> Spend the night in remote rifugi at the foot of Monte Rosa
> Start in the wild and end in the vibrant village of Alagna

You wake up in a mountain hut surrounded by ibex and glacier views. The early light glows on the Monte Rosa massif as you zip up your jacket and step out into the quiet of Valsesia’s high trails. Four days. Four rifugi. And a route that links the hidden gems of the Piedmontese Alps. This is a trek for the keen hiker who wants Dolomites-style magic, minus the crowds.

The Alta Valsesia Intermediate is a 4-day point-to-point hike that begins at the Staffel bus stop above Riva Valdobbia and ends in Alagna Valsesia. You stay in welcoming rifugi like Orestes, Città di Mortara, and Pastore, each tucked away deep in alpine wilderness. With days between 4 and 8 kilometers and moderate elevation changes, this is a gentle yet rewarding hut-to-hut for intermediate hikers who prefer short distances, big views, and a proper Italian mountain vibe.

Itinerary

Day

Cable car Alagna–Pianalunga–Salati top station - Rifugio Gabiet

Duration: 04:30 h

Distance: 8.46 km

Ascent: 460 m

Descent: 1060 m

A high alpine opener that feels serious from the very first step. You leave the cablecar top station and follow rough balcony paths above two valleys, always with Monte Rosa nearby. Scrambly T3 sections, a few fixed cables and steep slopes demand good judgement and a cool head. It is a compact but intense introduction, more ridge adventure than warm up stroll.

The route first climbs gently on marked paths to Salati Pass and the quieter Passo dei Salati, where wide views open towards Valle d’Aosta. From there you drop more steeply over boulder fields to the silent, abandoned Rifugio Città di Vigevano. A rough traverse and a final stony climb take you up to Colle Zube at 2874 metres, perched between wild cirques.

From Colle Zube the trail dives into the next valley on loose zigzags, then softens into easier meadows and smoother ground. A stream keeps you company as the path curves towards the blue of the Gabiet lake. With lifts above and water below, you roll the final metres into Rifugio Gabiet, a welcoming hut that feels much friendlier than the terrain you crossed.

Rifugio Gabiet

Info

Day

Rifugio Gabiet - Orestes Hut

Duration: 04:35 h

Distance: 8.89 km

Ascent: 800 m

Descent: 540 m

This section links two huts with a playful line of paths, always flirting with the glaciers of Monte Rosa. You leave a lively basin and move into quieter ground where waterfalls, rocky passes and the newborn Lys river share the stage. It feels wild without becoming extreme, perfect for hikers who enjoy some spice in their trail days.

From the hut you follow a clear path that soon steepens towards a lively waterfall, a great excuse to drop the pack for a moment. Higher up, sturdy markers guide you across steeper slopes and short rocky steps where hands help for balance. The climb continues on broken ground to Colle Salza, hanging right under shimmering ice and often visited by ibex.

Beyond the pass the landscape opens and you can trace the Lys from tiny trickles to a stronger stream below. The path turns gentler, wandering across lawns and scattered rocks while the view grows wider with every step. A last easy rise delivers you to Orestes Hut, beautifully perched on a terrace with a grandstand view onto the Monte Rosa wall.

Orestes Hütte

Info

Day

Rifugio Orestes - Rifugio Città di Mortara

Duration: 03:50 h

Distance: 8.64 km

Ascent: 370 m

Descent: 1030 m

This day is all about balcony trails and wide horizons. You swap the rocky bowl around Orestes for a long traverse beneath peaks like Corno del Camoscio and Corno Rosso. The terrain is rarely extreme but always airy, with the big ice of Monte Rosa never far from view.

Leaving the hut you contour across gentle grass slopes and pick up a more rugged path that threads between streams and small tarns. Short climbs and dips keep the legs awake as you traverse under grey towers and cross sections of looser stones that demand attention. The line stays high above the main valley, offering constant views into side cirques and distant ridges.

Near a broad shoulder the trail finally points downhill and drops on zigzags into the basin that holds Rifugio Città di Mortara. The ground changes from stony to soft pasture and the atmosphere becomes calmer with every metre lost. The hut sits snugly on the hillside, a relaxed place for a drink, a shower if available and a slow look back along the balcony you followed.

Rifugio Città di Mortara

Info

Day

Rifugio Città di Mortara - Alagna Valsesia

Duration: 04:55 h

Distance: 10.8 km

Ascent: 420 m

Descent: 1210 m

The final stretch glides from high hut country back to village life. You wander across open slopes, pass old alpages like Alpe Seewji and slowly feel the pull of Alagna in the valley. Peaks such as Monte Tagliaferro and Corno d’Olen frame the skyline for most of the way.

From Mortara you follow an undulating path that chats its way along the hillside, sometimes dipping through hollows, sometimes rising to small viewpoints. The trail passes the scattered buildings of Alpe Seewji, then begins a more determined descent. Wider tracks alternate with narrower paths, with the odd bridge over side streams and glimpses of Rifugio Pastore on a terrace below.

Past the Pastore area the world feels greener and more lived in, with meadows, chapels and farms dotting the slope. Forest takes over for the final descent, and soon stone houses and narrow lanes announce Alagna Valsesia. You roll into the village past cafés and guesthouses, finishing near the bus stop and very much back in civilisation after a few days in the high country.

See entire itinerary Hide entire itinerary

Included

Full travel guide

You’ll receive access to our trekking app, which serves as your complete digital travel guide for the Alta Valsesia Trek. Inside, you’ll find everything you need for your trek: route descriptions, hiking maps, navigation support, payment information, and all the key details specific to your journey.
Accommodation

During your Alta Valsesia Trek, you will spend your nights in mountain huts. In the mountain huts we normally only book dormitories, but we can look into private rooms on request. If the private rooms are fully booked or not available in the hut, we automatically book a bed in dormitories for you. Please note that private rooms are more expensive and there will be an additional charge for this.
Half-board in Huts

Accommodation at the huts includes dinner and breakfast. We will arrange this for you as well. This allows you to travel lighter and have one less thing to worry about. Bear in mind that lunch is not included, but it can be purchased at the huts. Here you can also buy an array of snacks and bottled water.
Navigation support

Our trekking app also includes built-in navigation support. With GPS-based maps and offline access, you can follow the trail confidently and stay on route even without mobile signal.

Excluded

Traveling to and from

You have to make your own way to the starting point. The total amount does not include personal transport.
Transfers

Should you need any form of (public) transport on location, this is not part of the trekking package. This includes the use of taxi, bus, cable cars, gondolas, ferries, etc.
Lunch

Half-board is included in the price of this trek. Lunch, however, is not. You can get something to eat at the mountain huts along the way.
Travel Insurance

Your international travel insurance is your own responsibility. Discuss your itinerary with the insurance company before your trek.
Personal expenses

Personal expenses on such as souvenirs, drinks, and other similar expenses are for your own account.