> Hike 3 scenic stages through high alpine terrain in Gran Paradiso
> Stay in welcoming huts: Benevolo, Bezzi, and Chalet de l’Epée
> Wild valleys, glacial views, and pure mountain solitude
The Intermediate Aosta Valley Trek 2 is a 4-day hut-to-hut adventure through the western edge of the Gran Paradiso region. Starting from Rifugio Benevolo, the route links three high-altitude huts as it winds through hanging valleys, rocky passes, and glacier-fed streams — all with epic views and a peaceful alpine feel.
Ideal for experienced hikers looking for a remote yet non-technical trek, this route delivers long days on the trail, cozy nights in mountain refuges, and a true escape into the raw nature of the Italian Alps.
This route starts at the Rhêmes-Notre-Dame/Bruil and climbs gradually up the valley towards Rifugio Gian Federico Benevolo. With 580 m of ascent, the stage has a steady uphill character, but the profile shows the height gain spread over the full route rather than concentrated in one short climb. You follow the valley south, moving from village surroundings into open mountain terrain, with waterfalls, river sections and high peaks visible around the route.
From the village, the trail passes by Lacs du Pellaud next to the small village of Pellaud, and follows the floor of the Val di Rhêmes towards the upper mountains. You will ascend gradually at first, continuing alongside the Dora di Rhêmes river, with the 2,570-metre-high Monte Cormet to your left. Further up the valley, the route passes the iconic Dora di Rhêmes Waterfall,a great place to stop for a rest and take some photos. The final few kilometres continue steadily uphill towards the head of the valley.
You arrive at Rifugio Gian Federico Benevolo after the gradual climb through the valley. The mountain hut sits at the end of the route, giving you a clear place to rest and settle in after the approach from Rhêmes-Notre-Dame.
Leaving the wide meadows around the hut, the route heads deeper into the high basin at the head of the Rhêmes valley. You follow tumbling streams towards a rocky wall that hides the next pass, with the snowy ridges of the Grande Sassière group slowly coming into view. By the time you reach the opposite side, the landscape has shifted from soft grass to glacier carved slopes and hanging ice.
From the buildings, the path follows the Dora di Rhêmes upstream past waterfalls and a small lake, then climbs more steeply towards Col Bassac Déré (3,082 m). Zigzags over rubble and smooth slabs bring you onto the narrow crest, where views explode across glaciers and high summits on both sides. The descent starts on rough, sometimes snow patched ground before easing into clearer paths beside a glacial stream.
Lower down, the valley widens into pastures dotted with boulders and summer farms, with the ice of the Glacier de la Tsanteleina hanging above. A final gentle approach along the torrent leads you straight to the stone buildings of Rifugio Bezzi. Once you arrive, you can drop your pack, refill your bottle at the fountain and watch the evening light turn the surrounding glaciers pink.
From the high pastures around the previous hut, this stage makes a graceful traverse between two side valleys of the same mountain range. The route follows streams and meadows towards a rocky notch on the skyline, with broad views of glaciers and dark ridges. Beyond the pass, the landscape softens again into gentle slopes and scattered larch trees. By the time you reach the next hut, you are walking on a wide balcony above the valley floor, surrounded by silent peaks.
You leave the refuge on an easy path along the torrent, passing stone barns and summer pastures. Gradually the trail turns uphill, climbing in zigzags beside waterfalls towards the Finestra d’Ey pass. Here the view opens to hanging basins and distant summits on both sides of the ridge. From the pass, a traversing path crosses open hillsides and rocky ribs, with glimpses of small lakes tucked below. A final contour through larches brings the buildings of the next refuge into sight.
The hut stands on a grassy shoulder above the valley, with a clear view towards the surrounding peaks and the villages far below. Once you arrive, you can leave your pack in the dormitory and find a spot on the wooden terrace. With a drink in hand and the sound of the nearby stream drifting up, it is easy to linger here and watch the evening light fade over the mountains.
This route takes you from Rifugio Chalet de L’Épée back down to Rhêmes-Notre-Dame, crossing high terrain before making a long descent into the valley. The profile shows a steady climb at the start towards Col Fenêtre (2,870 m), followed by a much longer downhill section towards the finish. It is a compact but serious mountain stage, with open alpine ground, rocky surroundings and wide views before the route drops back towards the road and villages of the valley floor.
From Rifugio Chalet de L’Épée, the trail climbs gradually past gentle pastures then steepens into zigzags over broken rock towards the col, the highest point of the stage (2,832 m). Around the pass, the terrain is open and exposed, with high summits such as Becca di Tei (3,186 m) and Cima del Bouc (3,107 m) on either side of the mountain pass. After the col, the path begins its long descent, passing a trail running alongside ancient stone houses and beautiful waterfalls surrounded by the Aosta Valley mountains.
Lower down, the ground softens into meadows and wider tracks as you approach the main valley. The final part descends towards Rhêmes-Notre-Dame, with the route leaving the high alpine terrain behind and returning to the valley floor. You finish at the village, a practical end point after the long descent from Rifugio Chalet de L’Épée.
