Climb Gran Paradiso
- Trekking peaks
- Trekking & Hiking
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our UK team
The Kandoo team will meet you at Geneva airport and transfer you to your pre-climb hotel in Chamonix. Later you will attend a pre-climb briefing with your Guide to prepare you for your climb. There are many typical Savoyard restaurants close to your hotel where you can sample some alpine specialities.
We will spend the morning in Chamonix with our guide, reviewing the itinerary, checking kit and assisting with any equipment rental that may be required. We will then depart for the Valsavarenche Valley in Italy, a 70km drive from Chamonix. We will arrive at Pravieux and begin our trek to Chabod refuge (2750m) using a well-marked path.
An early departure is required this morning for the Gran Paradiso ascent. This is one of the highest vantage points in the Alps with views of Mont Viso, Monte Rosa, the Mont Blanc massif and many other peaks. You won’t be disappointed by the spectacular panoramas! On the trail we will follow varied glacial slopes, the beautiful ice ridge and finally the craggy finale, which takes us to the Virgin’s peak. We’ll take time for a photo stop to capture this magic moment before descending on an easy and quiet path to the Vittorio Emmanuele II refuge.
Today we can ice climb on the Moncorvé Glacier’s gentle slopes, with a wonderful view from La Tresenta (3609m) across to the Gran Paradiso massif. At the end of the afternoon, we return to the Vittorio Emmanuele II refuge and descend to the Valsavarenche Valley. We will return to Chamonix where we’ll spend our last night at the hotel and you can enjoy a leisurely evening in town.
Farewell Chamonix. After breakfast we will transfer to you to Geneva airport for your flight home.
One question we often get asked is 'how fit do I need to be to climb Gran Paradiso?' While a high level of fitness will make the climb a lot easier, it by no means requires you to be a super-human. That being said, a solid training plan will help you to better prepare for the climb and will make your time on the mountain far more enjoyable. What all successful climbers share though is a real Kandoo attitude and that means high levels of grit and determination.
If you are comfortable walking for 6-7 hours with an ascent of 1000m then you are certainly fit enough to succeed on Gran Paradiso. Similarly if you can do a full hour spinning, a vigorous aerobics class or can jog at a decent pace for 45 minutes then there is no reason why you can't complete this climb.
This trip is on a full board basis
(except for nights in Chamonix). For your evening meals in Chamonix there is a
wide range of local restaurants for you to sample. If you have a dietary
requirement or are a vegetarian then just let us know when you book so that we
can plan a suitable menu.
The refuges provide hearty traditional and
generous meals prepared by the refuge keepers. Drinks are not included with
dinner, so please make sure you have some Euros with you. Refuges do not
generally accept credit cards.
Packed lunches will be produced by
your guide and include local meats and cheeses, crusty bread and fresh seasonal
vegetables. The lunch items will be shared between all of the group for
carrying each day. Remember to bring your favourite snacks (cereal or energy
bars, dried fruits, chocolate) with you to keep you going through the day
Tap water is typically safe to
drink in France so you can fill up your water bottle in Chamonix. Unfortunately
not all of the refuges have running water, and where water is available it is
not drinkable. You will need to bring purification tablets to treat the water,
and when running water is not available you will need to buy bottled water
which is very expensive (5 to 10 euros per bottle).
Accommodation
in Chamonix will be in a 3-star
hotel in twin rooms. You will stay in Chamonix on the first and last
night of the trip. Please note that your evening meal is not included when you
are in Chamonix.
You
will spend two nights in mountain refuges in shared mixed-sex dormitory rooms:
blankets are provided but you will need to bring a sleeping
bag liner. Please only
bring very basic toiletries as there is often no running water.
In your daily rucksack, you will carry
your food (snacks and picnic), your personal belongings and your climbing
equipment. It has to have a 40 to 50L capacity and should not weigh more than
10 to 12kg. Your rucksack should be pretty comfortable to carry all day. Your
guide will help you arrange your rucksack on the first day of your trip.
UPPER
BODY
LEGS
OTHER
ACCESSORIES
We recommend that wherever possible you use your own gear for your
climb as this is the best way to ensure your comfort and enjoyment. We
recogniSe though that the cost of some items is very high and this may not be
possible. We do not have our own gear available for rental but there are many
places offering gear for rental in Chamonix. It is your responsibility to
check carefully the condition of any item you rent. We accept no
responsibility for the quality of equipment hired.
Please
note that you will require two locking carabiners and these cannot be
rented. You must
bring your own
From | To | Price | Availability | Book | Enquire |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
13/07/2023 | 17/07/2023 | $1,945 £1,499 |
Sold out
|
Sold out | Enquire now |
03/08/2023 | 07/08/2023 | $1,945 £1,499 |
Available
|
Book now | Enquire now |
18/07/2024 | 22/07/2024 | $2,075 £1,599 |
Available
|
Book now | Enquire now |
08/08/2024 | 12/08/2024 | $2,075 £1,599 |
Available
|
Book now | Enquire now |
Want to ask us a question or book a private trip? Don't hesitate to contact us!
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