OUTDOOR MOUNTAIN PIEDMONT
Gran Paradiso National Park
Valle Orco
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We offer hikes and experiences with official Gran Paradiso National Park Guides to discover the environment, history and traditions of this wonderful area and to experience wellness activities in nature.
Gran Paradiso National Park is Italy’s oldest park, straddling Piedmont and Aosta Valley. The Piedmont side of the park is home to 9 of the 12 Canavese stages of the CAI Sentiero Italia.
DISCOVERING ANIMALS
A journey into the secret world of the Park’s wildlife, from the spring awakening of marmots to the roaring of deer in love, to learn about and protect biodiversity.
FOREST DIVING
We discover the fascination of walking in a forest amidst the blossoming of green in spring, the summer blooms of rhododendrons, and the magical autumn foliage.
ON THE TRAIL OF THE KING
Royal roads, hunting lodges and high-altitude cottages tell the story of an area that went from being the King’s hunting ground to becoming Italy’s first national park.
HOLISTIC WELLNESS IN NATURE
Yoga and forest bathing allow people to experience nature by rediscovering themselves and others in total immersion among the forests and pastures of the Park.
FOOD AND TRADITIONS
A hike in the park can be an opportunity to reach a mountain pasture or visit a producer with the Park’s
Quality Mark to taste local products.
Spring Calendar
THE ORC VALLEY BETWEEN WINTER AND SPRING
THE ORC VALLEY BETWEEN WINTER AND SPRINGApril 6, 2025, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
ALPINE SAFARI® IN GRAN PARADISO NATIONAL PARK
ALPINE SAFARI® IN GRAN PARADISO NATIONAL PARKApril 15 to the end of June
WE’RE GOING UPHILL BUT ON A GRAND LEVEL
WE’RE GOING UPHILL BUT ON A GRAND LEVELApril, May, June
WAGON CHAMOIS
WAGON CHAMOISApril, May, June
VITAL IMPETUS
VITAL IMPETUSApril, May, June
APERI-ERBE
APERI-ERBEMay 3, May 31
YOGA IN THE GITA
YOGA IN THE GITAMay 18, San Besso
June 7, Dres Lake
July 6, Grand Piano Hunting Lodge
PARK ANIMALS AT DUSK
PARK ANIMALS AT DUSKSaturday, May 31, 5:30 – 8 p.m.
The Orco Valley between winter and spring
A hike to experience the wild side of the Piedmont side of Gran Paradiso National Park! We will try to observe wildlife and learn about their characteristics and secrets of adaptation. On an early spring day, we will walk on the ancient royal mule tracks, discovering the history and fundamental importance of Italy’s first national park.
We will be in the Orco Valley, starting from a small hamlet of Ceresole Reale and beginning by following the course of the stream, then climbing where the snow at altitude will allow. We will sharpen our gaze to catch a glimpse of the Park’s wildlife: marmots shyly beginning to awaken from hibernation, chamois, ibex, eagles and bearded vultures circling in search of food…what we will see will be a cue to learn about the history of the Park and its inhabitants.
What can turn into a very crowded place in summer will be a true corner of peace for us, where we can observe the first signs of alpine spring.
When: 6/04/2025 h 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Where: Ceresole Reale
Cost: € 25 each
Guide: Giulia Marangoni, Gran Paradiso National Park Official Guide through the Verticalife Trekking Group
Info and reservations: +39 335 806 6841 – g.marangoni@verticalife.it
Alpine Safari® in Gran Paradiso National Park
Immersed in the wilderness of the Park to see wild animals free and in front of us.
Statuesque ibexes posing to be photographed, marmots whistling in alarm, chamois running, golden eagles in flight and the bearded vulture, so large it is awe-inspiring.
Backgrounds of snow-capped mountains and grasslands towards spring. A panorama to be created, the only opportunity of the year to see the wilderness so close, in a setting of exceptional beauty, and to be able to appreciate it in all its authenticity, with the utmost respect for the rules of the Park.
A walk within everyone’s reach with an elevation gain of no more than 200 meters.
When: April 15 to end of June
Where: Ceresole Reale
Cost: € 25 each (> 12 years old)
Guide: Enrica Fantini, Nature Guide Official Guide Gran Paradiso National Park
Info and reservations: www.naturalp.it – info@naturalp.it +39 340 365 3595
Let’s go uphill but on the Grand Plan
Go up yes but you have to do it as a king, so by means of a stretch of royal road you will reach the former Hunting Lodge of the Gran Piano, right there where the King used to spend the night waiting to find ibex. A hike in the beautiful Vallone di Ciamouseretto discovering a bit of history and what led to the birth of Italy’s first national park, the splendid Gran Paradiso. From hunts to conservation it took time and hard work.
The route is recommended for hiking enthusiasts with a minimum of training, positive elevation gain of about 900 meters, 12km a/r development, 8 hours in total, hiking equipment appropriate to the season required; depending on the time of year, elastic snow crampons may be needed.
When: April, May, June
Where: Meeting in Noasca
Cost: € 25 each (min. 6 people)
Guide: Ascendo Alpes Alder Costabel, Gran Paradiso National Park Official Guide
Info and reservations: Alder Costabel tel/whatsapp: +39 348 792 3782
Chamois from Carro
No more going on the usual roads! Following the Rio del Carro in the direction of the Conca del Nivolet is an alternative and little-visited hike with many interesting things to observe in the nature of Gran Paradiso National Park, an area where chamois like to seclude themselves to seek relief.
But by what or who? It’s time to go and find out!
The route does not present great difficulty, positive elevation gain of about 600 meters, 13km a/r development,8 hours in total, hiking equipment appropriate for the season required.
When: April, May, June
Where: Meet at Chiapili Inferiore (Bar Lo Sciatore)
Cost: € 25 each (min. 6 people)
Guide: Ascendo Alpes Alder Costabel, Gran Paradiso National Park Official Guide
Info and reservations: Alder Costabel tel/whatsapp: +39 348 792 3782
Vital Impetus
A hike on the trails in Noasca, at the mouth of the Noaschetta Valley, to reach the refuge of the same name (unmanaged). We will be able to see the power of water as a source of life in all its splendor in the Noasca Waterfall but also how powerless we sometimes are in the face of it. We will also visit the Noasca CEA (Environmental Education Center) and Visitor Center where we can better understand the pieces that make up the waterway between glaciology and geology, observing taxidermied animals, minerals, insects and more to understand how everything is connected and that we are part of it.
The route does not present great difficulty, positive elevation gain of about 500 meters, 8km a/r development, 6 hours in total, hiking equipment appropriate for the season required.
When: April, May, June
Where: Meeting in Noasca
Cost: € 25 each (min. 6 people)
Guide: Ascendo Alpes Alder Costabel, Gran Paradiso National Park Official Guide
Info and reservations: Alder Costabel tel/whatsapp: +39 348 792 3782
Aperi-herbs
Walk to discover good herbs, combined with a themed aperitif. Collecting wild herbs for food, therapeutic and cosmetic use is an ancient activity that comes from tradition. Let’s discover them together with an easy walk at the awakening of spring, when the alpine meadows are colored green again.
The route will be almost level, with no specific destination, and suitable for everyone.
When: May 3, May 31
Where: Ceresole Reale
Guide: Alessandra Masino, Gran Paradiso National Park Official Guide
Info and reservations: www.natualmenteinvacanza.it – info@naturalmenteinvacanza.it – +39 353 453 8576
Yoga on a field trip
“Yoga on a field trip” is a project born thanks to Irene Rossi’s passion, not only for yoga, but also for mountains and nature. Irene involved Silvia Valchierotti, a park guide, who enthusiastically accepted the proposal.
The outings are mountain trips within the park where we reach a suitable destination to lay our mats on the ground in nature to practice yoga together and learn about the culture behind this practice. Along the way we talk about flowers, animals, plants, history, geology and the environment we encounter.
Yoga classes are suitable for all people because the classical yoga that Irene offers is always practiced according to the participants’ current abilities. The trails are also technically simple, requiring only the willingness to walk on trail and do some uphill walking. YOGA classes last about an hour and a half and include āsana (postures), prānāyāma (breathing exercises) and yoga nidrā (deep relaxation).
Where and when: Sun May 18, San Besso Sat June 7, Dres Lake, Sun July 6, Gran Piano Hunting House
Cost € 40 each (min 6 people)
Guide: Silvia Valchierotti, Gran Paradiso National Park Official Guide
Info and reservations: tel/WhatsApp +39 349 676 0496 – silvia@oltrelverticale.it
Park animals at dusk
Guided walk with an exclusive guide immersed in the wilderness of Gran Paradiso National Park after sunset, to experience the thrill of finding yourself among the free-roaming ibex in front of you at a special time of day, at dusk, where shapes and colors, sounds and smells quickly transform to give way to the light and scent of the stars.
A unique opportunity to admire the wilderness in the shy evening light, in a setting of exceptional beauty. A walk within everyone’s reach with an islevel of no more than 200 meters.
When: Saturday, May 31 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Where: Meet at Chiapili Inferiore (Bar Lo Sciatore)
Guide: Enrica Fantini, Nature Guide Official Guide Gran Paradiso National Park
Info and reservations: enricafantini00@gmail.com – +39 393 203 812334
No skills assigned.
