It’s no secret that Ryder-Walker has spent decades refining a collection of exceptional treks across Italy. The country’s remarkable diversity makes narrowing down our favorite hikes no small task—whether traversing the dramatic limestone towers of the Dolomites or exploring coastal paths and island landscapes farther south. Our Italian Alps Trek focuses on Italy’s northwestern corner, the most mountainous region of the country, where Italy meets France and Switzerland. In Courmayeur, we hike in the shadow of Monte Bianco (Mont Blanc); in Cogne, we explore trails that lead into Gran Paradiso National Park, Italy’s largest protected area; and in Champoluc, we settle into a series of tucked-away Alpine villages beneath the glaciated peaks of Monte Rosa, with access to high mountain trails framed by some of the most dramatic scenery in the Alps.
See the Mont Blanc’s Most Impressive Side
The Italian face of the Mont Blanc, known locally for its own slightly lower summit as the Monte Bianco, is without question the most awe-inspiring view of the highest mountain in Western Europe. Although the Mont Blanc is best known for its French side, and the ever-bustling village of Chamonix, from Italy you are truly able to experience the true scale of the mountain. The Monte Bianco rises from the village of Courmayeur at a nearly vertical angle, soaring to the summit of the mountain. The vertical distance between Courmayeur and the summit is truly Himalayan in scale – a vertical drop comparable to the distance between the base camp and summit of Everest.
Explore the Hidden Valleys of the Italian Alps
The Italian valleys surrounding the Breithorn and Monte Rosa are pleasantly forgotten by time. These deep and isolated valleys flow seamlessly into the highest peaks in the Alps, populated only by small villages with dedicated outdoor communities. The most populace of these secret Italian resorts is in the village of Champoluc, which offers truly soaring views of the Breithorn – a mountain best known for its view from Zermatt, although Champoluc offers a much quieter and truly unique experience of the iconic summit.
Swim in Glacial Lakes
The Italian Alps aren’t just known for glaciated summits and deep forests, there is also an incredible collection of glacial lakes tucked high in the mountains. An ever-popular destination for locals, these lakes are often the center of mountain life with Italian families swimming in the frigid water and picnicking on the shore. The lakes we visit on our Highlights of Italy Trek are the Lago Blu and Lago di Loie. The Lago Blu is shadowed by the Breithorn and is the product of earth-shattering glacial erosion, a carving so impressive that the lake even sports white sand beaches – a true rarity for alpine lakes. The Lago di Loie commands an uninterrupted view of the Mont Blanc and striking emerald-green water.
Hike the Balcone della Val Ferret
The Balcone della Val Ferret is one of the truly legendary hikes in the Alps. Held in such illustrious regard as the Grand Balcon Sud above Chamonix and the Alpenrose hut above Zermatt, the Balcone della Val Ferret provides an extended outing along a rock outcropping that sits directly opposite the Brenva. The Brenva is perhaps the most well-known ice wall in the alps, rising thousands of feet towards the summit of the Mont Blanc. The mountaineer and writer Tom Patey described the Brenva and the experience of climbing it as such:
“Any fool can monkey around on rock overhangs, but it takes craft and cunning to beat the Brenva”!
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