The journey begins at Milan's main train station. All guests arriving by train or plane will be met here at 5:00 PM and transferred to our first hotel in Pont Saint-Martin (approximately a 2-hour drive). Those arriving by car will be driven directly to the hotel. Pont Saint-Martin is a tranquil village at the entrance to the Aosta Valley. Its landmark is the over 2000-year-old bridge. The village is an excellent starting point for hikes in the eastern part of the autonomous region of Aosta. Our accommodation: www.crabunhotel.it

Our first day of hiking begins with a short drive to Pontboset, a small village on the Ayasse River. From here, we descend into the valley and then climb steeply to a small waterfall, where we'll take a well-deserved break. Afterwards, we continue downhill through beautiful mixed forest and past deserted hamlets to Bard Castle. Those who wish can visit the castle with its historical exhibits and the "Museum of the Alps," and later return to our hotel at their leisure by bus. The rest of us continue on, partly along a Roman road, to the village of Donnas. Here, there's time for a gelato or other refreshments. Afterwards, we return to Pont Saint Martin and our hotel.

Today we're heading north to Gressoney – also known as Lystal – until we reach the Walser villages. The German-speaking Walser people immigrated from what is now Switzerland and still maintain their traditions today. We'll hike above the Lys River, enjoying magnificent views of the valley and the snow-capped Monte Rosa massif.

For our last hike in the eastern Aosta Valley, we again take the public bus to the Gressoney Valley, to the village of Lillianes. From there, we first follow the Lys River, then climb to the artists' village of Chemp. We then continue to the historic town of Perloz. We walk through the narrow streets to the edge of town and then back to Pont Saint-Martin. In the evening we travel from Pont Saint Martin to our new accommodation near the capital, Aosta. Our accommodation: www.hotelrendezvous.it

In the morning, we will explore the capital city of Aosta on a guided tour. We will learn a lot about the region's eventful history. The afternoon is free for your own explorations. The city's cafes and shops invite you to stroll around. Those who wish can, for example, take a trip west from the bus station to Courmayeur. This mountain resort is the "Italian gateway" to Monte Bianco / Mont Blanc.

This time we're starting right from our accommodation. We're following the Cammino Balteo, a long-distance hiking trail through the Aosta Valley. We'll initially hike through forests and later through vineyards to the small village of Moline. Next comes the Côte de Gargantua nature reserve with its particularly mild microclimate. We continue on to the village of Charvensod, where the descent to Aosta begins. Along the way, we'll have fantastic views of the city and the northern mountain ranges, including the magnificent Grand Combin massif (up to 4,300 m) just across the Swiss border. In Aosta city, everyone can stroll through the streets at their leisure, enjoy a cappuccino or an aperitivo, or simply soak up the atmosphere. In the evening, everyone meets back at the hotel.

Finally, we'll discover another part of the Aosta Valley. We'll head south into one of the region's most beautiful valleys. The Cogne Valley is initially narrow, but later opens up into a high plateau, at the heart of which lies the town of the same name (over 1,500 m above sea level). From here, after our hike, we'll enjoy a fantastic view of the snow-capped mountains of Gran Paradiso National Park (highest peak 4,061 m) while sipping delicious local wine or enjoying a cold beer. But first, the gods have decreed sweat. So, we'll embark on a hike. Waterfalls always hold a special fascination for us humans. That's why we're hiking to one today. We start in the village of Cogne and follow the small Urtier River to the village of Lillaz. We soon reach the first cascade of waterfalls. Now the path becomes a bit steeper as we approach the second cascade. Here, the mountain stream plunges thunderously into a pool. It's a wonderful place to linger. If you like, you can dip your feet in the cool water. A delightful refreshment! We then return to Cogne along a pleasant path with wonderful views of the valley. To round off the trip, there's time for a delicious aperitivo. A notice: We hike in the mountains at altitudes of up to 2,000 meters. Should the situation require it, we will adjust the hikes accordingly, also to ensure everyone's safety.

Today it's time to say goodbye, or you can extend your stay in the beautiful Aosta Valley a little longer. If you didn't arrive by car, you can use our transfer to Milan Central Station (see "Information" Departure). Regarding travel dates