Tackle Italy's highest peak at 4061 meters
Join Couch2Summit on this challenging ascent of Gran Paradiso in the beautiful Aosta valley. At 4061 meters, Gran Paradiso offers a stern test but is an achievable 4000 meter peak for beginner alpine mountaineers under the right guidance and fitness.
With an IFMGA certified Guide, Personal Trainer sessions, a full skills day and motivation every step of the way, you will be primed to confidently tackle and climb to one of the most impressive summits in the European Alps.
Starting at Chamonix, the birthplace of Alpinism and a bustling town in the shadows of Mont Blanc, we will do a full skills day to get you comfortable with using the tools and techniques needed for your climb. We then head to Italy and hike up to the lovely Chabod hut which will serve as our base for the Gran Paradiso attempt and give you the experience of staying in a mountain hut with great food and drink.
After our summit day on Gran Paradiso, we then head back to Chamonix to finish the trip with a well deserved fondue dinner!
Itinerary
| Date | Activity |
|---|---|
| 02/08/2025 | Arrive at Chamonix After you have checked in to your accommodation, we do kit checks and also collect hired equipment including ice axes, crampons, harness and helmet. Overnight stay at Chamonix. |
| 03/08/2025 | Skills Day at Mer de Glace We take the famous rack and pinion railway to the Mer de Glace for a day of glacier and mountain skills training. You will learn about the tools and essential techniques to safely aid you on the Gran Paradiso climb and some exquisite views of the Drus and the Grandes Jorasses also await. Overnight stay at Chamonix. |
| 04/08/2025 | Hike to Chabod hut We transfer early morning to the beautiful Aosta valley in Italy and hike to the Chabod hut for the night through lovely alpine meadows. The hut provides a three course dinner and we relax in preparation for an early alpine start the next day. |
| 05/08/2025 | Gran Paradiso After a very early start, we rope together and begin the ascent of Gran Paradiso through its glacial terrain and reach its stunning summit after traversing its rocky summit ridge (Dont worry about this ridge, we've got you!). We then descend back to the Chabod hut for the night. The day is usually about 7 - 8 hours. |
| 06/08/2025 | Transfer to Chamonix After a relaxing night (and maybe some well deserved drinks) at the Chabod hut, we descend down the valley and head back to Chamonix. A fondue dinner completes the trip with overnight stay at Chamonix. |
Pricing (Group of 4)
£1175 per person (£975 without Personal Training)
What's included
- 6 virtual sessions of 30 minutes each spread out over 2 months with a Personal Trainer who will create and motivate you on your fitness plan for the trip
- Fully qualified IFMGA guides through the 4 days
- Montenvers train ticket to the Mer de Glace
- Half board stay at the mountain hut (Chabod) for 2 nights
- Equipment hire
- Transfer from Chamonix to Italy and back
What's not included
- International airfare, airport taxes and baggage charges
- Personal kit
- Airport transfers to/from Chamonix
- Accommodation at Chamonix
- Food and drink except for breakfast/dinner at the huts and the fondue dinner
- Trip insurance covering the activity