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Home > Holidays > Walking Discoveies Cogne & the Gran Paradiso Cogne & the Gran ParadisoMountains, valleys & wildlife
The Gran Paradiso National Park is an area of outstanding natural beauty, set in the heart of the Italian Alps, comprising large region of high mountain, soaring from deep green valleys to the snow-capped summit of the Gran Paradiso at over 4,000 metres. We recommend a choice of walks that will enable you to discover the immediate area from the hotel's door, although with a hire car, we also suggest exploring the magnificent alpine scenery a little further afield. Nights: 7 Base: Hotel Bellevue (4*), Cogne. This luxurious hotel is full of rustic charm and has a wonderful cosy ambience. You will be warmly greeted by the Jeantet-Roullet family, Laura and Domenico who are passionate about their hotel and the local area and, as a Park Guide, Domenico will be more than happy to advise where to walk and where to catch a glimpse of the abundant wildlife. All the rooms in the hotel are different yet all exude the same classic elegance, with wooden floors and antique furniture. Views abound from all rooms but upgrade to a superior room for a balcony (£16pp/n), a junior suite for a separate living room (from £27pp/n), or a suite for a fireplace and a jacuzzi (from £39pp/n). To reward yourself after a days walking make use of the pool and sauna or treat yourself (pay locally) to one of the many other treatments on offer in the hotels atmospheric spa facilities. We include dinner on your first night in the hotel's own Michelin-starred restaurant - the small town of Cogne has a number of excellent cafes and restaurants to entice you on the other nights of your stay. Walking: to explore the immediate area, we suggest two striking and leisurely walks from the hotel that follow spectacular rivers, or 'torrents' , down neighboring valleys into the heart of the Park. follow the Torrent Valnontey through meadows and woods to gain spectacular views of the glaciers or take a walk beside the Torrent Urtier to reach spectacular waterfalls at Lillaz, before venturing into the wild and remote Vallone di Valeille. To seek out the Park's wildlife and gain breathtaking views over the entire cogne Valley and Gran Paradiso, we recommend taking the cable car up to Grand Crot (pay locally) and then following the nature trail across a panoramic crest. For higher level routes, a challenging walk to Valnontey ascends steeply to the Alps Money where a traditional alpine hut stands in splendid isolation beneath three breath-taking glaciers; or you can walk from Lillaz to the idyllic mountain lake, Lago di Loie, from where you can gaze across to the Monte Bianco massif. The best chance of seeing the elusive ibex is from an ancient trail that climbs through forest from Valnontey to highland pastures at Lauson. Further Afield Exploring: we also suggest you use your hire car to drive to the Place Moulin reservoir, from where a pleasant walk leads above the shores of the artificial lake to a traditional mountain restaurant, set in a beautiful alpine landscape. On your return, take time to visit Roman Aosta. Alternatively, why not drive to Courmayer at the foot of the Monte bianco, Europe's highest mountain? Take the cableway up the mountainside and enjoy the panoramic views as you glide gently over the border into France, high above the glaciers below. Other information: if you would like to see the brochure page, you can download this (and the pages for any other holidays you are interested in) by using our brochure creation system.
Prices & travel 2008:
Recommended destination airport: Turin, Milan & Geneva
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The Valle d'Aosta, home of Italy's first national park, is tucked away in the north-west corner of Italy bordering France and Switzerland. This is Italy's smallest region - surrounded by Europe's highest peaks. Forest of larch and fir, wide alpine meadows, cliffs and ridges, and creaking blue glaciers all combine to crate a stunningly beautiful landscape of rich and varied flora and fauna. To walk here through its rolling meadows and dramatic valleys is a real joy.