Piedmont's Magical Valley

This is a stunning walking holiday. It is a Grade 3 but takes one through some magical scenery as the holiday title suggests. I was blessed with some exceptional late season weather. This was a truly wonderful alpine excursion. 

Walking wonderful and as described. Maybe not everyone would know the importance of good fitness preparation for this demanding level of walking. Compasses essential and good wet weather gear.

Highlights are the superb high mountain landscapes and options for valley walks in pristine environments, warm hospitality and great food! Valle Maira takes some effort to reach, but is worth it!

Too many highlights - all high routes were spectacular. Thought nothing could match high route of Bernese Oberland, but this was equally as spectacular. All accommodation special and lovely to return to of an evening. When meeting Sherpa bus from station, it is up to the client to locate van; Sherpa bus is a van with signage;  that it is parked in car park.  Previous arrangements with Inntravel have meant drivers have easily located us when coming off train. This was not the case here. 

We had an excellent holiday, walking the highlights of the unspoilt Valle Maira. The scenery was stunning, especially around Chiappera, where we were glad that we booked an extra night so we could do all three of the suggested walks. We also enjoyed our pre-walk stay in Turin, a good place for a city break.

Inntravel provided us with exceptional places to stay once again. Thank you!  All were delightful in different ways. We ate so much good food and especially loved the set menus. Piedmont is a stunning location for a holiday and the walking routes are beautifully maintained and well signposted. However, we wouldn't choose August again as the heatwave meant we had to scale back our walking ambitions on some days as we hadn't expected temperatures in the 30s in the mountains. Planning different routes was easy to do with the excellent map provided. We also very much enjoyed travelling by train - a completely stress-free experience.

The entire trip to the Valle Maira was beyond amazing. The service from Inntravel was faultless, the team were responsive and helpful. The walking was extraordinary. The accommodation was fantastic with the friendliest of people and fabulous meals. The locations of the accommodation were stunningly beautiful. All transfers involved were smooth and efficient. Thank you so much for an unforgettable holiday.

This is an outstanding holiday in a captivating area. The beauty of the landscape, warmth of the pople, quality of the accommodation and the glorious walking combined to create a memorable week.

All the walks amongst such amazing scenery were varied and very well chosen. We particularly enjoyed the challenging climb up Monte Chersogno, the meadows full of wild flowers and accompanying insects, and the accommodation in Allemandi where we were made to feel part of the community.

This was a wonderful walking holiday in beautiful unspoilt Piedmont. Valle Maira is truly magical. We were walking during the intense July heatwave with temperatures above 30C even at altitude of 1700 metres. As a result the hikes were challenging at times as nearly all involved a significant ascent. Despite that we thoroughly enjoyed the walking as the scenery was majestic. The accommodation was excellent and full of character, staffed by friendly and helpful people. The food was delicious with generous 5 courses at dinner everywhere (little too much in the heat!). The picnics provided were more than adequate. Our favourite was Lou Pitavin. Highlights for us; the impromptu concert by Luigi after dinner at Agriturismo Al Chersogno, the walk to  Monte Chersogno and Lake Camoscere, walk to Rocca Provenzale and the walk to Finello past Rocca Meija. Tip for fellow walkers, particularly if visiting during a heatwave, is to check that roads to drop off points of walks are open. Recent rain had resulted in rockfalls that closed the road en route to Col de Maurin drop off at Grange Ciarveria. This added a significant ascent from the base of the valley to result in a very long days walking (23km) on a very hot day! We also found the GPX files extremely useful to check our location against the walking notes on certain walks so would definitely recommend having them available. Finally Inntravel in our opinion surpassed our expectations with this walking holiday. We have done some of their other challenging walking holidays but for us this is their best. Top marks for choosing such wonderful accommodation, fantastic walking routes but most importantly for the overall coordination as everything went exactly to plan.

The Magical Valley in Piedmont was our first Inntravel holiday. We had a wonderful time and were not at all disappointed. The scenery is dramatic and varied, the wildflowers ubiquitous and stunning, the accommodation charming and comfortable with hospitable hosts who all provided extensive dinners after the day's walking. The valley is still relatively undeveloped and yet there is a good and clearly signed network of paths going over the mountain passes or up the peaks and through the forests. We followed the advice of a previous reviewer and booked a balcony in Chiaperra which was definitely worth the additional payment, we had a large room with a stunning view. If you enjoy an exhilarating hike in wild Alpine scenery I recommend the Valle Maira.

A holiday graded 3 is a tough walk...but add on the high temperatures of July and it becomes much tougher. You need to be fit and quite used to mountain walking to get the full benefits of this holiday. Personally, this is the most challenging but beautiful holiday I have had. 

We loved our week in the Maira Valley. Each day offered a different way to explore a magical place. The hikes were long and hard and we liked them that way. In Chiappera we combined hike B1 and A on the way back and loved it. The accommodations were terrrific and the food was plentiful, especially the sandwiches at lunch! There are no stores so if you like to have specfic snacks, you should bring them with you.

This was an exceptional exciting beautiful trip. Highlights were the spectacular views, the smell of the summer flowers and meeting some great companions, sharing wine and food. What could be greater

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Inntravel to anyone looking for a tailor made walking holiday. The hotels that they select, the walking notes and maps provided, the local and bag transfers, everything. Our hotels were lovely and characterful, all provided a warm welcome, the rooms were comfortable and the food plentiful and delicious. Everything ran like clockwork.

The Piedmont walk met all of our expectations, the scenery was spectacular, the accommodation met the high standard that we expect from Inntravel and the food was both excellent and plentiful. To experience Occitane cuisine and the local wines were highlights of the trip. The walks themselves were sometimes challenging but the scenery that we saw, particularly at the higher elevations was exceptional. Our favourites were the walks to the border with France at Col du Marin and Lac du Roure with the dusting of snow though the pass a bonus. The view of Rocca la Meja and the surrounding grassy valley, as you crest the Passo della Gardetta on the walk from Chiappera to Finello, will last in my memory for a long time, absolutly stunning.

Use downloaded maps along with notes.

Senterio Frassati was the 'best'  walk. Chersogno would have been too had the weather been kinder.Is it worth mentioning in the package notes that light headedness due to altitude can kick in after 2500m?

Useful tip would be pack for all weathers. We had hot days wearing shorts and t-shirts and yet on the coldest day where we had 3 inches of snow needed winter trousers and base/mid/outer and a waterproof layer.

Don't be afraid to ask for small portions at La Scuola di Chiapperra.They serve very generous portions!

We absolutely loved this holiday. It was  the best walking we have done with Inntravel. It is good to have some challenging long routes. We liked staying several nights in each hotel and then being able to walk from there. We would have extended our trip to do all the walks if we had realsd just how fantastic it was going to be.

The accomodation and food was all excellent- really felt we were having an authentic Italian mountain experience. Thanks.

We loved the area and the walking. Each of the places we stayed were quite different which was fun. The welcome we received at each of the hotels was very welcoming. The walking was even more lovely than we had expected. We would walk for hours without meeting others - it felt like we had the place to ourselves. It was stunningly unspoilt and breathtakingly beautiful. We loved it.

Wonderful mountains, very quiet, no litter and amazing villages which felt like a return to medievel times. The landscape was spectacular - compared very favourable with the Himalayas without the altitude! The extra two days in Turin were an added bonus. 

An absolutely brilliant holiday. The small hotels were all very comfortable and welcoming with excellent food and service. The walks were stunning with amazing views of jagged mountains and grassy knolls, lakes and streams, more marmots than people and all accompanied by the soundtrack of cow bells and the whistles of the marmots.   

The timings are overly generous even including stops. The accommodation and the food exceeded all expectations. The Routes were well chosen - quiet, challenging with stunning scenery. The GPS download works exceptionally well and gives you complete confidence that you are on the right track. The service from Inntravel was perfect. The Hotel at La Chersogno was particularly charming. 

If you are lucky with the weather, as we were, the view from Passo della Gardetta towards Rocca la Meja is absolutely stunning. It was a wonderful reward after the long climb up from Pratorotondo on the Day 6 hike from Chiappera to Finello.

I noticed that the Three Peaks holiday is not available in 2023. I did wonder why as it's a lovely holiday. 
We have already completed the Magical Valley walkin a previous year and this time it was as beautiful as we remembered it. In order to complete all three walks in the second venue you did have to stay there another night which we did. That could be stressed so that you didn't have to choose between walks. 

Our recent walking holiday in the Piedmont Magical Valley certainly lived up to our high expectations. This was our 10th Inntravel walking holiday and the high standards of everything from walking routes/food/accommodation/ services provided remains exceptional. The welcome received at each of our accommodations was amazing - although I'd have to single out Allemandi for being our favourite. All the staff were amazing making us feel really at home & very relaxed. Each days walking was superb - from sensational views over mountain passes / admiring the Alpine mormat squirrel / amazing lunch spots to enjoy our wonderful picnics provided. We added on a 2 night city break in Turin & would highly recommend this addition. Turin like many Italian cities offers so much. We loved visiting the Basilica di Santa Maria; enjoying a steak on the hot plate at the Ritual Ristorante Brasiliano, and a rewarding walk following the Don Bosco camino to the Superga. Thanks again Inntravel for all the planning allowing us to soak it all in. 

Piedmont's Magical Valley has taken top spot in our personal league table of favourite walking holidays. We were looking for challenging walking and this itinerary was a good match for our ability. As we added a few extra nights we walked almost all of the suggested routes, and all were enjoyable. We were also able to include a couple of walks that we planned ourselves with the aid of Outdoor Active. The mountain scenery was spectacular, there were interesting historic sights along the way, and the paths were clear and well signed. The wildlife was also plentiful - we saw eagles, vultures, red deer and ibex as well as dozens of marmots and a huge array of colourful butterflies.

 The accommodation in Valle Maira is varied and charming - each guesthouse was very memorable, with friendly owners and bags of character. Every (substantial) dinner was a treat - with wide ranging menus featuring local produce. The Locanda Lou Pitavin is a real highlight - its a la carte menu showcases traditional dishes with a modern spin. There is also a well stocked wine cellar and a cosy lounge, as well as pretty gardens where you can enjoy a relaxing sundowner.

 We were also very impressed with the Sherpabus service. The drivers skillfully negotiated the narrow mountain roads and were very professional and always on time.

 A few tips - 

 If you are fast walkers then you can easily make a detour to the Rifugio Escursionistico "La Sousto dal Col" before the final stage of the walk to S. Martino Superiore and try a couple of bottles of excellent locally brewed beer. Food is available at the refuge too.

 If you are a gadget fan be warned that wifi is scarce, and where it does exist it is very slow. Great if you want to escape from email - but not so good if you want to back up your phone photos. There's good mobile data coverage though - even up on the remote trails.

 On your final day in Finello it is worth exploring the hamlet of Vernetti. There is a lovely guesthouse and restaurant called Albergo diffuso Ceaglio (https://www.ceaglio-vallemaira.it/) which is also home to an outdoor museum of local artifacts. You can enjoy a leisurely lunch sitting outside in their beautiful courtyard.

 Lastly, take your walking poles! There are some steep climbs and descents and quite a few paths have stretches of loose shaley stones.

This was a fabulous holiday. Valle Maira is incredibly beautiful and the service provided by Inntravel was outstanding. The walks were varied and well documented and we were generally comfortably within the guideline time allocations. And we never got lost!

At the time of booking we took the option to pay a small supplement for a room with a balcony at La Scuola in Chiappera. We would highly recommend this as the views are fantastic. 

This was our first holiday with Inntravel and we certainly hope it will not be our last.

This was a fabulous holiday.

As advertised the walking is challenging but very rewarding as the scenery is spectacular and also varied.

The accommodation is very well chosen, we enjoyed all 3 places where we stayed and they contrasted nicely with each other. We particularly enjoyed staying at La Scuola di Chiappera as the setting is magnificent and the cooking is innovative as well as being delicious.

We followed the suggestion in an earlier review of this holiday and spent an extra night at La Scuola. It was good to be able to have a slightly lazy day - we did a short walk in the afternoon.

We did this holiday in July. When we arrived in Turin it was over 30 degrees and I wondered if it would be too hot to do the walks but at altitude (we were at 1,600 metres and above) the temperatures were very manageable.

On the penultimate day's walk we arranged to be collected at a later time at the end of the day. We were pleased that we did this as it gave us time to admire the scenery as well as catch our breath en route to the Rifugio Gardetta.

Thank you Inntravel for providing us with such a wonderful experience.

INNTRAVEL NOTE: Customers stayed one night at the Grand Hotel Sitea, Turin before starting their walking holiday.

We loved the peace and solitude of Valle Maira - some days we went for hours without seeing another person. The walking is tough but well worth it for the scenery and majesty of the valley. The trip to Camogli was a lovely contrast to the mountains and allowed us to recharge our batteries. Am missing Italy already!

INNTRAVEL NOTE: These customers added a tailored stay on the Ligurian coast to our Piedmont's Magical Valley walk.

I really enjoyed this walk in a rural backwater of Italy, both because of the walking and the hotels. The paths / terrain in places were rough, and particularly as I was walking alone there were parts that I would not have liked to walk in bad weather. During my holiday, there was only one day of significant rain and thunder, and this was on a day when I could make easier choices, so this did not impact on my experience.

This was one of the best walking holidays we have been on. It was peaceful, tranquil and unspoilt. We definitely felt far from the 'madding crowd'. The wildflowers were spectacular and fulfilled all our expectations. There was an outstanding amount of wildlife to see and watching a family of marmots playing on the hillside was amazing.

This was probably the most challenging of all of the Inntravel holidays I have been on, but at least the most challenging walks were optional days. The transfer days were fine.

The hotels were lovely, especially Agriturismo Al Chersogno where we felt more like part of the family than visitors and the quality of Locando Occitana Lou Pitavin is amazing.

The scenery is absolutely stupendous; high, craggy mountains, wonderful alpine meadows and some delightful woodland. The wild flowers were stunning and lots of other wildlife to keep us interested.

This really is the dream alpine valley and long may it remain under-developed!

One unexpected hilight was the sheer diversity of wildflowers and butterflies at this time of year. It might be worth recommending a guide. The high level hikes were stunning -better than we had expected. The longest (from La Scuola) to the small circuit in France is very long (we did the shorter option to the lake). It would be nice to find a way to make it into a circuit, rather than a there-and-back which it mostly is.

This trip was a total delight.  Coming from the Colorado mountains, I tend to think nothing can top them. How wrong I was. Each accommodation was different but with its own charm. My hiking pants got a tad tighter, which indicated the food was bountiful and delicious. The trails, were different but were at the range I am used to. A delightful experience.

It was delightful, one of the best we've taken. The routes were outstanding, interesting and we saw few people. There was a lot of personal attention at the lodgings and the food was good. Transfers all worked seamlessly.

We felt that our efforts on both trips were well rewarded with truly outstanding views and delicious cuisine. The Swiss trip provided lots of efficient transportation choices that were especially great for sore knees on long descents. The Piedmont provided solitude with wild and beautiful landscapes and many trails that were way off the beaten track. Kudos to the person who put this trip together!

INNTRAVEL NOTE: These customers combined our From The Eiger to The Matterhorn and Piedmont's Magical Valley walking holidays.