Clone of Epiphany weekend in the Monviso Valleys
The mountain villages, Pian della Regina, a walk on the snow in Alta Val Varaita, the beautiful Saluzzo
A trip into nature and alpine culture, in the shadow of the extraordinary and iconic 'Re di Pietra', the Monviso, in the company of an Environmental Hiking Guide.
We will admire the Monviso from Pian della Regina, enjoying a good plate of steaming polenta, strolling through the streets of the beautiful historic center of Saluzzo, discovering the mysterious and fascinating township-museum of Balma Boves, built in the rock and now abandoned on Monte Bracco, the 'Leonardo's mountain', we will visit Chianale with its stone houses and the cozy and romantic atmosphere, we will walk on the snow along the cross-country ski trail in Alta Val Varaita, filling our lungs with pure and sparkling air, and the eyes of beauty.
Maximum 8 travelers, to walk as in a group of friends.
NB: the routes may undergo changes based on the weather and safety conditions, so last-minute adjustments may happen.
Intermediate
Itineraries on varied paths, sometimes quite steep. To get the most out of these hikes you should be quite to walking with your backpack.
Day 1, Saturday 4th January: The historic center of Saluzzo
We will meet in Turin, at the Porta Nuova railway Station, at 13.30.
Once in Saluzzo, we will visit the Renaissance Casa Cavassa (admission and guided tour) and then we will enjoy a walk in the splendid historic center of the town, which will be a real surprise for those who don't know it yet. An afternoon full of beauty, to begin our journey in the best way.
Day 2, Sunday 5th January: The Po Valley, the Balma Boves museum township and the Leonardo Da Vinci mountain
An interesting guided tour will lead us to the discovery of the Balma Boves museum-village, a characteristic village built under the rock at the foot of Monte Bracco (the "mountain of Leonardo Da Vinci", who wrote about it in 1511).
It is a curious and mysterious place, abandoned in the 1950s, which shows a way of living in contact with nature in an exceptional natural environment. Something to discover!
For lunch we will stop at the Rifugio Pian della Regina mountain hut to admire the Monviso in all its splendor.
After lunch, a short walk to Pian della Regina and then return to Saluzzo for the evening and overnight stay.
Day 3 , Monday 6th January - Lake Castello and the township of Chianale
Today we will enjoy a splendid walk on the snow in the upper Val Varaita along the cross-country ski run (snowshoes will not be necessary, after-ski boots or boots are enough).
Lunch in Chianale and subsequent walk with visit of the township.
At the end return to Turin, with expected arrival around 17:00
Il soprannome che gli hanno dato i nostri viaggiatori è il Sommo, e questo già dice molto della bravura, competenza, capacità di Marco come Guida Escursionistica Ambientale, ma chi ha camminato con lui sa che questo è unito ad una grande gentilezza e capacità di osservare e anticipare i bisogni di ognuno durante le escursioni e anche nei momenti di svago. Punto di riferimento per moltissimi dei nostri viaggiatori, che si affidano ai suoi consigli e partecipano ai suoi tour quasi ad occhi chiusi, è quasi impossibile trovargli un difetto (e abbiamo cercato a lungo). Marco è davvero preparatissimo e per noi di Giroola è la colonna portante dell'escursionismo, (senza di lui non avremmo iniziato a proporre trekking) ed una fonte di idee e proposte di viaggio inesauribile.
Dicono di lui i nostri viaggiatori:
- Grazie a Marco per la sua attenzione continua nei nostri confronti, professionalità, gentilezza, una delle migliori persone e professionisti incontrati nel mio luogo peregrinare (Paolina, viaggiatrice in Valle Maira e Valle D'Aosta)
- Marco B. che avevo già avuto occasione di conoscere in un altro viaggio con Giroola ha confermato la sua grande professionalità, guida attenta ad ogni particolare, fonte inesauribile d'informazioni sia tecniche che del territorio che conosce alla perfezione, gentile, educato e un approccio alle persone con una discrezione che raramente ho riscontrato (Simona, viaggiatrice in Valle Maira e in Liguria)
- Marco è sempre gentile, bravissimo e ci ha dato tanti consigli per affrontare al meglio la nostra escursione. E sa rivoluzionare i piani, adattare e modulare a seconda pure dei temporali! (Graziella, viaggiatrice in Valle Maira, Isola del Giglio, di Borgata in Borgata, Parchi Naturali e Lago Maggiore)
Questo viaggio prevede tre escursioni con ciaspole nel pieno rispetto della normativa e della sicurezza dei partecipanti: durante le escursioni sarà presente, oltre a Marco Ballatore, Guida Escursionistica Ambientale, anche una Guida Alpina.
E' chiaro quindi che anche il costo di questo viaggio è più alto del solito: abbiamo deciso che però questo è l'unico modo per far provare una vera esperienza di montagna sulle ciaspole in pieno stile Giroola.
Questo viaggio è costituito da escursioni di livello intermedio, su sentieri di montagna con pendenze a tratti marcate, nelle quali si cammina per circa 6-7 ore totali.
Non sono presenti tratti esposti o particolari difficoltà tecniche.
Consigliamo questo viaggio a chi è abituato a camminare in montagna su dislivelli intorno agli 800 metri per diversi giorni consecutivi e ha voglia di condividere con il gruppo e con una guida escursionistica esperta un trekking in luoghi ricchi di bellezza.
Se hai un dubbio sulle difficoltà tecniche o sulla lunghezza del percorso, puoi contattarci e parlare direttamente con l'accompagnatore che ti potrà consigliare al meglio in base alla tua esperienza e alle tue esigenze.
This Epiphany weekend in the Monviso Valleys tour, of 448 euros per person, includes:
- Accompaniment for 3 days by Marco Ballatore, Environmental Hiking Guide
- 2 nights at the Hotel Antiche Mura di Saluzzo (single room supplement of 50 euros total for the whole trip)
- 2 lunches (at Pian della Regina and in Chianale)
- transfers by minibus from Turin to the starting point of the tour (both ways) and transfer to the start of the hike and for the evenings
- visit of the town of Saluzzo
- guided tour of the Museum Casa Cavassa
- guided tour of the Borgata Balma Boves, a charming village built under the rock, or alternatively, in case of bad weather, visit to the Abbey of Staffarda
- walk on the snow in Val Varaita (along the cross-country ski trail with apres ski or boots)
- visit of the village of Chianale
Our rule is simple: if an activity is planned in the tour, it's included in the price. For example this tour includes 2 lunches during the excursions.
Dinners are not included, because we want our travelers to be free to eat and drink what they feel like, without the constraints of a set menu or set price. Often during out minibus tours some of our travelers want to be eat light, while others want to taste all the local specialties. Our guide will organize the dinner for the group listening to their opinions and tastes, and will be with the group for the evening.
The departure time for this trip is 1.30pm on Saturday 4 January 2020. The time may vary slightly, depending on group composition, to allow everyone to join if traveling by train. About a week before departure we will confirm the exact time of the appointment.
The meeting point is in front of Torino Porta Nuova Station, in Piazza Carlo Felice Square under the arcades in front of the Decathlon store (click here for the Google Maps coordinates).
Arrival in Saluzzo (CN) is scheduled at 3 p.m.
For other meeting points contact Paola ([email protected] - tel. 3703506333).
Return to Turin Porta Nuova is scheduled around 17.00 on Monday January 6th 2020
The meeting point is in front of Torino Porta Nuova Station, in Piazza Carlo Felice Square under the arcades in front of the Decathlon store (click here for the Google Maps coordinates).
If you travel by train or plane, you can take the opportunity to arrive the day before and visit the city, we are at your disposal to add one or more nights to your trip.
If you arrive by car, we can recommend an alternative destination for the night before, and agree on a different meeting point.
For help organising the evening before the start of the trip, o the evening afterwads and for any questions or tips our Paola is happy to help you on the phone or WhatsApp ( +39 370 3506333 ), via email ([email protected]) or directly by chat by clicking here.
Abbigliamento
Vi consigliamo un abbigliamento a strati, traspirante ma caldo e soprattutto adatto per essere utilizzato anche sulla neve o comunque con temperature basse. Per prima cosa è necessario avere con se:
- un buon pile caldo e una giacca antivento e impermeabile.
- Riguardo i pantaloni si può optare per un paio da trekking invernale: più caldi di quelli tradizionali e con una maggiore protezione dal vento, dall’acqua e dalla neve. In caso di temperature particolarmente rigide, può essere utile indossare una calzamaglia sotto i pantaloni invernali.
- E’ inoltre fondamentale avere con se un paio di guanti caldi e impermeabili (un paio di guanti da sci vanno più che bene), più un altro paio di scorta per qualsiasi evenienza.
(Potrebbe esserti utile il nostro articolo con 4 consigli per scegliere l'abbigliamento da escursione).
Calzature
- E’ necessario utilizzare un paio di scarponcini da escursionismo invernale: ossia caldi e con membrane, quali GoreTex o simili, che li renda resistenti all’acqua e alla neve.
(Se vuoi approfondire dai un’occhiata al nostro articolo sulle calzature da trekking! )
Zaino
- È sufficiente avere uno zaino di 20-30 litri per le escursioni giornaliere, con un coprizaino in caso di pioggia o neve (non si sa mai!).
Da non dimenticare
- Sono inoltre essenziali un paio di occhiali da sole, un berretto caldo e un thermos dove poter mettere una bevanda calda.
Bastoncini da trekking
- Ideali sia in salita che in discesa per diminuire lo sforzo dei muscoli delle gambe ed attenuare il carico sulle articolazioni, per questo tour è necessario di utilizzarne un paio provvisti di rondelle in modo da non sprofondare nella neve. Per l'escursione con le ciaspole i bastoncini sono compresi nel costo del tour, ma per le camminate se volete i bastoncini è necessario portarli.
Per le escursioni con le ciaspole
- Compreso nel prezzo del tour è il noleggio delle ciaspole e dei bastoncini per le escursioni che le prevedono. Per le escursioni con le ciaspole e con Guida Alpina verrà fornito, sempre compreso nel prezzo del tour, il Kit ARTVA Pala e Sonda.
In our hiking tours you will find solo travelers, couples, or pairs of friends, and in a small group of eight it’s easy to become friends straight away. This tour is perfect for those that traveling alone but don't want to be on their own for the whole trip. You're independent and you can choose if and when to share your free time with the group.
Our travelers are people who know how to travel, in fact they arrive independently to the place of the appointment, mainly from all over Italy (but not only) and who choose to take a trip with us to learn differently about places, people, flavors and traditions. We are proud to say that our travelers are the best part of our trips!
Solo travellers are always welcome in our tours, and if you feel like sharing a double of triple room with other members of the group we will send you an e-mail after your reservation and you will be able to tell us about your preferences (for example, if you are a girl and you would like to share a room with girls only etc). You will not pay any surcharge.
If you prefer, you can book a single room for a fee.
If there are no other solo travellers in your tour or if there is no opportunity to satisfy your preferences, your single room will be offered by us at no extra charge.
All our tours are directly made by us, Giroola Srl, via Amorosa 3, 10030 Villareggia (TO) (P.iva 11671600010, Scia 19022017-1520 Suap 9007)
During the tour you'll be covered by our Civil Responsibility Assurance (Reale Mutua Assicurazioni, via Corte d'Appello 1, 10122 Torino, nr.2007/03/2276452).
We adhere to the Guarantee Fund (art.50 Dlgs 23.05.2011 n.79) which can be used by all travellers provided they have a contract in case of bankruptcy or insolvency for the refunding of the price paid. (Fondo Garanzia Viaggi Srl, via Nazionale 60, 00184 Roma, certificate n. A/146.1485/5/2017).
Booking Policy, from the General Terms and Condition for the Sale of Tour Packages:
3) RESERVATIONS
Acceptance of reservations by Giroola Srl is subject to availability. Reservations will be considered final following confirmation by Giroola Srl, even via e-mail or fax, to the client.
Indications relative to the tour package not contained in the contract documents, brochures or other forms of written communication, will be supplied in time by Giroola Srl prior to the initial starting date in compliance with its duties as envisaged by Legislative . decree n. 79/2011.
4) PAYMENT
Upon booking, a registration fee and a deposit of 25% of the total amount is required. Full payment is due 30 days prior to departure. For reservations made within 30 days of departure, full payment is due upon booking. Lack of payment of the abovementioned sums on the dates established constitutes grounds for cancellation of reservations such as to determine, on the part of Giroola Srl, the right to terminate the contract.
5) TRANSFER OF CONTRACT
The client renouncing the contract may be substituted by another person provided that:
a) Giroola Srl be given written notice at least 4 weekdays prior to the date of departure, together with the necessary personal data of the transferee;
b) The transferee be able to satisfy all the conditions for the fruition of the service ( ex article 10 of Legislative decree n.111/95) and in particular the requisites relative to passports, visas, health certificates;
c) The transferee refund Giroola Srl for all expenses incurred for the transfer of the contract for the sum specified before the transfer.
Moreover, the transferor and the transferee are both accountable for the payment in full of the tour package price as well as for the sum as per item (c) of the present article.
As far as certain types of services are concerned, third party suppliers have the right to refuse the substitution of the transferee, even if effected within the time limit specified as per item (a) of the present article. Giroola Srl will therefore not be held responsible for the eventual non-acceptance of the substitution on behalf of third parties. This non-acceptance shall be notified in good time by Giroola Srl to the parties involved before departure.
6) WITHDRAWAL
In the event of withdrawing from the tour package contract, the client is, in any case, liable for the payment of the tour package price. If withdrawal takes place for reasons beyond those envisaged in article 7 of the present General Terms, the client shall pay, in compliance with ex article 1373, paragraph III, Italian Civil Code, cancellation penalties as specified below:
- 10% of the tour package price within 30 days prior to departure
- 30% of the tour package price from 29 to 18 days prior to departure
- 50% of the tour package price from 17 to 10 days prior to departure
- 75% of the tour package price from 9 to 3 weekdays prior to departure
- 100% of the tour package price beyond these terms.
7) WITHDRAWAL OF CLIENT WITHOUT PENALTY
The client may withdraw from the contract, without incurring any penalty, in the following circumstances:
- a significant change of one or more elements of the contract which can be objectively considered as fundamental for the fruition of the tour package in its entirety and proposed by Giroola Srl.
- after the conclusion of the contract itself but prior to departure and not accepted by the client.
In the abovementioned circumstances, the client is entitled to the following options:
- the fruition of an alternative tour package, with no increase in price or with the restitution of the excess in price, if the second tour package costs less than the first;
- the restitution of any sum corresponded as partial payment. Said restitution must be made within seven weekdays from receiving the request for reimbursement.
The client must communicate the decision (to accept the change or to withdraw) within two weekdays from receiving notice of the price increase or change. In the absence of specific notice within the said term, the proposal made by Giroola Srl will be considered accepted. The client who decides to withdraw from the contract before departure for circumstances beyond those listed above shall pay, after deducting the account paid as per article 4, the penalty indicated in article 6.
8) TOUR VARIATIONS
Variations to the tour, requested by the client, after the confirmation of booking, could involve processing expenses for Giroola Srl and at times penalties charged by suppliers. If so, the customer will be charged. Partial withdrawal of some of the travellers under the same contract and the resulting decrease in number of tour members is to be considered partial cancellation and is consequently regulated as stated in article 6.
As specified in our General Conditions of Sale of tourist packages, when you travel with Giroola you are covered by our Civil Liability Insurance. For all that could happen and that was due to our negligence or error, we have signed a policy (Reale Mutua Assicurazioni, nr.2007 / 03/2276452).
There are other insurance policies that we recommend and for which we have chosen to work with Allianz Global Assistance, whose Globy range seems to us to be the most suitable for our travelers:
- TRAVEL CANCELLATION - Our 8-person trips are often full months before the date of travel, and even if our cancellation policy is actually much more flexible than expressed in our Booking Policy (our travelers can attest to this, we are very available to move the trip in case of unexpected even the last minute), where other facilities are involved (hotels, rentals, etc) some expenses are not really refundable, and therefore a good trip cancellation insurance becomes a valuable ally.
- HEALTH and ASSISTANCE
We at Giroola are an agency of the Globy network of Allianz Global Assistance, and we can therefore provide you with all the information, make estimates and issue the policies directly with the booking.
For any information our Paola is at your disposal at the phone number +39 370 3506333, at the address [email protected] or in the chat directly on this page.
What's included
Meals
- 2 breakfasts
- 2 lunches
Transport
- Transportation by minibus and assistance of an Environmental Hiking Guide for 3 days of travel
- Transfers by minibus for day trips as per the program
Accommodation
- 2 nights at the Hotel Antiche Mura di Saluzzo (single room supplement of 50 euros total for the whole trip)
Activities
- visit of the town of Saluzzo
- guided tour of the Museum Casa Cavassa
- guided tour of the Borgata Balma di Boves, a charming village built under the rock, or alternatively, in case of bad weather, visit to the Abbey of Staffarda
- walk on the snow in Val Varaita (along the cross-country ski trail with apres ski or boots)
- visit of the village of Chianale
- organization of dinners and assistance throughout the trip
Book this tour
Cosa è piaciuto ai viaggiatori
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