Known to the locals as the “King of Stone”, or as the “Mont Blanc of the Southern Alps”, with its 12’790 ft. Monviso dominates the whole chain of the Cotian Alps, in southern Piemonte, and the lower plains from Saluzzo to Torino. Near the border with France, but entirely in Italian territory, Monviso for centuries was believed to be the highest peak in the Alps and, first climbed by the British William Mathews, saw the first successful Italian ascent on August 12, 1863, led by Quintino Sella. Its name, a contraction of Monte Viso, comes from the Latin Vesulus or “the visible mountain”. In fact, from the Italian side, its distinct and imposing pyramidal shape rears up from the mountain range, making it visible and recognizable even from great distances. On the flank of the mountain is the historical Buco di Viso (Hole of Viso), the first tunnel dug in the Alps in 1480, and used as a mule route between France and Italy to transport merchandise. Today it is a historical landmark.
At the feet of Monviso, remote valleys, dotted with small enchanting hamlets, hold on to their traditions and culture, while from its spring, the Po River, the longest river in Italy, starts its 430-mile journey to the Adriatic Sea. Hiking and trekking in a spectacular, rugged, alpine setting we circumnavigate this magnificent mountain admiring this giant of stone from every angle, and crossing a great variety of natural environments - glacial lakes, alpine passes, pristine valleys, and pine forests. Our journey truly takes us off the beaten path, through one of the most pristine, and least populated and developed areas of  the Alps.

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Itinerary Outline

Day 1 • Torino - Valle di Po
Meet your guide in Torino and tranfer to Valle di Po, the start of our journey. Short afternoon hike.

Day 2, 3, 4 • Valle di Po – Valle Varaita – Queyras
Starting form the source of the Po River, we start our trek. We overnight at Quintino Sella, perfectly located below the East face of Monviso, we visit Occitane villages, still holding on to their provençal traditions and language, hike through forests of maritime pines and descend into the Queyras Nat’l Park, an unspoiled area with exceptional flora and a protected wildlife
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Day  5, 6, 7 • Queyras – Valle Pellice – Saluzzo
Our circular trek leads us back to Valle di Po. We enter Val Pellice, home to the Valdesi, a religious minority dating back to the medieval times; we cross glacial basins, verdant pastures and forests; we visit cheese farms and taste their exquisite products; we pass military sites, testimonies of the area’s crucial role during WWI; we visit beautiful, medieval Saluzzo.

Day  8 • Departure
After breakfast, there is a group transfer to Torino.