The Lys Way, to Monte Rosa

Here in Fontainemore, a short driving distance from Pont Saint Martin, you can park your car in the public car park or, if you came by train, a transfer will pick you up at Pont Saint Martin train station to take you to the Agriturismo Le Soleil: here you can start enjoying the Lys valley crispy air and wander around the forest or just relax at the Agriturismo, where the locally made goat cheese is ready for you to taste.

After breakfast, get ready for the 1st mountain walk of this trip, leading to the Mars mountain - separating Piedmont (East) from the Aosta Valley (West). Remember to bring a change of “confy” clothes and your belongings, since luggage transport is not possible today and you will find your suitcase tomorrow.

The route starts ascending through the forest and fields, before immersing in the wilderness of mountain lakes and peaks; try to spot the mountain hut in the granite valley! If you have some energy left and you want to walk more in the afternoon, your Rifugista will explain the several options available.

Distance: 8,5 km

Elevation gain: +939/-280 m

If sunset is magic, sunrise is even more colorful here…if you are up this early it means you want to walk the long and wild option through the mountains towards Colle della Vecchia: it’s an adventurous and long hike, so be prepared to spend all day climbing up and down the valleys; if you want to take it easy but still have a nice walk in the nature you can opt to traverse and descend to Issime, passing by the numerous little hamlets with typical mountain architecture. From Issime a short transfer takes you to the accommodation.

Distance: 16,5 km

Elevation gain: +1138/-1556 m

Today the Vallone del Loo is waiting for you: a gradual and long valley walk, scattered with typical stone houses used to keep the animals but also to host the walkers that venture into this beautiful place. Peaceful and quiet you will descend for the 1st time into the Gressoney valley and then climb onto the other side (transfer available) to the next accommodation, with views of the giant Monte Rosa (rosa=pink, for the colour of its granite stone).

Distance: 14 km

Elevation gain: +1149/-1083 m

This is also called "the Monte Rosa stage", since the Rosa mountain will be guiding us, like the polar star. You pass through many “alpeggi”, where cows and sheep spend the summer and meet the shepherd. The Walser culture is especially present in this area: a German nomadic population, they have been living here since the Middle Ages thanks to their ability to farm at altitude; here the architecture and even the dialect is a mirror of their culture, and one of the best examples is the Alpenzu Hut. Ask to visit the restored social wood oven. Note that today luggage transfer is not available, so pack accordingly.

Distance: 11 km

Elevation gain: +792/-617 m

Today the stage is moderate, and you will reach the Orestes Hut at 2600m. There are 2 options: One is to take the cable car to Gabiet and walk 1.5 hrs to Orestes hut at 2600m, where you will spend the night. The other option is to walk up the hut without taking the cable car, making it a way tougher day. Note that at the hut they only cook tasty vegetarian and vegan food. Luggage transport is also not available, so pack accordingly.

Distance: 14,5 km

Elevation gain: +1400/-600 m

Today’s loop walk takes you to the foot of the Pink Giant, Monte Rosa. Here the alpinists start their ascent to the famous Capanna Margherita, named after the queen, at 4500m, or the famous Lyskamm traverse. You will walk up to Colle Salza at 2800m then descend to Staffal/Anderbatt in the Lys valley, with stunning view of the glacier; experienced and fit walkers have the chance to hike to “Alta Luce”, a panoramic point at nearly 3200m.

Distance: 12 km

Elevation gain: +700/-1500 m

The trip and our services end after breakfast, unless you have pre-booked extra nights with us or other extra services. You can take the public bus/private transfer to Fontainemore where you parked your car.

For our trips, we always choose accommodation with private rooms and private bathrooms. In rare cases, shared accommodations or shared bathrooms may be provided, so we recommend carefully checking the inclusions section to understand the type of accommodation included in the trip you are interested in.  

We place great importance on the choice of accommodations and select hotels with care and attention. We understand how essential it is to rest well after a day of walking. We always prefer cozy and characteristic establishments, preferably family-run, that fully embody the spirit of the place and offer hospitality with courtesy and comfort.  

Where, due to the nature of the route, accommodation options are limited, we choose the one that best aligns with our standards.

Walking at the foot of Monte Rosa and in the Valle del Lys is a delightful experience, but only for those who already have good mountain hiking experience: the daily kilometers are not many, but the elevation gains (over 1000 meters uphill on several days) make this journey very challenging.

The trails often consist of rocks and rather narrow paths, so this route is strongly discouraged for those who do not have full stability and suffer from vertigo. For those with a good level of fitness and a love for the mountains, it is definitely the ideal trip!