Discovery Italy

Day 1: DONNAS IN THE LOWER PART OF VALLE D’AOSTA
Wine tasting
Arrival at the Airport, transfer to Donnas, a typical village of the lower part of Aosta Valley, dating to roman times.Check-in Hotel *** and after a refreshment and some relax you start discovering the ancient village of Donnas.
You visit the ancient monuments from two thousand years ago, its medieval ruins, churches and residences of feudal lords that used to contain the domain of the valley.
Lunch time with valdostan cuisine.
We recommend you to visit the historical center of this village, not far from Pont Saint Martin, on the left side of the Dora, 322 m above sea level. You also visit the fascinating roman and medieval buildings such as the Arch, built in the 1st century b.c.
The itinerary continues with a stroll around Donnas, through terraced vineyards, from which comes the famous red wine Donnas, also called the mountain Barolo.If you are going to be here in October you have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the charming atmosphere of the Grape Festival, or attend the Fair of St. Luca and the Chestnut Festival.You visit the vineyard Caves Cooperatives de Donnas where a tasting of local wines will be waiting for you.

Evening: Dinner in traditional restaurant.

Day 2:
DONNAS – BARD 3,5 km of trekking
BARD – ARNAD 5,5 km of trekking
Wine tasting and local gourmet products
We recommend you to start early in the morning and walk along the river Dora, on the SS26.
A trekking route at the foot of the mountains, crossing vineyards that climb up and wonderful views. You visit the fortress of Bard, which was originally a castle built in the XIth century. Then you continue on the same road among steep slopes and trellises from which originate the wines: Barolo and Barbaresco.When you reach the village Arnad you visit the parish of the Benedictine monks, St. Martin and 3 km from Arnad, suggestive sanctuary of Arnad Machaby.Lunch: Lunch in trattoria tasting the Lard Arnad, tasty sausage seasoned with fragrant mountain spices.Wine tasting with the local Arnad Montjovet
ARNAD – CHAMBAVE 23 km of trekking through the picturesque wine-growing areas of Saint – Vincent and Chatillon, the medieval atmophere castles of Ussel and Fenis
You wander into your own rhythm in the gentle hills planted with vines and arriving in the evening to 486 m above sea level in Chambave where were born the famous wines Rouge de Chambave and Chambave Muscat.We recommend you to visit the ancient church of San Lorenzo with its beautiful roman tower and the company of wine La Crotta in Vigneron where you will be introduced to the world of wine and the advanced wine making technologies. Wine tasting of local gastronomic products.

Evening: Check-in Hotel*** or B & B ***

Day 3:
CHAMBAVE – NUS 7 km of trekking
NUS – AOSTA 17 km of trekking
Wine tasting and local gourmet products
After a rich breakfast, the morning starts towards the wine areas of Torrette and upper Torrete, the beautiful village of Nus and then following a well off rhythm among the beautiful majestic mountains, high peaks, hills and spectacular views, you arrive to Aosta
Lunch in a charming trattoria
During the afternoon we recommend you to visit the old town and its monuments: Arch of Augusto, Porta Pretoria, the Cathedral and its museum, the monumental complex of Sant Orso with its beautiful cloister originally built in Romanesque style and amended later with interventions in gothic style. On its walls there are bible stories, animals and mythological stories of the lives of the saints.

Evening: Regional Enoteca, in the area where it used to be the Forum, an ideal place local wines tasting.
Dinner at a restaurant in the old historical part of the town

Day 4: AOSTA, PILA , SAINT VINCENT
The morning starts with art and culture, visiting the Archaeological Park of Aosta with the rests of the Roman Theatre and Amphitheatre. The ancient baths are also on the schedule.
Lunch in trattoria
AOSTA – PILA 18 km by bus or by cable car
Walk through the meadows and forests surrounded by mountains
AOSTA – SAINT VINCENT 30 km by bus
alternatively you take the bus to the casino in Saint Vincent

Evening: Dinner in a traditional restaurant and 3* hotel accommodation in Aosta

Day 5: AOSTA – ARVIER 13 km of trekking crossing AYMAVILLES
Wine tasting and local gourmet products
The morning starts with a trek that takes you through a valley full of orchards and vineyards.
At Aymavilles ends the Central Valley and begans the Valley of Cogne.
You cross the famous wines area: Petit Rouge, Fumin, Petit Arvin, Pinot Nero, Dolcetto and Freisa as well as other varietals.Your morning destination is Arvier, known for its famous wine, Enfer Arvier that took his name "hell" by the fact that in the vineyards above the village the sun warms the stones so hard that it is almost impossible to touch them.Lunch in local trattoria tasting the local products.
ARVIER – COURMAYEUR 23 km passing through the small charming villages: MORGEX, LA SALLE and the enchanting LA RUINE and its beautiful vineyards
You cross the cultivations of Morgex and La Salle coming up to 1200 m and for this reason the wine Blanc de Morgex et de La Salle is considered the highest vineyard in Europe. You also visit Cave du Vin Blanc de Morgex et de la Salle, wineyard and company in Morgex and the cooperative Morgex Valdigne in via Mont Blanc 41/43 to learn the secrets of the rich dairy production in Valle d'Aosta.Another visit can be done to the beautiful Church of Assunta in Morgex with his mighty Romanesque bell tower and the Castle of Archet, built in theXIIcentury on an earlier roman fort.At 1000 m above the sea level can be found the village of La Salle, where it grows a species of vine, called "franco di piede". Here you visit the Church of San Cassiano

Evening: Relax in the enchanting atmosphere of La Ruine, a charming village of 1800 century.
Dinner at "Les Combes" in La Salle.
Accommodation at 3* Hotel and evening with a drink at the local "La Vacherie" in Morgex.

Day 6: COURMAYEUR – VAL FERRET 12 km of trekking
The morning starts with a beautiful and picturesque trek to Val Ferret, at the foothills of the
Grandes Jorasses.
Lunch in a typical restaurant in Val Ferret along the river Dora Baltea.

Evening: relaxing in Courmayeur, one of the most popular holiday destinations in the Alps.
Accommodation: at 3* Hotel

Day 7: COURMAYEUR – LAGO D’ARPY 20 km of trekking
The new day starts early in the morning walking towards Colle San Carlo. Once at the top of the hill you stop for refreshments at the snack bar La Genzianella (1971m). You head a bit later towards the picturesque Lake Arpy with its stunning waterfalls that flow into the streams that feed it, enjoying a splendid view of the Colle San Carlo and the village of Arpy
Afternoon: picnic by the lake

Evening: Relax in the charming ambiance of Courmayeur.
Accommodation 3* Hotel in Courmayeur

Day 8: COURMAYEUR – LA THUILE 16 km of trekking
La Thuille is a village situated at 1441 meters above the sea level in a beautiful sunny valley soaking in the beautiful mountain views.
Lunch in a beautiful alpine chalet.

Evening: dinner and relax in the charming ambiance of Courmayeur

Day 9: COURMAYEUR – BERTONE REFUGE 20 km of trekking, about 3 h 1/2
passing through Val Ferret, which runs at the foot of Dente del Gigante, Grandes Jorasses and Aiguille de Leschaux and offers some of the most spectacular views of the Alps.
Lunch at Bertone Refuge

Evening: dinner and relax in the charming ambiance of Courmayeur

Day 10: PRE – SAINT DIDIER SPA
The day goes by with relax and spa treatments at Pre-Saint Didier thermal baths immersed in the mountains.
Lunch in Pre-Saint Didier tasting local dishes from Aosta cuisine.

Evening: a walk in Courmayeur enjoying the beautiful atmosphere at the foot of Mont Blanc.
End of the program.