Discovery Italy

Day 1: DONNAS IN THE LOWER PART OF VALLE D’AOSTA
Wine tasting
Arrival at the Airport, welcome by the Tour Leader Discover Italy Now, transfer to Donnas, a typical village of lower Aosta Valley, dating back to roman times. Check-in Hotel *** and after a refreshment and some relax you start discovering the ancient village of Donnas.
Together with your Tour Leader you are going to 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 delicious valdostane cuisine.
During late afternoon, you are going 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 visit the fascinating roman and medieval buildings such as the Arch, built in the 1st century b.cThe 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 live the charming atmosphere of the Grape Festival or attend the Fair of St. Luca and the Chestnut Festival.
You also visit the vineyard "Caves Cooperatives de Donnas" where a tasting of local wines is going to be waiting for you.

Evening: Dinner in traditional restaurant

Day 2:
DONNAS – BARD 3,5 km of trekking or by bus (according to preferences)
BARD – ARNAD 5,5 km of trekking (according to preferences)
Wine tasting and local gourmet products
Together with your Tour Leader will leave early in the morning and walk along the river Dora, on the SS26.
A trekking or bus 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.
In the village of Arnad you are going to visit the parish of the benedictine monks, St. Martin and 3 km from Arnad, the suggestive sanctuary of Arnad Machaby.
Lunch in trattoria tasting the “lard Arnad”, a tasty sausage seasoned with fragrant mountain spices.
Wine tasting with the local Arnad Montjovet

Afternoon: ARNAD – CHAMBAVE 23 km of trekking or by bus through the picturesque wine- growing areas of
Saint – Vincent and Chatillon with the medieval castles of Ussel and Fenis
You walk 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.
You visit the ancient church of San Lorenzo with its beautiful roman tower and the company of wine "La Crotta" in Vigneron where you are going to be introduced into the world of wine of and its advanced technologies.
Wine tasting and local gastronomic products.

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

Day 3:
CHAMBAVE – NUS 7 km of trekking or by bus (according to preferences)
NUS – AOSTA 17 km of trekking (according to preferences)
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 are going to arrive to Aosta.
Lunch in a charming trattoria.
During the afternoon you are going to visit, together with your guide, 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 the Forum used to be, an ideal place to taste local wines.
Dinner at a restaurant in the old historical part of the town.

Day 4: HISTORICAL AOSTA
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 going to be visited.
Lunch in trattoria
Afternoon: 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 can travel by bus to the Casino in Saint Vincent

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

Day 5: Morning: AOSTA – ARVIER 13 km of trekking or by bus 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 begins the Valley of Cogne.
You cross here the famous wine area: Petit Rouge, Fumin, Petit Arvin, Pinot Nero, Dolcetto and Freisa as well as ares of other varietals.Your morning destination is Arvier, known for its famous wine.
"Enfer Arvier" took his name "hell" by the fact that in the vineyards above the village the sun warms up the stones so hard that it is almost impossible to touch them.
Lunch in local trattoria tasting the local products.

AFTERNOON: ARVIER – COURMAYEUR 23 km passing through small charming villages: MORGEX, LA SALLE, the enchanting LA RUINE and their 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", vineyard 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 is going to be done to the beautiful Church of Assunta in Morgex with its mighty Romanesque bell tower and the Castle of Archet, built in the XII century on an earlier roman fort.
At 1000 m above sea level can be found the village of La Salle, where it grows a species of vine, called "franco di piede".Here is going to be visited the Church of San Cassiano.

Evening: Relax in 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 or by bus
The morning starts with a beautiful and picturesque trek to Val Ferret, at the foothills of 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 AlpsAccommodation: at 3* Hotel

Day 7: COURMAYEUR – ARPY LAKE 20 km of trekking or by bus
The new day starts early in the morning walking towards Colle San Carlo. Once at the top of the hill you are going to 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 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 or by bus
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 or by bus
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 cousine.

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