Hiking in Piedmont to Colle Gianna Along Via Alpina
The panoramic hike in Piedmont leads through the beautiful nature of the Alps with flowering alpine meadows and hidden marmots. The view of the Monviso is unique. The beautiful hiking trails are easy to walk. Colle della Gianna is located along the great Via Alpina hiking route through the Alps. The Colle Gianna saddle connects the Po valley with the neighboring Pellice valley.
What To Expect from a Hike along Via Alpina to Colle Gianna in Piedmont
The hike in Piedmont leads from Pian della Regina to Colle della Gianna and back to Pian del Re. The hike covers over 7 kilometers. In summer you walk across beautiful meadows and meet marmots and birds. The hike can also be done in winter with snowshoes (racchette). The views are rewarding and after 4 hours you have earned a wonderful lunch or early dinner at the Mountain Inn Piano del Re.
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Description of the Hike in Piedmont to Colle della Gianna
- Duration: 4 Hours without lunch break and detours
- Difficulty level: 1 out of 5
- Distance: 7.1 km
- Minimum altitude: Pian della Regina (Pian Melzé) 1737 m
- Maximum altitude: 2523 m (Colle della Gianna)
- Total climb: 867 m
- Descend: 516 m
Starting Point Pian Della Regina
The hike starts at the Pian della Regina. There is a large car park, a place for campers, a restaurant, and a year-round hotel.
From the Pian della Regina, cross the road three times to the Pian del Re. The path always leads north. It is not well marked, but our guide will make sure you follow the tracks that lead uphill in constant hairpin bends without any major difficulties.
Colle della Gianna
The Colle Gianna saddle connects the valley of the Po with the Pellice valley. The trail is part of the Via Alpina, which includes the entire route network of the Alpine belt, section Rifugio Barbara Lowrie to Pian del Re. From Colle Gianna you can continue on the ridge to Lake Bianca and the top of Punta Raboi with the large iron cross. The path is stony at first, later rocky and with a wonderful panorama, you can reach Punta Raboi. From Colle Gianna you have the most beautiful view of the Monviso. When visibility is good, you have views over the Monterosa massif, the Matterhorn and even over the Lombard, Ligurian and Tuscan Apennines.
Towards Pian del Re
We turn left and take the hiking trail V12 towards Pian del Re. Over a lush meadow, we follow the wide, comfortable path that goes downhill steadily and slowly descend to the Pian del Re.
Accommodation Recommendation
Why Hiking in Piedmont to Colle Gianna with milano24ore?
Included Services
We provide a Piedmont authorised Mountain Guide that speaks your language. Our guide will accompany you on this hike. He or she will give you interesting details on the way and draws your attention to the special flora and fauna. This will give you some insight about the Monviso in the Piedmont and the Okzitan culture.
Lunch or dinner at Mountain Inn Pian del Re (reservation required).
Additional Services
- Overnight stays with breakfast and dinner at Mountain Inn Pian del Re or Hotel Colletta
- Tour extensions with a regional wine tasting tour
- Private transfers
Exclusive and in Your Language
The hiking tour in Piedmont is organized only for you and your fellow travelers. They are conducted in the language you choose. We have experienced local guides for Italian, English, French. Other languages on request or with interpreter.
Pricing
The above price has been calculated for a group of 8 participants on a 4 hour hike. Please let us know the number of participants and special wishes with your request.
Arrival and Meeting Place
Your guide can meet you at Pian della Regina or at another hotel in Piedmont. We can organise a transport to the meeting point and collect you from the end point.
Stages of the Hike
Pian della Regina (Pian Melzé)
The Pian della Regina at 1740 meters altitude offers bed and breakfast and a rest at the Locanda della Polenta.
Via Alpina Trail
The Via Alpina is a cross-border hiking trail over 5000 km, starting in Muggia near Trieste. It leads across the entire Alpine arc from Slovenia via Austria, Lichtenstein, Switzerland, France, Italy to Monaco. Via Spluga and Via Bregaglia in Lombardy and Switzerland are also part of Via Alpina. Passing the Colle Gianna saddle you can hike from the Po valley to the Pellice valley.
Marmots (Marmota)
Most of the time you only hear their calls and you can only see them on days with few hikers: the marmots. The adult ground squirrels are quite large and thick, but still very nimble and agile. The shy animals can only be observed longer from a greater distance. The Alpine marmots can be found on Alpine meadows and scree slopes, often above the tree line. In summer they eat a layer of bacon made from roots, herbs, and grasses, which ensures their survival in the seven months of hibernation. The marmot families have offspring in spring. When the parents are looking for food, the young meerkats leave the building with curiosity and sniff the world without fear. A good opportunity for a snapshot up close, the otherwise very shy animals.
Pian del Re, 2020 meters Altitude
At Pian del Re you can discover the source of the Po. The source can be found by the inscription on a stone “Qui nasce il Po”.
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