Great Tour of Monviso

The first documented Giro di Viso was carried out by the Englishman David Forbes with a local guide on July 1, 1839. Departing from the Valle del Guil, Professor Forbes and his guide climbed up to the Colle delle Traversette, from there passed to the east of Monviso (most likely descending to Pian del Re to then ascend to the Laghi del Viso), traversed the watershed probably at the Passo di San Chiaffredo and descended into the Vallone di Vallanta, which they ascended to the Passo di Vallanta; from there they returned to the Valle del Guil and descended to La Monta in one day.

The Englishmen Whateley and Jenkinson repeated the route on September 13 and 14, 1854, this time in two days. On the first day, starting from the Valle del Guil, they crossed the Colle delle Traversette and the Passo di San Chiaffredo, and spent the night in the Vallone di Vallanta; on the second day, they returned to Valle del Guil via the Passo di Vallanta and then moved to Val Pellice through the Colle Seilliere. Due to the lack of available resting places, the first travel guides of the 19th century recommended making the Giro di Viso in a single day, shortening the route compared to that of Forbes, passing through the Passo delle Sagnette; this way, the duration of the hike was estimated to be around 12 hours. In the 20th century, the Giro del Viso became a “classic” of hiking; already known to Italian hikers in the 1960s, it was made popular by French hikers starting in the 1970s. The multi-stage ring around Monviso represents one of the most spectacular high-altitude treks in Europe, offering panoramic views of the different profiles of the "King of Stone" and the experience of a nature protected by two natural parks, where the environments continuously change.

Along the way, you encounter the daring rocky walls of the southern massif, the crystal-clear lakes with green-blue reflections of the Vallone delle Giargiatte, the twisted larches of the Bosco dell’Alevé, and the splendid bodies of water in the upper Valle Po. Noteworthy are also the panoramic “Sentiero del Postino,” the historic Buco di Viso, the vast spaces of Queyras, and the exceptional viewpoint of Cima Losetta.

It is possible to undertake the Gran Tour of Monviso starting from one of the Italian valleys: Valle Po, Valle Varaita, or Valle Pellice, or from the Valle del Guil in France. The complete ring can take from two up to a maximum of six days. Having 4 or 5 days available, it becomes very interesting to complete the whole ring that also includes the upper Valle Pellice, passing through the splendid and bucolic Conca del Prà and the Rifugio Barbara Lowrie. The ring is all classified E, except for the possible Sentiero del Postino and the section from Pian Mait to Colle Armoine (EE).