Lake Orta from the Santuario della Madonna della Bocciola – the starting area of my walk · The Teacher71 · Wikimedia Commons ↗ · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗ · Cropped in cards; converted to WebP when imported locally
In 2026 I walked the Grande Traversata delle Alpi from Lake Orta to the Aosta Valley, on the Italian side of the Alps.
Quiet, powerful nature
For me, the GTA is about valleys, old connections between villages and a landscape whose strength needs no grand display. Forest, pastures and rocky paths alternate.
Walser houses and mountain culture
Walser houses reflect settlement in the high valleys and a building tradition adapted to steep slopes and long winters. Their dark timber gives some villages a distinctive character.
The great peaks from the south
My memories include views of Monte Rosa, the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc. The Italian side gives a different perspective on the Alpine arc and the four-thousand-metre peaks along the Swiss border. Views depend on location, route and weather; these peaks are not visible from every GTA stage.
Local warnings and on-site advice take precedence over general website information. Before setting out, ask local people, hut hosts or local experts about paths and weather: they know their home region and can explain current conditions. Their advice complements your own preparation and official warnings.