| Val Ferret (Italy) | |
 | |
| State | Italy |
|---|---|
| Region | Valle d'Aosta |
| Tourism site | |
There Val Ferret is a valley of the Val d'Aosta.
 | ATTENTION: Some of the contents shown could generate dangerous situations or damage. The information is for illustrative purposes only, not exhortative or didactic. Use of Wikivoyage is at your own risk: read the warnings. |
To know
It is part of the "Unité des Communes valdôtaines Valdigne-Mont-Blanc".
Geographical notes
It is a straight glacial valley 13 km long, located north of the basin of Courmayeur. It is located at the foot of the Mont Blanc and it constitutes, together with the Val Veny, its eastern geographical limit. 9093 hectares of the Val Ferret are recognized as a special protection area, while 120 ha of the talweg of the Val Ferret are a site of community interest (SIC code IT1204032). It is crossed by the Dora di Ferret.
When to go
The valley is popular in both summer and winter.
Territories and tourist destinations
Val Ferret (Italy): full screen map.Urban centers
- Arnouvaz (Arp Nouvaz)
- Lavachey
- Planpincieux - at 1,576 m
- Pra Sec
Other destinations
How to get
By plane
International airports of Turin Boxes, Geneva Cointrin and Milan Malpensa.
By car
- Until Courmayeur: via the A5 motorway Turin-Aosta-Courmayeur. For access from the Switzerland and from Northern Europe we recommend the Mont Blanc Tunnel, the Gran San Bernardo Pass or the Piccolo San Bernardo Pass (the latter open only in summer).
- From Courmayeur: the Ferret valley can be reached by a carriage road, which can be followed up to Arnouvaz, where the bus lines also end. From here on you can only proceed on foot or by bicycle. In summer, regulated access to cars. A shuttle bus reaches the main towns of the valley.
Shuttle bus line in summer departing from the La Palud car park to Arnouvaz. The service in winter stops in Planpincieux.
On the train
Numerous daily trains connect the station of Pré-Saint-Didier (via the Aosta) with the Italian railway network. From Pré-Saint-Didier, a shuttle service is organized to Courmayeur to coincide with the arrivals and departures of the trains.
By bus
There are many buses from Aosta and other cities of the Piedmont, Lombardy is Liguria lead to Courmayeur. See the website of the Savda for timetables and routes. Public bus to Arnouvaz in Val Ferret.
How to get around
On foot or by bike.
What see
- 1 Mont Blanc. The Mont Blanc chain acts as a backdrop like a natural amphitheater. With 4810 meters of its peak it is the highest peak in Europe. The mountaineering conquest of the summit of Mont Blanc took place as early as 1786, but still today its walls are a popular destination for mountaineers from all over the world.
- 2 Crossing of Mont Blanc by cable car (Skyway Mont Blanc), State Road 26, Pontal d’Entrèves area (Parking with 300 paid parking spaces and parking for coaches), ☎ 39 0165 89196, fax: 39 0165 89439, @[email protected].
One way: from 12 €, round trip: from 28 €; day ticket: from € 57 (January 2018); for more details: rates. 
Typically 8: 30-16: 20; for more details: timetables. Nicknamed the eighth wonder of the world, the Glacier cable car allows you to reach Chamonix in the summertime. During the ascent, intermediate stops are made to admire the landscape from several points of view: at the first stop, at 2173 meters, there is the Saussurea botanical garden, the highest in Europe, while from the panoramic terrace of Punta Helbronner (3462 m) , you can enjoy one of the most spectacular views of the Alps. From Punta Helbronner you can reach the Aiguille du Midi, at 3842 meters, and descend to Chamonix or return to Courmayeur.
One way: from 12 €, round trip: from 28 €; day ticket: from € 57 (January 2018); for more details: 
Typically 8: 30-16: 20; for more details: Itineraries
What to do
The valley, being located at the foot of the Mont Blanc massif, is full of various refuges and bivouacs.
- 1 Gabriele Boccalatte Refuge (at 2.803 m). Reachable in about 4 hours from Planpincieux.
- 2 Cesare Dalmazzi Refuge (at 2,590 m). Reachable in about 3 hours on foot from Arnouvaz.
- 3 Elena Refuge (at 2,062 m). At the bottom of the Val Ferret in the locality of Arnouvaz. Easily accessible on a wide open road and therefore in an hour's walk.
- 4 Giorgio Bertone Refuge (at 1,979 m). Reachable from Planpincieux, at the beginning of Val Ferret or from Courmayeur.
- 5 Pavillon Refuge (at 2,173 m). From here it is possible to reach the Torino Refuge at 3,375 m.
- Courmayeur et Grandes Jorasses Golf Club, Location Le Pont.
At the table
Refer to the Courmayeur establishments. Typical dishes of the Aosta Valley cuisine: Aosta Valley roe deer, carbonada, Aosta Valley ribs, fondue, potato flan, Aosta Valley trout, Aosta Valley tiles.
Drinks
Aosta Valley coffee, genepì, grappa.
Safety
Hiking equipment (hiking boots, poles, backpack, windbreaker, goggles, hat, gloves, etc.) for high altitude ascents.
Other projects
Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Val Ferret (Italy)
Commons contains images or other files on Val Ferret (Italy)
