1. Visorando
  2. Italy
  3. Aosta Valley
  4. Province de Aosta
  5. Bionaz

The Matterhorn Tour Day 1: The Léchère - Prarayer Refuge

This walk is part of the trek The Matterhorn Tour.

Warm-up walk to reach the Prarayer refuge along the right bank of the lake.

Technical sheet
No. 4098546
A Bionaz walk posted on 30/03/15 by LB_Neil. Update : 17/11/16
Calculated time Calculated time: 1h50[?]
Distance Distance : 2.77mi
Vertical gain Vertical gain : 604ft
Vertical drop Vertical drop : 440ft
Highest point Highest point : 6634ft
Lowest point Lowest point : 6421ft
Easy Difficulty : Easy
Back to starting point Back to starting point : No
Walking Walking
Area Area : Alps
Location Location : Bionaz
Starting point Starting point : N 45.899788° / E 7.490252°
Arrival Arrival : N 45.921137° / E 7.533039°
Download : -

Description

Park at the large Place à Moulin lake car park (S).

Take the wide path along the lake on its left bank.

(D) This track takes you to Prarayer refuge, named Itinerario 9 Rifugio Prarayer. It is a route taken by the inhabitants of this village, so be vigilant of the many cars driving by. The refuge is also an area for walks for the inhabitants of the Aosta Valley, and you will meet many of them on the way.

Continue north-east to the entrance of the Prarayer hamlet (1), and you will soon see the refuge.

Waypoints :
D : mi 0 - alt. 6421ft
1 : mi 1.46 - alt. 6519ft
A : mi 2.77 - alt. 6581ft

Useful Information

RAS, the path is clearly visible, it is used by many tourists going to or returning from the refuge.

Visorando and this author cannot be held responsible in the case of accidents or problems occuring on this walk.

During the walk or to do/see around

Oste, capital of the Val d'Aosta region.

Other walks in the area

Walking The Matterhorn Tour
distance 97.02mi Vertical gain +38143ft Vertical drop -37680ft Durée 10 days Difficult Difficult
Starting point Starting point in Bionaz - Province de Aosta

Undertaken over 10 days, this circuit around the Matterhorn is outstanding. Each day it takes you over the 4000 m peaks of this alpine range. As it is located in 2 countries, Italy and Switzerland, it also brings you into contact with three European languages: Italian, German and also French in Valais in Switzerland.

Walking The Matterhorn Tour Day 2: Prarayer Refuge - Perrucco Vuillermoz Refuge
distance 3.61mi Vertical gain +3609ft Vertical drop -725ft Durée 4h50 Very difficult Very difficult
Starting point Starting point in Bionaz - Province de Aosta

Stage starting in pasture which quickly heads into the high mountains passing through the Valcornera pass.

Walking The Matterhorn Tour D3: Perrucco Vuillermoz Refuge - Gandeg Cabin
distance 12.01mi Vertical gain +5151ft Vertical drop -4665ft Durée 10h00 Difficult Difficult
Starting point Starting point in Valtournenche - Province de Aosta

Discover the giant that resides here, the splendid Matterhorn itself, before getting a closer look in the evening at the Gandeg cabin.

Walking Tour du cervin day 10: Arolla - Refuge de Prarayer (Prarayer Shelter)
distance 10.43mi Vertical gain +3957ft Vertical drop -3829ft Durée 8h15 Very difficult Very difficult
Starting point Starting point in Evolène - Valais

A high mountain stage which requires hiking boots with crampons to cross the Arolla glacier. You should get an early start for this long stage of the hike.

Walking Tour du Cervin Day 4: Cabane Gandeg - Zermatt
distance 9.67mi Vertical gain +702ft Vertical drop -5348ft Durée 5h05 Average Average
Starting point Starting point in Zermatt - Valais

A Tour du Cervin alternative today, visiting the north side of the colossal peak before reaching Zermatt.

Walking Trek from Fionay to Saas-Fee
distance 63mi Vertical gain +27411ft Vertical drop -26129ft Durée 7 days Very difficult Very difficult
Starting point Starting point in Bagnes - Valais

In the Swiss valley, this particularly pleasant hike allows you to explore the many 4000 m peaks that surround the route.

N.B. this route is outlined on Openmap which doesn't have the details of our fine IGN maps. Before being able to get your hands on a Swiss map, which are more precise, the route and GPS layouts will be handy for this pleasant trek.

Walking Valais Day 1: Fionay - Cabane de Louvie (Louvie Hut)
distance 2.01mi Vertical gain +2618ft Vertical drop -203ft Durée 3h10 Average Average
Starting point Starting point in Bagnes - Valais

First stage of this trek linking Fionay village to Saas Fee. A pleasant stage reaching Louvie Hut (la Cabane de Louvie) built on the edge of Louvie Lake.

Walking Valais Day 3: Cabane de Prafleuri - Gîte de La Sage (Prafleuri Hut - La Sage Lodge)
distance 12.28mi Vertical gain +4314ft Vertical drop -7510ft Durée 9h25 Very difficult Very difficult
Starting point Starting point in Hérémence - Valais

An unusual stage today: it starts with a downhill hike before a long climb uphill, a second descent and a ski lift ride followed by a walk over flatland and a bus ride to the lodge.

For more walks, use our search engine.

The GPS track and description are the property of the author.