Trekking – Mongioia Tour
Mongioia (Bric de Rubren for the French) rises to 3,340 meters on the border between Italy and France. To discover this wild and secluded corner of the Alps, we offer the Gran Tour, three valleys and five stages touching the beautiful villages of Bellino, Chianale, and Maljasset, or the Piccolo Tour in three days including the ascent to the summit!
The Gran Tour starting from Campo Base includes, on the first stage, the crossing into Val Varaita via Colle di Bellino. After an overnight stay at Rifugio Melezé, the route continues to Colle della Battagliola and Pontechianale, and on the third stage, it reaches Chianale, the highest village in Val Varaita. The next day it crosses into France via Colle Longet and the beautiful Laghi Blu. After the night in Maljasset, the route returns to Campo Base via Colle Maurin.
The Piccolo Tour is shorter but with more demanding stages. On the second day, in fact, it crosses the alpine watershed directly from Bellino to Maljasset, climbing to the 3,340 meters of Mongioia.
THE STAGES OF THE GRAN TOUR
From Campo Base (1,650 m) to Bellino – Rifugio Melezé (1,811 m)
Elevation gain: 1,160 m
Maximum altitude: Colle di Bellino, 2,813 m
Hiking time: 6 hours
From Campo Base, follow the dirt road at the base of the Stroppia Waterfalls, then climb toward the end of the Vallone del Maurin. After reaching Grange Collet, continue through the Vallone dell’Autaret, ignoring the forks for Colle Maurin and Monte Maniglia.
From Colle di Bellino, descend the wide grassy valley to the Barricate narrows, a deep gorge carved by the stream that, when free of snow or ice, poses no difficulty to cross.
From the base of the gorge, a small road leads to Sant’Anna and shortly after to Rifugio Melezé.
From Bellino – Rifugio Melezé (1,811 m) to Pontechianale (1,615 m)
Elevation gain: 950 m
Maximum altitude: Colle della Battagliola, 2,284 m
Hiking time: 6 hours
From Rifugio Melezé, descend along the paved road toward Casteldelfino, leaving it whenever possible to follow old trails (at Chiazale, between Celle and Pleyne). Downstream of the latter hamlet, outside the hairpin bend, the military road begins. Follow it all the way to Colle della Battagliola, on the watershed with the Valle Varaita di Chianale. A climb to the nearby Punta Cavallo is recommended, where a simple but touching monument commemorates the soldiers who fell here during the fierce battles of 1744.
Descend the opposite slope, first among alders, then through larch woods, reaching the lakeside of Pontechianale near the main village, Maddalena.
From Pontechianale (1,615 m) to Chianale (1,799 m)
Elevation gain: 690 m
Maximum altitude: Colle del Rastel, 2,376 m
Hiking time: 4 hours 30′
A short stage offering magnificent views toward the Monviso group and the chance to enjoy an evening in Chianale, a charming stone-and-wood village on the banks of the Varaita stream, one of the Most Beautiful Villages of Italy.
From Pontechianale, take the valley-floor mule track near the campsite and climb to join the wide trail of the Vallone di Fiutrusa. Before the valley widens, leave the main path and turn right to climb the broad meadows on the slopes of Cima Bardia: the path is faint, especially at first, due to many animal tracks, but red-and-white trail markers help to stay on course.
From Colle del Rastel – a short detour to panoramic Monte Peyron is possible – follow a long descending traverse to the Grange in the Torrette amphitheater. Just before, on the right, prehistoric rock carvings can be found on a large boulder. Pass a small lake and descend through larch woods to reach Chianale.
From Chianale (1,799 m) to Maljasset (1,910 m)
Elevation gain: 820 m
Maximum altitude: Col Longet, 2,650 m
Hiking time: 6 hours
From Chianale, head briefly toward Colle dell’Agnello, leaving the main road to cross the Varaita on a small bridge. The track continues through meadows and, before a second bridge, turn onto the obvious and well-marked trail on the left that leads in about 2 hours to Col Longet, passing the Grange dell’Antolina and the magnificent Laghi Blu and Bes.
The pass gives access to a wide plateau bordered by the massive Salza and Mongioia on one side, and Roc della Niera on the other. Follow the trail down gently toward Maljasset, alongside the stream and the characteristic “marmitte dei giganti” carved by millennia of erosion.
From Maljasset (1,910 m) to Campo Base (1,650 m)
Elevation gain: 750 m
Maximum altitude: Colle Maurin, 2,643 m
Hiking time: 5 hours 30′
From Maljasset, follow the wide trail up the Vallon de Mary, ignoring forks for the lakes and Colle Marinet, reaching the watershed with Valle Maira at Colle Maurin. Descend past Lago della Sagna del Colle and reach Grange Collet. Following the old military road on the right-hand side of the stream leads to the base of the Stroppia Waterfalls, from where it’s a short walk back to Campo Base.
THE STAGES OF THE PICCOLO TOUR
From Campo Base (1,650 m) to Bellino – Rifugio Melezé (1,811 m)
Elevation gain: 1,160 m
Maximum altitude: Colle di Bellino, 2,813 m
Hiking time: 6 hours
From Campo Base, follow the dirt road at the base of the Stroppia Waterfalls, then climb toward the end of the Vallone del Maurin. After reaching Grange Collet, continue along the bottom of the Vallone dell’Autaret, ignoring the forks to Colle Maurin first, and then Monte Maniglia.
From Colle di Bellino, descend the wide grassy valley to the Barricate narrows, a deep gorge carved by the stream that, in the absence of snow or ice, poses no problems to cross.
From the base of the gorge, a small road leads to Sant’Anna and shortly after to Rifugio Melezé.
From Bellino – Rifugio Melezé (1,811 m) to Maljasset (1,910 m)
Elevation gain: 1,540 m
Maximum altitude: Monte Mongioia (3,340 m)
Hiking time: 8 hours 30′
From Rifugio Melezé, head back toward the upper valley, but at the foot of Rocca Senghi, turn right passing Grange Cruset and begin the long ascent through the valley carved by the Varaita di Rui stream. Ignore the forks to the right and left, including the one for Passo di Fiutrusa, and continue along a steeper section to reach Bivacco Boerio, located at the foot of Monte Mongioia, on the shore of the lake of the same name.
The environment is high alpine, dominated by rock and snow. The ascent to the summit involves no mountaineering difficulties, but altitude and terrain require caution; from Passo Mongioia, the round trip to the summit takes about 1 hour.
The descent follows the long path through the Vallon de Rubren, which joins the main valley at about 2,200 meters of altitude. Turn left downhill and reach Maljasset — tired but happy.
From Maljasset (1,910 m) to Campo Base (1,650 m)
Elevation gain: 750 m
Maximum altitude: Colle Maurin (2,643 m)
Hiking time: 5 hours 30′
From Maljasset, follow the wide trail up the Vallon de Mary, ignoring the forks for the lakes and Colle Marinet, and reach the watershed with Valle Maira at Colle Maurin. Descend past Lago della Sagna del Colle and reach Grange Collet. Following the old military road on the right-hand side of the stream leads to the base of the Stroppia Waterfalls, from where it is a short walk back to Campo Base.
Mountain sports are potentially dangerous activities and should only be undertaken with the proper equipment and preparation. We recommend checking the weather and avalanche forecasts before setting off on a hike and/or contacting a guide for accompaniment. Campo Base S.r.l. disclaims any responsibility for the advice and itineraries provided here, which should be personally assessed based on weather and snow conditions.