Nestled in the mountains of the Southern Italian Alps, close to the French border, lies the scenic Val Maira with its idyllic villages, churches and chapels. Val Maria is becoming a favourite among hiking tourists in the Alps, here you will not find overcrowded hiking trails, ski slopes, nor has mass tourism found here yet. Instead, in Val Maira you’ll find unspoilt mountain scenery, plenty of sunshine and small charming accommodation. Historically, the inhabitants of Val Maira have had more contact with France than Italy, as the border is easily reached after a few hours’ walk. It was only when a proper road was built to Val Maira that Italians began to discover the area, as the roads between, for example, the Po Valley and Val Maira had been inaccessible and went through rocky gorges. As a result, the Romance language Occitan, also spoken in the south of France, is the first language in Val Maira, followed by French and then Italian.
Choose between travelling 8 days/ 7 nights or 5 days/ 4 nights. See the Itinerary tab for the detailed day by day program.
Hike in the beautiful region of Piedmont - Val Maira
Highlights
- Great variety of flora and wildlife
- The delicious local cuisine (Occitane and Italian cuisine)
- Wonderful hiking trails with stunning views
- Beautiful and wild valleys
Quick facts
| Travel duration: | 8 days/ 7 nights, 5 days/ 4 nights |
|---|---|
| Travel period: | Optional departure day during the period 1/6 - 5/10 |
| Grade: | Challenging. Average 5-7 h/ 12-20 km/ 500-1000 m per day. Day by day trip grading, see "program" on each trip. 4 |
| Accommodations: | |
| Trip type: | Self guided walking holidays |
| Price example: | From €710 |
| Meals: | Breakfast, packed lunches & dinners |
Prices per person in EUR
This trip is available from 1/6 – 5/10 with any arrival date.
5 days/ 4 nights From €710 Book your trip
| Period | TRP - Triple Room | Double Room - shared bed | Twin Room - separate beds | SGL - Single Room |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-01 2026-07-29 | €710 | €820 | €820 | €1,110 |
| 2026-07-30 2026-08-31 | €710 | €860 | €860 | €1,150 |
| 2026-09-01 2026-09-23 | €710 | €820 | €820 | €1,110 |
| 2026-09-24 2026-10-05 | €710 | €800 | €800 | €1,050 |
8 days/ 7 nights From €1,150 Book your trip
| Period | TRP - Triple Room | Double Room - shared bed | Twin Room - separate beds | SGL - Single Room |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-01 2026-07-27 | €1,150 | €1,300 | €1,300 | €1,750 |
| 2026-07-28 2026-08-31 | €1,150 | €1,350 | €1,350 | €1,810 |
| 2026-09-01 2026-09-22 | €1,150 | €1,300 | €1,300 | €1,750 |
| 2026-09-23 2026-10-05 | €1,150 | €1,270 | €1,270 | €1,660 |
Prices quoted are per person and include:
- Accommodation incl. breakfast
- Picnic lunches on all hiking days
- Three-course dinners excl. drinks all evenings
- Mobile app with travel information:
- Digital maps
- Practical information
- Hiking descriptions
- Luggage transport (maximum 15kg/bag)
- Transfer to/from the start/end of walks on certain days according to the programme.
- 24 h emergency phone in case of emergencies
Not included:
- Plane to/ from the destination.
- Transfer to/from the airport
- Other not mentioned under what is included
Single room rates:
- Single room rates apply when travelling in the company of others. If you are travelling on your own, in most cases there will be an extra charge due to more expensive luggage transport. Contact us for price information
Optional extras:
- Printed maps & walking descriptions: 30 Euro
- Private transfers, see tab ‘Getting here’
- Extra hotel nights at the start or end of the trip: Contact us for prices.
Itinerary
8 days/ 7 nights
Day 1 Arrival in San Michele Prazzo
Arrival at the village of San Michele Prazzo, located at an altitude of 1370 metres. Here it is recommended to visit the beautifully painted ‘Parish Church’.
You will be picked up at the bus stop in Prazzo Inferiore and driven to the first accommodation.
Day 2 Hike around San Michele - 10 km
Today’s walk is on the southern slopes above San Michele and follows parts of Lou Viol Dal Genestè. This circular hike allows you to get close to the rich flora and wildlife of the area.
10 km, +560 m, -560 m (4 h)
Day 3 Hike from San Michele to Ponta Maira - 17 km
A challenging hike high above the valley with a beautiful view. The hike goes through woods and meadows and you will only encounter a few small villages. Finally, you will arrive at your overnight accommodation in Acceglio, where you can enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the village.
17 km, +1050 m, – 980 m (7 h)
Day 4 Transfer to Chiappera and walking tour - 10 km
A short transfer in the morning will take you to Chiappera which is located at 1620 metres altitude and is the last restored village in Val Maira. Chiappera has a bar, a beautiful church with fine murals. Today’s hike starts from Chiappera, the first climb to the beautiful Rocca Provenzale is challenging but after Colle Greguri at 2309 metres altitude it will be a calm hike back to Chiappera.
When you get back to Chiappera you will be driven to your accommodation.
10km, +910, -720 (4h)
Day 5 Hike around Sentiero Frassati - 13/16 km
A short transfer in the morning takes you to Sorgente Maira where today’s hike on the Sentiero Frassati takes place. This hike passes smaller and larger mountain lakes, such as the deep blue Lago Apzoi at an altitude of 2300 metres. Along the walk you will also see old bunkers that Mussolini had built along the border with France.
Finally you can either walk back to Ponte Maira or take a transfer to Sorgenti Mira (payable on site).
16/16 km, +945, -930 (6h)
Day 6 Hike from Ponte Maira to Viviere - 9 km
Today you leave Ponte Maira to hike to the small mountain village of Viviere, which is located on the slightly cooler and forested northern slopes of Val Maira. A lower climb takes you to Colle Ciarbonet at 2206 metres altitude. Then you descend towards Viviere where you will spend the night in a cosy cabin.
9 km, +605 m, -510 m (5 h)
Day 7 Hike around Colle Oserot - 13 km
This is the last stage of the hike and goes up towards Colle Oserot which is situated at 2640 metres altitude. This day offers hiking along steep limestone cliffs and green meadows with fantastic panoramic views. If you wish, you can make a detour to Rifugio Gardetta on the Gardetta plateau at 2380 metres.
13 km, +1 010 m, -880 m (5 h)
Day 8 Departure day
The journey ends after breakfast, unless you have chosen to book more nights. You will be driven from Viviere to the bus stop in Acceglio.
We at EverTrek hope you have had a great trip!
We hope to see you again.
5 days/ 4 nights
Day 1 Arrival in San Michele Prazzo
Arrival at the village of San Michele Prazzo, located at an altitude of 1370 metres. Here it is recommended to visit the beautifully painted ‘Parish Church’.
You will be picked up at the bus stop in Prazzo Inferiore and driven to the first accommodation.
Day 2 Hike from San Michele to Ponta Maira - 17 km
A challenging hike high above the valley with a beautiful view. The hike goes through woods and meadows and you will only encounter a few small villages. Finally, you will arrive at your overnight accommodation in Acceglio, where you can enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the village.
17 km, +1050 m, – 980 m (7 h)
Day 3 Choose between two different walks
Today you can choose between two different nice hikes.
1. Hike around Sentiero Frassati – 13/16 km
A short transfer in the morning takes you to Sorgente Maira where today’s hike on Sentiero Frassati takes place. This hike goes past smaller and larger mountain lakes, such as the deep blue Lago Apzoi located at 2300 metres altitude. Along the walk you will also see old bunkers that Mussolini had built along the border with France.
Finally you can either walk back to Ponte Maira or take a transfer to Sorgenti Mira (payable on site).
2. Hike around Chiappera – 10 km
A short transfer in the morning will take you to Chiappera, which is located at 1620 metres altitude and is the last restored village in Val Maira. Chiappera has a bar, a beautiful church with fine murals. Today’s hike starts from Chiappera, the first climb to the beautiful Rocca Provenzale is challenging but after Colle Greguri at 2309 metres altitude it will be a calm hike back to Chiappera.
When you get back to Chiappera you will be driven to your accommodation.
Day 4 Hike from Ponte Maira to Viviere - 9 km
Today you leave Ponte Maira to hike to the small mountain village of Viviere, which is located on the slightly cooler and forested northern slopes of Val Maira. A lower climb takes you to Colle Ciarbonet at 2206 metres altitude. Then you descend towards Viviere where you will spend the night in a cosy cabin.
9 km, +605 m, -510 m (5 h)
Day 5 Departure day
The journey ends after breakfast, unless you have chosen to book more nights. You will be driven from Viviere to the bus stop in Acceglio.
We at EverTrek hope you have had a great trip!
We hope to see you again.
Accommodations
During this trip you will stay in renovated and cosy houses located in quiet little villages, all with spacious rooms and private bathrooms. The people who run the accommodation will be able to enrich you with their local knowledge and give you tips on what not to miss along the hiking trail. The accommodation in Viviere is a lovely cottage with several rooms, if the accommodation in Viviere is fully booked, it is possible to book a room in the neighbouring village of Chialvetta which is 2 km away and about 200 m lower than Viviere.
8 days/ 7 nights
| Night | Place | Accommodation |
|---|---|---|
| Night 1 | San Michele | Hotel **/*** |
| Night 2 | San Michele | Hotel **/*** |
| Night 3 | Ponte Maira | Hotel **/*** |
| Night 4 | Ponte Maira | Hotel **/*** |
| Night 5 | Ponte Maira | Hotel **/*** |
| Night 6 | Viviere | Hotel **/*** |
| Night 7 | Viviere | Hotel **/*** |
5 days/ 4 nights
| Night | Place | Accommodation |
|---|---|---|
| Night 1 | San Michele | Hotel **/*** |
| Night 2 | Ponte Maira | Hotel **/*** |
| Night 3 | Ponte Maira | Hotel **/*** |
| Night 4 | Viviere | Hotel **/*** |
Route map
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