Bessanese Frontier Trail – Italy Meets France

4 days 3 nights
Italy
Photo Roberto C.
Roberto C.
Tour Provider
View Roberto’s tours
Difficulty
Extreme
Comfort
Basic
Group size
2-6 tourists,
over 16 y.o.

The Tour of Bessanese is a demanding and unforgettable alpine loop around one of the most majestic mountain groups in the Western Alps — the Bessanese (3604 m) and Croce Rossa (3566 m).

This is a trek for experienced hikers who love long, high-altitude days and the raw beauty of wild valleys, glacial lakes, and rocky ridges. The route circles entirely above the tree line, mostly around 2500 m, moving through rugged terrain where silence and vastness dominate.

If you enjoy open landscapes, big horizons, and pure alpine air, this is your adventure. But if you prefer forests and gentle meadows, this is not your trail — the Bessanese is all about stone, snow, and sky.

Shelters along the route provide warm meals and comfort after long days on the trail, while one night is spent in a simple unguarded hut, offering an authentic mountain experience under the stars.

from
$577
per tourist for 4 days
Departing from
Piedmont, Turin
This tour is booked individually on request
Any dates between 1 Jun and 1 Sep are available. Сlick to book or contact tour provider.
Number of individuals
2-6 tourists, over 16 y.o.
Only in the Hiking Trekking Club
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Photo Roberto C.
Roberto C. is the provider of this trip
The provider speaks: English, Spanish, Italian
I am Roberto, I was born in 1985 and I am an Hiking Guide from 2010, funded my company in 2012. I am a Telecommunications Engineer and I could definitively switch my carrer to Hiking guide in 2015. It was the best day of my life as I found also Love in that day: 9th of April will be always my personal National Holiday! I travelled the World and I love cultural differences. I love my job which is a mix of Nature, Beauty and shared experience: my passions all togheter.

Tour highlights

A True High-Mountain Adventure
Four intense days surrounded by peaks, glaciers, and wild valleys on the Italian–French border.
Untamed Wilderness
Experience remote terrain, away from any village for the entire trek.
Wildlife Encounters
Possible sightings of ibex, vultures, marmots, chamois, and eagles in their natural habitat.

Route details

Day 1
Balme (1432 m) → Bivacco San Camillo (2718 m)

4–5 hours – 7 km
Elevation gain: +1100 m Elevation loss: 0

A steep ascent through rocky slopes and alpine meadows leads to the high basin of Bivacco San Camillo, surrounded by peaks and silence. The hut is basic but perfectly placed for an immersive first night in the wild.

Day 2
Bivacco San Camillo → Rifugio Cibrario (2616 m)
Day 3
Rifugio Cibrario → Rifugio Averole (2210 m)
Day 4
Rifugio Averole → Balme (1432 m)
Difficulty
Extreme
Only for experienced and physically fit tourists. Requires specific skills and equipment
Tour provider's comments

5/5 (strenuous)

Accommodation

Comfort
Basic
Camp Site
3 nights
2 nights
Unguarded Hut (Bivacco)

The Unguarded Hut is the more suggestive option. It is like a small one room house in the middle of the mountains, usually at more than 2500 meters(8000 feets). Moreover is the cheapes one so if you are alone in planning the hike or you want to limit the costs this will be the best options. Most of the experienced trekkers coming with me or the young guys at the first experience choose this option. Also for children can be a very nice option for a single night. Sleeping in an unguarded hut is a bit like doing a comfortable camping but with the big advantage that all the unguarded hut(bivacco in Italian) have beds, blankets and pillows. Usually they have also a table where to sit, pllay card and eat.

In the unguarded hut there is no toilet, no shower and we’ll need to carry a sleeping bag. The food is usually cooked by me but you’ll need to help me to carry as nothing is sold up there.

There are different kind of Unguarded hut and actually depending on the season not every hut is reachable. Between November and April most of the huts are fully covered by snow.

1 night
Guarded Hut / Mountain Lodge (Rifugio)

Tickets to group meeting place

Group meeting place
Piedmont, Turin
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Weather during the tour

Weather conditions along the route
You will get a weather forecast for this tour’s route based on
  • the forecasts for this season
  • the statistics from previous years’ trips

Conditions

Included
  • Hiking Guide
  • Trasportation from Torino till the Mountain area and back (free service)
  • Overnight staying (directly to the shelter)
  • One meal per day (directly to the shelter)
  • Suggestions for the organization of your trip (free service)
Extras
  • Other Meals
  • Air ticket till Torino

It's important to know

Personal equipment you need for the tour
  • Backpack (30-50 liters) – Rent Possible
  • Hiking Boots – Rent Possible
  • Light Sleeping bag – Rent Possible
  • 1 t-shirt per day
  • 1 fleece
  • 1 jacket against cold
  • 1 jacket against rain
  • 2 extra socks
  • 1 comfortable trouser
  • 1 shorts
  • 1 water bottle
  • Hat and gloves
  • Suncream
  • Sun glasses
  • Spirit of Adventure!
How it works with scheduling the hikes?
Children have a discount?
Children can participate? Is it a good experience for a child?
I am vegetarian, will I have some problem? I have some allergies, Will I have some problem?
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What happen if the weather is bad?
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Will the backpack be heavy?
Cancellation of booking

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Dates and Prices

  • Any dates on request during the season
    1 Jun – 1 Sep
    Request to book

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