foto di Fulvio Spada, licenza CC share alike

2 DAYS IN COGNE

The valley of Cogne is the best example of conservation of the region, and one of the most of the Alps, mainly because the presence of the oldest national park in Europe has largely preserved it from human exploitation. Starting from the characteristic village, which runs along the Prato di Sant'Orso from which it probably takes its name ("coing" means corner, and actually the lawn has a angular shape towards the village), we start with countless itineraries that regardless of season offer the opportunity to all easily enter in contact with beautiful landscapes, animals and flowers, some even very rare. Any excursion, even the most simple, allows you to see chamois, ibex, eagles and marmots at all. With the guidance of an expert, even the less obvious secrets are unveiled in an engaging way, to fully appreciate this corner of a minimally contaminated nature.

THE VILLAGE AND ITS SURROUNDINGS
Arriving in Cogne we propose to spend the first day in complete relaxation visiting the country, starting from Maison Gérard Dayné, a seventeenth century house that testifies the life of the past and the organization of domestic spaces of a typically rural family, then the important, old iron mines that have contributed so much to the sustenance of local families and then go up after lunch to the famous Lillaz waterfalls. In the evening dinner and overnight in Cogne at the hotel ..

On the second day we depart comfortably towards the Vittorio Emanuele II refuge at 2588 m asl, which will arrive for lunch, stopping at the beginning of the path for an obligatory stop, the splendid Paradisia botanical garden, which hosts a beautiful and rich collection of plants and alpine lichens. After lunch at the shelter, or packed for those who wish, you will walk the path that leads back to Valnontey, and then to Cogne, passing through the old Casolari dell’ Herbetet at 2,435 m asl, after about 4 hours of walking. Back in town there will probably be time to say goodbye drinking a flavored and alcoholic coffee inside a typical friendship “grolla”.
(details on http://www.cogneturismo.it; http://www.rifugiosella.com).

COSTS

• teacher: up to 6 people 300 Euro, after 20 Euro / person per day;
• meals: about 25 Euro drinks included, or alternatively, a packed lunch;
• overnight stay: 80 Euro / persons

PLAN

• arrival in Aosta with your own transport (timetables and train tickets here, and buses here and here);
• in front of the train station you take the bus that leads to Cogne (timetables here);
  day in Cogne and surroundings;
• lunch in a partner restaurant, based on typical dishes and products from the Aosta Valley;
• dinner and overnight at the hotel ...
• visit of the botanical garden and climb to the refuge;
• lunch at the shelter or personal;
• return to Cogne on foot and then to Aosta by bus.

ACCESSIBILITY AND SERVICES

people in wheelchairs: YES until the botanical garden, then the track can continue on the bottom path of the valley
blinds: YES
animals: ADMITTED on a leash
toilettes: YES, free
photographs: ADMITTED

THE LESSONS ARE MADE ALSO IN CASE OF RAIN OR SNOW

TRANSPORTS
http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom/Treni-Regionali/Valle-d%27Aost
https://www.flixbus.it/orari-fermate-autobus/aosta
https://www.autobus.it/
https://www.svap.it/it/31/linee-e-orari/