Travelers can hike from France to Italy on a new three-day, hut-to-hut hike with local Eleven guides and personal chefs.
Offered June 9 through September 30 as a new backcountry experience for up to eight guests, Eleven’s haute route takes guests from their chalets in Le Miroir, a small Savoyard village tucked high in the French Alps, to two private mountain huts set deep in the Alps. Led by an expert team of local guides through France and Italy’s most "jaw-dropping" mountain scenery, guests follow a historic route that can be tailored to any fitness level. Upon arrival at the sheep herder’s huts, guests enjoy the spirit of centuries-old alpine traditions, with talented chefs serving après al fresco and a candlelit dinner paired with hand-foraged Génépi liqueur.
The hike starts with picturesque mountain scenery scattered with wildflowers to Alpage Ruitor in France. On the second day, the hike meanders past historic wartime remnants over the Col du Mont pass into Italy, where the famous 205-mile footrace Tor de Geants takes place. The second evening is spent at Rifugio Valgrisenche. The third and final day offers a choice of adventure like glacier trekking or canyoneering before heading back to the chalets in Le Miroir, France.
Along the haute route, guests stay at Eleven’s two backcountry huts, Alpage Ruitor on the French side, and Rifugio Valgrisenche on the Italian side. Historically sheep herders’ huts, the stone buildings date back to the early 1900s and still maintain much of their original personality. Restored to include a rudimentary bathroom with a shower, bunk-style accommodations, a kitchen and a candlelit dining area with sheepskin throws that invite guests to "step back in time" for an immersive overnight experience in the Alps.
The route begins and ends in Le Miroir, France, at either of Eleven’s neighboring chalets: the seven-bedroom Chalet Hibou or five-bedroom Chalet Pelerin. These Savoyard-styled chalets offer an all-encompassing lodging, dining and outdoor experience in the heart of the Alps. Chef-prepared meals, a variety of spa offerings and an extensive menu of guided adventures combine to deliver a fully personalized experience in this corner of the French Alps. This three-day, two-night hut-to-hut experience can be added to the middle or end of a stay at either Chalet Pelerin or Chalet Hibou.
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