Stroll
Via Francigena Camino Italy: Aosta to Ivrea - 7 Days
Camino de SantiagoVia Francigena

Via Francigena Camino Italy: Aosta to Ivrea - 7 Days

7 Days
Moderate

Via Francigena Camino Italy: Aosta to Ivrea - 7 Days

from £855 / person

Overview

This walk from Aosta to the charming hills of Ivrea moves through dramatic alpine scenery and centuries of cultural history, covering some of northern Italy's most distinctive and rewarding landscapes. Beginning in Aosta, a peaceful town surrounded by dramatic mountain landscapes, the walk sets an inspiring tone from the outset. Each day reveals something new, from ancient castles and vineyards to prehistoric rock engravings, historic irrigation canals and celebrated wine regions. Along the way, walkers encounter imposing medieval fortresses and sections of ancient Roman road that hint at the countless travellers who passed through centuries before.

As the route progresses, the dramatic alpine backdrop gradually gives way to the gentler landscapes of the Piedmont hills, bringing a distinct change in scenery and atmosphere. The journey concludes in Ivrea, a fascinating town known for its historic centre, striking castle and open-air museum of modern architecture. It is a rewarding finale to one of northern Italy's most distinctive walks, rounded off with a taste of Ivrea's renowned Novecento chocolate cake.

Highlights

  • Discover semi-spherical engravings made in the rock by prehistoric men (Coppelle) along the road approaching Nus, still surrounded by mystery.
  • Follow ancient canals known as Rus while heading to Saint Vincent, and pause at the Crotta de Vegneron wine temple in Chambave.
  • Encounter the very fine Saint Germain castle with its impressive medieval walls and Mezzogiorno tower. Travel along sections of the ancient "strada delle Gallie" (road of the Gauls).
  • Experience a "brief journey in a time machine" at Arnad, walking through the naves of the parish church of San Martino and crossing the ancient Enchallod bridge, like medieval pilgrims.
  • Witness the scenic transition as the alpine scenery gives way to the gentle Piedmont hills, dotted with characteristic villages and natural sections.

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive in Aosta

Kick off your adventure in Aosta, a beautiful and peaceful historic area that has always been a haven for walkers. As you get comfortable, let the stunning alpine landscape around you set a wonderful mood for the trip ahead.

Accommodation

3-star Hotel in Aosta

What's Included

Accommodation

3-star Hotel (5 nights), Hotel (1 night)

Meals

6 breakfasts, and 1 dinner

Transfers

  • Luggage Transfers
  • Private Vehicle Transfers

Guidance & Support

  • Itinerary & Walk Notes
  • Walking App for Navigation
  • 24/7 on-trip support

How We Rate This Walk

3

Stroll Walking Grade

Moderate

Rated by our team — we walk every route before we recommend it.

Expect some hills and longer walking days. A reasonable level of fitness will help you enjoy the experience.

View Fitness Guide

5

Days on the trail

13-21 km

Daily distance range

21-814 m

Daily ascent range

5/10

Trail difficulty

Where You'll Stay

This route through the Aosta Valley is well served by its accommodation. Family-run three-star mountain hotels and agriturismi make up the stays along the way, with all rooms offering private en-suite facilities. The agriturismi are Italian farmhouse properties that sit naturally within the landscape, and several establishments along the route have partnerships with nearby wellness centres for those who want to make the most of a rest day in the mountains.

Alternative Accommodation

During peak season, alternative accommodation may occasionally be used in place of those pictured, which may result in minor adjustments to your walking routes. Please check your confirmed accommodation against the itinerary on arrival and departure and note any changes carefully. Where alternatives are necessary, we will always aim to maintain the same standard and keep you in the same towns and villages wherever possible.

What You'll Eat

Breakfast is included on all six mornings of the trip, and on the fifth day in Pont Saint Martin, dinner is provided as well. Lunch and dinner on the remaining days are yours to find, and the towns and villages along this route have no shortage of good options.

Note: Please advise us of any food allergies or intolerances at the time of booking. If you have severe allergies, bringing some of your own snacks is recommended, as specialist ingredients can be harder to source in more remote mountain stretches of this route.

More About This Trip

The walk starts in Aosta and finishes in Ivrea, in the Aosta Valley of northwest Italy. The closest airport is Turin (TRN), with international connections across Europe. From the airport, a bus to Aosta takes around 1.5 to 2 hours. Alternatively, a train from Turin city centre to Aosta takes a similar amount of time. Book Italian rail tickets in advance through Trenitalia.

The walk ends in Ivrea, from where trains connect to Turin and Milan, both offering good onward rail and air connections. Turin Airport (TRN) and Milan's airports (MXP and LIN) are both reachable by train from their respective city centres. As with all rail travel in Italy, remember to stamp your ticket at the platform machine before boarding. Inspectors treat an unstamped ticket as unpaid travel, regardless of whether you have paid.


This walk is available from 1 April to 31 October, with no fixed start days. Spring brings lush landscapes and comfortable temperatures, though some snow can linger on higher sections in late April and early May. June through September offers the most settled conditions, with warm days and reliable weather throughout. July and August can be hot on exposed valley sections, so early starts are advisable. September and October are particularly rewarding, with quieter trails and the vineyards turning gold. Pack a warm layer and waterproofs whatever the month; conditions can change quickly on this alpine route.

Moderate. Daily walks average 16.7 kilometres with around 500 metres of ascent and descent, and a terrain difficulty rating of 5 out of 10. The terrain is uneven in places, so sturdy walking boots with good ankle support are essential.

Elevation is the primary training consideration. Include regular hill climbs in your preparation; a treadmill or stair climber works well if hills are not accessible. Build up to around 21 kilometres comfortably in a single day and include back-to-back walking days. Balance exercises such as squats, lunges, and single-leg stands will help on the uneven ground.

The route is waymarked throughout by the iconic scallop-shell markers, and with fellow pilgrims on the trail, navigation is straightforward. Daily walk notes, maps, and GPX tracks are provided.

You must hold adequate travel insurance for your trip, including cover for personal liability and accidental injury and illness. For all trips involving international travel, your policy must also include emergency medical treatment, evacuation and repatriation cover. We strongly recommend your policy also covers trip cancellation and curtailment, and loss of or damage to luggage.

A cancellation fee usually applies if you cancel after your booking is confirmed. Travel insurance with cancellation cover will generally cover this fee, so it's worth arranging your policy at the time of booking.

Full insurance requirements are set out in our booking terms and conditions.

A detailed information pack and itinerary will be sent to you around six weeks before departure, covering everything you need to know for a seamless experience. In the meantime, our team is always on hand to answer any questions.

For your safety and well-being, we are unable to accept bookings for solo walkers on this self-guided trip. The remote nature of some tracks and limited mobile reception mean that walking alone presents a higher risk in case of emergencies.

Luggage transfer is included in your package and is normally provided by the accommodation itself.
Please clearly mark all your belongings with your name and put a small note with the name of the next accommodation in order to indicate where the bags should go next (check your accommodation list). Also, ask the accommodation owner where the bags should be left in the morning. Labelling your belongings prevents mix-ups, delays and loss.


Bags should be ready and at the reception or store room by 9:00 hrs.


If you are unable to walk, you can always ask if the luggage transporter can take you with them when transporting your baggage, but this is not always possible and sometimes you have to pay a small fee locally. In some countries, there are special insurances for transporting peoples and sometimes the car is not suited for transporting people.


When you travel with public transport, you always take your luggage with you unless specified differently.

Dates & Pricing

Choose Your Start Date

Pick any available date — this is your trip, your schedule

August 2026

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1Out of season
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Prices shown are per person, twin/double share basis.

Via Francigena reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

The Via Francigena is one of Europe's great ancient pilgrimage routes, stretching from Canterbury in England to Rome. Stroll offers several sections of this historic walk, ranging from alpine stages through Switzerland and northern Italy to the rolling hills of Tuscany, and the final 100km into Rome through the ancient Etruscan countryside. Each section is distinct in character — the alpine itineraries involve mountain passes and valley descents, while the Tuscan and Roman sections move through cypress-lined roads, medieval hilltop towns, and open farmland.

Your main luggage is transported between accommodations each day, so you only carry a daypack on the walk. One bag per person is included, with a maximum weight of 20kg and maximum dimensions of 65 x 50 x 40cm. Bags should be clearly labelled with your name and the name of your next accommodation, and left at reception by 8:30–9:00 AM. They'll be delivered to your next property by 4:00 PM. Do not pack valuables in your transferred luggage — the transfer service cannot be held responsible for the contents. Carry cash, cards, medication, and important documents in your daypack at all times. On some days (notably Day 2 of the Lucca to Siena itinerary), you'll need to take your luggage with you on a train transfer — your walk notes will flag when this applies.

A comfortable daypack is essential. Key items include well-worn waterproof walking boots (never use new footwear on this walk), a rain jacket or poncho, warm layer, sun hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, at least 1.5 litres of water, snacks and lunch supplies, a personal first aid kit including blister treatment and painkillers, your identification and insurance details, and cash. Walking poles are strongly recommended — two poles are ideal and make a real difference on both ascents and long descents, protecting your joints and improving balance on uneven terrain.

The Via Francigena passes through countless churches, abbeys, and sacred sites that are central to the pilgrimage tradition. Dress modestly — covered shoulders and knees are generally expected when entering religious buildings. Speak quietly, be respectful of any services in progress, and follow any posted guidelines about photography.

Tipping is not obligatory in Italy or Switzerland, but a small gesture is always appreciated for good service — rounding up a restaurant bill or leaving a few Euros is perfectly appropriate. There are no fixed expectations.

The Via Francigena passes through communities with a strong sense of local identity and pride. Support local businesses where you can — eat at family-run restaurants, buy from local shops, and engage respectfully with the people you meet along the way. The route has been walked by pilgrims for over a thousand years, and many of the communities along it are deeply connected to that tradition. A respectful and curious approach goes a long way.

Flag any allergies or dietary needs at the time of booking and remind your hosts again at check-in. The route passes through areas with deeply traditional cuisine where complex dietary requirements can be harder to accommodate. If your needs are specific, bring supplementary snacks from home. Most towns along the route have food shops and supermarkets where you can pick up supplies, and your hosts will always have restaurant recommendations for evenings when dinner isn't included.

Very much so, particularly if your walk ends in Rome. Arriving in the Eternal City after days or weeks on the road is a remarkable experience, and a few extra days to explore properly is highly recommended. Stroll can arrange additional nights in Rome, Siena, Montefiascone, or other end points depending on your itinerary.

Want to Know More?

The Via Francigena Experience

Wonder
Follow Archbishop Sigeric’s ancient pilgrimage through Val d’Elsa hilltop villages
See Lucca’s Volto Santo, then wander to San Gimignano’s medieval towers
Arrive in Rome via Monte Mario Belvedere and Piazza San Pietro
Wellness
Moderate graded trails through Val d’Elsa vineyards, olive fields and forest
Revive weary legs with a dip beneath Monte Gelato waterfalls
Family-run boutique B&Bs, generous breakfasts and Tuscan culinary specialities nightly
Nature
Volcanic ridgelines above Bolsena Lake and the plain below the Cimini Mountains
Streamside paths, shaded forests and serene country trails towards Rome
Etruscan thermal pools at Caldane and wooded Renai Forest approaches