How to get to - ALPE VEGLIA Sito Ufficiale

Menu principale:

News

HOW TO GET TO ALPE VEGLIA

Before walking up to the Natural Park of Alpe Veglia (1750 m.) you must first get to the little town of Varzo, through the road that leads to the Simplon Pass (SS33). (The closest town with malls, hotels, historical sites and a century old Saturday market is Domodossola.) When in Varzo, you’ll drive up to San Domenico. Park your car either there (free of charge) or 2 km further down, at Ponte Campo. You’ll pay a daily little fee, but you save half an hour walking on paved road. At the bridge of Ponte Campo you’ll start hiking up along the jeep trail (400 m. difference in level; an hour and a half easy walk). Only the summer inhabitants are allowed to drive on this trail (there’s a locked barrier at the ‘avalanche point’). On request, your backpacks may be transported by hotel-shelter owners. From San Domenico - but often only on the week-ends - there’s a cable car that leads to Ciamporino. From there you may take a breathtaking trail to Veglia (200 m. lower).

At Alpe Veglia there are very few resorts where to stay for the night: three small hotel-shelters, a CAI shelter, an equipped campsite, few small private apartments and rooms (See homepage for details). Booking in advance is a must. There’s a mini market for groceries with daily bread and five public landline phones. Cell phones and Internet usually work but you may be requested to pay cash as the weather cannot always guarantee connection and the use of cards. Tennis shoes are enough to reach Alpe Veglia, but for the walks to the Aurona glacier, to the many lakes nearby and of course to Monte Leone (3553 m., the highest peak of the Lepontine Alps) or Terra Rossa, Rebbio, etc. you’ll need appropriate footwear and hiking clothes. Hotel- shelters and private lodgings start to operate after the opening of the jeep trail (May-early June) and they close at the end of September, when the trail may once again be too dangerous due to ice-slides. In winter only the CAI shelter has a nine-bed room open, but no services whatsoever. In winter Alpe Veglia cannot be reached through the canyon of the summer jeep trail but from Valtendra Pass.

Bonfire night is on 14th August and Ferragosto (mid-August) celebrations are and 15th August. Daily Mass at the Rosmini resort and Sunday Mass at the 16th century old church in the plain. Veglia is on the GTA (Route des Grandes Alpes), either arriving from Alpe Devero or from the Simplon Pass hospice in Switzerland.

From MILANO or VARESE by car Take and follow the A8 Autostrada dei Laghi up to the fork for the A26 (The Genova-Gravellona Toce Highway). First follow the directions for Alessandria and then for Gravellona Toce. After the last pay toll in Arona, continue on the road for Gravellona Toce. When the highway comes to an end, it becomes Road SS33. You’ll hardly realize the difference but for the color of the road signs that will change from green to blue. Attention, the speed limit on SS33 will be 90 km/h. Follow the directions Sempione - Confine di Stato (State border) and, after Domodossola, take the exit for Varzo. In Varzo, follow the road signs for the San Domenico ski resort.

From GENOVA or ALESSANDRIA by car

Take and follow the A26 (The Genova-Gravellona Toce Highway). After the last pay toll in Arona, continue on the road for Gravellona Toce. When the highway comes to an end, it becomes Road SS33. You’ll hardly realize the difference but for the color of the road signs that will change from green to blue. Attention, the speed limit on SS33 will be 90 km/h. Follow the directions Sempione - Confine di Stato (State border) and, after Domodossola, take the exit for Varzo. In Varzo, follow the road signs for the San Domenico ski resort.

From TORINO by car

Take the A4 highway, direction Milano Ivrea Aosta M.Bianco G.S.Bernardo Frejus. Follow it till the exit for A26, direction Gravellona Toce. After the last pay toll in Arona, continue on the road for Gravellona Toce. When the highway comes to an end, it becomes Road SS33. You’ll hardly realize the difference but for the color of the road signs that will change from green to blue. Attention, the speed limit on SS33 will be 90 km/h. Follow the directions Sempione - Confine di Stato (State border) and, after Domodosola, take the exit for Varzo. In Varzo, follow the road signs for the San Domenico ski resort.

From SWITZERLAND by car

When in Brig, take the Simplon Pass road for Domodossola. After the border and customs offices, take the first exit for Varzo and when there, follow the road signs for the San Domenico ski resort.

From SWITZERLAND by train

When in Brig, take a train for Domodossola which stops at Varzo station. There is a small bus for Ponte Campo every two hours (but with many stops on the way). If coming to Italy from Locarno through the Centovalli railroad, get to Domodossola and then catch a train for Brig which stops at Varzo station.

From ANY PLACE IN ITALY by train get to Domodossola International train station and then catch a train for Brig which stops at Varzo station.

By plane

The closest airport is Malpensa Airport and from there to Domodossola train station there’s a shuttle service that must be booked in advance at 00390324240333

(Comazzi Alibus).