Tour del Marguareis: 15 – 16 Years
A 5-day itinerant trekking through the Ligurian Alps, designed for boys and girls, featuring mountain huts, mountain trails, nature, games, storytelling, and group life.
The Tour del Marguareis is an experience dedicated to those who want to get closer to the most authentic side of the mountains through a real but accessible journey. A walking trip through what are often called “the mountains of the sea”: a fascinating territory where the alpine environment meets the light and atmosphere of the Ligurian Alps.
The route crosses some of the most beautiful places in the Marguareis massif, with overnight stays in mountain huts and daily stages that allow you to experience the mountains to the fullest. You walk, observe, learn how to pack a backpack, face climbs and descents, share the daily life of the group, and discover the value of traveling on foot.
The experience was created with the aim of introducing young people to the real mountains, combining trekking, nature, and storytelling. Playful and narrative activities will accompany the walk, transforming each day into an opportunity to explore not only the landscape but also imagination, listening, and sharing.
Why choose this trek
This trip is ideal for boys and girls who want to live a more intense mountain experience compared to a base camp or single day hikes.
The Tour del Marguareis allows you to experience itinerant trekking in a protected and accompanied context, with structured stages, overnight stays in huts, and a group to share every moment of the journey with.
The formula is designed to foster autonomy, a spirit of adaptation, and confidence in one’s own abilities. Walking for several consecutive days helps you discover your own pace, manage fatigue, collaborate with others, and experience the mountains with greater awareness.
The presence of Micol and Anna combines outdoor skills and narrative abilities, creating an experience where the mountain also becomes a story, a game, and a discovery.
Trekking program and details
Trip program
Day 1: From Pian delle Gorre to Rifugio Garelli
The trek begins with a meeting at Pian delle Gorre, the starting point of the itinerary.
The first stage leads towards Rifugio Garelli, immediately entering the environment of the Ligurian Alps. It will be an important day to get familiar with the group, the rhythm of the walk, and backpack management.
The climb requires effort but allows you to start the journey in an authentic way, crossing a mountain landscape full of charm.
Indicative stage details: approximately 1000 m of positive elevation gain.
Day 2: From Rifugio Garelli to Rifugio Mondovì
The second day connects Rifugio Garelli to Rifugio Mondovì.
Compared to the first stage, the positive elevation gain is more limited, but the walk remains an integral part of the experience. The day allows you to cross new environments, observe the changing landscape, and consolidate the rhythm of the itinerant trek.
Every evening, the hut becomes a place for rest, sharing, and storytelling, where the group can gather after the day’s walk.
Indicative stage details: approximately 200 m of positive elevation gain.
Day 3: From Rifugio Mondovì to Rifugio Mongioie
The third stage leads from Rifugio Mondovì to Rifugio Mongioie.
It is one of the most demanding days of the trek, with a significant positive elevation gain and a lot of downhill as well. The route requires energy, attention, and a good attitude toward fatigue, but it also offers great satisfaction.
Based on the group’s condition and the guides’ assessment, the possibility of climbing towards Cima Mongioie may be considered.
Indicative stage details: approximately 900 m of positive elevation gain, with a significant descent.
Day 4: From Rifugio Mongioie to Rifugio Don Barbera
From Rifugio Mongioie, we continue towards Rifugio Don Barbera, continuing the journey into the heart of the Tour del Marguareis.
The stage crosses wide and suggestive mountain environments, with views that tell the whole beauty of the Ligurian Alps. The group will have now gained more confidence with the rhythm of the trek, life in the hut, and the dimension of traveling on foot.
It will be a full day of walking, where nature, effort, and sharing will continue to be a central part of the experience.
Indicative stage details: approximately 750 m of positive elevation gain.
Day 5: From Rifugio Don Barbera to Pian delle Gorre
The last day brings the group back towards Pian delle Gorre, closing the loop of the Tour del Marguareis.
The stage involves little positive elevation gain but a long descent, which requires attention and good energy management. The return to the starting point marks the conclusion of the trek and allows you to look back at the path completed with satisfaction.
After 5 days of walking, huts, stories, and group life, the journey concludes with the return to Pian delle Gorre.
Indicative stage details: approximately 300 m of positive elevation gain and over 1300 m of negative elevation gain.
Technical details and useful information
Duration of the experience: 5 days.
Geographic area: Ligurian Alps, Marguareis massif.
Meeting point: Pian delle Gorre.
End of the trek: Pian delle Gorre.
Total length: approximately 53 km.
Type of experience: itinerant trekking with overnight stays in mountain huts.
Participants: boys and girls.
Environment: alpine trails, huts, valleys, pastures, karst environments, and mountain landscapes of the Ligurian Alps.
Difficulty: hiking, with some more demanding sections. Medium-high effort.
The route is designed to bring young people closer to the real mountains, but it still requires a good predisposition for walking and life in a mountain hut. The stages involve climbs, descents, and consecutive days of activity, so it is important to have a desire to walk, group spirit, and a willingness to adapt to the rhythms of the mountain.
Some sections can be more demanding and require a sure foot, especially on days with greater elevation gain or long descents. The program may be adapted based on weather conditions, trail situations, and the guides’ assessment.
Recommended equipment: trekking clothing, hiking boots suitable for mountain trails, backpack, water bottle, rain jacket, fleece or warm garment, hat, sunscreen, personal items for overnight stays in the hut, and everything indicated in the list provided before departure.
Services included: accompaniment during the trek, organization of the itinerary, playful and narrative activities, support in managing the stages and group life.
Services not included: travel to reach Pian delle Gorre, any personal extras, and anything not expressly indicated in the included services.
