A trekking day with the family in Cervinia.

We were lucky this summer to stay for a week in Courmayeur, and we had a couple of days out going on different trekkings. I’ll write about our week in Courmayeur later. We decided to visit Cervinia one day with the family. From Courmayeur to Aosta, you have 40’ through the national route or 30’ through the A5, and then you continue to the east and for half an hour to the north through a windy road you arrive to Cervinia. All in all is about 1 ½ hours away.

 

Arriving into Cervinia through the last tunnel. Photo: The-Ski-Guru. Family day in Cervinia
Arriving into Cervinia through the last tunnel. Photo: The-Ski-Guru. Family day in Cervinia

Arriving in Cervinia

The first thing you start seeing on the road is the majestic Matterhorn, which is called Monte Cervino in the Italian side. The Matterhorn/Cervino is surely the most photographed and known mountain in Europe, not the tallest- that is the mighty Mont Blanc (just between Courmayeur and Chamonix)

I have been a couple of times in Zermatt now (and will write a must-read guide soon), but the first thing that called my attention, is that the Cervino’s peak seems much bigger on this side. This is, I was told, because you are at a higher altitude in Cervinia than in Zermatt, so you are just more near the peak.

The boys with the Monte Cervino in the backdrop. A trekking day with the family in Cervinia.
The boys with the Monte Cervino in the backdrop. A trekking day with the family in Cervinia.

The weather was predicted to be awful in the afternoon, so we decided to go for a hike by mid-morning from the edge of town towards the face of the Monte Cervino.

The trek to the face of Monte Cervino/Matterhorn

Off we went after getting some directions from Enrico Vuillermoz, from the Cervino Tourism Office. We’ve walked through the edge of town, (passing the Eco-Maison Au Pieds du Roi, and we went in an zig-zagging up the mountain road. There were some cut-offs to take if you were feeling brave and athletic.

Starting the ascent to the face of the Monte Cervino. Chris and the boys coming up as goats.
Starting the ascent to the face of the Monte Cervino. Chris and the boys coming up as goats.

Obviously, my kids of 9 and 8 were going up and down like goats. They were looking at me with a pity face and had to wait very often for me to catch up – mostly as I was having my tongue out and have to stop because I was short of breath.

The lovely alpine flowers were around us all the way in our hike. A trekking day with the family in Cervinia.
The lovely alpine flowers were around us all the way in our hike. A trekking day with the family in Cervinia.

The views of the Monte Cervino were amazing, but we did not have them for too long, as the clouds shielded it! But even we could not see the famous peak, its presence was felt very much. There were lovely alpine flowers all over the way up the road. I was happy to be using my new poles that my husband got for my birthday in Courmayeur.

My oldest son got way ahead of us with my husband, and my youngest one was not happy of having being stuck with me lagging behind. When he realised that they were two curves higher than us, he wanted to climb straight up and was very upset that I could not keep up!

My youngest kid showing me the way he wanted to go up the mountain off the road. A trekking day with the family in Cervinia. Photo: The-Ski-Guru

The weather was starting to turn in, so we made it to the waterfall only, and then decided, after taking some pictures, to come down and reach the rifugio before the downpour drenched us. When you are in the mountains, and the weather is not pitch blue skies, you have to manage to plan how much you can get of your time out and about, before the torrential downpours get you.

My two boys by the waterfall in the way up to the face of the Monte Cervino. A trekking day with the family in Cervinia. Photo: The-Ski-Guru.
My two boys by the waterfall in the way up to the face of the Monte Cervino. A trekking day with the family in Cervinia. Photo: The-Ski-Guru.

Food, glorious food.

We came down and we’ve stopped for lunch at Royaume du Cervin. It is a lovely alpine wooden cabin with a great terrace. As tempting as the terrace looked, we’ve thought it would be more sensible to stay inside. And it was sensible, since as soon we came in, a storm came rumbling down.

Royaume du Cervin was a great place to have a stop for lunch. It saved us to be drenched when the storm came. A day trekking with the family. Photo: The-Ski-Guru.
Royaume du Cervin was a great place to have a stop for lunch. It saved us to be drenched when the storm came. A day trekking with the family. Photo: The-Ski-Guru.

Food was delicious and the best was the crostata we got for dessert. This dessert reminds me of the Pasta Frola from Argentina, my home country- it is practically the same with another name! After coffee, there was some sunny spells and we’ve thought it was time to go.

 

More wildflowers on the road by a stream. A trekking day with the family. Photo: The-Ski-Guru.
More wildflowers on the road by a stream. A trekking day with the family. Photo: The-Ski-Guru.

So we’ve started going down and it took us a bit to do so, but we made it completely dry, so we thought we should go and see the town of Cervinia. Well, we’ve started walking and a thunderstorm came upon us… we got so wet in two minutes!!! So we’ve strolled very little. We’ve stayed at a cafeteria while my husband went to pick up the car, and slowly we went back to Courmayeur.

A small church on the way - next to the Royaume du Cervin restaurant. A trekking day with the family in Cervinia-Photo: The-Ski-Guru.
A small church on the way – next to the Royaume du Cervin restaurant. A trekking day with the family in Cervinia-Photo: The-Ski-Guru.

It was a lovely day out, I definitely recommend going. I would like to come another day and do a longer hike with good weather, and come back in winter to do some turns! In summer they run some pistes so you can ski too. We were tempted, but we did not have our equipment with us, and we did not have too much time to do it all, maybe next time. Also, Zermatt, next door, has some part of the area prepared for summer skiing.

Back in town in Cervinia, just before the storm started. At least we had a small taste of it and it got us to want more. A trekking day with the family. Photo: The-Ski-Guru.
Back in town in Cervinia, just before the storm started. At least we had a small taste of it and it got us to want more. A trekking day with the family. Photo: The-Ski-Guru.

Cervinia being one hour away from Aosta makes it a very easy spot to visit!

Fore more information on Cervinia, visit:

Winter. http://www.cervinia.it/it/inverno/home

Summer. http://www.cervinia.it/en/estate/home

Cervinia has some lovely lodging. http://www.breuil-cervinia.it/en/estate/soggiorno-breuil-cervinia-hotel

The-Ski-Guru travel can help you plan your ideal trip to the mountains, winter or summer. Click here to start a conversation https://www.the-ski-guru.com/ski-guru-travel-with-us/ – or write to us at info@the-ski-guru.com

Back in the car coming out of Cervinia. The storm came but we had a good 4 hours up in the mountain so we made the most of it! A trekking day out with the family in Cervinia. Photo: The-Ski-Guru.
Back in the car coming out of Cervinia. The storm came but we had a good 4 hours up in the mountain so we made the most of it! A trekking day out with the family in Cervinia. Photo: The-Ski-Guru.

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Featured Image: The sky allowed us to see for a bit the Monte Cervino, later the clouds covered it. Photo by The-Ski-Guru. 

 

 

 

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