The stages from Roccaforte Mondovì to Refuge Don Barbera

Before setting off on your journey, it’s worth stopping off at thechurch of San Maurizio in Roccaforte Mondovì. This medieval gem is home to some exceptional Romanesque-Byzantine frescoes, including the famous Kiss of Judas and a majestic Christ Pantocrator. Among the 15th-century works, you can also recognise the refined hand of Giovanni Mazzucco.

The stage continues with a long, steady climb up the Ellero valley, alternating between footpaths, tracks and little-travelled secondary roads. After the hamlet of Prea, you’ll come across a remarkable cobbled section of an ancient salt route, a reminder of the trade between the Alps and the Mediterranean.

Higher up, the landscape opens out onto the vastness of Pian Marchisio, a vast natural amphitheatre surrounded by rocky peaks. The last few kilometres lead to the CAI Mondovì – Havis De Giorgio refuge, offering exceptional views of Mongioie and Saline, two of the most emblematic peaks in the Ligurian Alps.

From Pian Marchisio, the route leaves the CAI Mondovì – Havis De Giorgio refuge and heads for the high plateaus of the Marguareis towards the CAI Garelli refuge. The path first follows part of the famous Tour of the Marguareis, crossing the Porta Biecai and its ephemeral lake, visible only in spring when the melting snow feeds this natural curiosity.

At the crossroads of the paths from the Pesio Valley and Porta Sestrera, the route heads towards Lake Ratavuloira. Between high-altitude pastures, karstic formations and vast mineral spaces, the atmosphere gradually becomes wilder. A steady climb then takes you up to the 2,300-metre Colle del Pas before a long descent through the magnificent scenery of the Parc du Marguareis.

After the Capanna Saracco-Volante, the path finally reaches the Refuge Don Barbera, an emblematic stage of the Haute Route du Sel and a must for mountain hikers. Between endless horizons, limestone reliefs and almost timeless silence, this stage is one of the most beautiful alpine immersions in the RivierAlp region.