Ayuna Mountain Expedition — Autumn
Step outside the known and into the wild. In the mountains, there are no walls and no routines.
Hosted by OTRO Elements
- Duration
- 5 days · 2 nights basecamp, 2 nights bivouac
- Location
- Rassa → Alpe Selvaccia + trail, Monte Rosa area, Italian Alps
- Group size
- 8–12 people
- Intensity
- Demanding
- Best season
- autumn
- Languages
- English, Dutch
The experience
The same expedition as the spring departure, run late in the season when the valleys have turned and the light is low all day.
Two nights at the Alpe Selvaccia basecamp above Rassa — fire circles, meadows beneath Monte Rosa, yoga, breathwork and a dip in mountain water — then three days on the trail with everything you need on your back.
Nights under tarps or open sky, meals cooked together from local produce, solo reflection time, and a traditional sweat lodge ceremony back at camp.
Who this is for
Said plainly, so you can rule it out as easily as rule it in.
- You want the Ayuna route in autumn colour rather than spring snowmelt
- You are comfortable with multi-day trekking and bivouac nights
- You want structured reflection built into the walking
- You need a bed and a shower every night
- You are not confident on steep, uneven ground in cold weather
What's included
Included
- Basecamp accommodation in simple huts at Alpe Selvaccia (two nights)
- Three days and two nights trekking with bivouac camping
- Yoga, breathwork and mountain water activities
- Local, organic meals, including a pizza-baking evening with the Italian hosts
- Traditional sweat lodge ceremony
- Guided hiking with local experts and small-group facilitation
Not included
- Travel to and from Rassa, Valsesia
- Personal hiking and sleeping equipment
- Personal and travel insurance
Meet your host
OTRO Elements
Netherlands · basecamp at Alpe Selvaccia, Italian Alps6 years hosting
OTRO Elements run “nature-based expeditions designed for reflection, deep connection, and the art of letting go”. Their basecamp is Alpe Selvaccia — 22 hectares of alpine meadow and pine forest above Rassa in the Valsesia, with rustic huts, a fire circle, a tipi and a yoga platform looking out at Monte Rosa. They call the facilitator team the Tribe: Quirine, Fenneke, Tjeerd, Marit, Kalijn, Fernanda, Raymond, Robert-Jan, Benny and others, working alongside local Italian hosts and mountain guides.
Verified credentials
- Local IFMGA-affiliated mountain guides set and lead every alpine route
- Groups capped at 8–12 people, with several facilitators per expedition
- Winter routes finalised on snow, avalanche and weather conditions shortly before departure
Why you can trust this listing
A person reviewed this listing
Every listing is checked by our curation team against a quality bar before it goes live — the photos are the host's own, the logistics are confirmed, and the credentials are verified. Nothing is published automatically.
We hold your payment until your experience starts
Your payment is taken at booking but stays with NatureTreats. We release it to your host the day after your experience begins. If it doesn't happen, you are refunded in full, automatically.
Practical details
Including the cancellation terms — visible before you book, not buried at checkout.
Meeting point
The mountain village of Rassa in the Valsesia. The group walks up to the Alpe Selvaccia basecamp from there.
What to bring
- Broken-in hiking boots and a 40–50 litre pack
- A sleeping bag rated for cold autumn nights at altitude
- Warm layers, hat, gloves and a rain shell
- Swimwear and a quick-dry towel
Accessibility
Physically demanding, and colder than the spring departure. Multi-day trekking with a full pack and two nights sleeping out. Not suitable for wheelchair users.
Cancellation — Moderate
Full refund up to 30 days before the start date.
- More than 30 days before: full refund.
- 30–14 days before: 50% refund.
- Less than 14 days before: no refund.