From Pian delle Gorre (1032 m), take the dirt road, closed to traffic, that leads into the Vallone del Saut, heading southeast through a mixed forest. Pass the turnoff for Pian del Creus on your left and continue straight ahead to the area known as “Il Saut,” where the road ends at a small clearing.
Here, ignore the trail to the Garelli Mountain Hut on the left and continue forward on a wide mule trail, crossing the Saut Stream via two consecutive wooden bridges.
Beyond the stream, the mule trail slowly gains elevation through the woods, skirting the very long ridge that descends from Testa del Duca: when you reach the fork to the right for Gias Fontana, which you ignore, Gias degli Arpi (1435 m, 1 hour 20 minutes from Pian delle Gorre, fountain) is now also in sight.
Once past the mountain pasture, the former military trail continues, alternating between long traverses and a few switchbacks.
As you gain elevation, you’ll pass through a more open stretch at the foot of the rocky escarpment of Testa Murtel, briefly re-enter the woods, and finally continue through sparse shrubbery.
A few long switchbacks climb the slope leading to Colle del Prel Sottano. Without reaching the pass, head left up the trail that branches off just outside a switchback on the old military road (which is barely visible in several places here) and head directly toward Colle del Prel Soprano (1926 m, 1 hour 35 minutes from Gias degli Arpi).
At the pass, you’ll find the trail to the Vallone del Marguareis on the left, which you’ll use for the return trip; keeping to the right, however, you’ll ascend to rejoin the old military road, which, after a short stretch to the left, reaches the Passo del Duca (1989 m, 10 minutes from Colle del Prel Soprano).
Retrace your steps back to Colle del Prel soprano, then take the trail (now on the right) that descends into the Vallone del Marguareis with a long diagonal traverse.
The descent, which is quite steep at first, gradually becomes gentler; after passing the fork to the right that cuts directly toward the Garelli Mountain Hut, you reach the bottom of the Marguareis Valley and join the trail coming from the Sestrera Sottano Mountain Hut.
Follow this trail to the left and continue descending through grass and rocky terrain. You’ll enter a beautiful beech forest alongside the stream; cross the stream via a wooden bridge and finally reach the Sestrera Sottano Mountain Hut (formerly Gias Sottano di Sestrera, 1341 m, 1 hour and 5 minutes from Passo del Duca, water fountain).
Ignore the trail to the Garelli Mountain Hut on the right, cross the clearing, and cross a stream via a wooden bridge; immediately after the bridge, ignore the fork to the right leading to Pian del Creus.
Following numerous switchbacks on a moderate slope, you descend through a beautiful fir forest to the area known as “Il Saut,” which you passed on the way up. Here you’ll find the dirt road again; follow it to the right, and it will take you back to Pian delle Gorre (1032 m, 45 minutes from the Sestrera Sottano Mountain Hut).