Tour of the Combins

This classic trek, but less frequented than its neighbour the Tour du Mont Blanc, takes you around the Grand Combin massif (4314m) and its neighbours, crossing the border between Italy and Switzerland.

There are many possibilities for dividing up the stages, with round-trip summits as an option, and the possibility of cutting out certain sections by road transport.

Below you will find two possibilities of the tour which are proposed by the Guides de Verbier.

Product	Number of participants	Prices in CHF
Tour des Combins in 6 days	Max. 10 people	From CHF 1’490.- per person*
Tour of the Combins in 3 days (traverse from Bourg St. Pierre to Mauvoisin)	Max. 10 people	From CHF 690.- per person*

For more information https://tourdescombins.com/fr/

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Tour des Combins in 6 days

1rst day : Mauvoisin 1841m – Chanrion Hut 2462m

+950m/ -350m – about 5h walk (10.7km)

The departure for the end of the world… The upper Val de Bagnes and the Chanrion hut at almost 2500 m.

We go straight to the heart of the matter by a real mountain path from Mauvoisin, for a well-deserved arrival at an authentic mountain hut, Chanrion…

The road leads to the top of the dam, which you cross to reach the right bank of the lake. Continue through a series of galleries, passing by waterfalls, then a good path leads to the Giétroz Stables, listed buildings. Cross the scenic Tsofeirë plateau to reach the Tsofeirë pass and finally descend to the Chanrion hut.

Overnight at the Chanrion hut, in dormitories.

2nd day : Chanrion 2462m – Champillon 2465m

+1135m / -1170m – about 7h50 walk (22.7km)

Passage over Italy, change of scenery and return to less alpine altitudes. Typical Italian evening…

From Chanrion you can see the next part of the route and, descending over the harmoniously undulating ridges of the pasture, you reach the Grand Charmotane bridge, which you cross. After an initial steep climb, the slope gradually becomes gentler and, through areas that are half grassy and half rocky, a comfortable path leads us to the Fenêtre Pass (Fenêtre de Durand). The well-marked path first crosses a scree to finally reach the pastures of Thoules. Here the farm road begins, leading to the Balme alp and then to the Conca di By. From here, the path climbs and reaches the Ru de By 150 m higher, which you follow to Néan. Here, we leave the Ru de By to climb to the Tsa de Champillon from where we reach the Cabane Letey.

3rd day : Letey hut- Grand Saint-Bernard

+1211m / -1184m – about 7h30 walk (20.3km)

A day through pastures and forests, with typical hamlets of the Aosta Valley, culminating with the arrival at the Gd St Bernard, a place of passage known for over 2000 years.

From the Cabane Letey to Champillon the rather steep path leads to the Col de Champillon. In the background rises the imposing trapezium of the Grand-Combin, while to the west the scene opens up to the Mont Blanc chain. The descent towards the Menouve valley is then followed by the Pointier mountain. The Tour des Combins itinerary takes the path that climbs to the Combe Germain mountain pasture and then leads to the Ru d’Eternod, which you follow westwards through a beautiful larch forest to reach the Montagne de Barasson.

We take the path that climbs to the left and joins the forest road; we follow it until Plan Puitz. We reach Cantine de Fonteinte and join the TDC itinerary to reach the Grand Saint-Bernard pass.

4th day : Grand Saint-Bernard – Mille

+1370m / – 1350m – about 8h walk (25.6km)

A beautiful stage between mountains and valleys which ends at Mont-Brûlé at 2,572 m. The Mille hut is warm and friendly.

From the Col, the path plunges into the Combe des Morts, to pass the Hospitalet. After the alpage de la Pierre (vaulted stable dating from 1707), the modern era reveals its achievements, with the start of the road tunnel and the Toules dam which you follow on its left bank. Bourg-Saint-Pierre, the terminus of this stage and of the Tour des Combins, is now very close. Passing by the chapel of Lorette, the Creux du Mâ, Boveire d’en bas, le Coeur, Erra, the path crosses pastures and offers little difficulty, which leaves the walker free to observe the Entremont Valley in all its length. At the Col de Mille, the end of this first stage, the magnificent Col de Mille hut awaits you. The panorama which is offered to your eyes is incomparable and you will not fail to be seduced.

5th day : Mille – Brunet through the Mont Rogneux

+580m / -940m – about 5h walk(8.9km)

You will enjoy an exceptional panorama of the Combins massif. Descent through the mountain pastures to the Brunet hut at 2100 m.

6th day : Brunet – Mauvoisin

+1030m / -1290m – about 5h50 walk (13.3km)

A final stage in the form of an apotheosis under the Grand Combin. Passing the Panossière hut before the climb to the Col des Otanes. You leave the Combins massif behind you and reach Mauvoisin for the end of your great hike.

Rate: based on a group of 4 people:

1245.- per person

Our prices only include the guide’s supervision and ½ board in the hut. The costs for the compulsory technical equipment, lunch (picnic) and transport (taxi or public transport) are to be added to the above prices.

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Tour des Combins in 3 days (traverse from Bourg St. Pierre to Mauvoisin)

Day 1 – Bourg-St-Pierre to Mille

+1150m / -250m – about 4h20 walk (12.6km)

Bourg-Saint-Pierre is the most important village crossed by the TDC. Its Saint-Charles bridge (Charlemagne), its ancient bell tower, its milestone (Roman period) and its well-preserved old houses are worth a visit before heading for the heights. Passing by the chapel of Lorette, the Creux du Mâ, Boveire d’en bas, le Coeur, Erra, the path crosses pastures and offers little difficulty, which leaves the walker free to observe the Entremont Valley in all its length. At the Col de Mille, the end of this first stage, the magnificent Col de Mille hut awaits you. The panorama which is offered to your eyes is incomparable and you will not fail to be seduced.

Day 2 – Mille to Panossière

+1420m / -505m – about 5h30 walk (14.4km)

After the Col de Mille, we enter the territory of the commune of Bagnes, one of the largest in Switzerland (282 km2). Straight ahead, to the north, the resort of Verbier stretches to the foot of the Pierre Avoi. The TDC trail heads progressively north-east to reach the Treutse, at 2092 m, after about an hour. The view is breathtaking over almost all the villages in this commune of 7,800 inhabitants. Heading east, the path through the blueberry bushes and arolles leads us to the Cabane Brunet.

Heading south-east, the path, sometimes uphill and sometimes downhill, leads us to the Sery footbridge over a narrow gorge and, without much difficulty, we reach the place called “la Maye”. A steep, zigzagging climb takes us to the large footbridge, almost 200 metres long, which spans the waters and the Corbassière glacier. Then, in just under an hour on an easy path, we reach the François Xavier-Bagnoud hut in Panossière.

Day 3 – Panossière to Mauvoisin

+300m / -1100m – about 3h walk (6.5km)

After walking along the moraine on the right bank of the Corbassière glacier, we begin a short but steep climb to the Col des Otanes, at 2870m, the highest point of the TDC. It is from here that the panorama is fascinating, in this cirque of rock and ice where the Grand Combin presides over the grandeur of one of the most beautiful sites in the Alps. It is at the edge of this grassy saddle that one can admire the summits of Mont-Pleureur and Ruinette. At the bottom of the valley you can see the imposing 250 m high concrete wall of the highest arch dam in Europe. The descent continues to Mauvoisin.

Rate: based on a group of 4 people:

550.- per person

Our prices only include the guide’s supervision and ½ board in the hut. The costs for the compulsory technical equipment, lunch (picnic) and transport (taxi or public transport) are to be added to the above prices.