Do you prefer to hike with the herd, or go against the grain? While not as hyped as the Tour du Mont Blanc, the Tour des Combins brings the familiar high-alpine hiking thrills, but with a fraction of the crowds. Starting in the traditional Swiss village of Bourg-Saint-Pierre, this trek will take you soaring above alpine meadows, across rocky plains packed with edelweiss, and over one of the greatest glaciers in Europe, with unyielding panoramas of the Pennine Alps throughout. Sprinkled along the circuit are many man-made wonders, including old-timey farms, rustic refuges, a dam surging with waterfalls, and a monastery built by St. Bernard himself. The Tour des Combines is a soon-to-be classic — don’t let the tourists beat you to it!
Trek a quieter, but equally epic alternative to the Tour du Mont Blanc
Traverse the Glacier de Corbassiere, one of Europe’s largest glaciers
Spend a night in the legendary St. Bernard Hospice, built in the 10th century
Your adventure starts in the Swiss Valais canton, in the village of Bourg-Saint-Pierre. After a short trip briefing, enjoy an evening meal and get rested for the hikes ahead.
Accommodation: Hotel, dinner included
Leave your hotel in Bourg-St-Pierre (1,632 m/ 5,354 ft) for a gradual ascent through wildflower meadows to La Coeur (2,233 m/ 7,326 ft). After crossing the col, follow scenic green slopes to the Cabane du Col de Mille (2,472 m/ 8,110 ft), where you’ll spend the night. If the weather cooperates, climb to Mt. Brulé at 2,572 m (8,438 ft), famed for its built-in military barracks and panoramic views of the entire valley.
Accommodation: Mountain refuge, dinner included
Walking time: 4-5 hrs
Distance: 12 km/ 7.5 mi
Altitude gain/loss: +1,030m/3,380 ft, -1,090 m/3,580 ft
Start your day with a descent, circumventing Mont Rogneux to the cozy Brunet Hut. After lunch, follow the gorge to the bottom of Glacier de Corbassieere, one of the longest and most dramatic glaciers in Europe, and the site of a spectacular 240-m (787-ft) suspension bridge. After a short and steady climb, reach the Cabane de Pannosiere, your base for the night with beautiful views of the glacier and the Grand Combin. Keep an eye out for ibex on the hillsides!
Accommodation: Mountain refuge, dinner included
Walking time: 6-7 hrs
Distance: 16 km/ 10 mi
Altitude gain/loss: +950 m/3,120 ft, -880 m/ 2,890 ft
Start your day with a long and steady climb to the Col des Otanes, the highest point of the trek at 2,806 m (9,206 ft). Descend from the rocky mountainside to the Lac de Mauvoisin dam (1,976 m/ 6,483 ft) and marvel at the spectacular man-made waterfalls. Enjoy a coffee break at the historic Hotel Mauvoisin before ascending through the dam’s tunnel walls. Follow the bank of the lake along some old-timey farms, and after a lunch break, climb steadily to the Col de Tsofeiret (2,630 m/ 8,628 ft). Then, descend to the Cabane de Chanrion (2,462 m/ 8,077 ft).
Accommodation: Mountain refuge, dinner included
Walking time: 7-9 hrs
Distance: 16 km/ 10 mi
Altitude gain/loss: +1,550 m/5,085 ft, -1,670 m/5,480 ft
Day 5 starts with a descent, followed by a climb alongside Glacier te Fenetre to Fenetre de Durand (2,797 m/ 9,176 ft) between Switzerland and Italy. After admiring the views, cross into Italy and drop down to the green pastures, often populated by marmots. You will then follow an ancient irrigation channel around the valley, before finishing the day with a climb to the Cabane de Champillon, also known as the Refuge Letey (2,375 m/ 7,791 ft).
Accommodation: Mountain refuge, dinner included
Walking time: 9-11 hrs
Distance: 27 km/ 16.7 mi
Altitude gain/loss: +1,170 m/3,840 ft, -1,190 m/3,905 ft
Leave the refuge, follow some alpine meadows, and start your climb to the Col de Champillon (2,709 m/ 8,888 ft). Drop down to the Aosta valley, to the Roman-garrison-turned village Etroubles. End your day with a descent through some riverside villages before a short transfer up to the Col de St. Bernard (2,469 m/ 8,100 ft) at the Swiss border. Visit and spend the night at the legendary hospice built by St. Bernard de Monthon in the 10th century, with a museum and a St. Bernard dog breeding center.
Accommodation: Mountain refuge, dinner included
Walking time: 6-7 hrs
Distance: 17 km/ 10.5 mi
Altitude gain/loss: +830 m/2,725 ft, -1,600 m/5,250 ft
Weather permitting, you will take a variant route to the Fenetre de Ferret (2,698 m/ 8,851 ft) for epic views of the Mont Blanc massif. After a short descent to the Lacs de Fenetre, enjoy another short ascent via an ancient mule track to the Col de Bastillon. Descend further down the Combe de Drone, passing several scenic lakes, before rejoining the traditional Tour des Combins Route. Follow in the footsteps of Napoleon taking a roman road to the starting point of Bourg-Saint-Pierre. In case of unfavorable weather, you will take the normal Tour des Combins route down from the col, along meadows, the old customs house, and the Bourg dam.
Accommodation: Hotel, dinner included
Walking time: 6-7 hrs
Distance: 15 km/ 9.3 mi
Altitude gain/loss: +600 m/1,970 ft, -1,350 m/4,430 ft
After a goodbye breakfast, depart from the beautiful Swiss Alps with phenomenal memories and even better views.
57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.
We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, their guides, and the communities they’re traveling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in Valais, Switzerland, please refer to Switzerland’s official COVID-19 guidelines for travelers.
Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!
What you get on this adventure:
What’s not included:
This tour is meant for hikers with strong fitness levels and prior hill walking experience. You will be walking for 6-7 hours a day on average, covering distances of 16-25 km (10-16 miles) with a fair amount of ascents and descents. Since there’s no vehicle support, so you’ll also need to be able to carry all of your equipment every day. However, you won’t need to pack sleeping bags or mattresses, and the tour doesn’t include glacial travel, so you should be able to keep your pack light.
If you’re new to hiking, check out our beginner-friendly photo walks in the Chamonix area.
If you’re an advanced hiker looking for a challenge, check out this Tour du Mont Blanc trail running adventure.
Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
You will only be able to access your luggage on days 1 and 7 of the trip, so try to pack light.
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season.
Group sizes and prices:
The Tour des Combins hike can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements:
If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
A 30% non-refundable deposit to secure your place is due upon booking. The remaining amount is paid 10 weeks (70 days) prior to departure. Once the trip is confirmed by the guide, the cancellation policy stated below applies.
To get to Bourg-Saint-Pierre in Valais, the tour’s starting point, most people fly into Geneva International Airport 2-3 hours away. From there, you can rent a car and drive straight to Bourg-Saint-Pierre, or take a train or bus to Martigny and the line 410 bus to Bourg-Saint-Pierre.
Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, your guide will suggest the best place to meet, whether that’s at your hotel in Bourg-Saint-Pierre or at a predetermined location. The guide will choose the appropriate terrain dependent on conditions and the ability of the group.
