Tour des Combins hike, Switzerland/Italy
Ask hikers who know the Alps well, and many will say the finest circuit isn’t the famous one. The Tour des Combins loops around the Grand Combin massif (4,314 m), crossing back and forth between the Val de Bagnes and Italy’s Aosta Valley, with a fraction of the foot traffic of its better-known neighbor, the Tour du Mont Blanc.
Over eight days, the route climbs from Martigny to Mauvoisin, beneath Europe’s highest arch dam, then into wilder territory: the Cabane de Chanrion, the windswept Fênetre de Durand pass into Italy, and the historic Grand-Saint-Bernard hospice, founded in the 11th century. It circles back via the Cabane de Panossière, reached by a suspension footbridge over the Corbassière glacier. Ibex herds are a near-daily sight, and Mont Blanc makes surprise appearances from several of the passes.
This is a genuinely demanding trek — seven consecutive days averaging 12–15 km with up to 1,200 m of climbing, high and often remote. Nights are spent in mountain huts and small hotels, half-board, with a UIMLA-certified guide throughout.
Hiking fitness
Comfortable walking 6–8 hours a day on trail, seven days in a row
Able to sustain climbs and descents of up to 1,200 m in a single day
Daily distances range from 6 to 23 km, with Day 3 the longest and most demanding
Terrain and footing
Sure-footed on rocky, high-alpine trails, moraine, and loose ground near passes and hut approaches
Comfortable with steep, sustained ascents and descents on narrow mountain paths
Possible snow patches on the higher passes (Fenêtre de Durand, Col du Grand-Saint-Bernard) in early or late season
Mountain experience
No technical climbing or glacier skills required — this is a way-marked, non-technical hiking circuit
Prior multi-day hut-to-hut hiking experience is strongly recommended, given the remoteness and cumulative effort
Comfortable at altitude — the route crosses several passes above 2,400 m — and in variable high-mountain weather
Consecutive self-carry days require comfort hiking with a fully loaded overnight pack
A scenic train and bus ride up the Val de Bagnes brings us to Mauvoisin, a tiny outpost dwarfed by its dam — at 250 meters, the highest arch dam in Europe, holding back a reservoir tucked directly beneath the Grand Combin’s glaciers. Route briefing and a first look at the massif that gives this trek its name.
Overnight at the Hotel Mauvoisin.
The trail climbs above the reservoir and deep into wild, glacier-scoured terrain, with the Grand Combin’s northern glaciers filling the skyline for much of the day. The new Cabane de Chanrion, one of the more remote huts on the route, sits at the head of the valley — a good place to start watching for ibex, which gather on these slopes in real numbers.
Hike: 10.7 km · 950 m ascent / 350 m descent
Overnight in the hut
The longest and most committing day of the trip: up to the windswept Fenêtre de Durand, the high notch that marks the border, with a rock formation nicknamed the “dinosaur” watching over the pass. The descent drops you into Italy and the Aosta Valley, a noticeably different landscape — warmer stone, different light — finishing at the Rifugio Champillon.
Hike: 22.7 km · 1,135 m ascent / 1,170 m descent
Overnight in the rifugio, sauna and showers available
A long, satisfying descent through Italian alpine pasture, with Mont Blanc putting in an unexpected appearance from the Col de Champillon before the trail drops to Saint-Rémy, a tiny village known well beyond its size for its air-cured jambon de Bosse. A good night to sample it.
Hike: 15 km · 460 m ascent / 1,250 m descent
Overnight at a Hotel in Saint-Rémy
A shorter climbing day up to one of the most storied passes in the Alps: the Grand-Saint-Bernard, at 2,469 meters, home to a hospice founded in the 11th century and still run by Augustinian monks — and famous as the birthplace of the St. Bernard dog.
Hike: 8 km · 870 m ascent / 200 m descent
Overnight at Grand Col Saint Bernard
Back on Swiss soil, the trail climbs steadily out of the valley toward the Cabane de Mille, with the Mont Blanc range visible on the skyline for much of the ascent — a fitting reminder of how far this quiet circuit stays from its famous neighbor.
Hike: 12 km · 1,100 m ascent / 250 m descent
Overnight in the hut
A high traverse across the balcony trails above the Val de Bagnes, with the Grand Combin now dominating the view ahead rather than behind. The approach to the Cabane de Panossière crosses a dramatic suspension footbridge over the Corbassière glacier — one of the most memorable single moments on the route.
Hike: 15 km · 1,120 m ascent / 960 m descent
Overnight in the hut
A shorter final descent alongside the Corbassière glacier’s lower moraine, back down to Mauvoisin and its towering dam — closing the loop with one last look at the Grand Combin before the transfer back to Martigny.
Hike: 6.4 km · 270 m ascent / 1,060 m descent
Footwear & walking gear
Broken-in hiking boots with ankle support and a good sole — this is rocky, high-mountain terrain
Trekking poles, especially useful on the long descents (Days 3, 4, and 7)
Gaiters, useful for early- and late-season snow patches on the higher passes
Clothing
Moisture-wicking base layers (top and bottom), with a spare set
Light fleece or softshell mid-layer
Warm insulated jacket (down or synthetic) for huts and cold passes
Waterproof, windproof shell jacket and overtrousers
Warm hat, sun cap, and a buff or neck gaiter
Gloves — a light pair is usually enough, but bring a warmer pair for the higher cols
Warm socks, 2–3 pairs (no cotton), plus light shoes or hut slippers for evenings
Personal safety & extras
Sunglasses (category 3–4) — sun exposure is strong at altitude
High-SPF sunscreen and lip balm
Headlamp with spare batteries
Reusable water bottle or hydration bladder (2 L capacity recommended)
Earplugs — huts are shared, dormitory-style accommodation
Lightweight towel
Lightweight Hut liner for the beds
Small personal first-aid kit, blister plasters, and any personal medication
Passport or ID (the route crosses into Italy at the Fenêtre de Durand), and proof of mandatory rescue/travel insurance
Swiss francs and euros in cash, for hut and hotel extras such as drinks or showers
A daypack, 30–35 L, to carry the day’s layers, water, and picnic
Prices are based on double rooms where available or nice dorm rooms
Guided Tour:
Organisation, UIMLA-hiking guide, all huts/hotels with half board in double rooms if possible or dorms, 5 picnics, 1 lunch at Cabane de Brunet, train/bus from Martigny – Mauvoisin – Martigny, bus Great Saint Bernard – Bourg St.Pierre
It’s possible to arrange luggage transfer to Col Grand Saint Bernard and back to Martigny for a supplement.
Self guided Tour:
Organisation, all huts/hotels with half board in double rooms if possible or dorms, 5 picnics, detailed tour information, gpx tracks to download on your map app
Guided tour:
Personal insurance, drinks, travel to and from Martigny
Self guided tour:
Personal insurance, travel to Mauvoisin hiking start and back, 1 lunch, drinks
Why Choose Us
Insurance
Travel insurance is not included in our adventures.
We strongly recommend that you purchase insurance to cover cancellation, medical expenses, personal accident, personal baggage, money and public liability.
Accident or injury. Unexpected medical expenses. Unplanned incidents are rare but can crop up when you travel.
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How it works
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