Grand Tour des Combins
Activity
Difficulty
Duration
Dates
Price
From 1310.00 €
About the Grand Tour des Combins trek
The little-known Combins massif has nothing to envy its famous neighbor, the Mont-Blanc massif. Nestled between Switzerland’s Val de Bagnes and Italy’s Val d’Aoste, the massif is dominated by the imposing Grand Combin (4,314m) and offers an authentic, unspoilt environment.
The 7-day Grand Tour des Combins is the perfect opportunity to discover this wild territory of grandiose, contrasting landscapes. From verdant alpine meadows to shimmering mountain lakes, this beautiful itinerary flirts with the middle of the high mountains, bordering the magnificent Corbassière glacier. An overnight stay at the legendary Grand Saint-Bernard pass completes this remarkable trek.
You will leave with :
Pierrick
Trekking Guide
“The most important thing for me is to allow walkers to discover new places, new cultures and to exchange with the locals.”
Photo gallery of the Grand Tour des Combins trek
The route of the Grand Tour des Combins trek
Upcoming departures
What's included in the formula
- Supervision by a qualified mountain leader.
- Overnight stays as indicated in the program.
- Half-board in the accommodation indicated in the program.
- Picnic lunches.
- Luggage porterage except on D1 and D5.
What's not included in the package
- Cancellation and repatriation assistance insurance to be taken out on registration.
- Soft drinks in general.
- Personal hiking and travel equipment (shoes, poles, personal first-aid kit).
- Transport to the meeting point on D1 and return transport on the evening of D7.
- Any private transfers not included in the program.
- Everything not indicated in the price includes.
Day 1: Above Lac de Mauvoisin
We meet at 9am this morning in the parking lot of the Hôtel de Mauvoisin, in Fionnay.
Theclimb to the Tsofeiret pass (2,621m), overlooking the lake, offers magnificent views. Along the way, we come across the queens of the pasture: herens, the emblematic cows of the northern Alps. If we’re lucky, we’ll catch a glimpse of other local inhabitants: ibex and chamois are not far away.
A final descent takes us to the Chanrion hut, with its incredible panorama of the Combins massif.
Day 2: On the smugglers' trail
7 hours 30 mins walk – Overnight in dormitory without luggage – D+ 1135 m / D- 1200 m
Early in the morning, we leave the refuge and start the day by crossing the Dranse de Bagnes, which feeds Lac de Mauvoisin. Facing the imposing Mont Gelé and Mont Avril, we take the “chemin des contrebandiers” to Fenêtre Durand at 2,800 m altitude.
The well-marked path first crosses a scree before reaching the Thoules pastures. Here begins the farm road that leads to the Balme mountain pasture and then into the Conca di By. A little more effort and we’ll reach the refuge.
Day 3: In Valle d'Aosta
6h walk – Overnight in gîte – D+ 650 m / D- 1400 m
Today’s stage is 100% Italian. Undulating balcony paths offer magnificent views of the Aosta Valley and the many typical villages that dot this exceptional landscape.
We stop off at the hamlet of Cuchepache, at the foot of the legendary Grand Saint Bernard pass, for a comfortable night’s sleep in idyllic surroundings.
Day 4: Over the Col du Grand Saint Bernard
Today, we’re heading for the mythical Grand Saint-Bernard pass at an altitude of 2,473m. With a few detours in the footsteps of Napoleon, on the Italian-Swiss border, we discover these magnificent, well-preserved Alpine landscapes.
Tonight, we’ll be enjoying the hospitality of the canons and their community at the hospice du grand St-Bernard. Founded in the 11th century, it has been a refuge for pilgrims and travelers ever since. We’re sure you’ll enjoy a restful night’s sleep in this unusual setting.
Day 5: Return to Switzerland
This beautiful stage takes us from the majestic Col du Grand Saint Bernard to the wild, unspoilt landscapes of the Combe de l’A. Over a few passes and ridge paths, we overlook the Saint Bernard valley and discover the Lacs de Fenêtre, at an altitude of 2500m.
We’ll spend the night at the charmingly renovated Tsisette refuge, offering comfort and authenticity.
Day 6: From Tsissette to Cabane Brunet
We start the day with a leisurely descent to Liddes, a small village in the Val de Bagnes, and climb to the Cabane de Mille (2,475m), just a stone’s throw from the pass of the same name. A well-earned rest stop allows us to fully appreciate the 360° panorama of the Mont-Blanc massif and the surrounding Valais peaks.
We continue along a beautiful balcony path through arolles and blueberry bushes to the Brunet hut, where we spend the night.
Day 7: End of the trek via the Corbassière footbridge
A wonderful last day of hiking awaits us! We’re heading for Cabane FXB and the famous footbridge over the Corbassière glacier. As we approach the huge footbridge, we’ll cross an area of rocky outcrops that will give you an idea of how the landscape has been sculpted over centuries of glaciation.
After a stop at the FXB hut, we continue to the Col des Otanes (2,846m), the highest pass on this trek, before embarking on a magnificent descent to the Mauvoisin dam and lake.
Highlights of the trip
General information
SAFETY
You can find the Quai d’Orsay’s position on these countries on the official website of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs: diplomatie.gouv.fr in the “Conseils aux voyageurs” section.
The information contained on the website of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs is subject to change and is given for guidance only. Please note that no region of the world or country can be considered safe from the risk of terrorism.
REGISTRATION
By post:
Ask us for a registration form
- by phone: 06 65 93 29 29
- or e-mail: contact@watse.fr
Send us your registration with a copy of your passport, your postal address, telephone number and e-mail address, together with a deposit of 30% of the cost of the trip.
Also, if you wish to take out a Comfort or Comfort Multirisk cancellation insurance policy, this must be paid at the same time as the deposit when you register. You can consult our insurance contracts on our website.
By internet:
Book your holiday directly on our website: directly on the holiday page, choosing your dates and insurance options.
ATTENTION: air fares will be maintained until 3 months before departure and may be readjusted if necessary if you book during this period.
ASSISTANCE AND SAFETY
We strongly advise you to take out assistance insurance for the duration of your trip.
We offer two different types of insurance: Comfort Cancellation and Comfort Multirisk, to be taken out when you register for your trip.
Details of this insurance are available on request or can be viewed by by clicking here.
Other offers include Mondial Assistance, your own insurance company or Club Alpin Français. Check that your trekking activity is covered.
Make sure your insurance covers all medical expenses in the event of an accident.
You must make sure that you are covered for mountain rescue costs. If this is the case, you must provide us with the following information before you set off on your trek:
- a certificate from the insurance company covering mountain rescue costs.
- the contract number and telephone number of the assistance center
Beware of restrictive clauses in certain insurance policies (particularly those linked to Visa Premier, Gold or other cards), such as mountain insurance limited to snow activities, or altitude sickness not recognized as an illness requiring repatriation, which will be refused.
Please check the actual content of your insurance and take the necessary steps if necessary.
Health & climate
CLIMATE
Temperatures vary according to altitude. In summer, it can be hot in the valleys and cold at higher altitudes. The wind can also make it feel colder.
HEALTH AND VACCINES
No vaccinations required.
We strongly recommend that you are up to date with the usual vaccinations: diphtheria-tetanus-poliomyelitis, whooping cough, tuberculosis, typhoid fever, hepatitis A and B.
We recommend that you have a check-up with your dentist before you leave.
IFREMMONT
No specific indications.
Transport and conditions
Meet at 9 a.m. in front of the Hôtel Mauvoisin. You can park on site and leave your vehicle for the duration of your stay. You can also sleep on site the night before.
To reach Mauvoisin by public transport: TGV or TER to Geneva, TER to Martigny, then to Le Châble and finally local bus to Mauvoisin (45 minutes). In all, about 7 hours from Paris, 5h30 from Lyon and 6h30 from Strasbourg.
Transport to and from the meeting point on the first and last day is not included. We can organize your transfer to and from Mauvoisin: optional and on request.
AIR
No specific indications.
LUGGAGE
Luggage transport except days 3 and 4
The stay
MEALS
Picnics for lunch. Morning and evening meals are taken in the accommodation.
ACCOMMODATION
4 nights in a refuge, 1 night in a gite and 1 night at the Grand Saint-Bernard hospice with half-board.
TRAINING
Supervision by a state-qualified French or Swiss mountain leader.
Practical info
ELECTRICITY
Some (but not all) accommodations allow you to recharge small electronic devices (smartphones, cameras). If necessary, bring an external battery or solar charger.
FORMALITIES AND VISA
No visa required for French nationals and citizens of bordering countries.
BUDGET, CHANGE AND TIPS
Meals not included (cold drinks, snacks, etc.) and accommodation are included in the price of the stay. Showers are included in the accommodation. We provide 1 bottle of water for 2 people in each accommodation. Tipping is not compulsory and should reflect your satisfaction with the team. Euros are accepted by many shopkeepers in the Valais, but the rate is generally 1€ = 1 CHF.
Watse added value
HOME-MADE PICNICS
During your stay, picnics are prepared with fresh local produce by your guide.
THE BEST ACCOMMODATIONS
The refuges and gîtes on this hiking trip in the Queyras have been selected by our teams for their ideal location and the quality of their welcome.
TRANSFERS IN PRIVATE VEHICLES
To be completely free and autonomous, and to avoid any delays, all transfers will be made by private vehicle during the stay.