Saint Bernard Tower
Activities
Difficulty
Duration
Dates
Price
From 780.00 €
About the Tour du Saint Bernard trek
Located between the Tour du Mont-Blanc and the Tour des Combins, this 5-day wilderness trek is a marvel! Following in Napoleon’s footsteps between Switzerland and Italy, its sumptuous and varied landscapes will delight lovers of wide open spaces.
Crossing the mythical Col du Grand St Bernard and the Combe de l’A are just a few examples of the richness of this little-known trek.
A must-see!
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.”
Tour du Saint Bernard trek photo gallery
Tour du Saint Bernard trek itinerary
Upcoming departures
What's included in the formula
- Supervision by a qualified mountain leader.
- Overnight stays in small dormitories as indicated in the program.
- Half-board in the accommodation indicated in the program.
- Picnic lunches.
- Luggage porterage except on D4.
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 D5.
- Any private transfers or gondolas not included in the program.
- Everything not indicated in the price includes.
Day 1: Towards the Col du Grand Saint Bernard
6 hours’ walk – Overnight in dormitories with luggage – D+ 1300 m / D- 500 m
Meet in the village of Bourg Saint Pierre. With its botanical garden, mill and thousand-year-old bell tower, it’s a wonderful starting point for this trek.
We begin the climb along the Dranse d’Entremont. The magnificent Combe de Drône, lush with flowers in season, leads to the Pas des Cheveaux (2714m). The descent to the Hospice du Grand Saint Bernard is short and easy. Once we’ve left our belongings at the hospice, we’ll enjoy a visit to the Trésor du St-Bernard and why not a meeting with the emblematic St Bernard dog.
Day 2: Facing Mont Blanc
4 hours 30 mins walk – Overnight in dormitory with luggage – D+ 500 m / D- 1300 m
The day begins with a section of the Via Francigena, an ancient medieval route. This beautiful, albeit shorter, stage takes us to La Fouly via the Fenêtre lakes facing Mont Blanc and Mont Dolent. The lakes and their reflections offer us an imposing panorama of the Mont-Blanc massif. A beautiful ridge trail, then a balcony, offers 360° views of the Swiss, French and Italian landscapes.
The day will be punctuated by a short stop at a mountain pasture, where we’ll take time to discover the 150-year-old cellar and its gourmet treasures.
Day 3: In the Combe de l'A
5 hours 30 mins walk – Overnight in dormitory without luggage – D+ 1160 m / D- 720 m
From La Fouly, we climb up to the Col du Basset (2,742 m) on a steep but pleasant path through alpine meadows. The last part is rather airy, but you’ll be rewarded with a lovely view from the summit.
We then switch to the Combe de l’A, the nature reserve of the Pays du St-Bernard. Keep your eyes peeled as this wild and sumptuous terrain boasts exceptional alpine flora and fauna. Chamois, roe deer, ibex and marmots may be just around the corner…
Day 4: La Tsissette to Cabane de Mille
We descend through the magnificent A valley to the small village of Liddes. This more popular route then takes us to the Cabane de Mille, in the heart of unspoilt wilderness, for our last night in the mountains.
Possibility of climbing Mont Brûlé (2571 m) at the end of the day.
Day 5: Ascent to 3000m and return to Bourg Saint Pierre
This last day is certainly the most alpine, with the ascent of Mont Rogneux (3,081 m) in the morning. This picturesque ascent is a great reward, with a superb 360° view. The highlight of the trip!
The balcony trail back to Bourg Saint Pierre offers breathtaking views over the Val d’Entremont.
Late afternoon arrival in Bourg Saint Pierre.
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
JET LAG
No time difference.
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 8.30am at the parking lot just before Bourg Saint Pierre where we can leave our vehicles.
Transport to and from the meeting point on the first and last day is not included. We can organize your transfer to and from Bourg Saint Pierre: optional and on request.
AIR
No specific indications.
LUGGAGE
Luggage transfer except on days 3 and 4.
The stay
MEALS
Picnics for lunch. Morning and evening meals are taken in the accommodation.
If you have a special diet, please let us know as soon as possible.
ACCOMMODATION
2 nights in refuge, 1 night in hospice and 1 night in hostel in small dormitories 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
A RICH AND VARIED ITINERARY
The wealth of landscapes, flora and fauna will never cease to amaze you. We’ve chosen to combine itineraries with a wide variety of assets, to give you a real eyeful. From the heart of a mountain pasture to the summit of a 3,000-meter peak, diversity is the watchword of this trek.
A HOLIDAY ACCESSIBLE TO A WIDE AUDIENCE
A great starting point if you want to embark on the great adventure of trekking! The accessibility of the routes, in terms of altitude difference and duration, and the beauty of the scenery will only whet your appetite for discovery. Our team at Watse will be happy to help you with all your plans.
A WATSE EXCLUSIVE
Watse’s trekking guides know the Northern Alps inside out and have devised an exclusive route that you won’t find anywhere else.