Tour des Combins: Hut-to-hut trek for aficionados

The Tour des Combins offers a quieter alternative to the popular Tour du Mont Blanc, which typically ranks among the most crowded hikes in the Alps. If you long for a more peaceful experience without compromising on stunning vistas and challenging hikes, then the Tour des Combins might be your choice. This trek begins and ends in Bourg Saint Pierre, a picturesque town near the Swiss-Italian border.

During the Tour des Combins, you'll encircle the impressive Massif des Combins, pass by vast lakes, and traverse open fields between the mountains, with the highest point at Col des Otanes (2,863m / 9,393ft). The itinerary is divided into 7 stages, but for more experienced hikers there's an intensive 6-day option. Although the trails are generally well-maintained, don't underestimate this trek. Almost daily, you'll encounter ascents and descents of up to 1000 meters, and some sections of the route are quite narrow. In the evenings, you'll stay in cozy cabanes (in Switzerland) and rifugios (in Italy), where a warm meal awaits you after a day filled with hiking adventures.

The Tour des Combins is not an easy trek and in terms of difficulty, it's comparable to the Walker's Haute Route and the Eastern Tour du Mont Blanc. It's advisable to have some prior experience in the Alps before attempting this trip. The hiking paths are generally well-maintained and not overly technical, but the daily ascents and descents of around 1000 meters make the trek challenging and long. Fortunately, these stages offer stunning views around the impressive 'Massif des Combins,' and you'll walk by vast lakes such as Lac de Mauvoisin and Lac des Toules. If you're seeking an unknown and challenging adventure in the Alps, the Tour des Combins might be the best choice.

If you have little experience with hut-to-hut treks and want to see if overnight stays in huts suit you, take a look at our blog about the Kesch Trek in the slightly more easterly region of Graubünden in Switzerland. It's somewhat less demanding , and with the Kesch Hütte, you'll get to enjoy one of the most popular huts in the Swiss Alps right away.

The official season for the Tour des Combins runs from mid-June to mid-September. However, if you plan your trip between mid-July and the end of August, you're more likely to find good weather and snow-free passes. This is high season, so be sure to book your accommodations as far in advance as possible. If you choose to do the Tour des Combins in September, you'll still have a rewarding experience with fewer crowds on the trail. But be prepared for shorter days, colder weather and the possibility of snow.

July and August are the best months for this trek in Switzerland, but they are also high season, which can lead to more crowded trails. The Alps, though, are unpredictable, and the weather can easily change. While you might enjoy bright sunshine one day, the next day could bring heavy rain.

At Bookatrekking.com, we like to do things the right way, and when it comes to accommodation on the Tour des Combins, it means you'll primarily stay in rifugios and cabanes. "Rifugio is the Italian word for mountain hut, where trekkers can enjoy a well-earned rest in a bed, a meal and often a freshly tapped glass of blonde beer or a fine glass of wine. And "cabane" is the term used on the Swiss side of the Tour des Combins. In some cases, the huts are owned by Alpine clubs: in Switzerland it's the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC), while in Italy it's the Club Alpino Italiano (CAI), founded in 1863. What all these mountain huts have in common is their unusual location: In some of the most remote places in the Alps, you can stay in these small huts.

The huts along the Tour des Combins offer the option of half-board, which means both breakfast and dinner are included in the price. This has several benefits that make your trek even more enjoyable. After a long and often strenuous day on the trails, there's little that can compare to the satisfaction of arriving at a mountain hut and knowing that a warm, nourishing meal awaits you. There is no need to cook or carry food, so you can spend more time relaxing and enjoying the mountain atmosphere.

Additionally, there's the practical aspect. Every gram counts when you're covering miles with a backpack on your shoulders. By opting for half-board, you can avoid the weight of your own food, reducing the load on your body and making your trek lighter and more comfortable. This means more energy to enjoy the breathtaking surroundings and challenges of the Tour des Combins. In short, half-board is a smart choice that both your stomach and your back will appreciate during this adventure.

The starting point of the Tour des Combins is in Bourg Saint Pierre, a small town near the border between Switzerland and Italy. The beauty of this loop trek is that it takes you all the way back to Bourg Saint Pierre.

By Car:

You can, of course, drive to Switzerland, passing through Germany. It's best to head towards the town of Bern in Switzerland and then make your way to the town of Martigny. For the final stretch, exit the highway at Martigny and follow the signs towards Grand-Saint-Bernard to reach Bourg-St Pierre.

By Plane:

The nearest airport is Geneva Airport. From here, it's 166 kilometers to the starting point of the trek. Traveling to Bourg Saint Pierre by public transport takes approximately 3-4 hours with a few transfers, and beautiful views. You could consider hiring a car, which is easy to organize and relatively cheap.

Public Transport:

The best way to reach Bourg Saint Pierre using public transport is to take the train to Geneva (via France) or Bern (via Germany). From there, you can take the train to Orsières and then a bus to Bourg-St Pierre.

There is an emergency situation when a human life (yours or someone else's) is in danger and you cannot do anything to solve the situation. You should call for help if there has been an accident, someone is stuck, you are lost or in trouble and cannot continue due to the time of day or weather conditions, or if you are stuck due to technical climbing challenges beyond your capabilities.

The most important thing to do in an emergency situation is to remain calm and assess the situation. Do not panic and do not take pointless risks if the people in need are difficult to reach. In case of emergency, first and foremost, call for help. When calling for help, make sure to provide your location and the number of victims and type of injuries. Then, protect the victim from cold and other environmental threats and provide first aid, if you are capable.

Useful emergency phone numbers

144 (General)

1414 (Mountain Rescue)

A hut-to-hut trek doesn't have to be expensive. Huts are typically simple but provide everything you need to recharge your mental and physical batteries for the next day(s) of hiking. For a 6 or 7-day trek on the Tour des Combins, you can expect to spend approximately 80 EUR/CHF per hiking day. This includes route information, navigation assistance, your accommodation in a mountain hut, and half-board or breakfast where available.

For hut-to-hut treks in general, it's advisable to carry 40 to 60 EUR/CHF in pocket money, which covers lunch and beverages. Keep in mind that you'll mostly stay in Swiss huts, so they naturally use Swiss Francs as their currency.