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Tour des Combins

Name: Tour des Combins
Brand: Bookatrekking
Price: 1035.00 EUR
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.4 (1611 reviews)

Duration: 7 days

Trails: T2 trails

Distance: 10 - 15 km per day

Ascent per day: 500 - 1000 m ascent per day

Tour du Mont Blanc alternatives

Intermediate

Available in August

Available in September

Overview
Itinerary
What's Included
FAQ

>Trek through Italy and Switzerland
>Cross breathtaking lakes in Switzerland
>Start and end the adventure in Bourg Saint Pierre

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 our 7-day Tour des Combins, you'll encircle the impressive Massif des Combins, pass by vast lakes, and traverse open fields between the mountains. During your Tour des Combins, you will stay at Swiss Cabanes and Italian Rifugio's. 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.

Itinerary

Day

From Bourg-Saint-Pierre to Cabane du Col de Mille

Duration: 04:45 h

Distance: 11.3 km

Ascent: 1098 m

Descent: 368 m

Starting from Bourg-Saint-Pierre, you begin your trek by almost immediately venturing into the mountains and embarking on your first stage. You steadily climb up to your first accommodation, Cabane du Col de Mille, situated at an elevation of 2472 meters. On this very first day, your legs face a substantial challenge, as you'll be overcoming an elevation gain of a remarkable 1000 meters almost right away. This rapid gain in altitude helps you quickly settle into the rhythm of the journey and allows your body to adapt to the efforts that lie ahead.

Cabane du Col de Mille

Info

Day

From Mille to Cabane FXB à Panossière

Duration: 06:00 h

Distance: 14.5 km

Ascent: 912 m

Descent: 747 m

After your first night's stay, stage 2 is on the agenda. You'll start almost directly at the foot of the Col de Mille and head east towards Cabane Brunet. Here, you can take a short break for a snack and a drink. Then, you continue your journey towards Cabane Panossière, where you have the option to take a detour via the impressive Col des Avouillons before reaching your accommodation for the evening.

Cabane FXB à Panossière

Info

Day

From Cabane FXB à Panossière to Mauvoisin

Duration: 03:20 h

Distance: 6.15 km

Ascent: 366 m

Descent: 1156 m

Stage 3 brings a shorter stage that leads you to the picturesque village of Mauvoisin. Nevertheless, this stage includes a significant descent. Your route takes you over the Col des Otanes, the highest point of the entire journey, and ultimately, you reach Mauvoisin, nestled at the foot of the impressive Lac de Mauvoisin.

Hôtel de Mauvoisin

Info

Day

From Mauvoisin to Cabane de Chanrion

Duration: 04:30 h

Distance: 10.6 km

Ascent: 989 m

Descent: 230 m

Today, your path mainly follows the shores of Lac de Mauvoisin, a picturesque lake with an extensive length of about 5 kilometers. This lake is not only a visual gem that's perfect for stunning photos, but it also houses one of the highest arch dams in all of Europe. After a hike of more than 10 kilometers, you reach your last Swiss mountain hut of the journey, where you can enjoy a well-deserved rest.

Cabane de Chanrion

Info

Day

Cabane de Chanrion - Rifugio Letey-Champillon

Duration: 09:30 h

Distance: 24.1 km

Ascent: 1292 m

Descent: 1318 m

Stage 5 is the longest and most demanding stage of the Tour des Combins, so it's highly recommended to start this challenge early in the morning. Your route takes you to the Fenêtre de Durand pass, a tough climb that will put you to the test. This pass forms a natural connection between Switzerland and Italy, and after overcoming this challenge, you'll have completed most of the altitude gain. You continue your journey on the Italian side, where the enchanting Aosta Valley awaits, ready to be explored. This stage promises to be an unforgettable experience, with breathtaking views and the satisfaction of conquering the Fenêtre de Durand pass.

Rifugio Letey-Champillon

Info

Day

Rifugio Letey-Champillon to Saint-Rhémy

Duration: 06:35 h

Distance: 16.5 km

Ascent: 702 m

Descent: 1450 m

After a delicious breakfast at the Italian mountain hut, you can continue your journey. If the weather conditions are favorable and the sky is clear, today, you can enjoy a spectacular view of the majestic Mont Blanc! Since this is almost the last day of your hiking adventure, you gradually re-enter civilization. But don't worry, today you can still enjoy the tranquility as you walk through the valley, slowly approaching the picturesque village of Saint-Rhémy. The perfect conclusion to an unforgettable journey.

Hotel des Alpes (Saint-Rhémy)

Info

Day

From Saint-Rhémy to Bourg-Saint-Pierre

Duration: 07:20 h

Distance: 22.1 km

Ascent: 1158 m

Descent: 1194 m

Today, the last stage of your journey is on the agenda as you return to Switzerland, and it promises to be a challenging hike. With a distance of nearly 20 kilometers and an elevation gain of almost 1000 meters – both ascent and descent – you're in for a long but absolutely stunning journey. About 6 kilometers into your day, you'll come across the picturesque Lac du Grand Saint Bernard, a lake that divides the border between Italy and Switzerland. Just before you reach your destination, you will be treated to the magnificent Lac des Toules, a Swiss lake that offers you the opportunity to take a few final photos before ending your hiking adventure. With these beautiful lakes as a backdrop, you can fully enjoy the last kilometers of your journey and cherish the memories of the Tour des Combins.

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Included

Booking the huts

We will take care of arranging accommodation on the Tour des Combins for you. We will also provide you with a detailed itinerary for every stage and instructions on how to get to the trailhead.
Full travel guide

You’ll receive access to our trekking app, which serves as your complete digital travel guide for the Tour des Combins. Inside, you’ll find everything you need for your trek: route descriptions, hiking maps, navigation support, payment information, and all the key details specific to your journey.
Accommodation

During your Tour des Combins, you will spend your nights in mountain huts. In the mountain huts we normally only book dormitories, but we can look into private rooms on request. If the private rooms are fully booked or not available in the hut, we automatically book a bed in dormitories for you. Please note that private rooms are more expensive and there will be an additional charge for this.
Half-board in Huts

Accommodation at the huts includes dinner and breakfast. We will arrange this for you as well. This allows you to travel lighter and have one less thing to worry about. Bear in mind that lunch is not included, but it can be purchased at the huts. Here you can also buy an array of snacks and bottled water.
Breakfast in Hotels

In the Hotels, we include Breakfast for you. Bear in mind that lunch and dinner are not included, but they can be most of the time purchased in or near the hotels.
Navigation support

Our trekking app also includes built-in navigation support. With GPS-based maps and offline access, you can follow the trail confidently and stay on route even without mobile signal.

Excluded

Traveling to and from

You have to make your own way to the starting point. The total amount does not include personal transport.
Transfers

Should you need any form of (public) transport on location, this is not part of the trekking package. This includes the use of taxi, bus, cable cars, gondolas, ferries, etc.
Lunch

Half-board is included in the price of this trek. Lunch, however, is not. You can get something to eat at the mountain huts along the way.
Travel Insurance

Your international travel insurance is your own responsibility. Discuss your itinerary with the insurance company before your trek.
Personal expenses

Personal expenses on such as souvenirs, drinks, and other similar expenses are for your own account.