Tour des Combins
Self-Guided Walking Holiday
Holiday Type:
Hut to Hut
When:
July to September
Start/Finish:
Bourg St Pierre, Switzerland
Distance:
98km (60 miles)
Length:
7 to 9 nights
Grade:
Moderate to Challenging
2025 Price:
from £ 890.00
✔
Hike through pristine Swiss & Italian Alps
✔
Stay in high mountain refuges with breathtaking views
✔
Circle the spectacular Grand Combins mountain range
✔
Standard itinerary fits neatly into a week
The Tour des Combins is the very definition of a hidden gem. With just 7 nights on the standard itinerary, this compact trek comes with a huge number of spectacular views, icy mountain lakes and cosy hut nights. Amongst some of the highest peaks of the western Alps and just a few valleys over from the Tour du Mont Blanc, it sees a much lower number of hikers.
The route takes a clockwise circuit around the Grand Combins Massif - a mighty and glaciated mass of mountains which straddles the border between Switzerland and Italy. Generally the route “stays high” amongst open mountain terrain - only once dropping below 1800m (5900ft) altitude. Most nights are spent at Alpine huts, high amongst the craggy peaks.
Visit small mountain villages like Bourg St Pierre and St Rhémy, and historic sights such as the Hospice of Grand St Bernard, which has been offering shelter to pilgrims and travellers for nearly 1,000 years. In quiet valleys you’ll come across traditional mountain farmsteads and cow herds. All in all a trek that ticks all the boxes for us, and one of our favourites!
Photo Gallery
Tour des Combins - Itinerary & Price Options
We offer two suggested itineraries on the Tour des Combins, which are set out below. However, we are also happy to create a tailor-made itinerary based on your preferences - please just get in touch. From solo walkers to groups of friends, we are happy to help with all requirements.
TDC-1 Itinerary
Length: 8 Days / 7 nights
Difficulty: Challenging
Price: from £ 890.00 per person (GBP)
▼ Find out more...
2025 Prices in GBP (for 2 persons sharing a room)
Basic: £ 890.00 per person
Classic: £ 1,020.00 per person
Basic: £ 960.00 per person
Classic: £ 1,180.00 per person
Please see accommodation section below for details on our different accommodation levels.
Day 1
Arrive Orsières
▼
Day 2
Bus to Bourg St Pierre. Hike to Cabane de Mille
11.8km & 1040m ascent (7.3 miles & 3412ft)
▼
Day 3
Cabane de Mille to Cabane FXB Panossière
14.7km & 777m ascent (9.2 miles & 2549ft)
▼
Day 4
Cabane FXB Panossière to Cabane de Chanrion
17.5km & 1019m ascent (10.9 miles & 3343ft)
▼
Day 5
Cabane de Chanrion to Rifugio Champillon
22.3km & 1085m ascent (13.9 miles & 3560ft)
▼
Day 6
Rifugio Champillon to Hospice du Grand St Bernard
19.7km & 1197m ascent (12.2 miles & 3927ft)
▼
Day 7
Hospice du Grand St Bernard to Bourg St Pierre. Bus to Orsières.
11.9km & 145m ascent (7.4 miles & 476ft)
▼
Day 8
Depart from Orsières
TDC-2 Itinerary
Length: 10 Days / 9 nights
Difficulty: Moderate
Price: from £ 1,120.00 per person (GBP)
▼ Find out more...
2025 Prices in GBP (for 2 persons sharing a room)Basic: £ 1,120.00 per person
Classic: £ 1,280.00 per person
2025 Prices in GBP (for 1 person)
Basic: £ 1,200.00 per person
Classic: £ 1,460.00 per person
Please see accommodation section below for details on our different accommodation levels.
Day 1
Arrive Orsières
▼
Day 2
Bus to Bourg St Pierre. Hike to Cabane de Mille
11.8km & 1040m ascent (7.3 miles & 3412ft)
▼
Day 3
Cabane de Mille to Cabane FXB Panossière
14.7km & 777m ascent (9.2 miles & 2549ft)
▼
Day 4
Cabane FXB Panossière to Mauvoisin
6.9km & 231m ascent (4.3 miles & 758ft)
▼
Day 5
Mauvoisin to Cabane de Chanrion
10.7km & 788m ascent (6.7 miles & 2585ft)
▼
Day 6
Cabane de Chanrion to Rifugio Champillon
22.3km & 1085m ascent (13.9 miles & 3560ft)
▼
Day 7
Rifugio Champillon to St Rhémy
14.9km & 466m ascent (9.2 miles & 1529ft)
▼
Day 8
St Rhémy to Hospice du Grand St Bernard
6.5km & 870m ascent (4.1 miles & 2854ft)
▼
Day 9
Hospice du Grand St Bernard to Bourg St Pierre. Bus to Orsières.
11.9km & 145m ascent (7.4 miles & 476ft)
▼
Day 10
Depart from Orsières
What’s Included?
✔ Accommodation each night
✔ Breakfast every morning
✔ Dinner at all stays except Orsières
✔ Detailed Itinerary, Map & Guidebook
✔ GPX Waypoints and online mapping
✔ 24/7 Emergency Phone Number
What’s not Included?
X Travel Insurance
X Flights to and from the trail
X Lunches
Optional Extras
? Rail Transport to and from the trail
? Taxi Transfers to and from the trail
Tour des Combins - Itinerary Detail
The below is based on our most popular itinerary on the Tour des Combins, TDC-1 Itinerary (8 Days / 7 Nights).
▼ Day 1: Arrive in Orsières
Easily accessible by train
Accessible by train in just 2.5 hours from Geneva and 4 hours from Zurich, Orsières is a convenient access point for the Tour des Combins.
Accommodation:
Hotel in Orsières
▼ Day 2: Bus to Bourg St Pierre. Hike to Cabane de Mille
11.8km & 1040m ascent (7.3 miles & 3412ft)
Take a bus to the sleepy village of Bourg St Pierre and begin your ascent up into the mountains, gradually breaking out above the treeline. The objective today is Cabane de Mille, which boasts brilliant views of Mont Blanc Massif.
Accommodation:
Cabane de Mille
▼ Day 3: Cabane de Mille to Cabane FXB Panossière
14.7km & 777m ascent (9.2 miles & 2549ft)
A great day which never drops below 2000m altitude. Traverse the hillside round to Cabane Brunet, and then ascend into the Corbassière valley, where the spectacular Corbassière glacier and summit of the Grand Combins come into view ahead. Finish at the amazing Cabane FXB Panossière, perched on the edge of the glacier.
Accommodation:
Cabane FXB Panossière
▼ Day 4: Cabane FXB Panossière to Cabane de Chanrion
17.5km & 1019m ascent (10.9 miles & 3343ft)
A short ascent over the highest point on the Tour des Combins (Col des Otanes 2846m) is followed by a big descent into the Mauvoisin valley. Then cross over the colossal Mauvoisin dam (11th biggest in the world) and skirt the huge reservoir behind it. A footpath snakes up the side of the high Val de Bagnes to the Cabane de Chanrion, miles from civilisation, surrounded by yet more high, snowy peaks.
Accommodation:
Cabane de Chanrion
▼ Day 5: Cabane de Chanrion to Rifugio Champillon
22.3km & 1085m ascent (13.9 miles & 3560ft)
Cross into Italy today by climbing up and over the Fenêtre de Durand pass, amongst high mountain wilderness. On the other side, skirt the upper slopes of the Ollomont valley, passing a few farms along the way. A short climb takes you up to Rifugio Champillon, sitting amongst high cattle pastures, filled with the sound of cowbells.
Accommodation:
Rifugio Champillon
▼ Day 6: Rifugio Champillon to Hospice du Grand St Bernard
19.7km & 1197m ascent (12.2 miles & 3927ft)
A climb to the Col de Champillon earns you views of the mighty Mont Blanc in the distance, before descending into the Vallon de Menouve below. Fairly flat forest walking follows for a few km, before climbing through a huge mountain bowl to the Col du Grand St Bernard, where the historic hospice has been providing shelter to travellers, pilgrims and armies (such as Napoleon himself) for nearly 1000 years.
Accommodation:
Hospice du Grand St Bernard
▼ Day 7: Hospice du Grand St Bernard to Bourg St Pierre. Bus to Orsières.
11.9km & 145m ascent (7.4 miles & 476ft)
An easy day to finish - a straightforward hike down the valley to Bourg St Pierre, past the huge reservoir at Lac de Toules. A more exciting extension via the Lacs de Fenêtre is possible. Finish by taking the bus to your accommodation in Orsières.
Accommodation:
Hotel in Orsières
▼ Day 8: Depart from Orsières
Easily accessibly by train
From Mürren, it’s a 2.5 hour journey by train to Geneva, or 4 hours to Zurich.
Tour des Combins - Route Map
Tour des Combins - Elevation Profile
Accommodation Levels
All accommodation, except in Orsières, will normally include Half Board (Dinner, Bed and Breakfast). There may be exceptions to this, which will be detailed in your quotation.
Examples of accommodation we use are detailed in the itinerary above, and will be included in your quotation.
Basic
All accommodation included in the package will be in shared dormitories in guest houses or refuges/cabanes, including Orsières.
Classic
In refuges/cabanes, accommodation will mostly be in shared dormitories, with the occasional private room, dependant on availability. In villages and Grand St Bernard, accommodation will be in private rooms in guest houses or hotels.
Comfort
Not available on the Tour des Combins.
FAQs
Do you take bookings for solo hikers? (spoiler - of course we do!)
What is a self-guided holiday? When is the best time to travel?
For all answers please head to our FAQs page. Alternatively, please don’t hesitate to send us an email or give us a call with any questions about our holidays.