TOUR OF THE COMBINS self-guided

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6 days 6 days
Self-guided Self-guided
Without baggage transport Without baggage transport
Accommodation Classic (dormitory)
Level *** Level ***
From 610 € From 610 €

At the foot of the Valais giants !

Like a discreet little brother of Mont Blanc, the Grand Combin (4,314 metres) dominates its region and seems to reign unchallenged over the Pennine chain. And like a silent cousin of the Tour du Mont Blanc, the Tour des Combins stretches between the Swiss Valais and the Italian Val d'Aoste on a wild and authentic route. It's an opportunity to explore this land of contrasts, from the lush green pastures of the Val d'Ollomont to the icy slopes of the Corbassière glacier, via of course the legendary Col du Grand Saint-Bernard and its thousand-year-old hospice. From pass to summit, from lakes to pastures, enjoy your week on a raw and peaceful mountain. 

You will like

  • The picture-postcard view from the Lacs de Fenêtre to the Mont Blanc massif!
  • A varied route between Switzerland and Italy!
  • The scenery of the 4000m summits and their glacier all along the way.
  • A night in the famous hospice of Grand Saint-Bernard. 
  • A memorable crossing of the footbridge over the Corbassière glacier!
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TOUR OF THE COMBINS self-guided

From 610 €

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Hike details

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Dates & prices

DEPARTURES AND PRICES 

Departure from 23th June to 08th September 2024

610€ per person without luggage transport
Price with luggage transport on request

Information and booking by telephone or e-mail.

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THE PRICE

The price includes

  • Half board from dinner the first evening to breakfast the last day;
  • A road book: description and maps (1 road book per registration up to 4 people. A supplementary road book for groups of 5 or more. Extra road book supplement 10-25€);
  • Tourist taxes;
  • Organisation and booking fees.

The price does not include:

  • Picnic lunches;
  • Luggage trannsport;
  • Personal expenses, drinks, touristic visits, etc.;
  • Bus and train transfers;
  • Your return journey from home to the point of departure/end;
  • Cancellation insurance.

The price applies from departure to end point.

L’itinéraire jour après jour...

Day 1

FIONNAY - MAUVOISIN DAM – REFUGE CHANRION
Depart from the village of Fionnay to reach the Mauvoisin dam below the Tourmelon and Combins peaks. Gradual ascent to the magnificent Lac de Tsofeiret. Overnight in the middle of the mountains at the Chanrion refuge.
5.5-6 hours walk / Elevation:  + 1200 m  - 150m

Day 2

FENETRE DURAND - CHAMPILLON (Italy)
Ascent to the pass of the Fenêtre de Durand (2797m), a lunar-like landscape on the italian border. Then down to the Val of Ollomont, beautiful green pastures over the Valle d'Aosta. A day of contrasts between the coarse Swiss lanscape and the tranquility of the Italian slopes. Amazing scenery of the Grand Vélan, cousin to the Combins mountains. Night in a mountain refuge.
7-7.5 hours walk / Elevation:  + 1150 m  - 1280m

Day 3

COL DE CHAMPILLON - SAINT OYEN - COL DU GRAND SAINT-BERNARD
A day with stunning scenery to the pass of Champillon over the Grand Saint-Bernard valley. Down to Saint-Oyen, lovely hamlet in the Valle d'Aosta. Bus transfer to the Col du Grand Saint-Bernard, night in its famous hospice.
5-5.5 hours walk / Elevation:  + 350 m  - 1400m

Day 4

LACS FENETRE - BOURG SAINT PIERRE
Up to the Fenêtre de Ferret and then down to the Lakes Fenêtre, wonders of the Valais too often forgotten. Incredible scenery on the Mont Blanc and the Grandes Jorasses from an unusual angle. Down to the lac of Toules and the village of Bourg Saint-Pierre. Night in a gîte.
6.5-7 hour walk / Elevation: +750m -1550m

Day 5

COL DE MILLE - CABANE BRUNET
Long but easy ascent to the col de Mille at 2470m for a stunning scenery over the Mont Blanc massif. The path goes around the mountain, across the pastures of La Chaux and Ly, and over the Valley of Entremont and Bagnes. Night in the refuge Brunet.
6.5-7 hour walk / Elevation: +1100m -650m

Day 6

GLACIER DE CORBASSIERE - FIONNAY
Ascent to the glacier of Corbassière, one the most beautiful in the Alps. With the Combins towering above it, it exudes an unparalleled high-mountain atmosphere. Cross an impressive but perfectly safe footbridge over the moraine. Descend to Fionnay along a beautiful "Bisse", a small canal typical from the Valais that brings the water from the glacier to the bottom of the valley.
4.5-5 hour walk / Elevation: +650m -1200m

The trip

LEVEL ***          

Elevation: +400 to 1120 m average per day.
Walking time: 4.5 to 7 hours average per day.
Type of trek: mountain hike on trails including gravel paths.On Day 5, an impressive but perfectly safe footbridge, 210m long and 70m high, provides an easy way to cross a large glacial valley. In the case of extreme fear of heights, it can be bypassed by another route.

You have to be in a general good fitness level. Please practice a cardio sport such as hiking, running, cycling, from 3 to 4 hours a week.
Your physical preparation will enable you to enjoy your trek to the maximum.
Please find the description of the levels by clicking here: levels of difficulty

 

ROAD BOOK

Before departure, we send you a travel folder containing: 
- 2 topographical maps (1/20 000) with the route highlighted. 
- 1 road-book containing all the information necessary for the trek. 
- 1 waterproof map holder.
- Accommodation list.

SIGNPOSTS AND WAYMARKS ALONG THE TREK

The tour is very well indicated by signposts, yellow arrows in the valleys and red and white stripes at higher altitude.
It is preferable to know how to read a topographical map at 1/25'000 and 1/50'000.

ACCOMMODATION

5 nights in dormitory in gite or mountain refuge.
All accommodation offers hot showers except day 1.

MEALS

Breakfast and dinner are provided in each accommodation.
Picnics are not included and can be pre-ordered at each accommodation, the prior day in the afternoon. 
Possibility to buy picnic supplies in small local shops (days 3, 4 and 5).

Please inform us about your food allergies and special diets at the time of booking.
We do our best to accommodate special diets (gluten-free, vegetarian, etc.). However, we encourage you to bring some additional products for your own picnics.

LUGGAGE TRANSPORT

No luggage transport.

CURRENCY

It is essential to carry Swiss Francs for the bus and cable car transfers as well as for your personal expenses. 

PERSONALISED TOURS

We can personalise the tour according to your requirements (number of days, participants, level of route, accommodation, etc.)

MAPS

1:25 000 Gran San Bernardo - Ollomont (no 5)
1:25 000 Val de Bagnes - Verbier (office du tourisme le Châble)
1:50 000 Grand-St-Bernard - Combin - Arolla, 5027 T

Practical information

DEPART

Departures according to your preference from end of June to mid September.

ACCESS TO DEPARTURE POINT

Departure at the train station in Fionnay (Val de Bagnes, Valais, Switzerland).

BY TRAIN
Inbound: depart Gare de Lyon (Paris) at 10:18am, by Lausanne, Martigny, arriving in Le Châble at 4:15pm.
Bus 253 direction Mauvoisin: departure at 4:21pm, arriving at 4:51pm at Fionnay.

Return: Bus 253 departure from Fionnay to Le Châble, then train departure from Martigny, Lausanne, to (Paris) Gare de Lyon.
Times given are indicative and should be verified at a train station or at oui.sncf and cff.ch

BY CAR
Take the A40 motorway to Geneva, Chamonix, follow direction Martigny (Switzerland), continue direction Italy and follow signs Verbier, when in Le Châble, continue to "Fionnay - Mauvoisin" direction.
Parking place near the river, close to the Fionnay dormitory, big building on your left when you arrive in Fionnay.

End point during the afternoon in Fionnay.

ACCOMMODATION BEFORE AND AFTER

Tourist Office Verbier+41 (0)2 77 75 38 88 
 

INSURANCE

In accordance with regulations, we are covered by Professional Liability Insurance. Under no circumstances, we can replace your personal civil liability.
The repatriation insurance EUROP ASSISTANCE that we offer is dedicated to French speaking people living in Europe. If it is not your case, we advise you to subscribe to another travel insurance which will cover you in case of injury and repatriation during your trek.

If you chose to take out repatriation insurance with EUROP ASSISTANCE whom we propose, Altitude Mont Blanc will only serve as an intermediary between the client and the insurer. We cannot influence either party. We adhere to strict conditions of sale. You are responsible for compliance with the reporting procedures of any incident.

Before making any decision, contact EUROP ASSISTANCE.

CONTACT US

If you are late please contact the agency as soon as possible on: +33 (0)4 50 79 09 16 or +33 (0)6 42 49 76 07

Equipment & baggage

EQUIPMENT LIST

Clothing

  • Walking trousers
  • Shorts (Bikini/swimsuit, just in case!)
  • Breathable or merino wool t-shirts
  • Breathable or merino wool leggings
  • Fleece or jumper
  • Wind stopper or Goretex jacket
  • Waterproof poncho + gaiters or Goretex trousers + waterproof rucksack cover
  • Pair of gloves and a warm hat
  • Sun hat or baseball cap
  • Walking socks (1 pair per day)
  • Sturdy walking boots with a good sole, already broken in
  • 1 change of clothes for the evening
  • A pair of comfortable shoes for the evening

Other Equipment

  • Toiletries bag
  • Quick drying towel
  • Sunglasses and sun cream
  • Water bottle or Camelback (1.5 litre minimum)
  • Knife, fork and spoon
  • Plastic lunch box/plate for your picnic lunches
  • Plastic cup for coffee
  • Small First Aid kit (antihistamine, ibuprofen, Compeed type blister pads...)
  • Survival blanket
  • Head torch or hand torch
  • Sleeping bag liner sheet and pillowcase (blankets provided at accommodation)
  • Two adjustable walking poles (highly recommended)
  • Identity card or passport

BACKPACK

Pack a comfortable rucksack of 50 to 60 litres, large enough to hold your belongings for the day (warm clothing, rain cape, water bottle, picnic box and cutlery, sun protection and identity papers), with room for a picnic and snacks as well as for the days without luggage.

LEAVE ON YOUR OWN FOR 2 OR 3 DAYS OR MORE

In the 'weight is the enemy' section, here are some tips on how to save a few hundred grams. For example, for your toiletries: a simple plastic bag with a zip or a small plastic box to avoid accidental crushing.

  •     Hotel-size soap is generally enough for a week
  •     A tube of toothpaste 3/4 full will do the trick
  •     Shaving foam: a small sample can
  •     A small microfibre towel
  •     A small bottle of shampoo
  •     A travel toothbrush

Pharmacy: in addition to your personal medicines, bring:

  •     Elastoplast or hook-and-loop tape
  •    "Second skin" tape to protect against blisters, such as Compeed
  •     A small pair of scissors, thread and needle
  •     A small tube of sun cream and lip balm

Now all you have to do is apply this recipe to your entire bag!

LUGGAGE TRANSPORT

On request.

TOUR OF THE COMBINS self-guided

From 610 €
Book online
Secure payment Secure payment

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