Tour des Combins
ITALY - SWITZERLAND
HIGH POINT
2797 m
DIFFICULTY (1/10)
7,5
DISTANCE
113 Km
DAYS
3
% SINGLETRACK
33%
% UNPAVED
91%
TOTAL ASCENT
4171 m
% RIDEABLE TIME
85%
The Tour des Combins kicks off at Gran San Bernardo, a legendary mountain pass in the heart of the Pennine Alps, where the wind howls, history lingers, and the views stretch for miles. This three-day trans-Alpine loop takes you from lush valleys packed with marmots and glacial streams to rugged, rocky slopes where glaciers tower over the landscape.
Despite being one of the most scenic crossings in the Alps, the TdC remains a hidden gem. Tucked between the Mont Blanc Massif and the Matterhorn, this route circles the Combins Range (4.314m), starting at Gran San Bernardo Pass (2.473m) on the Italy-Switzerland border. The journey begins with panoramic singletrack through Gran San Bernardo Valley on the Italian side, briefly overlapping with the Via Francigena, an ancient 1.800km pilgrimage route from Canterbury to Rome. From there, it’s all about flowy singletrack and rugged doubletrack as you weave through Valle d’Aosta, Menouve, and Conca di By.
Heading counterclockwise, the TdC climbs through alpine meadows and conifer forests, with the snow-capped peaks of Mont Vèlan, Gelè, and Grand Combin dominating the skyline. The real challenge kicks in at Fenêtre de Durand (2.797m)—a grueling hike-a-bike to the highest point of the route, where you cross into Switzerland. But trust us, the struggle is worth it. Here, in the most remote section of the TdC, the landscape changes dramatically—think roaring waterfalls, icy rivers, and razor-sharp peaks. And the reward? A stunning singletrack descent down to the surreal, turquoise waters of Lac de Mauvoisin.
After rolling through Fionnay, the route climbs again, winding through classic Swiss alpine meadows before hitting another highlight: Col de Mille (2.472m). From here, get ready for an epic descent with the eastern face of Mont Blanc as your backdrop. The trail then flows down to the tiny village of Bourg Saint Pierre, before heading through Val d’Entremont and back toward the Italian border. And just before wrapping up, you’ll pass the Grand Saint Bernard Hospice, home to the legendary St. Bernard rescue dogs.
-
The Hospice du Grand Saint Bernard was built by Saint Bernard around 1050 A.D. to provide assistance pilgrims and travelers who ventured over that fearful pass. From the mid-seventeenth century, the monks of the Hospice began to use big mountain dogs to rescue travelers or pilgrims who had been lost in the snow or fog, or those who were caught in an avalanche. Thus was born the myth of the Saint Bernard rescue dog.
60 meters of ancient Roman road dug directly into the rock between 41-54 A.D., commissioned by Emperor Claudius. You will ride this section after passing the statue of San Bernardo on the hill with the same name.
The astonishing view of the Mont Blanc massif from the Col du Mille.
Fantastic singletrack descent from the Fenêtre de Durand pass to the Drance du Bagnes river. Incredibly fun in the first part, however it becomes steep and technical in the latter half.
Epic views from Fenêtre de Durand towards the glacier d’Otemma.
Old Swiss customs house in Bourg Saint Pierre dating back to 1901. Cigarette smugglers are depicted on the front side.
-
A trail bike such as a plus-hardtail is recommended for this route. A suspension fork is highly recommended as there are several technical descents.
The route is only rideable from mid-June to mid-September, when all the passes are free from snow. Because of the abundant snowfall at high altitude, even the paved road to the San Bernardo pass remains closed for 8 months a year. However, as Alexander mentioned in the comments, “… refrain from doing this trip until July. Last winter for instance saw little snow, yet around mid-June Fenetre de Durand on the Swiss side was full of snow with strong water streams hidden.”
Carry mountain weather clothing and gear with you and be prepared as snow and sudden temperature drops are all but rare on the high passes… even in the summer months.
We recommend to do the Tour du Combins counterclockwise.
Most of the route is marked with a yellow diamond with black outline, which sometimes bears the letters “TDC” in the center.
-
In Switzerland wild camping is not generally encouraged, but is tolerated. However, according to the Swiss Apline Club, camping above treeline is accepted. So set up late, strike early, be discreet, and leave it as you found it.
If necessary, on the Col de Mille there is the Cabanne de Mille refuge, where you can eat and sleep.
There is an official camping spot in Foret des Melezes.
-
Water is never a problem: it’s plenty of streams and rivers along the route, and fountains with drinking water are frequent in the villages.
If necessary, you can refuel in a market in the small village of Lourtier (Switzerland).
ROUTE DIFFICULTY: 7,5/10
With its massive elevation gain and a couple of seriously tough hike-a-bikes, the TdC gets a 7.5/10 difficulty rating. The first tough section hits above Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses—a brutally steep climb that forces you to either shoulder your bike or push it up step by step. Further in, the Conca di By throws two more technical challenges at you: a tight rock passage, where you’ll need to lift your bike upright to squeeze through, and a short via ferrata section, which requires steady footing—especially with a loaded bike.
!! WARNING !!
We STRONGLY DISCOURAGE anyone without the necessary skills and mindset for extreme environments—such as mountains, deserts, river crossings, and remote water and food resupply—to follow the routes on this site. These routes are designed primarily for EXPLORATION and are not intended for traditional bike touring. If your experience is solely in cycling, without a solid background in outdoor survival and self-sufficiency, you are STRONGLY ADVISED AGAINST attempting these routes. They demand an adventurous spirit, adaptability, and the ability to handle unforeseen challenges in the field. Proceed entirely at your own risk. While every effort has been made to provide accurate GPS tracks and route information, we cannot guarantee their reliability over time due to factors such as land access changes, property rights restrictions, and the closure of supply points. All the information provided on this site is more than sufficient to ride these routes. Please do not email us requesting additional info about the routes, as you will not receive a response - sorry for that. Further information for every route can be found in the comments on Bikepacking.com (click on “Check it on Bikepacking.com” button). The route creators are in no way responsible for personal injuries, damage to property, or any other incidents that may occur while riding or following these routes.