Col de Champillon (2709 m) walks

We leave the "TDC" to follow Alta Via No. 1 in the Aosta Valley until it crosses the road leading to Bionaz. In the old village, above the church and near a fountain, the trail marked Col de Breuson (Brison) begins. Hike with a brief description, to be followed with the Visorando app.

An average day on paper, but the fatigue is setting in. But it’s the penultimate day. The route is still clearly marked, so we don’t waste too much time getting lost. A stop at the Refuge de Champillon is a must. There’s a climb through the fields. The Col de Champillon is the last major pass before the finish.

It’s the last day. The descent from the Col de Malatra is magnificent. It’s the last pass at almost 3,000 metres. You can see the path from afar, winding up the mountainside. After that, the solitude will be over. We rejoin the TMB from the Bonatti Refuge and its throng of hikers. The descent towards Courmayeur is superb, but once you reach the tarmac, it’s a very long way.

This seven-stage trek around Les Combins differs in a few ways from the classic tour. It allows you to hike in complete tranquillity in a sumptuous and diverse setting between the mid- and high-mountain ranges, where you will climb to over 3,000 metres. You will encounter dozens of marmots, ibex and herds of Herens cows. A few remnants of glaciers add to the alpine atmosphere of this trek, whose highest point is the Col du Mont Gelé at 3,144 metres. Important note.Plan for two bus journeys on this route. Day 2: to reach Liddes on thesecond day from the Grand-Saint-Bernard Pass, see the timetable hereDay 7: for the return journey from Ollemont to Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses, see the bus timetable here

An easy warm-up walk in preparation for a 3/4 tour of Les Combins. From the car park located after Saint-Rhémy, in a hairpin bend at an altitude of 1,730 m, coming from Saint-Rhémy-en Bosses, on Route 27 of the Col du Grand Saint-Bernard. The route follows the Via Alpina Red R117.

The second stage of this hike starts at the Cabane du Vélan and follows the right bank of the Valsorey torrent.

Signposting: trails No. 1, No. 2 then No. 3. High-altitude route from the Alpe de la Tsa to the Combe de Grand Chamin (fixed routes).

This last stage takes place in an alpine setting. It justifies the choice of this alternative to the classic Tour des Combins. Unfortunately, the consequences of climate change are evident. The glaciers mentioned on the map no longer exist. Only rock piles remain. From the Col du Mont Gelé, the highest point of this trek, you must pay close attention to the path marked by cairns to follow on the descent. The position of these cairns is sometimes erratic. The end of this stage ends with a long and very steep descent, which can be avoided by staying on the pastoral road.

The Cabane du Vélan (2,642 m) is nothing like a traditional Swiss hut. Its bold, futuristic architecture, adorned with solar panels (inaugurated in 1993), makes it look more like a ship than a refuge and has earned it the Ligue de Protection du Patrimoine award. It enjoys an exceptional location above moraines and glaciers, with magnificent views of the Grand Combin massif (4,312 m) and Mont Vélan (3,727 m).

Departure from Bourg-Saint-Pierre, the last village before the Great Saint Bernard Pass. This first stage follows exclusively the TDC trail. Hike with a brief description, to be followed using the Visorando app.