4 days | Ski touring Trip in Switzerland

Ski Touring Trips

Ski touring Switzerland - Level 1: Val de Bagne and Grand St Bernard

4 days & 3 nights
Participants : 4 to 6
From January to April
All inclusive in Mountain Hut

The area between the Entremont and Val de Bagne valleys, just a stone's throw from the ski resort of Verbier, and the Col du Grand-Saint-Bernard is the perfect terrain for ski touring. There are many summits suitable for ski mountaineering, with excellent ski touring routes on both the Swiss and Italian sides of the border.

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Ski touring trip Switzerland : 4 days between Verbier and Chamonix

The area between the Entremont and Val de Bagne valleys, just a stone's throw from the ski resort of Verbier, and the Col du Grand-Saint-Bernard is the perfect terrain for ski touring. There are many summits suitable for ski mountaineering, with excellent ski touring routes on both the Swiss and Italian sides of the border.
The first two days are dedicated to discovering some beautiful off-piste itineraries in the resort of Bruson and then above the Cabane Brunet, for a quiet warm-up. Then, you will head to the Italian-Swiss border in the Grand Saint Bernard valley: an ideal terrain for ski touring with its wild valleys, very open slopes and splendid panoramas of the most beautiful 4000 m summits between Chamonix, Zermatt and the Mont Rose in Italy.
A high mountain atmosphere to explore, at the heart of the Swiss Wallis and the Alps!

The little extra of this stay: a night at the famous Hospice du Grand Saint Bernard welcomed by the monks, a tradition of hospitality in the mountains that has lasted for nearly 1000 years!

The highlights of this ski trip :

small groups, up to 6 people, in order to guarantee better safety and to better enjoy your trip
short stay in the Valais, at the heart of the Alps between Switzerland and Italy
flexibility in the choice of itineraries, depending on weather and safety conditions
wild and isolated areas
exceptional views of the prestigious French, Italian and Valaisan peaks: views of the Mont Blanc range in Chamonix, the Gran Paradiso massif, Monte Rosa and the Matterhorn in Italy and the Pin d'Arolla in Switzerland.
welcome by the monks of the famous Hospice du Grand Saint Bernard

Programme of the ski touring trip in Switzerland:

DAY 1 - Thursday
Bruson - Village of Lourtier (1032 m) - Cabane Brunet (2103 m)

Meeting with the guide in Le Châble at 8:00 am, at the departure of the cable car from the resort of Verbier and Bruson.

Take the cable car up to Bruson. You will enjoy some great off-piste skiing in this lovely local resort, renowned for its beautiful off-piste itineraries. The guide will have the opportunity to get to know you and assess your skiing ability before starting the real ski touring the following days.
You will have the opportunity to stop for lunch in a nice restaurant in the resort and taste a Valaisan speciality.
Ski back down to the village of Lourtier in the early afternoon, then get out the skins and climb to the Cabane Brunet, where you will have dinner and spend the night.

Vertical drop: + 800 m
Ski touring time: about 2 hours uphill to reach the mountain hut

Day 2 - Friday
Cabane Brunet (2103 m) - Mont Rogneux (3083 m) - Cabane Brunet

Vertical drop: 980 metres positive and negative
Ski touring time: about 5 to 6 hours

After a good breakfast and a quick check of your rucksack, you will start your ascent towards Mont Rogneux, a beautiful summit proudly overlooking the Val de Bagnes, opposite the famous resort of Verbier. The ascent will be easy, following pretty little valleys to the Goli des Otanes plateau. You will continue to reach the eastern ridge and the final ridge which is a little more alpine: it is not unusual to put your hands on the rock to reach the summit.
The route is exceptionally beautiful: you progress in wild spaces next to the Combins range, with a 360° panorama at the top.
On the way down there are many possible routes, the guide will choose according to the conditions.

DAY 3 - Saturday
Cabane Brunet (2103 m) - Le Châble - Bourg Saint Bernard (1925 m) - Pointe Telliers (2951 m) - Hospice du Grand Saint Bernard (2473 m)

Vertical drop: - 1300 m; + 1017 m; - 480 m
Ski touring time: between 5 and 6 hours

Descent from the hut after breakfast to reach the car in Le Châble.

Transfer by car from Le Châble to the Bourg Saint Bernard car park, on the road to the Grand Saint Bernard tunnel.

You will leave the car on the car park and then leave by skins first on the summer road. You will then take the track towards the Combe de Drône. At the bottom of the valley you will pass between the lakes of Grand Lé and Petit Lé to reach the summit.
This beautiful valley on the border between Switzerland and Italy is very suitable for ski touring.
Finally, you will descend to the Hospice du Grand Saint Bernard, located at 2473 metres above sea level on the Grand Saint Bernard summer route.

Dinner and overnight at the Hospice.

DAY 4 - Sunday
Hospice du Grand Saint Bernard (2473 m) - Pointe de Drône (2949 m) - Bourg Saint Bernard (1925 m)

Vertical drop: + 480 m - 1030 m
Ski touring time: about 3 to 4 hours

Departure from the Hospice after a good breakfast. The Pointe de Drône offers a beautiful ski route in a high mountain atmosphere. Once at the top you will have a superb view of the eastern side of the Mont Blanc massif.
The descent can be done on the same route as the ascent or by the north face: the guide will choose the route according to the stability of the snow.

You will be back at the car between noon and 2pm.

See you soon for a new powder trip!

The budget for your ski touring trip

The price includes:

guiding of the UIAGM Mountain Guide of our team;
safety equipment for each participant (avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe)
half board at the refuge on night 1 and 2; half board at the Hospice du Grand St Bernard on night 3;
ski pass ticket on day 1.

The price does not include :

personal technical equipment: touring skis, skins, hiking boots, ski poles (rental possible, specify in the booking if you need to rent the equipment);
travel to the meeting point
transfer by car from Le Châble to the Grand Saint Bernard tunnel car park (possible organisation of the transfer together with the Guide, depending on the size of the group);
drinks and personal expenses;
lunch, to give you the freedom to eat what you want;
your personal insurance;
everything not mentioned in the "price includes".

Equipment for your ski touring trip

The guide will provide you with safety equipment:

avalanche transceiver;
shovel and probe.

If you do not have your own ski touring equipment, we can arrange for you to hire it, please ask when booking.

Personal ski equipment :

touring skis, touring boots and skins (if you do not have your own touring skis, we can arrange for the necessary equipment to be hired, please specify when booking);
Lightweight and durable ski poles, telescopic or classic, with washers for off-piste skiing;
a good backpack of between 25 and 30 litres.

What to wear for ski touring

Suitable ski touring clothing:

a waterproof and breathable jacket and trousers, preferably in Goretex (or alternative fabric);
a thin down jacket;
Base layers (tights and breathable technical T-shirts);
a breathable fleece;
gloves, socks, neck warmer, hat etc.

Do not forget :

sunglasses and sun cream;
a thermos flask and a water bottle.

Ski level required :

For good skiers: you enjoy skiing on black slopes and off-piste skiing, 35 degree slopes do not scare you, especially as they will arrive progressively during the stay.

Useful information for organising your ski trip

Insurance

Cancellation and repatriation insurance is recommended, as well as insurance to cover search and rescue in the mountains.

How to reach Le Châble (Val de Bagne, Switzerland)

By plane via Geneva - then you will need to hire a car;
By train, possible access by TGV to Martigny station - then you need to rent a car;
By car from Geneva: Le Châble is a 2 hour drive from Geneva airport;
By car from Chamonix Mont Blanc: Le Châble is an hour's drive from Chamonix train station.

Meeting point on the first day:

Le Châble, at the departure of the cable car to Bruson, at 8:00 am.

Departure - dispersal of the group :

At the car parking in Bourg Saint Bernard between 12.00 and 14.00.

Do not plan your return transport before 4 pm.

Accommodation:

Nights 1 and 2: at the Cabane Brunet in a room or dormitory depending on the availability of the refuge;
Night 3: at the Hospice du Grand Saint Bernard, in a double or triple room.