High mountain passes in the Swiss and Italian Alps — Tour des Combins

One of the best-known hiking routes around the Italian and Swiss Alps, you can also ride the Tour des Combins on a mountain bike, so I took on the challenge in July with my friend Sonia.

I found the route through Bikepacking.com, and we decided to tackle it in two days rather than the three as recommended on the site. Of course it was harder, but we didn't carry much aside from food, water and clothing, as we stayed overnight in a hotel in Mauvoisin halfway through.

The start of the route is at the Grand San Bernard pass, where you can easily sleep in a van or overnight in one of the hotels and leave a vehicle there without a problem (parking on the right side is flat).

I'd recommend that you study the weather closely as this route is predominantly in the high mountains, and bad conditions can really stitch you up. It's only possible between July and September due to the snow. Make sure that you have equipment and clothing for all conditions, as the weather can change fast in the mountains.

The route is rated as a 7-8 difficulty rating according to Bikepacking.com, so make sure you are equipped for some serious hike-a-bike and are experienced rider before taking on the challenge. I'd say the route is best enjoyed counterclockwise as we rode it.

Check out the full route and plan your own version of the Tour des Combins here: komoot.es/tour/425363808