Starting from Martigny, you first start climbing up the valley towards Sembrancher, then to Orsières without much difficulty. The real ascent starts in the Val d’Entremont until Bourg-St-Pierre and then to the Grand-St-Bernard pass.
From Martigny to Orsières the slope is quite mild, giving you a nice gentle warm-up during the first few kilometres. Leaving the Val Ferret to your right, you begin your climb up the Val d’Entremont and things begin to get serious! The slope gets steeper but remains steady as you cross the villages of Liddes and Bourg-St-Pierre on this road to Italy. You will discover Mont Rogneux and the peaks of the Combins in full panorama as you climb in the midst of alpine meadows. Shortly after Bourg-St-Pierre, you ride through several kilometres of galleries before the road splits to the right up towards the Col du Grand-St-Bernard. The last kilometres are difficult but are surrounded by incredibly beautiful Alpine scenery.
Itinerary
Best period to go there
Prestations
Author\s note
The St. Bernard Dogs of the Barry Foundaition pass the summer months on the Great St. Bernard Pass. From July to August, the Barry Foundation gives visitors to the Great St Bernard pass the opportunity to accompany the hospice dogs on a 1½ hour hike.
Directions
Once you leave Martigny behind, the road opens wide over gentle slopes. At the junction at the beginning of the Val de Bagnes, take the road to Italy on the right towards Orsières which climbs along the Dranse river. The beginning of the Val d’Entremont coincides with the increase in difficulty of the climb, allowing you to quickly gain altitude until Liddes. A section less steep through the village allows you to recover a bit before you attack the following climb to Bourg-St-Pierre, the last village in Switzerland before the Italian border. After riding through the galleries on the road leading to the Grand-St-Bernard tunnel, the road heads off to the right and the last six kilometres brings you to the summit of the pass. The scenery is grandiose, and at the summit the refuge and little lake make this crossing between Switzerland and Italy one of the most beautiful passes in the Alps!
Getting there
Take the A9 Motorway exit E27 autoroute Martigny/Grand St. Bernard. At the roundabout, follow signs towards Col de la Forclaz / Chamonix (France)
Parking de la Porte d’Octodure at motorway exit. Follow the car-park routeing in Martigny.
Arrive in Martigny by train from all Swiss towns and cities (SBB) or by the regional trains Railway Mont-Blanc & St-Bernard Express.