Highlights
- Steep descent into Italy
- Etroubles open-air art gallery
- Aosta Valley views
- Alpine wildflower meadows
Stage conditions
| Section | Aosta Valley (Italy) |
|---|---|
| Water on route | Moderate |
| Shade | Partial |
Practical notes
Getting there and away
The pass has no railway. In summer, Arriva's line 422 runs from Aosta up the Gran San Bernardo valley through Etroubles, Saint-Oyen and Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses, with some journeys extended to the pass in July and August depending on when the road opens; the Saint-Rhémy commune says a daily bus line links the village with Aosta and Martigny. From the Swiss side, the tourist office sells Martigny–Aosta bus tickets for the through-tunnel service. Etroubles is on line 422 all year. Aosta's railway is closed for electrification until 2027, with replacement buses to Ivrea, so the nearest working station is Ivrea.
What the season does
Best months are June to September. You start at 2,478 m and lose 1,271 m in 20 km, so the top of the day is alpine and the bottom is a mild valley village. The pass road is generally closed by snow from October to late May, and the hospice puts its opening at early June to mid-October, snow permitting; snow can lie on the upper path into June. Shade is only partial above the treeline, so in July and August start early. Late September gives the best light and the quietest hospice.
Safety on this stage
The stage notes warn of a steep, rocky descent that is hard on the knees and strongly recommends trekking poles. The upper section from the pass to Saint-Rhémy is the roughest: loose stone, wet rock after storms, and snow patches early in the season. Follow trail 103 with the yellow regional waymarks, not the road, which has fast traffic and no verge. Weather changes fast at 2,400 m even in August, so keep the warm layer and waterproof accessible until you are below Saint-Rhémy. Carry ID: you cross into Italy at the pass.
Water and food
Water is marked moderate. Fill at the hospice before you leave, because the descent to Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses is high pasture and rock with nothing on it. From Saint-Rhémy on, fountains are present in every village you pass, Saint-Léonard, Saint-Oyen and Etroubles among them, and Saint-Oyen and Etroubles have bars and small shops. Two litres from the top is sensible in summer; after that you can refill village by village.
Where pilgrims sleep
Our directory has no listing yet at Etroubles, but the valley has a proper pilgrim network. In Etroubles itself, Casa Alpina Sacro Cuore, a religious holiday house on the Gran San Bernardo road with 67 beds in double to multiple rooms, is open all year except November and serves meals by arrangement. At the hamlet of Echevennoz, on the route just beyond, the posto tappa dortoir has 11 beds in three rooms, opens mid-May to mid-November and is a designated friend of the Via Francigena. Halfway down, Château Verdun at Saint-Oyen has welcomed pilgrims for a thousand years and is now run by the Diocese of Aosta.
Sources: Arriva Italia — Valle d'Aosta by bus · Comune di Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses — Transports · Pays du Saint-Bernard — Location and access · Regione Valle d'Aosta — Elettrificazione Aosta – Ivrea · Hospice du Grand-Saint-Bernard — Staying at the pass · Camminando sulla Via Francigena — IT01 Passo del Gran San Bernardo – Etroubles · Camminando sulla Via Francigena — Casa Alpina Sacro Cuore, Etroubles · Valle d'Aosta (lovevda) — Posto tappa Echevennoz, Étroubles · Château Verdun, Saint-Oyen — Ospitalità
Common questions
How long is the Great St Bernard Pass to Etroubles stage?
It is 20.0 km (12.4 mi) and takes about 5.5 hours of walking, from Great St Bernard Pass to Etroubles.
How hard is Great St Bernard Pass to Etroubles?
It is rated moderate with 100 m of ascent and 1100 m of descent over mountain terrain.
Is there water on the Great St Bernard Pass to Etroubles stage?
There is a moderate amount of water along this stage — carry enough between resupply points.
How do I get to Great St Bernard Pass and away from Etroubles?
The pass has no railway. In summer, Arriva's line 422 runs from Aosta up the Gran San Bernardo valley through Etroubles, Saint-Oyen and Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses, with some journeys extended to the pass in July and August depending on when the road opens; the Saint-Rhémy commune says a daily bus line links the village with Aosta and Martigny. From the Swiss side, the tourist office sells Martigny–Aosta bus tickets for the through-tunnel service.
Where do pilgrims sleep in Etroubles?
Our directory has no listing yet at Etroubles, but the valley has a proper pilgrim network. In Etroubles itself, Casa Alpina Sacro Cuore, a religious holiday house on the Gran San Bernardo road with 67 beds in double to multiple rooms, is open all year except November and serves meals by arrangement. At the hamlet of Echevennoz, on the route just beyond, the posto tappa dortoir has 11 beds in three rooms, opens mid-May to mid-November and is a designated friend of the Via Francigena.
Walk this stage
Open the full stage list to plan the legs either side, browse heritage along the route, or get the free Via Francigena Walk app for offline maps and GPS on the trail.