Plan Chécrouit to La Visaille via Lac Combol

Directions to La Dolonne:

0.00 km - From in front of the Ufficio de Turismo, TURN RIGHT, walking down the pavement until you see an underpass with a sign for La Dolonne.

0.05 km - Go down one flight of stairs and TURN RIGHT, passing under the road and eventually, crossing a bridge.

0.40 km - After the bridge, you will come to a fork in the road. Continue STRAIGHT ON.

0.50 km - You will see La Dolonne ahead of you, on top of a hill. TURN RIGHT and follow the road until you see a pedestrian path leading up to La Dolonne.

0.70 km - You are now in front of La Dolonne. Take the cable car up to Plan Chécrouit to start your walk.

Start of your walk:

0.00 km – With you back to the Courmayeur Cable Car and La Dolonne Cable Car on in front of you on your right-hand side, walk STRAIGHT ON until you approach a right turn.

0.10 km – TURN RIGHT, following this road for approximately 1.1 km as it ascends. You will approach a series of houses and a sign.

1.20 km – You will see a sign for Rifugio Randonneur and a rock with the TMB path waymarked. TURN LEFT here, going in the opposite direction of the Rifugio Randonneur. Follow this road for about 400 meters until you see Maison Vieille in the distance, after you come to the top of a small hill. Walk towards it, crossing a dirt track and following a sign for Maison Vieille.

1.70 km – Once at the Rifugio, you will see a path winding up the mountain behind it – this is the TMB Path, and you will be following it for the foreseeable future. Continue STRAIGHT ON, following signs for the Lac du Combal. This is a nice play to have a coffee and enjoy the view, and a good last place to stock up on water before your climb.

3.20 km – When the footpath is crossed by a larger dirt road, continue STRAIGHT ON, following the TMB path. You will see markers on rocks as you follow your walk. Over the next couple of kilometers, there could be some snow on some of the paths. Make sure to take extra care here and to watch your steps.

6.10 km – As you approach the final climb, there are several paths that will take you to the top. Take whatever path is most comfortable for you and you will reach the top, where there is a nice place to take a breather, before you see the path descending.

6.30 km – Congratulations – that’s most of your climbing done for today! Follow the path STRAIGHT ON as it descends.

7.50 km – You will get to a crossroads signposted with a 9 in the familiar yellow TMB path paint. Ignore this path crossing over the river and continue STRAIGHT ON, descending into the valley.

7.80 km – As you approach the river crossing, make sure to take extra care and to put away any phones or cameras in case they get wet.

8.80 km – When you come down onto a larger road, TURN RIGHT, following signs for La Visaille. You will soon cross a bridge.

9.00 km – After the bridge, TURN LEFT, following signs to Lago Miage, following this path onto the Rifugio Combal.

9.20 km – As you pass the Rifugio, BEAR RIGHT as you ascend towards the lake.

9.30 km – After a short climb, you will approach several paths. TURN RIGHT and continue your short climb towards the lake. After approximately 200 meters, you will come see the lake in front of you.

9.50 km – BEAR LEFT and descend slightly towards the lake.

9.60 km – As you approach a fork in the road, BEAR LEFT, walking around a smaller lake until you come back to your previous point. Feel free to take some more time to explore the scenery here, and when you are ready to continue your walk, just head back the same way you came.

10.50 km – When you come back to the bridge you previously crossed, walk STRAIGHT ON towards La Visaille. This paved road will take you right up to La Visaille so keep following this road for about 3.2 km.

13.30 km – Stay on the main road and cross a bridge.

0.00 km – With you back to the Courmayeur Cable Car and La Dolonne Cable Car on in front of you on your right-hand side, walk STRAIGHT ON until you approach a right turn.

0.10 km – TURN RIGHT, following this road for approximately 1.1 km as it ascends. You will approach a series of houses and a sign.

1.20 km – You will see a sign for Rifugio Randonneur and a rock with the TMB path waymarked. TURN LEFT here, going in the opposite direction of the Rifugio Randonneur. Follow this road for about 400 meters until you see Maison Vieille in the distance, after you come to the top of a small hill. Walk towards it, crossing a dirt track and following a sign for Maison Vieille.

1.70 km – Once at the Rifugio, you will see a path winding up the mountain behind it – this is the TMB Path, and you will be following it for the foreseeable future. Continue STRAIGHT ON, following signs for the Lac du Combal. This is a nice play to have a coffee and enjoy the view, and a good last place to stock up on water before your climb.

3.20 km – When the footpath is crossed by a larger dirt road, continue STRAIGHT ON, following the TMB path. You will see markers on rocks as you follow your walk. Over the next couple of kilometers, there could be some snow on some of the paths. Make sure to take extra care here and to watch your steps.

6.10 km – As you approach the final climb, there are several paths that will take you to the top. Take whatever path is most comfortable for you and you will reach the top, where there is a nice place to take a breather, before you see the path descending.

6.30 km – Congratulations – that’s most of your climbing done for today! Follow the path STRAIGHT ON as it descends.

7.50 km – You will get to a crossroads signposted with a 9 in the familiar yellow TMB path paint. Ignore this path crossing over the river and continue STRAIGHT ON, descending into the valley.

7.80 km – As you approach the river crossing, make sure to take extra care and to put away any phones or cameras in case they get wet.

8.80 km – When you come down onto a larger road, TURN RIGHT, following signs for La Visaille. You will soon cross a bridge.

9.00 km – After the bridge, TURN LEFT, following signs to Lago Miage, following this path onto the Rifugio Combal.

9.20 km – As you pass the Rifugio, BEAR RIGHT as you ascend towards the lake.

9.30 km – After a short climb, you will approach several paths. TURN RIGHT and continue your short climb towards the lake. After approximately 200 meters, you will come see the lake in front of you.

9.50 km – BEAR LEFT and descend slightly towards the lake.

9.60 km – As you approach a fork in the road, BEAR LEFT, walking around a smaller lake until you come back to your previous point. Feel free to take some more time to explore the scenery here, and when you are ready to continue your walk, just head back the same way you came.

10.50 km – When you come back to the bridge you previously crossed, walk STRAIGHT ON towards La Visaille. This paved road will take you right up to La Visaille so keep following this road for about 3.2 km.

13.30 km – Stay on the main road and cross a bridge STRAIGHT ON. La Visaille will be just 400 meters ahead of you.

13.70 km – La Visaille is a small group of houses directly next to the road. You will also be able to see a roadsign with La Visaille on it.