Climb to Rifugio Frassati and Col de Malatrà

This Tour takes you along the last stretch of the Tor des Géants towards one of the most iconic views of the legendary race and of the entire Courmayeur area: the Col de Malatrà. It offers fun terrain with a good amount of elevation gain.

The route begins with a steady climb that takes you through Villair, in the lower part of the Sapin valley. Follow the stream to Tsapy, where you cross it and then quickly gain elevation along the valley side. After a few hairpin bends, the path flattens out at around 2,000 meters above sea level. Crossing the Sapin stream, the increasingly arid terrain becomes steep again up to the Sapin col. This mountain pass is located at an altitude of 2,435 meters, between Val Sapin and Comba d'Arminaz, offering breathtaking views of Val Veny to the south.

From here a short ups and downs takes you to col Entre Deux Sauts. Take the fun but short descent to the trail which will then lead you to the highest point of the day. After crossing the last pastures, the final stony surface appears in the distance. A final effort under the slopes of Mont Tsichette takes you to Col de Malatrà, a very narrow opening between two rocky protrusions. This point is iconic for one of the longest and most respected trail races in the Alps: the Tor des Géants. There are breathtaking climbs on both sides that reach a narrow path between two rock outcrops, from where there are spectacular views of the Mont Blanc massif.

A short descent takes you to the Frassati refuge, where you can stop to enjoy some delicious homemade polenta. With your stomach satisfied and your eyes full of the view of the Lac des Merdeux, you retrace your steps up to the Col de Malatrà. With the technical sections behind you, you can now enjoy the fun terrain of Val Ferret as you descend to the valley floor, passing the Bonatti refuge along the way.

To return to Courmayeur, you can take a bus from the Bivio Rifugio Bonatti stop.