The Little St Bernard Pass is a summer road that crosses from Bourg-Saint-Maurice and La Rosière in Savoie to La Thuile in Italy's Aosta Valley, reaching a broad summit at around 2,190 metres. It closes in winter, when the slopes either side become a shared ski area. For travellers from Geneva, it offers a scenic summer alternative to the Mont Blanc tunnel for reaching Courmayeur, which lies about 107 km and 1 h 30 from the airport by the tunnel route. AirportsTransfers.ch can drive both options depending on the season.
- Route: Bourg-Saint-Maurice – Séez – La Rosière – summit – La Thuile – Pré-Saint-Didier
- Season: summer only; closed by snow in winter
- Border: the route crosses the border into Italy at the summit
- History: Roman road, a prehistoric stone circle and a historic hospice
- Winter link: La Rosière and La Thuile are joined by skiing, not by road
The French side: Séez and La Rosière
The road begins at Séez, just above Bourg-Saint-Maurice in the upper Tarentaise, the valley that also leads to Les Arcs, Tignes and Val d'Isère. It climbs through a series of wide hairpins on south-facing slopes to La Rosière, a sunny ski resort with fine views across the valley. In winter this is the end of the road: the route beyond the village is closed and groomed for skiing.
Above La Rosière, the summer road continues through pastures and past old military buildings, reflecting the pass's long role as a frontier. The landscape opens up near the top into wide alpine meadows, quite different from the steep rock of many passes.
The summit: two thousand years of travellers
The Little St Bernard is one of the oldest Alpine crossings. A Roman road ran over it, connecting the Rhône valley with the Po plain, and some historians have suggested that Hannibal's army crossed here, though the question remains debated. On the summit stands a stone circle of prehistoric origin, cut through by the modern road, as well as a statue of Saint Bernard of Menthon and a historic hospice that has sheltered travellers for centuries.
The summit plateau holds a small lake and a botanical garden created in the nineteenth century, and the views extend towards the Mont Blanc massif on the Italian side. On a fine summer day it is a pleasant place to stop and walk for a few minutes.
Down to La Thuile and the Aosta Valley
The Italian descent is shorter and leads through forest to La Thuile, a former mining village that has become a ski resort. Its ski area connects with La Rosière over the frontier, creating the international Espace San Bernardo; in winter, skiers cross between the two countries on the slopes while cars must go round via the tunnels.
From La Thuile the road continues down to Pré-Saint-Didier, known for its thermal baths, and joins the main road a few minutes from Courmayeur. Turning east, the valley leads to Aosta, with its Roman remains, and on towards Turin or Milan.
Seasons and the winter alternative
The pass is closed for the winter, usually from late autumn to late spring, because of snow and avalanche risk. Exact opening and closing depend on the snowpack and are announced by local authorities each year. When it is closed, the route between the Tarentaise and the Aosta Valley is a long detour, usually via the Fréjus tunnel or back towards Geneva and through the Mont Blanc tunnel.
For travellers flying into Geneva for La Thuile or Courmayeur in winter, the direct route is the Mont Blanc tunnel via Chamonix. In summer, the Little St Bernard makes a beautiful loop possible: out through the tunnel and back over the pass, or the reverse.
Planning a summer loop from Geneva
A classic day or two-day itinerary runs from Geneva through Chamonix and the Mont Blanc tunnel to Courmayeur, then over the Little St Bernard to the Tarentaise and back via Albertville and Annecy. It combines the high glaciers of Mont Blanc, the Italian lifestyle of the Aosta Valley and the pastures of Savoie. A chauffeur makes it straightforward, with time to stop at the summit and in the villages.
Passengers should carry a passport or identity card, as the route crosses the border into Italy.
Booking your route with AirportsTransfers.ch
Whether you need a direct winter transfer to La Thuile through the Mont Blanc tunnel or a summer loop over the pass, the price is fixed per vehicle and visible before you pay. Payment is made online by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Your chauffeur meets you at Geneva Airport with a name sign, follows your flight in real time and waits if it lands late. Child seats are available on request, and skis should be declared at booking to ensure enough space. For questions, call or WhatsApp +41 78 346 56 77.
