Leaving Aosta, the main town in the region, you go up to the Great-Saint-Bernard, part of the way along an ancient route, and on to Switzerland through the tunnel, which is open all year round and has a partially covered approach road.

The first bends you come to provide a fine view of the town and surrounding holiday and skiing resort of Pila.  You drive through quaint, friendly little villages reminding you of times gone by.  Leaving the road to Valpelline after the Doues fork at Variney, a quiet spot and idea holiday resort for anyone in search of a less demanding altitude, you come to another fork to Ollomont or Oyace-Bionaz.  The former is well equipped to accommodate tourists and is the starting point for trips to the wonderful Conca di By and climbs to the great amphitheatre at Mont Vélan and the highest peaks of the Grand Combin.  Bionaz, the last village in the valley, is reached by driving through a number of Oyace villages built on the sunny slopes and dominated by the bell-tower of the parish church and, higher up, by the pointed “Tornalla.”

Here, the valley widen out and is not really very well known by tourists.  It does not actually end at the Place Moulin Dam but continues with some really beautiful Alpine scenery. Returning to Variney along the main road (27), you drive up to Gignod, a quaint little village dominated by the parish church (15^th century bell-tower) and an earlier single medieval tower.  A little further on, on the sunny slopes to the right, you will see Allein, a spot that is yet to be discovered.  After passing through a number of small villages, you come to Etroubles, a well-known holiday resort with many walks, well-equipped hotels and winter sports facilities.

Now, the valley opens out into meadows dominated by the Saint Oyen complex, which is part of the Flassin skiing areas connecting it with Saint-Rhémy-Bosses.   In summer, at this point, you can choose between the highway to the Great Saint Bernard Tunnel or the winding road across the historic pass (no choice in winter).  The latter alternative is recommended in summer as it runs along the road used by prehistoric man, the Romans and (in the opposite direction) Napoleon Bonaparte.

At 2473 meters, the legendary Saint Bernard pass connects Switzerland to Italy with its small lake mirroring the famous monastery, which, over the centuries, has provided shelter for many a poor traveler. The history of the pass is well documented in the monastery museum, which is visited by many tourists crossing from one side to the other.