Leaving Pré-Saint-Didier along the main road (26), you pass through the pretty Valley of La Thuile to the French/Italian border at the Little Saint Bernard Pass.  After climbing through forests and skirting the ravine cut out by the Dora at la Thuile, the road winds its way along providing some wonderful view of the Mont Blanc and Courmayeur ranges.  The Valley is narrow in parts but widens out into meadowland with short tunnels for the road pass through the rock.

La Thuile is situated in a glen with the Rutor and Grand Assaly in the background.  Once an important mining center (anthracite), it now aims at developing tourism, especially for winter sports. There is lots of snow and it is very well equipped with ski and chair lifts.  Summer visitors can enjoy not only the busy little village but also nice walks and outings.  A good road links La Thuile to Morgex across the San Carlo pass, a must for anyone wishing to admire the beauty of the forests and particularly unique view of the Mont Blanc range from Téte d’Arpy.

The main road winds up from La Thuile to Pont-Serrand and through meadows and forests to the pretty Lake Verney and the Little Saint Bernard Pass.  This has been used since ancient times and has been locally important since the Middle Ages.  It is still important even today for travelers, not only because it links up with Tarentaise, but also because it is a very beautiful route. The road crosses the so-called “Cromlech,” a metal enclosure from the Iron Age, and is lined with ruins of two “mansiones.” 

The ancient monastery once run by the Great Saint Bernard monks and later by the Mauriziano Order has not been reopened since it was damaged during the Second World War.  The famous “Chanousia” Alpine botanical garden is being renovated.  From the pass, the road winds down to Bourg-Saint-Maurice.