Auberge Gîte Bon Abri
Just below Champex at 1444 m on the Bovine side, on the trail as it heads for Plan de l'Au.
Just below Champex at 1444 m on the Bovine side, on the trail as it heads for Plan de l'Au. Convenient if you plan the easier route to Trient and want an early, quiet start.
The place
Just below Champex at 1444 m on the Bovine side, right where the trail sets off towards the Plan de l'Au. A gîte in the practical sense — dormitories, a big table, boots at the door.
It suits people who have already decided on the gentler route to Trient and want a quiet, early start on it. The Bovine day is around six hours: a long forest climb to the Alp Bovine at 1987 m, where the restaurant has been feeding walkers for generations and the view opens abruptly down the Rhône valley, then a descent to the Col de la Forclaz. It is the least dramatic day on the Tour and one of the most pleasant, which after the Grand Col Ferret is not nothing.
Getting there
| Leg | Distance | Elevation | Trail runner | Fit / sportive | Multiday hiker | Relaxed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| From Relais d'Arpette | 0.1 km | +0 / −10 m | 0h01 | 0h01 | 0h02 | 0h02 |
| To Hôtel du Col de la Forclaz | 12.1 km | +815 / −747 m | 2h29 | 3h32 | 4h39 | 5h35 |
Booking
Book on montourdumontblanc.com
This hut sells its beds through the Tour du Mont-Blanc booking portal, so the planner can show you its live availability night by night — and warn you the moment a full night frees up. Every night on the Tour must be booked; there is no walk-in option in season.
Other places to stay nearby
- Relais d'Arpette Hotel · 1631 m
0.1 km back down the Tour, at 1631 m. Bookable on the Tour du Mont-Blanc portal, so the planner shows its availability night by night. - Pension en Plein Air Gîte · 1467 m
1.4 km back down the Tour, at 1467 m. Bookable on the Tour du Mont-Blanc portal, so the planner shows its availability night by night.
For when this stop is full. These book themselves and are not on the Tour du Mont-Blanc portal — contact each directly and confirm before you rely on it.
Stages passing this stop
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