Gîte Alpage de La Peule
A working alpage at 2100 m on the Swiss side of the Grand Col Ferret — cheese made on site, cows outside the door.
A working alpage at 2100 m on the Swiss side of the Grand Col Ferret — cheese made on site, cows outside the door. The first bed in Switzerland and, at this height, a fine place to watch the light go off the Dolent.
The place
A working alpage at 2100 m on the Swiss side of the Grand Col Ferret, forty minutes below the pass. Cheese is made on the premises, cows wander past the door, and dinner tends to involve both. It is the first bed in Switzerland and it feels immediately different from Italy — softer, greener, more ordered.
At this height it is also a fine place to watch the light leave the Mont Dolent, the peak where France, Italy and Switzerland meet, which stands directly opposite. Most walkers press on down to La Fouly, another 500 m of descent, and miss this entirely. Staying makes the col day short and the next day — a gentle valley walk to Champex — shorter still. It books through the Tour portal.
Getting there
| Leg | Distance | Elevation | Trail runner | Fit / sportive | Multiday hiker | Relaxed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| From Rifugio Elena | 5.9 km | +488 / −461 m | 1h17 | 1h50 | 2h26 | 2h55 |
| To Hotel du Col de Fenêtre | 3.5 km | +25 / −385 m | 0h38 | 0h54 | 1h10 | 1h24 |
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
- Hotel du Col de Fenêtre Hotel · 1700 m
3.5 km further along the Tour, at 1700 m. Bookable on the Tour du Mont-Blanc portal, so the planner shows its availability night by night. - Gîte La Léchère Gîte · 1710 m
4.3 km further along the Tour, at 1710 m. Bookable on the Tour du Mont-Blanc portal, so the planner shows its availability night by night. - Chalet 'Le Dolent' Chalet · 1634 m
5.7 km further along the Tour, at 1634 m. Bookable on the Tour du Mont-Blanc portal, so the planner shows its availability night by night. - Auberge Maya-Joie Auberge · 1600 m
5.8 km further along the Tour, at 1600 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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