Rifugio Walter Bonatti

The modern refuge at 2030 m on the Val Ferret balcony, facing the Grandes Jorasses and the Dent du Géant across the valley.

The place

If the Tour has one address, this is it. A modern refuge at 2030 m on the Val Ferret balcony, built to a high standard and pointed straight at the Grandes Jorasses, the Dent du Géant and the Aiguille de Leschaux across the valley. Named for Walter Bonatti, who climbed most of what you can see from the terrace.

It is comfortable in a way mountain refuges usually are not — good food, hot showers, sensible dormitories — and it sells out on the day bookings open, months in advance, every year. It takes its own reservations rather than going through the Tour portal. If you get in, arrive early and sit outside; the light on the Jorasses in the last hour before sunset is the thing people come back for.

Getting there

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

• Hôtel Lavachey Hotel · 1642 m
  0.6 km back down the Tour, at 1642 m. Bookable on the Tour du Mont-Blanc portal, so the planner shows its availability night by night.
• Hôtel Chalet Val Ferret Chalet · 1780 m
  5.1 km further along the Tour, at 1780 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

• Stage 5: Courmayeur → Rifugio Walter Bonatti
• Stage 6: Rifugio Walter Bonatti → La Fouly