Rifugio Elisabetta
At 2194 m below the Glacier de la Lée Blanche, the first Italian night and one of the most spectacular positions on the Tour.
At 2194 m below the Glacier de la Lée Blanche, the first Italian night and one of the most spectacular positions on the Tour. Séracs above, the Pyramides Calcaires opposite. Small and very popular — book direct, early.
The place
The first Italian night, at 2194 m directly under the Glacier de la Lée Blanche, and one of the two or three finest positions on the Tour. Séracs hang above the refuge; the Pyramides Calcaires stand opposite; the Val Veny runs away below towards Courmayeur. It is loud with meltwater and, in the evening, entirely orange.
It is small, it books itself rather than through the Tour portal, and it fills the moment reservations open. If you cannot get in, the alternative is a long descent to the valley floor and a night at Monte Bianco or in Courmayeur — which is fine, but it is not this. Note that the refuge closes earlier in the season than the valley places; from late September you should confirm before committing your schedule to it.
Getting there
| Leg | Distance | Elevation | Trail runner | Fit / sportive | Multiday hiker | Relaxed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| From Refuge des Mottets | 7.8 km | +648 / −375 m | 1h37 | 2h19 | 3h02 | 3h39 |
| To Rifugio Maison Vieille | 10.3 km | +493 / −670 m | 1h44 | 2h27 | 3h12 | 3h50 |
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.
Stages passing this stop
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