Rifugio G. Bertone

At 2000 m on the shoulder above Courmayeur, at the start of the Val Ferret balcony.

The place

At 2000 m on the shoulder above Courmayeur, at the exact point where the climb out of the valley ends and the Val Ferret balcony begins. You arrive sweating, turn round, and the whole Grandes Jorasses skyline is simply there — which is why almost everyone stops, whether or not they are sleeping here.

It makes for a short day from town, and that is the point: 800 m up and nothing else, so you arrive early and spend the afternoon looking at one of the best views in the Alps. From here the trail runs level and high for hours towards Bonatti, which is the single most enjoyable stretch of the Tour. Bertone books through the Tour portal, so the planner can show you its availability night by night.

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 Funivia Hotel · 1400 m
  1.0 km further along the Tour, at 1400 m. Bookable on the Tour du Mont-Blanc portal, so the planner shows its availability night by night.
• Rifugio Chapy Mont Blanc Rifugio · 1425 m
  1.3 km further along the Tour, at 1425 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