Stage 5: Courmayeur → Rifugio Walter Bonatti

11.9 km from Courmayeur (1224 m) to Rifugio Walter Bonatti (2030 m), with 1137 m of ascent and 329 m of descent.

Walking time by fitness profile

Times computed with the RandoNav planning algorithm. Breaks not included.

On the trail

Short, steep, and then one of the most pleasant hours on the Tour. The day is essentially one climb: 800 m out of Courmayeur to Rifugio Bertone at 2000 m, done in the cool of the morning if you have any sense, through forest that gives way to open hillside. At the top you turn round and the Grandes Jorasses are simply there, filling the far side of the Val Ferret.

After Bertone the trail runs almost level along the balcony — high, open, with the Jorasses, the Dent du Géant and a succession of hanging glaciers on your right for the entire traverse. It is the closest the Tour comes to easy walking with a great view, and it lasts a couple of hours to Rifugio Bonatti. Bonatti is the most sought-after bed on the loop and sells out the day reservations open; if you cannot get in, the valley at Lavachey has beds and a bus, 400 m below.

Start / end

Stops along the way

These places between the endpoints let you split the stage into shorter days:

About this stage

Stage 5 links Courmayeur (1224 m) with Rifugio Walter Bonatti (2030 m) over 11.9 km, climbing 1137 m and descending 329 m. This stage is in the eastern half of the Tour, after Courmayeur — the Italian balcony, Switzerland, and the Aiguilles Rouges finale above Chamonix. 4 stops punctuate the route, so you can split this stage into shorter days. Water is available at every stop on this stage. Along the way only snacks and meals are available — no full resupply until the end of the stage.