At the head of the Val Ferret, at 2 062 m6 765 ft, Rifugio Elena faces the Pré de Bard glacier. It is a Tour du Mont Blanc stop, and the refuge’s page on the Aosta Valley tourist board site puts it one hour from the Swiss border via the Grand Col Ferret (2 536 m8 320 ft).
Access
You climb from Arnouva (Arpnouvaz), at the head of the Val Ferret, on trail no. 25: a wide, gently sloping dirt track, about 300 m984 ft of ascent and an hour’s walking, graded E (hiking).
The refuge
Services: half-board or full board. The Wi-Fi connection is not always reliable, so carry some cash as well as your card. Camping is prohibited around the refuge.
Cards are accepted. Outside the staffed season, an 18-place winter room with blankets remains available.
Contact: +39 0165 84 46 88 (refuge) - +39 328 91 97 941 (guardian)
Rifugio Elena (2062m), Courmayeur - Italy
Rifugio Elena, at 2 062 m6 765 ft at the head of the Italian Val Ferret, facing the Pré de Bard glacier, is a Tour du Mont Blanc stop one hour from the Swiss border via the Grand Col Ferret (2 536 m8 320 ft). Half-board and full board. Cards accepted, but as the connection is not always reliable, bring cash. An 18-place winter room with blankets is available outside the staffed season. No camping near the refuge.
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