Refuge · 1995 m
Rifugio Bertone
Natural balcony over Val Ferret with a frontal view of Grandes Jorasses. Classic starting point for the climb to Bonatti and the Italian-side TMB stage.
Less than two hours from Courmayeur, this is the most accessible balcony on Mont Blanc’s southern side and the classic first stage of the Italian TMB. The terrace faces the Dent du Géant and the Grandes Jorasses; half an hour above the hut, the grassy crest of Mont de la Saxe offers one of the most celebrated viewpoints in the Alps, ideal at sunset.
Altitude
1995 m
Valley
Val Ferret
Beds
68
Opening
June – September
Managed by
CAI Courmayeur
History
Converted from an alp on the Mont de la Saxe, the hut is dedicated to Giorgio Bertone, a Courmayeur mountain guide among the strongest of his generation, protagonist of great climbs on Mont Blanc in the 1960s and 70s, who died in the mountains in 1977. Family management has made it one of the best-loved stops on the Tour du Mont Blanc.
What to eat
Aosta Valley pasta dishes, polenta and cheese. Early breakfast for hikers.
Indicative rates
Half-board roughly €45–65; check CAI website.
Contact & booking
Official manager details — always check opening dates and rates on the website before you go.
Where it is
45.8092, 6.9789 · 1995 m
How to get there
- Tour du Mont Blanc — Stage 1: Courmayeur → Rifugio Giorgio Bertone4.7 km · +767 mE
- Tour du Mont Blanc — Stage 2: Rifugio Giorgio Bertone → Rifugio Walter Bonatti9.9 km · +739 mE
- High Route 1 — Stage 17: Rifugio Bonatti → Courmayeur12.1 km · +300 mE
- Villair - Rifugio Bertone - Tavola orientamento3.4 km · +722 mE
Recommended season
June – September
Effort to reach it
Difficulty of the access trails: E, +300–767 m (CAI scale).
What to bring
A sleeping-bag liner (required in many huts), cash (cards are often not accepted at altitude), a change of clothes and warm layers for the evening, a headlamp, a water bottle. Always book your bed and meals in advance, and let the hut know if you cancel.
What to do there
Enjoy dinner in good company and the sunset from the terrace. Many use the hut as a base for a dawn departure: ask the keeper about trail and weather conditions before setting out, and start light while the snow is still firm. The climbing routes are on the trail pages above.
Nearby peaks
Community gallery
Photos are published immediately. JPG/PNG/WebP, max 6 MB.
Source: lovevda.it · CAI Courmayeur
Rifugio Bertone