Refuge · 3379 m
Grand Tournalin Refuge
At about 2,530 metres above Saint-Jacques, in the upper Ayas valley, the Grand Tournalin refuge is the base for the climb to the eponymous panoramic peak and the passes towards Valtournenche. Overlooking pastures, tarns and the Tournalin cirque, it is an Alta Via 1 stage in one of the valley's most open, luminous settings, with views from the Matterhorn to Monte Rosa.
Altitude
3379 m
Valley
Ayas Valley
Beds
30
Opening
Mid-June – mid-September
Managed by
CAI Biella
What to eat
Simple high-mountain meals; bring energy bars for the approach.
Indicative rates
Dormitory overnight roughly €30–45.
Contact & booking
Official manager details — always check opening dates and rates on the website before you go.
Where it is
45.8585, 7.6938 · 3379 m
How to get there
- High Route 1 — Stage 7: Rifugio Vieux Crest → Rifugio Grand Tournalin11.6 km · +1162 mEE
- High Route 1 — Stage 8: Rifugio Grand Tournalin → Valtournenche8.7 km · +309 mE
- Rifugio Grand Tournalin - Becca Trécare2.2 km · +485 mEE
- Rifugio Grand Tournalin - Petit Tournalin2.7 km · +661 mEE
- Rifugio Grand Tournalin - Bec de Nannaz2.4 km · +464 mEE
- TAPPA 07: Crest - Rifugio Grand Tournalin11.4 km · +1165 mE
- TAPPA 08: Rifugio Grand Tournalin - Valtournenche9.1 km · +0 mE
Recommended season
Mid-June – mid-September
Effort to reach it
Difficulty of the access trails: E–EE, +309–1165 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
Grand Tournalin Refuge