Refuge · 3388 m
Rifugio Guide d'Ayas
At 3,394 metres on the Verra glacier, in the upper Ayas valley, the Guide d'Ayas refuge is a high-altitude base for Castor and the Monte Rosa four-thousanders, beside the historic Mezzalama hut. A severe glacial setting: access requires experience, rope and crampons. One of the highest, most panoramic support points in the valley, facing the walls of the Breithorn and the Lyskamm.
Altitude
3388 m
Valley
Ayas Valley
Beds
85
History
Built by the Ayas Guides Society and inaugurated at the end of the 20th century to complement the historic Mezzalama hut (1936), it carries the valley guides’ tradition to altitude — guides active for generations on the Monte Rosa four-thousanders. Run directly by the guides, it doubles as an open-air high-mountain school.
Contact & booking
Official manager details — always check opening dates and rates on the website before you go.
Where it is
45.9206, 7.7671 · 3388 m
How to get there
Effort to reach it
Difficulty of the access trails: EE, +1668 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: OpenStreetMap contributors
Rifugio Guide d'Ayas