Les Pralets
Cdamond / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

Les Pralets

1.4
Haute-Savoie, France

About

Refuge des Pralets sits at 1,971m in the Chaîne des Aravis, between Mégève and Flumet in Haute-Savoie. Reach it from the village of Flumet via the hamlet of Praz-sur-Arly. The approach is a steady 2.5-hour climb on a well-marked trail through pasture and forest. Alternatively, approach from the Grand-Bornand side, adding 30 minutes to the journey. This is a working hiking hub, not a destination for scrambling or technical mountaineering.

The refuge sleeps 40 people across dormitory rooms. Half-board is standard: dinner and breakfast are included if you book accommodation. The kitchen serves honest mountain food, not fine dining. Water comes from a stream; showers are cold. The hut operates year-round, though winter access requires decent fitness and snow sense. Summer months (July and August) get busy with families doing day walks in the Aravis range. The refuge sits on the main hiking circuit linking the Chaîne des Aravis peaks, so it's a natural overnight stop.

Book accommodation by email or phone directly with the refuge. July and August fill fast—contact them 2-3 months ahead if you're traveling during peak season. May through September sees regular foot traffic. Winter visits need advance notice since the hut operates with reduced staff on winter weekends only. The refuge is not CAF-affiliated but maintains its own reservation system. Arrive before 17:00 if you want a cooked dinner the same evening.

Frequently Asked Questions

Book at least 2–3 months ahead for July and August; outside peak season, 2–4 weeks is usually sufficient. Contact by phone or email directly.
Les Pralets operates June to September, though exact dates depend on snow melt and staffing—confirm with the refuge before planning an early or late-season visit.
From Flumet village via Praz-sur-Arly, follow the marked trail for 2.5 hours (1,971m elevation gain). Alternatively, approach from Grand-Bornand, adding about 30 minutes.
The refuge has 40 beds in dormitory rooms and serves meals on-site; ask when booking whether you need half- or full-board and if vegetarian or dietary options are available.
Yes—the approach is a steady, well-marked hike through pasture and forest with no scrambling or technical climbing required, making it ideal for walkers new to mountain huts.

Quick Facts

Managing club
FFCAM
Season
Total
Dormitory
Emergency
Private rooms

Facilities

Meals served

Contact & Booking

Phone
+41 79 506 21 69
Website
https://www.lespralets.ch;https://www.lagamelle.com/lespralets

Activities