Refuge de Doran

Refuge de Doran sits at 1495m in the Chaîne du Reposoir, above the Vallée du Fier in Haute-Savoie. The hut is accessed via the hamlet of Doran, near Taninge. The standard approach takes 1.5 to 2 hours from the road-end car park, climbing gradually through mixed woodland and pasture. Routes converge here from the Chaîne de Platé to the east and offer straightforward valley walking rather than technical climbing. The location works well as a base for summer day walks on local grassy ridges or as a stopping point on longer traverses through the pre-Alps.
Refuge de Doran is run by the FFCAM and holds around 40 places. The hut provides meals (half-board available) and simple dormitory accommodation. Water comes from a spring. The refuge operates year-round, though staffing and meal service are reduced outside the main season (May to September). Winter access depends entirely on snow conditions and personal winter mountaineering skills—contact the FFCAM section directly to confirm current status. The hut is popular with local hikers and school groups in summer.
Book ahead during July and August, especially weekends. Contact the hut directly or through the FFCAM Haute-Savoie section for availability and current rates. The refuge takes phone reservations and accepts online bookings through certain FFCAM channels. If you're visiting outside peak season, confirm opening dates and meal availability before departure.