Refuge Alpage de Bellastat

Refuge Alpage de Bellastat sits at 2,197m in the Massif de la Vanoise, above the Tarentaise valley. Reach it from the village of Naves (90 minutes by car from Chambéry) via the hamlet of Naves-Dessus. The walking approach takes 2.5 to 3 hours from the parking area at the end of the road. The terrain is steady and well-marked. This is genuine mountain pasture country, not a high Alpine crossing, making it accessible for families and those building fitness. Summer access is reliable; winter requires avalanche awareness and often mountaineering skills.
The refuge operates as a working alpage (summer dairy farm), so expect basic mountain hospitality rather than restaurant comfort. It sleeps around 30 people in dormitory rooms. Half-board is standard—dinner and breakfast included with your bed. The kitchen serves straightforward food based on what's available and what the guardian has time to prepare. Water comes from mountain sources. There are no showers. The season runs from June to September, sometimes into early October depending on snow and staffing. This is a place to sleep, eat, and move on, not to linger over amenities.
Book direct by phone or email as early as possible; summer weekends fill quickly. Contact details and current availability are listed on the FFCAM website under Savoie refuges. The hut is popular with families doing the Vanoise crossings and with hikers tackling the surrounding peaks. Expect it to be busy in July and August. Wednesday to Thursday tend to be quieter if you have flexibility.