Refuge les Arolles

Refuge les Arolles sits at 1,928m in the Chamonix Valley, a solid base for valley walks and moderate alpine routes in the Mont-Blanc massif. From Chamonix town, drive or take the shuttle to Les Praz de Chamonix, then hike 2.5 hours up the Arve Valley trail through larch forest. The approach is steady but not technical. In winter, the road often closes and approach time stretches to 3–4 hours depending on snow.
The refuge accommodates 60 people in dormitory rooms and a handful of doubles. Meals are hearty—dinner, packed lunch, and breakfast included with stays. The kitchen handles vegetarian requests with notice. Hot showers are available. The refuge operates year-round except for a closure in late April–early May. It's managed by FFCAM volunteers and serves both walkers on multi-day routes and families on day trips.
Book directly by email or phone as soon as your dates are set, especially for July–August and February half-terms when beds fill fast. Weekends year-round are busy. The refuge prefers email for large groups but takes calls for quick queries. Expect to hear back within 24 hours in season.