Rifugio Paolo Daviso

Rifugio Paolo Daviso sits at 2,280m on the border between Savoie and Italy, deep in the Parc National de la Vanoise. The hut is reached from the Vallée de la Maurienne, typically via the hamlet of Bonneval-en-Tarentaise. Most parties approach on foot from Bessans (about 2 hours, 600m elevation gain) or via longer routes from the northern valleys. Snow closes the approach reliably from November through May; check conditions before traveling.
The rifugio is a working mountain base, not a destination in itself. It sleeps 24 across simple dorm rooms. The Italian managers (CAI Sezione di Venaria Reale) run the hut as a walker's stop for multi-day traverses in the park, particularly the routes toward Mont-Iseran or across into the Tarentaise massif. Half-board is standard: pasta-heavy dinners, breakfast, and packed lunches available. Water comes from the surrounding peaks. No shower or power. The hut opens mid-June through September only.
Book directly by email or phone. Summer weekends fill 4–6 weeks ahead, especially July and August. Contact the CAI section directly; online booking through major hut networks is not available. Phone ahead even with a reservation to confirm you're arriving on schedule. The hut has no internet and no shop: bring cash and any specific food you need. Staff are accustomed to walkers doing multi-day routes; expect a working atmosphere, not a resort experience.