Gite d'étape Etienne Dayné
2.5About
Gite d'étape Etienne Dayné sits at 1,810m in Valle d'Aosta, on the approach to Mont-Blanc massif routes. You reach it from the village of Les Contamines-Montjoie (France side) in 2–3 hours via the Charme valley, or from Italian valleys in 4–5 hours depending on your start point. The hut marks a key staging point for climbers heading to Mont-Blanc and Gran Paradiso variants.
The refuge sleeps 50 people in dormitory rooms and a few private doubles. Half-board (dinner, bed, breakfast) is standard; packed lunches available. Water comes from mountain springs. Shower facilities exist but are basic. The kitchen serves simple mountain food—pasta, stew, local cheese. Open June to September, with weather-dependent shoulder season access in May and October. They occasionally open for winter mountaineering groups by arrangement.
Book by phone directly with the guardian. July and August fill 4–6 weeks ahead, especially weekends. June and September are quieter. The hut has no website or online booking system, so confirm dates, meal options, and group sizes verbally. Arrive by mid-afternoon; dinner is served at a fixed time (usually 19:00–19:30). The location means it works equally well as a night stop or as a base camp for 2–3 day acclimatization.
The refuge sleeps 50 people in dormitory rooms and a few private doubles. Half-board (dinner, bed, breakfast) is standard; packed lunches available. Water comes from mountain springs. Shower facilities exist but are basic. The kitchen serves simple mountain food—pasta, stew, local cheese. Open June to September, with weather-dependent shoulder season access in May and October. They occasionally open for winter mountaineering groups by arrangement.
Book by phone directly with the guardian. July and August fill 4–6 weeks ahead, especially weekends. June and September are quieter. The hut has no website or online booking system, so confirm dates, meal options, and group sizes verbally. Arrive by mid-afternoon; dinner is served at a fixed time (usually 19:00–19:30). The location means it works equally well as a night stop or as a base camp for 2–3 day acclimatization.
Frequently Asked Questions
Book 2–4 weeks ahead during July–August; shoulder seasons are more flexible. Call the hut directly using the phone contact listed, or check rifugio.net and cai.it for availability and online booking options.
Open roughly June through September, with peak staffing July–August; confirm exact dates before traveling as mountain huts vary by snow melt and season. Call ahead if visiting shoulder months.
From Les Contamines-Montjoie (France) via Charme valley takes 2–3 hours; from Italian valleys 4–5 hours depending on your starting point. Most approaches are well-marked but require steady hill fitness.
Half-board (dinner, bed, breakfast) is standard. The hut sleeps 50 in dormitories and a few private doubles; confirm shower availability and water situation when booking.
Better suited to experienced hikers and mountaineers—it's a working staging point for Mont-Blanc and Gran Paradiso climbers with long approach hikes and high altitude. Not ideal for young children or casual walkers.
Location
45.6576, 7.1923
HutLists Score
2.5
Overall
Facilities
Access
Season
Based on facilities, access, and how reliably the hut is open.
Quick Facts
- Total
- 50
Facilities
Meals served
Drinking water
Contact & Booking
- Phone
- +39 0165 900052
Activities
Featured In
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