Rifugio Col d'la Tenda

Rifugio Col d'la Tenda sits at 1950m on the Col d'la Tenda pass, straddling the French-Italian border in the Maritime Alps. The hut is a full day's walk from either side. From the French village of Saint-Dalmas-le-Selvage, expect 5-6 hours of steady climbing via the Vallée de la Cayolle. The Italian approach from Chiusa di Pesio takes similar time. Both routes follow well-marked paths with moderate elevation gain.

The rifugio is a working mountain pass hut, small and simple. It has capacity for around 30 people in basic dorm rooms. Meals focus on hearty pasta and stews—order ahead if you want dinner. The hut operates June through September, weather dependent. Water comes from a mountain spring. There's no shower and electricity is limited. The location makes it ideal for walkers traversing between the Vallée de la Cayolle and the Pesio Valley, or for day trips to higher ridges above 2500m.

Contact the hut directly by phone (best in summer) or email to book a bed. July and August fill quickly—book 4-6 weeks ahead for these months. June and September have more availability. The hut prefers dinner reservations 24 hours in advance. Staff speak French, Italian, and basic English.