La Vare

Refuge de la Vare sits at 2,341m in the Chaîne de la Vanoise, accessed from the Vallée de la Tarentaise. The usual approach is from Champagny-en-Vanoise: climb the Sentier de la Vare for 3.5 hours through larch forest and alpine meadow to reach the hut. Alternative routes exist from Val d'Isère and Courchevel, making the hut a natural hub for multi-day traverses across the Parc National de la Vanoise. The setting is relatively exposed on the slopes above the Lac de la Vare.
The refuge operates June to September and sleeps around 60 people in shared dormitories. The guardian serves evening meals and breakfast; pack a packed lunch or eat from the small bar. Water is available. The hut is managed by FFCAM. Facilities are basic—expect cold showers and no mobile signal. The location makes it a staging point for summit attempts on Grande Casse or routes toward the Refuge du Prariond.
Book well in advance for July and August; write directly to the hut or contact FFCAM. Phone ahead if arriving out of season. The refugium can fill completely three weeks before the peak summer window. July weekends are consistently busy. Arrive early in the day if you haven't booked, though space is not guaranteed.