Refuge du Plan de L'Aar

Refuge du Plan de L'Aar sits at 1,735m in the Valais region, on the eastern flank of the Chaîne du Mont-Blanc. Reach it from Les Contamines-Montjoie on the French side via the Vallée de Montjoie, crossing into Switzerland near Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval. The approach takes 4–5 hours from the valley floor and follows a well-marked trail through alpine meadows and forest. In winter, access is much harder and often impossible without ski touring experience. The refuge sits on a broad plateau overlooking the Glacier du Trient to the east.
The refuge is run by the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC/CAS) and has 80 bed spaces in dormitory rooms. They serve dinner and breakfast daily. The kitchen provides packed lunches if you order ahead. A small bar stocks hot drinks and basic provisions. Water comes from a spring nearby. The hut operates year-round, though services are minimal in winter and the approach becomes a serious ski tour. Most visitors come June through September.
Book directly with the hut by phone or email during peak season (July–August). They fill 8–10 weeks ahead for summer weekends. Solo hikers can often find space with less notice. Arriving midweek in June or early September significantly improves chances of a bed without advance planning. The hut's exposed location means weather changes rapidly—bring a waterproof jacket even in good forecasts.