How to get here

Courmayeur highway exit, continue towards the tunnel. At the last curve before the tunnel, turn right towards Entrèves to the parking lot. Leave your car (on holidays) and take the shuttle bus to Planpincieuz (on other days you can take your own car).

Description of the route

From Planpincieux, head towards the start of the Val Ferret cross-country ski track. Take the path next to the slopes and enter the valley. Initially walk along the edge of the Grandes Jorasses camp site for ten minutes until you reach a small chapel: from here, the route flattens out a bit entering the valley with a great view of Tête de Ferret. Slightly ascending, you’ll first pass Pont, Tronchey and Praz Sec d’en Bas. After the last houses, the path hugs the Doire de Ferret and finally reaches Lavachey.
From Lavachey, continue along the cross-country ski tracks heading North-East until you reach a pair of bends: after these, enter the fir woods to the fork for the refuge. Take the summer path, turning to the right, and follow the signposts to climb through the unmarked woods. The steady climb upwards leads to a second signpost hidden in the snow: turn left and climb the series of bends in the woods that lead to the snow-covered pastures under the refuge. Climb this last steep segment out of the woods: the refuge appears with a superb view of Mont Blanc. Climb the last few meters to finally reach the Bonatti Refuge (2026 mt).