Refuge des Prés

LES CONTAMINES MONTJOIE - Altitude: 1935 m - Capacity: 30 People

Opening period: One of the few refuges at 2000m on the French side of Mont-Blanc open 9 months out of 12.

Winter opening from 21 December 2024 to 12 April 2025
Summer opening from 14 June 2025 to 2 November 2025

The refuge des Prés is located in front of the Mont-Blanc massif, in the commune of Contamines-Montjoie.
It was built at 1933m altitude at the foot of the Tête de la Cicle (2552m), ideally located on the international trails of the Tour du Mont-Blanc (GR TMB) and the GR5, the GRP of the Tour du Pays du Mont-Blanc, on the GRP of the Tour du Beaufortain and on the new Tour du Val Montjoie.

This mid-mountain refuge is located in the heart of the Contamines-Montjoie Nature Reserve, one of the largest in Haute-Savoie (5500 hectares) created in 1979. It is a high place of nature preservation in France.

The capacity of this old alpine chalet, totally rebuilt in 2021, is 30 places in 7 small wooden dormitories of 4 persons, and a dormitory of 2 persons, bunk beds.
The beds are equipped with comforters and pillows; the sanitary facilities are shared with hot showers included in the half-board price.

For hygienic reasons, please bring a sleeping sheet ("drap sac"), it is mandatory.
On the day of your departure, the rooms must be vacated by 9:00 am at the latest.
Thank you for your understanding.

We offer lunchtime catering with several choices on the slate and good little desserts for a gourmet break at any time of day!
All our dishes and pastries are home-made with local and seasonal products.
Picnic to take away on reservation for people in half board.

Directions

See the global map

SUMMER ACCESS
- From the parking of Notre-Dame de la Gorge in Contamines-Montjoie, 2H25. Positive difference in altitude : 728 m
- By the Signal cable car, 1h30. Positive difference in altitude : 135 m / negative difference in altitude : 100 m
- From the Col du Joly (Savoie) Positive difference in altitude 250m / negative difference in altitude : 300m
+From the GITTAZ parking lot (Savoie) then the Bonhomme pass. Positive difference in altitude 700m / negative difference in altitude 400m
+From the Plan de la LAI parking lot (Savoie) Sauce pass then Bonhomme pass

The refuge is the starting point for many hikes...
Jovets lakes, Bonhomme pass, Cicle pass, Fenêtre pass, Roselette lake
Refuge of Tré la Tête by the Cascade de la Combe Noire

...But also a stage for several circuits
Tour du Val Montjoie :
This 5 days hike takes you on the paths of the mountain pastures around the Val Montjoie.
The route is composed of 5 stages of about 6 to 8 hours of walking each.
https://www.lescontamines.com/ete/activites/montagne/randonnees/le-tour-du-val-montjoie

Tour du Mont Blanc
3 countries, 10 000 meters of difference in altitude and about 60 hours of walking, 170 km of discovery for 7 to 10 days

Tour du Beaufortain
From Queige, it takes the hiker 6 to 8 days to walk the 140 kilometers of the GR® de Pays Tour du Beaufortain.

Grande Traversée des Alpes - GR5
From the shores of Lake Geneva to the beaches of the Mediterranean Sea. 500km and almost 30 000m of positive altitude difference (4 weeks of walking)

WINTER ACCESS
BY SNOWBALL
From the parking of Notre-Dame de la Gorge in Contamines-Montjoie, 2H30, positive difference in altitude : 728 m
https://rando.nature-haute-savoie.fr/trek/1102-Refuge-des-Pres-:-Raquette-et-ski-de-rando-aux-Contamines-Monjoie

BY SKI TOURING
- From the parking of Notre-Dame de la Gorge in Contamines-Montjoie, 2H30 (positive difference in altitude : 728 m)
- From the Contamines-Montjoie ski lifts by the Fenêtre or Cicle passes

Little advice: remember to bring knives and/or crampons, the Roman way is often in ice!

Some ideas from the Refuge :
By day: Col de la Fenêtre, Col de la Cicle, Col des Chasseurs, Col des Tuf, Les Monts Jovets, Le Tondu

Ski touring :
To/from the Conscrits refuge (Glacier de Très la Tête and Mont Tondu)

Don't hesitate to contact LE BUREAU DES GUIDES Saint Gervais/ Les Contamines to take advantage of a guided tour: 04 50 47 76 55 https://www.guides-mont-blanc.com/excursions-voyages/

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

Groups

For more than 10 people, please contact us by phone.
No privatization.

Prices

Summer 2025 rates
Half-board in a room/dormitory of 2 persons = 73 €*/person
Half-board in small room/dormitory for 4 persons = 73 €*/person
Half-board for children under 12 years old = 51 €*/child.
Half-board for people from 12 to 18 years old = 60 €*/child.
* included in the price: hot shower - evening meal - overnight stay - breakfast

The tourist tax (€0.80 for people over 18) is not included and must be paid in addition on site.
(Credit cards accepted, cheques also accepted with proof of identity).

Picnic = €12.
Picnics must be ordered in advance. They must be ordered before 6 p.m. on the day of your visit.

Additional information

For more information and photos visit our website : http://lerefugedespres.com/
and https://rando.nature-haute-savoie.fr/trek/1102-Refuge-des-Pres-:-Raquette-et-ski-de-rando-aux-Contamines-Monjoie
RESERVATION REQUIRED FOR HALF-BOARD on the website: www.montourdumontblanc.com

Arrival before 6pm is recommended to facilitate your reception and the work of the staff.

If you have a special diet (vegetarian, various allergies), please let us know when making your reservation.