Refuge du Col de Balme

The Col de Balme refuge is a very nice refuge with a splendid view of Mont-Blanc and the Chamonix valley. You can eat there (traditional soups, local dishes and homemade desserts) as well as spend the night there. Small fountain freely accessible outside the refuge to fill your gourds.

The Col de Balme is a 2203 m above sea level. M. high Saumpass over the Alps. The border between France and Switzerland runs at the top of the pass. The Saumpass connects the municipality of Trento (1300 m above sea level) in the canton of Valais with Le Tour (1453 m) in the municipality of Chamonix-Mont-Blanc in France.
Immediately at the pass is the Refuge Col de Balme. The Col de Balme provides a clear view of the Chamonix valley with Mont Blanc. It is also a stage on a variant of the Tour du Mont-Blanc and the Haute Route. From here you can get to the Refuge Albert 1er. The pass is on the Via Alpina (R113).
The pass can be reached by cable car and a chairlift operated by the Compagnie du Mont-Blanc from the village of Le Tour.

The trip up is worth it. Food available from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m