Le Refuge de Plate sur Passy

This is a classic, old-school refuge sheltered among a group of historic chalets d’alpage. The surroundings are typically fabulous, with sunshine lasting until late in the evening and returning by 8h30 in the morning (we were there over the summer solstice). The local peaks, Pointe de Platé / Le Sautet- provide a stunning backdrop. We were treated to plenty of local wildlife, including marmots right close to the refuge and bouquetins on the local hillsides (definitely bring your binoculars!). The guardian and his staff are lovely and welcoming, and the food is great. It is not expensive either, considering the remote location. There is no running water here, meaning all food and drinking water must be delivered by helicopter. While some refuges in this situation charge over €10 for a 1.5L bottle of water, here it is only €4.50. If you think that is too much, bring your own! The toilets are "dry" and quite smelly, if the owners (the CAF) are reading this, it is a deficit that really needs to be addressed. It should also be noted that there can be a lot of flies around the area. Many people blame the toilets (which are actually 50m away from the building), but as an alpine regular, I don't think that's the primary cause. It has much more to do with the altitude, the historical livestock grazing, and the specific broadleaf alpine vegetation that acts as a natural magnet for dipteran pollinators. Google "alpine fly pollination" if you want to know more! Highly recommended for an authentic mountain experience.

We just stopped by in the summer for lunch and the setting and the food were really lovely!