Chalet de la Balme

Chalet de la Balme is a mountain refuge used for overnight stays on classic Mont Blanc-area routes. It sits at about 1,706 m near Les Contamines-Montjoie, on the paths linking the Tour du Mont Blanc, GR5, Tour du Beaufortain, and Tour du Pays du Mont-Blanc.

The refuge is family-run (Michaël GUT) and operates as a mid-mountain stop at the foot of the Aiguille de la Pennaz (2,668 m). It runs in summer with a June-to-mid-September schedule, and half-board is the core lodging option (bed plus dinner and breakfast). During the day, lunch is served as an à la carte restaurant meal. Dinner starts at 6:30 pm and breakfast at 7:00 am; check-in is recommended by 5:30 pm for a smooth arrival.

Capacity is 39 people. Accommodation is organized as one private room (double bed plus bunk bed, for minimum 2 and maximum 4 people) and five shared dormitories (sleeping from 4 to 13 people in the shared section). Hot showers are handled as part of half-board.

Access is from the Notre-Dame de la Gorge area (about 1h30 from the parking; ~4 km with ~496 m ascent) or from the village of Les Contamines (about 2h20; ~8 km). From the Col du Bonhomme it’s roughly 2 hours.