Refuge de la Balme Dessus

Refuge de la Balme Dessus is a backcountry refuge on the Tour du Mont-Blanc and GR5 networks in the Contamines-Montjoie area, sitting at 1,706 m at the foot of the Aiguille de la Pennaz. It’s used as a mid-mountain base for multi-day traverses and overnight stays, with half-board centered on reservation-based dining and breakfast/dinner service during the staffed summer period.

Access is generally from Notre-Dame de la Gorge (about 1h30 from the parking area) or from Les Contamines (about 2h20). The stay is run with a summer operating window: it opens mid-June and runs through mid-September, with dinner at 6:30 pm and breakfast at 7:00 am; plan to arrive by about 5:30 pm for an easier check-in.

Overnighting is by reservation for half-board, and rates depend on room type (private room half-board for 2 with a per-person top-up; dormitories with per-person half-board pricing are also listed). Hot showers are available and are tied to the half-board/paying process. The bivouac area near the refuge is not managed by the hut (it’s handled separately from hut reservations).

For this refuge, the same name can be confused with other “Balme” facilities in nearby regions; when booking, double-check you’re selecting this Contamines-Montjoie refuge rather than the Col de Balme refuge or the communal Balme in Beaufortain.