As the new term approaches, the desire for the great outdoors and serenity remains entirely intact. Nestled in the heart of the Avals valley, a wild and unspoilt setting in Courchevel, the mountain huts continue to welcome visitors and invite them to enjoy the final fine days of the summer season.
The Merlet lakes refuge, smallest in the Vanoise National Park
Perched at an altitude of 2,417 metres, a stone's throw from the magnificent Merlet lakes, this intimate refuge, the smallest in the Vanoise National Park with its 14 beds, invites you to a unique experience.
Until 9 September, Solenne and Charles, the site's custodians, are welcoming visitors there warmly ahead of the annual closure. It is the ideal opportunity for a simple, tasty lunch, or to treat oneself to a blueberry pancake afternoon tea facing the peaks.
The Grand Plan refuge and its Nepalese evenings
At an altitude of 2,300 metres, on the edge of the Vanoise National Park, the Grand Plan refuge also offers a final invitation to switch off, until mid-September.
Overnight stays in dormitories or small rooms, carefully prepared cuisine served at lunchtime and in the evening, a relaxation area and a library: the place continues to take its guests on a journey. And on Friday evenings, it's time for its famous Nepali evenings, for a dinner with foreign flavours right in the middle of the peaks.
An ideal late season for exploring the valley
The off-season offers unique conditions to enjoy the mountain at one's own pace: hikes in golden light, climbing on bolted crags, mountain biking or e-biking outside the park zone, or even fishing in high-altitude lakes.
It is also the ideal time to observe the iconic wildlife of Vanoise (eagles, chamois, marmots) in complete peace and quiet and to enjoy absolute serenity. A final window of opportunity to seize before the wardening of the mountain refuges comes to an end to make way for winter.
Find out more :
- Merlet lakes refuge 2,417 m, 14 beds, open until 9th September (lunch service, afternoon tea)
- Grand Plan Mountain Refuge 2,300 m, overnight stays in dormitories or private rooms, lunch and dinner served, open until mid-September. Nepalese evenings on Fridays
- Where: Avals Valley, Courchevel, in the heart of the Vanoise National Park
- To do: hiking, climbing, mountain biking/e-mountain biking (outside the park), high-altitude lake fishing, wildlife watching