Refuge du Lac Blanc

Refuge Lac Blanc was a breath of fresh air after a dreadful night at Refuge du Col de Balme. ||The staff were awesome and the atmosphere was genuinely warm and welcoming. ||Dinner was lentil dahl with either sausages or boiled eggs for vegetarians — hearty and tasty. ||Dorms are large with bunks divided into sections. Bags are left in the winter room downstairs, which is fair for hygiene and noise reduction. It was very warm overnight until someone opened a window, which made it more comfortable. ||Important to note: at booking they take full payment, no refunds, and clearly state there are no showers or drinking water. They’re upfront about this, so no complaints. ||Bottled water is expensive but understandable given supplies arrive by helicopter.||Food 4★ | Beds 3★ | Atmosphere 5★

This was our first night at TMB..I have specifically picked this refuge due to the beautiful setting and scenery. It did not disappoint! Beautiful location. The trail up from Tres Les Champ uses ladders and is a lot of fun. The lakes around the refuge are beautiful, and so are the views of Mont Blanc. Once all day hikers leave, the area is super peaceful and you can see a lot of ibexes running around. The refuge itself is quite rustic, cash only dorm style accommodation. The food was ok, although dinner was quite underwhelming. Snacks included tasty pies, hot dogs and yummy crepes. The room was quite cold at night, but cozy with liner and sleeping bags. The refuge has a strict rule of no trash disposal - pack it in & pack it out only.

It’s such a shame to see negative reviews. They are so different from the reality I would have thought these people went to a different place! Overall: a lovely hut with a wonderful cosy atmosphere. Great food, excellent service and comfy beds for a good nights sleep. Breathtaking views at sunrise. Highly recommend a stay here! On our last day of the TMB, we arrived at Lac Blanc from Tré-La-Champ early around 1pm. It was rainy and cold and immediately we were welcomed inside by staff. They asked if we were staying and advised we could check in straight away given the bad weather. They were very friendly and welcoming! After leaving boots and bags downstairs we were able to choose remaining beds in the lovely dorm. It’s set up with multiple areas of two sets of bunk beds and then a horizontal single bed by the window. There are big comfy pillows and warm duvets! Downstairs there are charging facilities for mobile phones. As clearly advertised on the website there are no showers and no drinking water given the location of the hut (an area with no fresh water springs). You can either bring a water filter or buy bottled water. In the main dining room we were able to get lunch with a selection of omelettes, soup, crepes, cheese and much more… The tarte myrtille was delicious!! Obviously it’s a small mountain hut so there is a limit to how many people fit inside. Looking at some of the reviews; If you are not staying overnight clearly do not expect to be able to shelter inside in the event of bad weather. The dinner for people staying was a three course meal: soup and bread followed by sausages, daal and cheese and then a slice of cherry pie. Simple but very tasty just like the other refuges on the tour. Breakfast was bread with jam and butter, orange juice and a choice of hot drink. Throughout all the staff were fantastic; friendly, helpful and happy to chat! The hut has a great atmosphere and a wonderful location. It’s a must to wake up for the view at sunrise!

Had a great stay at the refuge. Wasn't expecting a lot given the bad reviews, but to my surprise, this was one of the better refugios. Food was great, staff was welcoming, and beds were comfortable. Best views of any TMB refuge. You have to come with the right expectations. There is no free water, so get a water filter bottle, and there is a water source to refill the bottle right outside the refuge. We had a great time and recommend this to everyone once you know what to expect.

When the planets align and you have a lunar eclipse on show the night you stay. Given this place is at 2350m altitude that fact that it has electricity and water is amazing. The staff are super friendly and helpful, the food plentiful and just what you need after a day of walking the TMB. Everything comes and goes via helicopter so it’s a special place to sleep.

Visited September 24rd, did not stay for a night but just had a hot chocolate and a blueberry cake while hiking TMB section 10. We felt welcomed there on this cold and icey day.

Stayed at this refuge on the last day on the TMB trail. Location was beautiful, great view of the mountains and situated right above the lake. On the downside however, this was the only refuge during our 9 day trip which didn’t provide drinking water to refill bottles, and the refuge was charging €5 a bottle. Swimming was also prohibited in the lake and there was no showers or washing facilities. Many of the toilets had also run out of toilet paper by the evening. There was a “problem with the electricity” which also prevented charging any devices. The vibe in general was of a very commercial operation compared to some of the refuges we stayed at.

It breaks my heart to read some of these negative reviews because it is the complete opposite of my own personal experience at Refuge of Lac Blanc. I completed the TMB after an 11 day journey. This was my last refuge before completing the trail and this was by far my favorite one. The location/views are indescribable. I could sit on the deck and look at the scenery for hours. I had pleasant interactions with everyone at the hut and could not picture my TMB experience without this stay. What a perfect last night.