Albert Premiere hike

At the base lift station explain your planned itinerary: Refuge Albert Premier from the Autannes lift, coming back on the Charamillon mid-station lift. Remember to tell them if you plan to stay the night at the refuge.

From the top of the Autannes chairlift, turn right and starting hiking on a clear path, signed to Albert Premiere. The trail contours around the wide-open spaces of the top of Le Tour with beautiful views down the valley, and there are often cows in the area, their gentle cowbells completing the idyllic ambience. You’ll pass a turn leading back to the mid-station, which you’ll take on the return journey, but for now, carry on heading upwards and around a ridge.

Once you are around the ridge, you can see your destination – the Refuge Albert 1er is clearly visible beside the glacier far above you. There are fantastic views of the Le Tour Glacier from here, with the peak of the Chardonnet rising behind. This part of the walk has a very steep drop on the right-hand side with chains to hold on to in a couple of areas. The path itself is good but take care through these sections.

Now the hike dips down to come very close to the glacier, and has been beautifully maintained so that the rocky trail is a pleasure to walk on. You will pass another turn, which is a direct route down to the village of Le Tour – this isn’t recommended, it is not a very nice path to walk on. It is much better to get the lift down.

The hike continues to Refuge Albert 1er. This refuge is a very popular base for climbing, mountaineering and glacier walking, so the hut is often very busy and reservations are essential to stay the night. It’s a wonderful experience though, and one of the more readily accessible high mountain huts in the Alps.

Return the way you came, hiking away from the Refuge Albert 1er. Look out for the path that splits and heads back to the Charamillon mid-station lift to take you back to Le Tour.