Refuge Buffère

Welcome to our home! ✨ This former mountain pasture chalet, restored and looked after by us since 1990, is surrounded by chalets forming the warm and friendly hamlet of Les Chalets de Buffère. It offers 45 beds spread across rooms equipped with duvets and pillows, 5 bathrooms with hot showers, 5 toilets, and a lounge with games and a library. Outdoors, two dry toilets and two solar showers, garden furniture, picnic tables, and a fountain for the children! No bivouacking nearby, thank you. Our cuisine is healthy and refined; we take particular care over it by using organic and/or local produce. See more: Website: buffere.com Insta: Buffère FB: Buffère

➤ Summer: Saturday 13 June 2026 to Sunday 13 September 2026 ➤ Winter: after Christmas to mid-April 2027 ➤ New Year bookings ✨ : 06 60 50 58 15 or buffere@wanadoo.fr

Depending on your personal preferences and level of fitness, there's a whole host of walks available for you to reach us! ⦾ In summer: 1/ From Névache Ville Haute (Tourist Office), cross the Clarée at Pont de l'Outre and hike up the right bank, skirting around the stunning Cascade de Desbaret waterfall before reaching Pont du Rately. Leave the bridge on your right and continue along the GR57 (the red/white markers), with a steeper gradient along a beautiful forest of "meleze" (hybrid larch) to the hamlet of Le Serre, from where you can look out over the valley and enjoy a gentler climb to reach Refuge Buffère. TIP from the refuge host: Follow the little path through the woods! 2 hrs 15 2/ Just above the village, walk up the Vallon de Cristol to the left. After a steep climb through the forest at an altitude of 2,100 m, follow signs for the Côte Rouge path, then veer left as you leave the woods to reach the refuge. 2 hrs 30 3/ From the Serre Chevalier valley, leaving from Monétier les Bains (4 hrs) on the GR50 or from the Bergerie St Joseph on the Col du Granon route (2 hrs 30), take the Chemin du Roy to the Col de Buffère and then head down the Vallon de Buffère. ⦾ In winter: From Névache Ville Haute take the snow-covered and surfaced Haute Vallée de la Clarée road (DO NOT take the path on the right bank of the Clarée or the Côte Rouge path as there is a risk of avalanches). After passing the Bon Secours and Sainte Barbe chapels, turn left at the sign for Refuge Buffère, cross over the Clarée at Pont du Rately and climb up through a larch tree forest following the trail up to the refuge, which is well maintained by the refuge hosts.

• Evening meal· Yes
• Showers· Yes
• Toilets· Yes

Services

Half Board, Picnic, Upon reservation, Lunchtime meal, Evening meal, Breakfast, Free tap water, Hot water for Thermos

Services offered

Area for drying clothes, Free hot showers, Weather information, Electricity (220v)

Facilities

Bar, Terrace

Languages spoken

French, English, Italian

Payment methods

Bank Cheque, Cash, Holiday Vouchers

Services located close by

Bus, Taxi, Bakers, Grocers, Post Office, Tourist Office

When making your booking, please let us know if you are in the same group.

➤ Remember to bring your sleeping bag liner and toiletries ➤ Pets are not allowed in our chalets. ➤ Deposits are not automatically refunded: €5 will be withheld from any refund ➤ No wild bivouacking near the refuge! See you very soon at Refuge Buffère and happy hiking!

• The Grand Tour of Thabor starting from Valmeinier 1800 (Savoie)
• The Grand Tour of Thabor starting from Val Fréjus (Savoie)
• The Grand Tour du Thabor starting from Bardonecchia (Italy)
• The Grand Tour du Thabor starting from Exilles and Salbertrand (Italy)
• The Grand Tour du Thabor starting from Oulx (Italy)
• The Grand Tour du Thabor, from Névache
• 6 days (5 nights): Tour around Thabor starting from NévacheRefuge Buffère - Chardonnet - Ricou - Laval - Drayères - Thabor - I Re Magi - Terzo Alpini
• 4 days (3 nights): Tour of Haute Clarée, starting from Névache (Ville Basse)Refuge Buffère - Refuge du Chardonnet - Refuge Laval
• 3 days (2 nights): A family-friendly route starting from Névache (Ville Haute)Refuges Buffère - Ricou
• Lac de Privé (2,304 m)From Refuge Buffère
• Grand Area (2,869 m)The Refuge Buffère highlight!
• Mountain biking to BuffèreFrom Refuge Buffère
• From Névache to Refuge Buffère along the GR57How to reach Refuge Buffère
• From Névache to Refuge Buffère via Côte RougeHow to reach Refuge Buffère
• 4 days (3 nights): A carbon-free journey from Modane to BriançonRefuge du Mont Thabor - Refuges I Re Magi - Terzo Alpini - Buffère
• Névache to Refuge BuffèreHow to reach Refuge Buffère
• Crête de Baude (2571 m)From Refuge Buffère
• Crête de l'Echaillon (2,578 m)from Refuge Buffère
• Grand Area (2,869 m)from Refuge Buffère
• 4 days (3 nights): Off-piste ski touring starting from NévacheRefuge Buffère, Refuge du Chardonnet and Refuge Ricou
• 4 days (3 nights): Tour on snowshoes, starting from NévacheA tour between Buffère, Chardonnet and Laval
• 5 days (4 nights): Off-piste ski touring, starting from Névache
• 5 days (4 nights): Tour around Mont Thabor starting from ValmeinierRefuge de Terre Rouge, Refuge de la vallée Etroite, Refuge Buffère, Refuge Haute Clarée,
• The Haute-Route Thabor starting from Névache
• The Haute-Route Thabor starting from Valmeinier
• The Haute-Route Thabor starting from Valfréjus
• The Haute-Route Thabor to the start of Vallée Etroite