Credit: Compagnie des Refuges Clarée Thabor
Refuge de Ricou
The refuge team: Aurelien LEHOUILLIER & RAVARY Martin
The refuge
The refuge
Facing the Cerces mountains, the refuge offers panoramic views of the Haute Vallée de la Clarée. This small mountain refuge, located at an altitude of 2,115 m, is a 30-minute walk from the hamlet of Fontcouverte (in summer), and 2 hrs 30 from Névache (in winter). A pleasant stopover situated beneath a series of lakes (Laramon, Serpent and Gardioles). The refuge has accommodation for up to 19 guests. Please note: Credit cards are not accepted in the refuge, and there is no cash dispenser in Névache. We manage a limited number of bookings outside the booking website: For Please call us directly for availability.
Availability
Opening periods
October 7 → October 31 · December 26 → April 10, 2027 · June 11, 2027 → October 31, 2027
Rates
Half-board and services
Online booking prices, set by the refuge team.
Overnight stay, per person
- Demi-pension adulte octobre 2026from October 1, 2026 to November 2, 2026Repas du soir, nuitée, petit-déjeuner et douche€62.34
- demi pension ado de 12 à 18 ansages 12 to 18 · from October 1, 2026 to November 1, 2026€50
- Demi-pension adultes 202718 and over · from November 2, 2026€63.34
- Demi-pension ado de 12à 18 ansages 12 to 18 · from November 2, 2026 to November 7, 2027€52
- Demi pension enfant de 5 à 12 ansages 5 to 12 · from November 2, 2026 to November 7, 2027€46
- Demi-pension enfant (-12 ans)ages 4 to 11 · from October 1, 2026 to November 2, 2026€44
- Demi-pension enfant (-5 ans)up to 5 years · from November 2, 2026 to November 2, 2027€30
- Nuitée en autonomie (cabane d'hiver)from October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027€18
Extras
- Pique-nique du lendemain€13
Guides and leaders
- Demi-pension guide / AEMÀ partir de 4 clients, sur présentation de la carte proFree
- Tourist tax extra: €0.66 per adult per night, paid at the refuge.
- Deposit paid online: €20 per hiker per night, plus a booking fee; the rest is paid at the refuge.
- At the refuge: cash or cheque.
The refuge team
A word from the refuge team
Martin Ravary est aux commandes du refuge depuis 2013 (un ancien chalet alpin converti par ses parents en 1988, chambres rénovées en 2010, passage à la micro-hydroélectricité en 2019). Il invite : « Je vous accueille pour une collation de midi, une nuitée, une randonnée itinérante, ou une réunion de famille à Ricou. »Access
Getting to the refuge
By road: Go to the village of Névache and take the road leading down the valley to the hamlet of Fontcouverte. Park and then follow the path to the right before the bridge. A forest track takes you to the hamlet of Ricou (a 30-minute walk).
Services & facilities
What you'll find up there
- Evening meal· Yes
- Packed lunch· 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, Dining area, Kitchen area, Free hot showers, Weather information, Electricity (220v)
- Facilities
- Dining Area, Bar, Terrace
- Languages spoken
- French, English
- Reception
- Animals welcome
- Payment methods
- Bank Cheque, Cash
- Services located close by
- Bus, Taxi, Bakers, Grocers, Post Office, Tourist Office
Practical
Contact the refuge
- Town
- Névache
- Address
- entre la via 05100 Névache
- Altitude
- 2,115 m
- Contact
- refuge-ricou@orange.fr
- Refuge website
- https://refugericou.com/
- GPS
- 45.0463 · 6.54394
Nearby refuges
Nearby refuges
Hikes
Routes that pass by the refuge
- 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
- 3 days (2 nights): A family-friendly route starting from Névache (Ville Haute)Refuges Buffère - Ricou
- 4 days (3 nights): Starting from Pont de l’Alpe (the Lautaret road, RN91)Refuge du Chardonnet - Refuge Ricou - Refuge des Drayères
- Chemin de RondeFrom Refuge Ricou
- Lacs Laramon, Serpent, Les Gardioles, Pic du Lac BlancFrom Refuge Ricou
- Fontcouverte to Refuge RicouHow to reach Refuge Ricou
- Lacou to Refuge RicouHow to reach Refuge Ricou
- From Névache to Refuge RicouHow to reach Refuge Ricou
- Pic du Lac Blanc (2,995 m)From Refuge Ricou
- "Pointe" e "Crête de Mome"Escursione a partire dal rifugio Ricou
- Col du Grand Cros, Gardioles, Col du Vallon, Lac Lavoir, Col de la Petite TempêteCircuit from Refuge Ricou
- The little valley of VallonHike from Refuge Ricou
- Col du Vallon (2,645 m)From the refuges of La Vallée Etroite - Refuge I Re Magi et Refuge Terzo Alpini
- 4 days (3 nights): Off-piste ski touring starting from NévacheRefuge Buffère, Refuge du Chardonnet and Refuge Ricou
- 5 days (4 nights): Off-piste ski touring, starting from Névache
- 5 days (4 nights) - The winter routeMont Thabor, Pic Blanc, and Grande Tempête
- 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
Booking on refuge.camp, no account needed.









