Cosmiques hut: the base camp at 3,613 metres
On the Col du Midi glacier, less than an hour from the Aiguille du Midi, the second-highest hut in France according to its wardens. Open from mid-February to late September.
Photo: the venue's Google Maps listing
Why go?
The Cosmiques hut is at 3,613 metres, on the Col du Midi glacier, less than an hour's walk from the Aiguille du Midi. Its wardens present it as the second-highest hut in France.
It is the starting point for Mont Blanc via the Three Monts traverse, the Cosmiques ridge and the Vallée Blanche.
Good to know
The hut opens from mid-February to late September; it reopens in mid-February 2027 and takes bookings from January. Out of season, the neighbouring Simond shelter offers about fifteen places, with blankets.
Our advice
This is not a stroll: the approach crosses a crevassed glacier and requires high-mountain equipment and experience, or a guide. Take your rubbish back down, as the wardens ask.
Read on: Climbing Mont Blanc from Chamonix and The Vallée Blanche in Chamonix.
Sources: the property's website, Chamonix Tourist Office, Google Maps (address, rating, reviews and photo, checked on 27 October 2026), gallery: photos posted by visitors in their Google reviews (Milan Jennison, Philippe BLANC, Quentin Iglésis, Chale.murielle Chale, Nicolas Morey), Compagnie du Mont-Blanc and the official pages quoted in the guide. Walking times are estimates.
Frequently asked questions
Can you go to the Cosmiques hut without a guide?
When is the Cosmiques hut open?
Thibault Ravanel
Thibault led groups along the south balcony trails for eight summers, from Le Brévent to La Flégère. He builds his routes stopwatch in hand and cuts whatever does not fit into a real day. He would rather write that an outing is not worth the ticket than pad out a list.
