# Refuge Alfred Wills, France: what it is and when to go

> Refuge Alfred Wills is a historic building in France (Saint-Gervais-les-Bains), at 1,810 m above sea level. Interests: Mountains and Hiking. The best time to visit is July to September, a short season because of the altitude. In June there are 15 h 32 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 28. It has articles in 2 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in France: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. Here is what it is, where it lies, when to come, how to get there and what else is nearby to turn it into a trip.

- Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/refuge-d-anterne-alfred-wills/
- Reviewed on: 2026-10-02
- Language: en

## In a nutshell

- **What it is:** Historic building · Mountains, Hiking
- **Where:** France · 74740, Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval
- **Elevation:** 1,810 m
- **Best time:** July to September.
- **Nearest airport:** LYS Colombier-Saugnieu, Rhône, 135 km as the crow flies
- **Website:** [refuge-wills.com](http://www.refuge-wills.com/)
- **Beds:** 54
- **Shower:** Has a shower
- **Run by:** Arlette et Guillaume
- **Coordinates:** 46.00448, 6.79133

## What it is and where

Refuge Alfred Wills is a historic building in France (Saint-Gervais-les-Bains), at 1,810 m above sea level. It has articles in 2 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in France: one to enjoy at a calmer pace.

It is in [Saint-Gervais-les-Bains](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/saint-gervais-les-bains/), where this site lists 153 more places to see, 14 km from the centre.

Its coordinates are 46.00448, 6.79133; the nearest main airport is Lyon Saint-Exupéry Airport (LYS, Colombier-Saugnieu, Rhône), 135 km as the crow flies. How to get around France (train, car, bus) is covered in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/#moverse).

- [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=46.004483%2C6.791325)
- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=46.004483%2C6.791325)

- **Beds:** 54
- **Shower:** Has a shower
- **Run by:** Arlette et Guillaume

It is one of the [Mountains](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/montana/) and [Hiking](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/senderismo/) places in France. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) it is already on your trip map next to the places you save yourself, and it goes into a day's plan with one tap.

## When to go

The best time to visit Refuge Alfred Wills is **July to September**, and the season is short because it sits at 1,810 m: above 1,800 m there is snow until June and it returns in October.

| Mes | Época | Hours of daylight |
| --- | --- | --- |
| January | Better not | 8 h 50 |
| February | Better not | 10 h 07 |
| March | Better not | 11 h 37 |
| April | Better not | 13 h 19 |
| May | Better not | 14 h 45 |
| June | Possible | 15 h 32 |
| July | Best time | 15 h 13 |
| August | Best time | 13 h 58 |
| September | Best time | 12 h 18 |
| October | Possible | 10 h 39 |
| November | Better not | 9 h 11 |
| December | Better not | 8 h 28 |

In June there are 15 h 32 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 28. Daylight hours are calculated from the site's latitude for the 15th of each month; when planning a full day on foot they matter as much as the weather.

| What you come for | Best time | Possible |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mountains | July to September | June and October |
| Hiking | July to September | June and October |

It is not the same trip whatever you come for: Refuge Alfred Wills has a different season depending on what you want to do here, and [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) puts it in the right month for you.

When to go to France in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/#cuando-ir).

## Before you go to France

To enter France there are 6 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “Valid ID card (DNI) or passport”: they are all, with their deadlines, in [the France checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/#antes-de-salir). Currency: Euro (EUR); plugs: Type C and E · 230 V · 50 Hz; emergencies: 112 · 15 ambulance (SAMU) · 17 police · 18 fire brigade.

In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it.

## What is nearby

- [Pointe de Sales](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/pointe-de-sales/): Summit · 1.4 km
- [Pointe de Chardonnière](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/pointe-de-chardonniere/): Summit · 1.5 km
- [La Tête à l'Âne](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/tete-a-l-ane/): Summit · 2.1 km
- [Passy National Nature Reserve](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/reserve-naturelle-de-passy/): Protected area in France · 2.2 km
- [Tête de Villy](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/tete-de-villy/): Summit · 2.3 km

Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in [the France guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/).

## More in France: Mountains

- [Mont Blanc](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/mont-blanc/): highest mountain in the Alps
- [Mont Ventoux](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/mont-ventoux/): mountain of the Alps in southern France
- [Lalouvesc](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/mont-besset/)
- [Aiguille du Midi](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/aiguille-du-midi/)
- [Monte Viso](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/monviso/): the highest mountain of the Cottian Alps, located in Italy
- [Dune of Pilat](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/dune-of-pilat/): tallest sand dune in Europe

Every France place under Mountains, each with its season, is on [its page](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/montana/).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is Refuge Alfred Wills?

It is a historic building in France. It has articles in 2 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in France: one to enjoy at a calmer pace.

### When is the best time to visit Refuge Alfred Wills?

July to September, and it is worth checking carefully: at 1,810 m the season is shorter than lower down. In June there are 15 h 32 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 28.

### How do you get to Refuge Alfred Wills?

The nearest main airport is Lyon Saint-Exupéry Airport (LYS), 135 km as the crow flies. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=46.004483%2C6.791325) opens the route on the map, and how to get around France is explained in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/#moverse).

### How do I add it to my trip?

With one tap. In Kokai it is already on the France map, next to the places you save yourself: add it to a day's plan, give it a time and, if you like, get a reminder when you pass nearby.

### What else is around here?

Nearby you have [Pointe de Sales](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/pointe-de-sales/), [Pointe de Chardonnière](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/pointe-de-chardonniere/), [La Tête à l'Âne](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/tete-a-l-ane/). The rest is in [the France guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/).

Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/78668516), licensed under the ODbL, and from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q788233), CC0. More about Refuge Alfred Wills on [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refuge_Alfred_Wills). Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).