# Refuge de l'Étendard, France: what it is and when to go

> Refuge de l'Étendard is a mountain hut in France (La Grave), at 2,430 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 26 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 34. 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-de-l-etendard/
- Reviewed on: 2026-10-02
- Language: en

## In a nutshell

- **What it is:** Mountain hut · Mountains, Hiking
- **Where:** France
- **Elevation:** 2,430 m
- **Best time:** July to September.
- **Nearest airport:** LYS Colombier-Saugnieu, Rhône, 103 km as the crow flies
- **Website:** [refugedeletendard.ffcam.fr](https://refugedeletendard.ffcam.fr/)
- **Beds:** 70
- **Run by:** Club Alpin Français
- **Coordinates:** 45.2038, 6.17534

## What it is and where

Refuge de l'Étendard is a mountain hut in France (La Grave), at 2,430 m above sea level.

It is in [La Grave](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/la-grave/), where this site lists 147 more places to see, 15 km from the centre.

Its coordinates are 45.2038, 6.17534; the nearest main airport is Lyon Saint-Exupéry Airport (LYS, Colombier-Saugnieu, Rhône), 103 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=45.203798%2C6.17534)
- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=45.203798%2C6.17534)

- **Beds:** 70
- **Run by:** Club Alpin Français

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 de l'Étendard is **July to September**, and the season is short because it sits at 2,430 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 55 |
| February | Better not | 10 h 10 |
| March | Better not | 11 h 37 |
| April | Better not | 13 h 17 |
| May | Better not | 14 h 40 |
| June | Possible | 15 h 26 |
| July | Best time | 15 h 07 |
| August | Best time | 13 h 54 |
| September | Best time | 12 h 18 |
| October | Possible | 10 h 42 |
| November | Better not | 9 h 16 |
| December | Better not | 8 h 34 |

In June there are 15 h 26 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 34. 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 de l'Étendard 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

- [Aiguille Rousse](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/pointe-de-l-aiguille-rousse/): Summit · 805 m
- [Le Barrio](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/le-barrio/): Summit · 1.4 km
- [Le Grand Perron](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/le-grand-perron/): Summit · 1.9 km
- [Aiguille de Laisse](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/aiguille-de-laisse/): Summit in France · 2.2 km
- [Le Man](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/le-man/): 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 de l'Étendard?

It is a mountain hut in France.

### When is the best time to visit Refuge de l'Étendard?

July to September, and it is worth checking carefully: at 2,430 m the season is shorter than lower down. In June there are 15 h 26 of daylight, and in December, 8 h 34.

### How do you get to Refuge de l'Étendard?

The nearest main airport is Lyon Saint-Exupéry Airport (LYS), 103 km as the crow flies. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=45.203798%2C6.17534) 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 [Aiguille Rousse](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/pointe-de-l-aiguille-rousse/), [Le Barrio](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/le-barrio/), [Le Grand Perron](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/le-grand-perron/). The rest is in [the France guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/francia/).

Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/726966752), licensed under the ODbL. Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).