Company Visit SCHEDULE 10:30 AM 10092026

You can sleep over at this historic mountain refuge straddling the Italy-Switzerland border – but only if you’re willing to undertake a days-long, high-altitude icy mountain trek.

I’m roped to four strangers, concentrating on the light cast by my headtorch, as I wend my way through the icy labyrinth of crevasses tearing across the Alpine Lys Glacier. We’ve been here since 05:00, tugging each other ever higher up the Monte Rosa mountain massif towards the highest altitude building in Europe.

We’ve just reached a giant mountain bowl filled with clouds of snow. The milky blue twilight fades to the soft glow of dawn. Our guide squints into the distance.

“Up on that ridge” he says, “Do you see it? That’s the Margherita refuge.” I can’t see anything, but the peak he’s pointing towards is so sheer sided that I’m convinced he must be mistaken. We press on and, by midday finally arrive at the summit, 4,554m (14,941ft) above sea level. The crystal frosted world of the Punta Gnifetti peak is revealed.

I can see the refuge now. I gasp.