Refuge de l'Onda
Quiet refuge at 1430 m on the flank of Monte d'Oro, with fenced bivouac field and forest setting.
Quiet refuge at 1430 m on the flank of Monte d'Oro, with fenced bivouac field and forest setting. Meals and water. Last stop before the long descent to Vizzavona.
The place
L'Onda is the quiet one. Tucked at 1,430 m on the flank of Monte d'Oro, the refuge presides over a big fenced meadow where tents line up in the grass and pigs and cows patrol the perimeter with proprietary interest — the fence, you'll quickly gather, is for keeping them out, not you in. The setting is pastoral rather than dramatic: forest below, bare ridge above, cowbells providing the soundtrack.
Most hikers pass a single mellow evening here before the long roll down to Vizzavona and its restaurants, which gives L'Onda a pleasant end-of-chapter feeling — the last high camp of the northern half. Eat at the refuge, keep your food bagged and zipped away from opportunistic snouts, and take a headtorch stroll after dark: the meadow catches a remarkable amount of starlight. Tomorrow, civilisation; tonight, cowbells and the smell of crushed grass.
Getting there
| Leg | Distance | Elevation | Trail runner | Fit / sportive | Multiday hiker | Relaxed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| From Bergerie de Tolla | 5.5 km | +170 / −150 m | 1h21 | 1h52 | 2h25 | 2h54 |
| To Vizzavona | 16 km | +210 / −1230 m | 3h48 | 5h16 | 6h50 | 8h12 |
Booking
Booking is mandatory for all overnight stays on the GR20, including bivouac pitches. Wild camping is not allowed on the trail.
Stages featuring this stop
Plan your GR20 itinerary
Free planner: pick your fitness level and days — get optimal stages, offline maps and daily briefings.
Open the free planner →