The ultimate escape: a pilgrimage to Europe's highest hotel | FT

Italy's Capanna Margherita sits among the clouds almost three vertical miles above sea level - but has a bar, restaurant, beds for 70 and even a small library. The FT Travel Editor Tom Robbins makes the long journey to a remarkable hotel. Read about the best luxury trains: on.ft.com/2k3c9bw
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[@kt9493]

The construction of the hut was directed by the Italian Alpine Club in 1889. The hut was pre-built in the valley, then brought to its final destination by mule and then by men, and assembled on site. A complete restoration started in 1977. The original hut was dismantled and was replaced by the current hut, built in Valsesia in the town of Failungo Superiore, very close to Alagna Valsesia, which opened in 1980.

[@tipsysmichigander6483]

Hut? Not sure you understand what a Hut is you imbecile!

[@musicfunlax1224]

How on Earth did they managed that?

[@willzsportscards]

Man. Getting that thing built is just simply incredible.

[@albertlevert2988]

And in the nineteenth century, with no helicopters etc.!

[@willzsportscards]

@@albertlevert2988 honestly, it’s crazy. Hard to believe it was done tbh.

[@timcarswell9559]

A few years ago I organised a ‘boys walking weekend’ from London and from the comfort of my flat Alagna to the Rifugio Margarita seemed like a good option. Well, we made it and stayed overnight at the Rifugio. But I had seriously underestimated the effect of altitude sickness without proper acclimatisation and it was not a pleasant night! Even our guide, who had not been up for a couple of weeks, was affected. But as we walked down we all began to feel better, were able to bask in the glow of achievement and look forward to cold beer awaiting in Alagna!

[@massimoboscaini]

Hello Tim, l'm from Varallo Sesia but now l live in Parma. Massimo (Martina is my dog).

[@user-vx8ko2lx8t]

क्या आप अधिक विस्तार से उत्तर दे सकते हैं?

[@faded_ink3545]

Props to the cameraman for lugging up all that gear.

[@andynieuwenhuis7833]

I believe that like I own the Brooklyn Bridge; I'M a Canadian

[@matthewmolina3866]

What would have been more interesting is to have seen how it was built.

[@bmolitor615]

you could google it yer own self

[@matthewmolina9485]

@@bmolitor615 thank you, whoever you are hiding. You were very helpful, not.

[@bmolitor615]

@@matthewmolina9485 Well then, you just carry on with your demands for pablum to be spooned directly into your mouth by anything - ANYTHING - other than yer own hand, Matthew. God forbid that you should type "building of Margherita hut" into a search engine - I can see that you have much better things to type out into KZbin comments. Carry on.

[@kt9493]

The construction of the hut was directed by the Italian Alpine Club in 1889. The hut was pre-built in the valley, then brought to its final destination by mule and then by men, and assembled on site. A complete restoration started in 1977. The original hut was dismantled and was replaced by the current hut, built in Valsesia in the town of Failungo Superiore, very close to Alagna Valsesia, which opened in 1980.

[@matthewmolina9485]

@@kt9493 thank you very much, sir. You are very kind. Sincerely, Matthew

[@TheExodusV]

Would have liked to seen more of the hotel

[@bmolitor615]

it's like you didn't watch the video...

[@liamdillon9465]

Did you see how big it is? I don't think there's much more to see my guy

[@kostakondratenko185]

Me too - I was dissapointed I couldn't see the room layouts.. but great video nonetheless!

[@mathieuchatelet5603]

@@kostakondratenko185 it's not that spectaculair. Typical small mountain hut rooms with bunk beds

[@funjunkyy]

@@kostakondratenko185 These small beds at 5:45 were the rooms. I think it only has rooms for mutliple people with beds stacked on each other. Because its not a hotel, its a hut. Big difference.

[@abishev]

Surely, Europe's highest hotel is in Amsterdam.

[@Kuchenwurst]

Oh you :)

[@livingbeing1113]

😁

[@Guide4Ever]

and "the pleasurest" in the Red light District 😏

[@hansmaulwurf8858]

It's NOT a hotel! It'a a mountain hut for mountaineers without running water and with multi-bedded rooms with incredibly uncomfortable beds (apart from the fact that you will hardly sleep anyway due to the high altitude and the lack of acclimatisation). The "library" is simply a shelf of books containing primarily information about the climbing routes on the surrounding mountains (by this standard every house or flat has a "library"). The "bar" is also no bar, but just a counter where you can do everything, from ordering food, paying your stay, etc. Calling this a hotel is like calling an Amish Buggy a car.

[@MuppetsSh0w]

Shut up dude

[@jonathanbuckley3254]

It's a hotel

[@mikeyankofsky8003]

LOL 😂

[@YOUENNNN]

Absurd comment, a lot of hotels in the world have uncomfortable beds, no library and no bar at all ! You pay a bed for a night that's an hotel end of discussion

[@paperinik69]

Right because hotels don't have bunk beds🤡

[@nickwoodward819]

How do you do a video on this and not mention how they built it? XD

[@googles2222]

My guess would be they probably didn't care enough about the workers back then so most likely there is no written record of how

[@boiadedios]

@@googles2222 its because we are Italians and we don’t care….we build it with donkeys and men with big balls…this u see in he video is the second built with helicopters….u can find videos on the tube…i ve been 5 times there….every mountain lover need to go

[@jonathanbuckley3254]

Little bit disappointing. Was looking forward to more footage of the Hotel not just the view

[@forzer456]

Guess it is left for you to discover

[@r3dp1ll]

it's a refuge not a hotel.

[@nobodyisbest]

It's not a hotel, it's a refuge.

[@AwosAtis]

"Upper class pursuit?" I guess that rules me out!

[@sivayamsiva9343]

Very beautiful mountain views, really great thanks for sharing 👌

[@SK22520]

But how?? But did they built this thing here? How do they get all their supplies?? How did they install the wifi?? How does the plumbing work?? Honestly, THESE ARE THE QUESTIONS THAT NEED ANSWERING!!!!

[@alessandro-zy3gz]

I ve been there. Supply are get by helicopter and there is not water for utility you poop in a hole and no shower. There is internet and phone connection bc there is a small weather lab so there is communication antennas

[@erik3371]

Are you American or something?

[@andrewhurstcars]

Went there a few years ago in April ski touring. It’s not formally open then, but they leave a room open for emergency use.

[@flowers42195]

E' finito il pane. Scendo in paese a prenderlo 🥶🥶

[@williameisenberg1999]

Absolutely spectacular,,, Would love to visit this hotel !

[@mazdarx7887]

Eating pizza with fork and knife. hehehe That place is way to posh for me.

[@zulharriansyahsyamsul4024]

Very charming mountain view

[@amandhillon1182]

Fantastic!! Would love to go here

[@michaelsiengo1]

Awesome

[@henriks5008]

6:00 Zermatt in the background to the left. Nice view!

[@ryanlafleur]

How long can you stay, how much does it cost and how o you make reservations?

[@snoman1999]

www.rifugimonterosa.it/en

[@zaynalsikder9213]

Love Italian mountain hut hotel♥

[@SKF358]

How do they supply it?

[@ruthiemay423]

Helicopter?

[@joealphons5772]

Is there running water there? Showers? Where would the water come from?

[@spraakkanon]

Right on he summit so safe from avalanches.

[@kingjsolomon]

Not from earthquakes…

[@riverkelly9374]

ugh the chord progression in this video is absolutely my life ahah

[@foobar9220]

This is the grand finale of the Monte Rosa tour (or spaghetti tour as it is commonly known). After spending a week bagging 4000ers, one sleeps right at the summit before climbing the Dufourspitze, the highest point of Switzerland and second-highest mountain of the Alps, and returning to civilization for a long awaited shower ;)

[@danielled5207]

Spaghetti has nothing to do with the culture and food of the huge Alpline areas of Italy.

[@ingmarbeldman]

ok. and how does it look inside????

[@floralhandshake6376]

It would have been interesting to learn how they service the 'hotel. How do they get food and drink up there. What do they do with waste etc

[@markanthony3275]

You've heard the expression that excrement rolls downhill? I think you know where the waste goes now LOL!

[@r3dp1ll]

@@markanthony3275 human waste, yes most likely. The is taken by the helicopter.

[@r3dp1ll]

helicopter.

[@funjunkyy]

They use a helicopter flying back and forth every few days.

[@hRt42kuo7jTtmk14]

Cool story. Thanks.

[@brianlam257]

You didn't give us a full tour!!!

[@Prof_awesome]

A bit short, was interesting to watch, would have been cool to see more tho!

[@Scyths1]

Genuine question, I'm assuming as you didnt talk about it, that you have jo safe way of snowboarding as you cant know for sure if there is solid ground underneath ?

[@floimschnee4275]

There is no fully safe snowboarding/skiing over crevasses (and in offpiste conditions in general). You need to know how to deal with crevasse and avalanche rescue.

[@johnbrown4568]

To each their own. I'm good with Nashville.

[@ultragarrison]

How did they manage to get their supplies?

[@clairepg]

Calling it a hotel and pretending it to be like a normal hotel is annoying otherwise interesting

[@aledyna]

Its not an hotel

[@jacksonjames7177]

Hey everyone, look, random guy in the KZbin comment section says he knows something the people that built it, and go there and run it, don’t !

[@pieter-basbeijer5781]

@@jacksonjames7177 The people that run it don't call it a hotel either. Actually I have never heard anyone call a mountain hut a hotel before ever.

[@floimschnee4275]

​@@jacksonjames7177they call it "hut"...

[@TesterAnimal1]

@@jacksonjames7177you know, maybe some people visiting are not “random”. Climbers also use KZbin. It’s a mountain hut. Google the term.

[@somnathde8680]

Thanks.

[@naeemsafdar4349]

viewers are invited to northern parts of Pakistan the mountaineers' heaven where you can easily cycle upto 16000 feet above sea level and find hotels nearby.

[@europana7]

How’s the WiFi? … must be using satellite as main connectivity? At 15000 ft, that’s higher than the 13500 ft skydivers exit the plane !!

[@nessnness]

I wonder if it doesn't risk blowing away with storms

[@dickmeisterling3924]

Should have spent more time there, but good for you!

[@CSmart-ln1qm]

I'd be afraid the hut would fall off the mountain.

[@riccardomontelatici1909]

Solo un giornale da quella parte di mondo poteva chiamarlo hotel 🤬🤬🤬🤬

[@sjscoach]

Crazy!!!!!

[@haruruben]

Who built it?

[@michaellan78]

I guess the hotel doesn’t have valet parking 😅

[@carlo9330]

er...three peaks, not two, are higher than margherita. he's forgetting Zumstein. hard to forget really, given that its right next to him🤣

[@rolandetter3284]

And Nordend ... 4608m

[@joelevans2513]

"HOTEL?"

[@TuxedoChimps]

Can you ski down?

[@a.h.s5152]

Wonder how they could breath being that high up in the air.

[@bmolitor615]

not well. yer gonna be playing roulette with who gets altitude sickness, and that's not comfortable.

[@fuglbird]

It's an alpine hut - not a hotel. We have many in Europe, where we have mountains. Not like the UK, where you only have hills but many hotels. Only Brits gets altitude sickness at 4554 meters. This is not Cumbria. Get over it. 42 years ago my mother and I walked a bit in Scotland. We met an English "expedition" in full mountaineering outfits. They were very silent when they saw us. We just said hello and turned around. We didn't want to embarrass them.

[@Letitslam]

It isn t a hotel it s a mountain refuge for climbers and alpinists 😂, there's a lot in italy in all alps, but are a places where you can recover for succesive climb or descent

[@tomlibuda229]

Snowbird 😊

[@alpinisme07]

a mountain hut is not a hotel..

[@alanrbickerton]

Sleep walking is not an option

[@nicolascodro3361]

It’s not a hotel. It’s a mountain hut.

[@silverliteway]

what about gouter hut mont blanc

[@megalospathi]

Thats not a hotel but a hostel

[@infiad1275]

Would have been nice to see what a room looked like in that "hotel". Geez, I feel robbed.

[@Kuchenwurst]

It's mostly bunk beds. There's 70 beds for wanderers and scientists. You don't walk up a mountain for the luxury of a king size bed and a whirlpool.

[@infiad1275]

@@Kuchenwurst I understand that. I'd still like to see where I'm laying my head for the night.

[@Happycamper808]

They show the bunk beds here 5:46

[@stellae.1745]

How do they get supplies up there (food, drinks etc.)? I`m thinking helicopters, but i`m not sure

[@r3dp1ll]

Helicopter yes. Also used to take out the trash on the way down.

[@great-garden-watch]

Why?

[@cheaserceaser]

Why don’t they take a limo or something to hotel?

[@ruthiemay423]

😂😂😂

[@sirhenryb3197]

nice but not for me i get sick in hights

[@loranovabridal1880]

@drewbinsky story for you

[@AndrewMann205]

Not sure why it was not mentioned that you can get there by cable car. You do not have to climb.

[@snooslee6508]

It's not so good for hotel"....it's good for meditation center

[@benja_mint]

these mountain huts are always noisy, always bustling with coming and going. all night people are snoring and farting, and at 2am people already start getting up because they are trying to ascend a peak or something. meditation center is not the first thing that springs to mind, but maybe!

[@wayneyd2]

Warning to visitor. You should accumulate for the high altitude. Altitude sickness is real.

[@ruthiemay423]

Acclimate

[@FDNRunningandMotivation-ws1hd]

Don"t know about That, The highest I go, the better I feel 😂

[@benja_mint]

i always think maybe the queen was named after the pizza, cos it was her fathers favorite pizza or whatever

[@jacksonjames7177]

*because

[@cvn6555]

Nope. No thanks. Never. Not even by helicopter.

[@appomattoxross6751]

Silly.

[@justthimu1683]

Knife and fork on pizza😮 "Do not recommend this channel"

[@starcrib]

No thank's. 🔳⬜️⬜️🔳

[@TR-nw8hz]

Ah yes a pilgrimmage. I mean not a real one but still

[@withpikachu2402]

Taking a cable car is cheating

[@jasonmcguire7846]

The highest hotel I thought was in Russia

[@JohnDoe-xu2vx]

No thanks

[@JnstBrimstone]

How do you fo a "pilgrimage" to a hotel? Is this some "hotel cult"? Bowing down to the god of hotels?

[@superdeluxesmell]

So it’s just a typical mountain refuge? I thought it was going to be a nice hotel. Meh.

[@TheZachary86]

Not much of a hotel. This isn’t impressive when you’ve been to nepal

[@AlexMafija]

Nepal isnt in europe

[@TheZachary86]

nick from96 Wasn’t arguing that Nepal was in Europe. Was saying that this is nothing compared to Nepal They made the “hotel” sound so majestic or something

[@snoman1999]

Mate I've been to Nepal and slept in far less luxurious conditions than on offer here 😆 ? Tea Houses can be very basic.. I think the location here is the prize, rather than the class of accommodation... and far more accesible 🤔 Lets not knock what looks like a FANTASTIC experience..

[@davidetranquillini4864]

why would any mountaineer be looking for a hotel at 4000+mt? a bed, a warm soup n someone waking u up in the wee hours of the morning, when its time to hit to path, is all one should ask for

[@TesterAnimal1]

They just called it by an incorrect term. It’s a mountain hut.

[@EggBastion]

Grrrr, something somethingsomething, bloody remoaners... When's Brexit? I'm hungry.