Aosta Valley Italy skiing
When you mention skiing in Italy everyone immediately thinks of the Dolomites. But there are other great regions for skiing in the Italian Alps and one of those is the Aosta Valley, or Valle D’Aosta in the northwest corner of the country bordering France and Switzerland. Its stunningly beautiful, with views of the towering Monte Cervino – more commonly known as “the Matterhorn” – and massive Mont Blanc – known as Monte Bianco in Italy.
Aosta Valley includes 23 ski resorts, and 800 km of slopes. The Aosta Valley is home to big mountain skiing, and some famous ski resorts… Cervinia, Courmayeur, Monterosa, but also some secret gems you will discover and love! Pila, La Thuile, Chamois, and Crevacol.
This is classic Italian skiing, specifically northwestern Italy, but you are on the border of France to the west, Switzerland to the north, and Italy’s Piedmont to the south and east. Often you can ski “cross-country” in Aosta, no passport required, from Italy to France or Italy to Switzerland and back again in the same day.
We love skiing from Cervinia to Zermatt, the Italian side of the Matterhorn. While Zermatt is super famous with an exceptional historic ski village, Cervinia has its own village charm (in the authentic center) and offers more a bit more affordable lodging than Zermatt, with access to all the same amazing skiing.
Courmayeur, in the Aosta, neighbors Chamonix France and is home to the Mont Blanc Sky Ways – two rotating cable car series that can connect you to the Vallee Blanche – an epic off-piste ski route for experts! Courmayeur is popular for skiing with Italians, it can be busy, and the village is very upscale chic for skiers to see and be seen – if that’s your vibe.
La Thuile is wonderful, more humble Italian ski resort in Aosta, which connects to La Rosiere France. From the French side you can easily see the terrain of nearby Les Arcs/La Plagne, and Val D’Isere Tignes and are just up the valley… that’s how proximate alpine ski resorts are in the alps, at least as the crow flies.
Pila, like La Thuile, is a fun family -friendly ski resort, with a modern four stage gondola from the historic Aosta village to a spectacular summit and summit lodge the Stella de Pila.
Monterosa “Freeride Paradise” spans 3 valleys and 4 villages includes Alegna, Gressoney, Staffal and Champoluc. This vast region is a big deal with freeride skiers for its phenomenal off-piste skiing. But beware, these big mountains offer vast challenging terrain loaded with avalanche danger, cliffs, creeks, riverbeds and every challenge you can imagine. We feel hiring a mountain guide should not be a suggestion here but a requirement!
Smaller but super fun ski areas Crevacol and Chamois are skiing the way it once was – in beautiful Aosta! All of these ski areas are worthy of a visit, for a day or several! There are several Aosta ski passes like the Magic Ski Pass and the Aosta Valley Ski Pass which offer great savings when you plan to ski several of the region’s ski resorts. The IKON pass is valid for 7-days total at 5 Aosta ski resorts including Cervinia, Courmayeur, La Thuile, Monterosa and Pila.
What we love about Valle D’Aosta:
Amazing mountain views and jagged Italian peaks.
Abundant Italian cuisine and vibe at these ski resorts… ski to a chalet for a yummy cappuccino, Aperol Spritz, a plate of delicious pasta with their famous local Fontina cheese.
Affable Italian friendliness – la dolce vita on skis.
Affordability of Italy versus more pricey Switzerland, or even Austria.
Aosta ski tickets for so much less!
Authentic centuries’ old stone villages.
Alpine lodging with balconies that won’t break the budget…
The Aosta ski villages are classic, with beautiful stone houses, church steeples, charming chalet restaurants and cafes, near farms and pastures, surrounded by majestic snowy peaks.
During our Aosta Valley ski safari, we skied Courmayeur, La Thuile, Pila, Cervinia and Valtournenche – skiing over the Zermatt, then Monterosa, then onto two smaller humble mountains including the charming car-free Chamois, and Crevacol on the Swiss border (near the Gran San Bernardo tunnel connecting to Switzerland).
Aosta is the least populated ski region of Italy, this valley along the Dora Baltea River is spectacular yet peaceful and pastoral, with great local food from farms, and wine from their vineyards. You’ll be skiing with locals too! If you seek big mountain skiing, maybe without the big crowds and big prices, check out Italy’s Valley D’Aosta.
