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- Written by: Roger Fulton
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It may be the smallest region of Italy, but the stunningly beautiful Aosta Valley boasts wonderful scenery, world-class skiing, superb food, and a rich history.
Bordered by France and Switzerland, the Aosta Valley is located in Italy’s Northwest area and is composed of a central valley, from which 14 side valleys extend. Surrounded by the highest mountains in Europe, including mighty Mont Blanc, the Aosta Valley has 19 resorts, more than 800km of slopes and 8 snow parks – all covered by one single international electronic ski pass.
Here, every kind of winter sports lover will find something to delight them, from gentle terrain for beginners and families, to top freeride and adrenalin-fuelled activities for thrill-seekers. Not to mention a fascinating culture, great food and a wealth of things to do when you're giving your ski legs a rest.
One of the features that makes the Aosta Valley so interesting as a ski destination is its fascinating history, including Roman ruins, beautiful churches, ancient castles and fascinating archaeological sites.
With Turin, and Geneva airports, especially, within easy reach, the Aosta Valley ski resorts are among the easiest to get to from the UK making it an ideal destination for a weekend or short break, as well as longer trips.
With over 40 years’ experience in the region to draw on, Interski offers its visitors three of the Aosta Valley’s top resorts - Courmayeur, La Thuile and Pila.
Here’s a quick breakdown on how these resorts shape up:
Courmayeur
Best for: Intermediates and freeride lovers
Resort height: 1,224m
Highest skiing: 2,755m
Ski area: 100km
Blue runs: 6 Red: 14 Black: 4
Transfers: Geneva 1hr 15, Turin 1hr 40
Boasting some truly spectacular scenery, Courmayeur is one of the most internationally renowned resorts in the Aosta Valley. Sitting at the foot of Mont Blanc, it’s a pretty, traditional Alpine village, with a maze of interesting, narrow cobbled alleys. The town is largely traffic-free and is lined with charming shops, smart boutiques and welcoming cafes and restaurants. The après here is lively with great bars and nightclubs.
Skiers can enjoy 100km of exciting downhill runs, from easy to challenging. The Baby Bowl is a great beginners’ area, serviced by its own (slow moving) drag lift, making it ideal for novices. For intermediates, Courmayeur is a red run playground, with loads of wide pistes of varying gradients. Internazionale is fantastic and holds some great snow long into the season. Diretta and Bertollini are the order of the day for the more advanced. They're steep, challenging and seem to change day to day.
Courmayeur’s off-piste terrain is amazing, including the larch and fir forests of Val Vény, the Vesses couloirs, l’Arp Vieille, and access to the Vallée Blanche. For those seeking the ultimate thrill, heliskiing combines the powdery allure of the backcountry with a helicopter flight over the ‘Roof of Europe’.
Courmayeur is known as being a foodie destination with many celebrity chefs visiting and hosting events here. Fine dining is everywhere with artisan dishes and local produce the order of the day. As with most places in Italy, there is a good choice of family run restaurants offering inexpensive but great quality food.
Don’t miss: A ride on the SkyWay Monte Bianco, a rotating panoramic cable car that ascends past 3,400m toward Punta Helbronner for views across the French, Swiss, and Italian Alps.
Where to stay: Hotel Cresta et Duc
Interski offers seven accommodation options in Courmayeur, including this 4* gem in the historic heart of the resort. It’s just a few metres from the town centre and 200m from the main ski lift.
The hotel is warm and comfortable and alpine-themed throughout to give you an authentic experience. The hotel features a small wellness centre including sauna, Turkish bath and gym.
Book your stay at the Hotel Cresta et Duc now with Interski
Pila
Best for: Families, beginners and intermediates
Resort height: 1,765m
Highest skiing: 2,709m
Ski area: 70km
Blue runs: 5 Red: 21 Black: 4
Transfers: Turin 1hr 30, Geneva 2hrs 10
A ski resort that’s also ideal for a city break. Sitting a 20-minute gondola ride above the Roman town of Aosta, and with beautiful views of Mont Blanc (Monte Bianco) and the Matterhorn, Pila is a modern, purpose-built resort, with an excellent snow record and superb snowmaking, offering a satisfying mix of tree-lined runs and vast, wide, open slopes.
There can be few better places to learn than the Grimod Bowl, with its confidence-building pistes, while intermediates will enjoy themselves on a range of wide-open red runs with jaw dropping views. The Wall, as you might guess by the name, is only for the brave, and recent lift enhancements have opened up new terrain for advanced skiers below Platta de Grèvon. There are also excellent heli- and cat-ski opportunities.
The laid-back après ski is very Italian and for downtime family fun, try snow tubing, snowshoe walks and outdoor ice skating.
The valley town of Aosta is a cultural delight - like a large, open-air museum, with a wealth of Roman and medieval monuments, art exhibitions and prestigious buildings. It's also a buzzing Italian town full of interesting bars, boutiques and delicatessens.
For Interski guests, there are options to stay in Aosta town, or up on the mountain in the resort village itself. If you're staying up in Pila, expect quiet evenings. For those staying in Aosta, the town the cobbled streets and central piazza are a joy to wander around. There's also an ice-skating rink and swimming pool in the town for those with a little more energy.
Don’t miss: Even if you’re staying in Pila resort itself, a trip down to Aosta town is an absolute must, just to soak up the history and cultural atmosphere.
Where to stay: Hotel TH Pila, Pila
One of nine Interski options, this is a true ski in/ski out hotel, located in the heart of Pila. It's situated handily at the top of the Baby Goraz piste, just opposite the Maison de Jean restaurant and next door to the childcare centre which is run by the Pila ski school.
As well as rooms which offer some incredible views, the hotel also features a swimming pool and wellness centre along with some large communal areas, complete with a nice bar and large restaurant.
Book your stay at Hotel TH Pila now with Interski
La Thuile
Best for: Intermediates and advanced skiers looking to ski fresh tracks.
Resort height: 1,450m
Highest skiing: 2,650m
Ski area: 160m
Blue runs: 33 Red: 32 Black: 15
Transfers: Geneva 2hrs, Turin 2hrs
La Thuile offers magnificent intermediate terrain, ferocious blacks through the trees, as well as family-friendly blues and good nursery slopes for beginners. Its cross-border ski area - the Espace San Bernardo - is shared with the French Tarentaise resort of La Rosière, offering the novelty of excursions into France.
Pistes are well groomed and clearly marked, allowing for easy navigation in all conditions. The long and gentle blues that roll back to the cable car station are simply superb for beginners, allowing more time spent honing skills than sitting on lifts.
The baby slopes are the lowest part of the ski area, making it easy for beginners to gain confidence before having to tackle chairlifts or cable cars. The higher slopes are reached either via a chairlift or the main cable car, both of which are high capacity and efficient, meaning queues are rare.
For intermediates, La Thuile is red run heaven, and for the more adventurous, the world-famous black runs that lead back the village must be tackled. They're regularly used for the FIS Women's World Cup.
The snow conditions are generally excellent due to the height of the resort, the snow-making facilities and the fact that the slopes are north facing.
The resort itself is a rustic, traditional ex-mining community that has a certain charm that more famous resorts can't match. The heart of La Thuile village has a pleasantly quiet and traditional ambiance and contains a decent selection of local shops, cafés, and restaurants.
La Thuile is also perfect for those who love slower holidays, in contact with unspoiled nature and fresh snow. Cross-country skiing and fat biking are just some of the other activities that can be practiced here.
A little outside the village is the QC Thermal Spa in neighbouring Pre St Didier. You can indulge yourself in a range of naturally heated outdoor pools along with a choice of wellness treatments.
Don’t miss: Skiing over to La Rosière. The views are spectacular and the novelty of having one ski in France and one in Italy is definitely a border photo opportunity not to be missed.
Where to Stay: Hotel Boton d'Or
Oner of seven Interski offerings in La Thuile, from 3* to 5*, this comfortable and authentic 3* hotel is only a few steps away from the main cable car and the La Thuile Ski School. The warm atmosphere of a mountain chalet is enhanced by traditional wood-and-stone styled decor. Facilities include a ski-room with boot heaters, bar, wellness centre and free WiFi in the public areas.
Skiers have a choice from the three lifts that are within easy walking distance, making the location superb. As well as the enviable location, the hotel itself just oozes relaxation and is the ideal cosy backdrop for a perfect ski holiday.
Book your stay at the Hotel Boton d'Or now with Interski
Why choose Interski?
With over 40 years' experience, Interski’s expert team know what makes a ski holiday truly special. Interski is a smaller tour operator offering ski holidays specialising in a smaller number of ski resorts across Italy’s Aosta Valley and Andorra and offering extremely high levels of service to ensure you have the best time and get the best value.
Interski holiday packages give you everything you need for an incredible experience. From accommodation and lift passes to expert tuition, they’ve got it all covered, so you can focus on enjoying the slopes.
For Winter 2025/26, over 97% of clients rated Interski as either 'Excellent' or 'Good' when asked about their overall experience and 98% of clients would recommend Interski to a friend or family looking to book a ski holiday.
Find out more about Interski here.
