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Courmayeur Ski Resort
Situated on the North-Western corner of Italy and rubbing shoulders with France and Switzerland, Courmayeur is one of the more popular resorts in the Aosta Valley.
Famously founded as a spa town in the 17th Century for its natural outlets of pure alpine water, it became a top destination for the mountaineering community around the 19th century and has maintained its traditional image and beauty ever since. With a car-free village centre, this stylish, family-friendly resort is perfect for anyone who wants a challenge on the slopes followed by relaxing evenings enjoying good food and vino.
As the weekend skiing choice of the social elite of Milan and Turin, the town has a very fashionable feel alongside its alpine heritage. The historic village oozes charm with cobbled streets, old wood and stone buildings and the central Via Roma housing designer boutiques, cafes and some of the best restaurants in the Alps. The surroundings don’t disappoint either - take in stunning views with 14 mountain peaks over 4000m visible on a clear day, including the graceful giant of Mont Blanc.
Thanks to the village being small and easy to travel around, you have the luxury of never being too far from the slopes here. With regular bus shuttles running throughout the village and the outlying areas like Entreves, getting from your bed to the piste is as easy as pie.
The local ski area has 33 pistes totalling 42km and if you count off-piste too, there's a hefty 100km to roam. If you do fancy getting out of town, the ski pass includes access to the legendary French resort of Chamonix. Cham is accessible from the Skyway Monte Bianco lifts from Courmayeur valley (hop off at Punta Helbronner for the incredible Vallee Blanche descent) or a 30-minute drive. It has 173km of slopes and two days in other Aosta Valley resorts are usually also included. La Thuile is only a short drive and getting to the historic town of Aosta and its attached resort Pila is also a breeze.
Stats & FAQ
Location: Italy, Alps.
Established: 1910
Open: December- April
Downhill: 42km piste
View our detailed Courmayeur snow forecast or snow report and see all live webcams, piste maps, road and travel maps and lift pass prices. For a picture of historic snow conditions see the snow depths month by month with our Courmayeur snow history.
| Nearest Airport & Transfer Time: | |
| Geneva | 117 km, 1 hr 20 |
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| Top Altitude: | 2755m |
| Bottom Altitude: | 1210m |
| Resort Altitude: | 1224m |
| Longest run: | 20km (Vallee Blanche) |
| Slope Orientation: | N NE |
| Vertical Drop: | 1531m |
| Skiable Vertical: | |
| Night Skiing: | No |
| Glacier: | Yes |
Snow Report
Web Cam
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| Downhill Runs: | 42km piste |
| Beginner slopes: | 33% |
| Intermediate: | 52% |
| Advanced slopes: | 15% |
| Lift Pass Price: | 254€ (adult 6 day) |
| Nearby resorts: Chamonix, La Thuile, Pila | |
Skiing/BoardingSkiing in Courmayeur
Courmayeur has two main areas: the Chécrouit-Val Veny is by far the biggest, serviced by a cable car from Plan Chérouit, a gondola in Dolonne and a cable car in Entrèves for those staying out of town. The Mont Blanc lift network makes up the second area, which includes the legendary Vallee Blanche.
The two ski schools (Societa Guide Alpine Courmayeur and Scuola di Sci) maintain a solid reputation intuition and with a number of blues on either side of the ridge, beginners can experience a variety of terrain. There’s a small selection of nursery and blue runs such as Chetif, near the Entrèves cable car and the Pra Neyron chair lift also has access to two of the longer blues: Val Veny down the Entreves side, and Pra Neyron on the Dolonne side.
More confident snow lovers have heaps to ski. Lavenchon is one of our favourite reds, with plenty of open space before an open and smooth descent down to the Le Greye button lift. Internazionale is another which is both challenging and friendly, as well as being long, with connections to a number of blacks including Des Eves, Rocce Bianche and Diretta if you fancy cranking things up a bit.
The Bertolini chairlift serves the Rocce Bianche and Des Eves black runs, both of which have awesome views of the Mont Blanc massif. The black Diretta has everything from wide-open areas, to tight tree-lined steeps, and leads to the Zerotta lift, which accesses the Pista Dell’Orso black.
Off piste, the Vallee Blanche is a legendary must ski, while Cresta d’Arp and the Toula glacier are best taken on with a guide. For a bigger challenge, book a heli trip.
The snowpark on the red Aretu run is amazing, with a good mixture of easy rails and trickier jumps up to 8 metres high and an airbag with jumps for beginners and experts.
Courmayeur Apres Ski
While this is the ski destination for the natives of Turin and Milan, with shopping to match their tastes including the likes of Cartier and Hermes, this isn’t to say the town is only for the elite. Courmayeur is the perfect place to relax in an armchair with a cocktail and canapés in bars like Prive. Bar Americano is perfect for late-night snacking on crepes, sandwiches and burgers. Roma is also a popular destination – in the past, they’ve given out free canapés with drinks.
Courmayeur is a hub of Italian mountain dining and one of the best resorts in the world for foodies, with classic pizza and pasta dishes on every menu. La Terrazza, just off the pedestrian town centre serves reasonably priced meals including the best pizza you’ll eat. For a bit of mountain dining, we like Alpetta at the top of the first set of cable cars, whether you’re looking for a mountainside lunch, or just a quick drink and sugar boost (it’s worth visiting for their fantastic chocolate cake alone). For something different of an evening, Rifugiuo Maison Vieille usually organises regular torchlit descents and skidoo races – dinner and drinks included.
For a change from the slopes, check out the indoor sports centre for a variety of different activities. Kids can have a go at the indoor climbing wall and ice skating, while those looking for a run around can play some five-a-side-football; or book the tennis, squash, volleyball and basketball courts. If all you need is a wind-down, head down the road to the Pre St Didier, for a mountain spa experience to die for.
Best time to go
Best time to ski Courmayeur
Best time to visit & ski Courmayeur
Situated at 1224 metres above sea level, and with a top piste altitude of 2755m, the resort is snowsure for a large proportion of the season. This is aided by more than 300 snow cannons throughout the village to offer a little man-made support should mother nature decide to take a break. With access to the Vallee Blanche as well, starting at 3812m and leading down to Chamonix, there’s nearly always access to snow if you are willing to travel, and you don’t mind a spot of off-piste.
January and February usually offer the best helping of snow here, and with the high altitude, the temperature should keep it in place between fresh powder dumps. March and April have also been known to see some fantastic snowfalls, and with the flexibility of the premium ski pass, you can usually find some good snow in the local resorts.
Peak Dates
Enjoy Christmas in Courmayeur in true Italian style with the car-free village centre allowing you to truly soak up the festive atmosphere. Meet the Italian Father Christmas, and lounge in the late-night bars for some people watching. Courmayeur Christmas ski holidays ‣
New Years in Courmayeur is a great experience if you want to enjoy classic alpine style with a glass of fine wine, good company, and live music and DJs to play you into the night. Watch the torchlit piste descent as you party into the New Year. Courmayeur New Year ski holidays ‣
A popular choice and snow-sure, enjoy all the Aosta Valley has to offer as you ski this intermediates paradise. February half term in Courmayeur is also a good choice as the snow will be good and the piste less crowded as many heads to France Courmayeur Half Term ski holidays ‣
Courmayeur at Easter is generally a reliable choice - with high altitudes and access to a good amount of off-piste, snow is usually accessible without much difficulty. In addition, with a great choice on après skiing and sports, there are always activities to keep you entertained if not on the slopes. Courmayeur Easter ski holidays ‣
Families in Courmayeur
A small mountain resort with a car-free centre, this town prides itself as being a family-friendly and welcoming place. With many hotels, apartments and restaurants being family-owned businesses, kids are welcomed and in true Italian hospitality will be well looked after.
The area’s best suited to those with children who have already had a couple of weeks on the slopes but if you’re looking for a place to get kids started, fear not - there are two ski schools with fantastic reputations, with the Ski School Monte Bianco Courmayeur widely considered as one of the best in Italy. The Ski and Snowboard School Courmayeur is great if your youngsters have conquered skis and want to test out the dark side. The snow park off the Aretu red slope is also a perfect area for the kids to get some adrenaline soaring highs without venturing too far out of their comfort zones. For the very young, there are also excellent childcare facilities and nurseries if parents want to spend some time on the slopes. While some hotels offer their own childcare services, the ski school has one of the best mini clubs for kids up to 10 and provides indoor and outdoor activities in a safe environment. Based just in Plan Checrouit, it’s perfectly located for parents to drop them off and collect them on their way to and from the piste.
If all else fails, the non-ski activities are very well suited to all ages, with the indoor climbing wall and ice rink easy to keep the kids entertained. The tennis and squash courts might just inspire their summer sports choices for the year while the lovely shops and boutiques will satisfy any need for retail therapy.
GroupsGroup Holidays Courmayeur
Courmayeur is heaven for experienced groups looking to improve their skill and push themselves on the piste and enjoy the chic village charm and world-famous food later on in the day. With a wide selection of hotels throughout the village and in the surrounding areas, as well as self-catering apartments, groups of all shapes and sizes are catered for really well.
Those who are beginners or need a refresher can book tuition with the Scuola di Sci ski school. The inclusion of a snow park on the Aretu red run is superb for the more experienced, who can get to know the area with a local instructor. If adrenaline-pumping powder is what you’re looking for, the Societa della Guide Alpine di Courmayeur do heli-skiing and off-piste tours.
The après ski is sure to tickle the taste buds regardless of when in the season you come. Arrive at the weekend and enjoy the nightlife come alive as the Italians get out and party before hitting the slopes in the morning. Bar Americano plays major European sports, so you can watch some football or rugby while having a burger and chips. The welcoming and hospitable Italian village has a great balance of fine dining and reasonably priced restaurants to suit all budgets; with all kinds of pizza, pasta and grilled meat. Cadran Solaire is a great option if you are in the village centre and fancy some fine food (we love their wine list).
Which are the best ski holidays in Courmayeur?
| Accommodation | Number of nights | Price (per person) from |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel Cresta et Duc | 7 | £ 805 |
| Hotel Gran Baita | 7 | £ 1057 |
| Résidence Chécrouit | 7 | £ 502 |
| Hotel Dei Camosci | 7 | £ 550 |
| Hotel Del Viale | 7 | £ 557 |
| Hotel Dolonne | 7 | £ 644 |
| Hotel Centrale | 7 | £ 696 |
| Hotel Courmayeur | 7 | £ 714 |
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