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La Thuile Ski Resort
Sitting on the boarder of Italy and France in a vast grassy basin at the western end of the Aosta Valley, La Thuile is a quaint resort sharing its ski domain with the French resort La Rosière.
Consisting of both an old alpine village and a modern, purpose built resort, separated by the Dora di Verney river, La Thuile offers a mix of charm and convenience.
Knee deep in history, La Thuile’s old mountain village dates back to the Roman era and served as a mining town up until WWII. It offers traditional alpine charm with authentic Tarentaise wood and stone architecture.
At the foot of the ski lifts, purpose-built counterpart Planibel offers fantastic access to the surrounding slopes as well as plenty of modern amenities and tall, chalet-style apartment complexes. You’ll find a range of shops, restaurants and bars as well as a night club and a fitness centre.
Visit three countries during your ski trip to La Thuile as the resort’s closest serving airport is none other than Geneva, with a transfer time of under 2 hours. The drive to the resort from Calais takes about 8-9 hours and if you’re travelling by train, Pré-Saint-Didier is the closest stop.
With La Thuile connected to La Rosiere via the Colle del Piccolo San Bernardo, you can ski two countries in one day from this fantastic resort. 35 modern ski lifts offer access to the Espace San Bernardo ski area, offering 150km of uncrowded piste over the Italian and French Alps with something for all levels of skier and snowboarder.
The Aosta Valley is one of few ski areas where heliskiing is still allowed in Italy, making this an amazing place to stay if you want to ski further, higher and steeper.
Stats & FAQ
Location: Italy, Alps.
Established: 1948
Open: December - April
Downhill: 160km
View our detailed La Thuile 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 La Thuile snow history.
| Nearest Airport & Transfer Time: | |
| Geneva | 130 km, 1 hour 40 minutes |
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| Top Altitude: | 2650m |
| Bottom Altitude: | 1200m |
| Resort Altitude: | 1441m |
| Longest run: | 11km |
| Slope Orientation: | S, N |
| Vertical Drop: | 1450m |
| Skiable Vertical: | 1450m |
| Night Skiing: | No |
| Glacier: | Yes |
Snow Report
Web Cam
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| Downhill Runs: | 160km |
| Beginner slopes: | 41% |
| Intermediate: | 40% |
| Advanced slopes: | 19% |
| Lift Pass Price: | 194€ (Adult 6 day) |
| Nearby resorts: La Rosière, Val d'Isère, Tignes, Les Arcs, Ste Foy, La Plagne and Valmorel | |
Skiing/BoardingSkiing in La Thuile
Rendez-vous at the bottom of Les Suches cable car for La Thuile’s ski and snowboard schools. From here, new skiers and boarders should take the lift up to Les Suches 2200m, followed by the La Combe chairlift for a cascade of lovely green and blue runs. Don’t miss the petite Edelweiss and Piloni blues if you’re looking for quiet slopes to practise new skills.
At the top of the Chaz Dura lift (which takes you to the ski area’s uppermost point at snow sure 2579m) intermediates will find a generous scattering of strawberry lace runs: ride the chairlift again and again as you continue to discover new challenges each time. Ski the longest run in the red San Bernardo for gentle cruising and fast-paced descents all rolled into one piste.
La Thuile’s tree-lined runs of the Diretta and Franco Berthod provide all the uneven powder that advanced skiers and boarders long for. Put your skills to the test at the Zittieux snow cross in the La Rosière domain as you train against the clock to get your forest run personal best. Experience more drops, steeps and powder as this is one of only a few domains that gives advanced skiers the opportunity to book a heliski drop-off – head to the top of the Rutor or Miravidi for unforgettable descent from up to 3,486 m. Book a tour with one of La Thuile’s mountain guides for an expert introduction to the mountain tops.
Freestylers should turn off at the blue Piloni run for a snowpark of kickers and fun boxes. Little children have their licence to use their skills on a corridor with whoops in their designated space in this park. Find a second snow park for further fun boxes, rails and a big air over in La Rosière where you can also have a go at kite skiing.
La Thuile Apres Ski
This is Italy and in true Italian fashion, the après ski remains pretty quieto until later on in the evening.
Enjoy a long and hearty meal at Maison Carrel for antipasti of traditional meats and cheeses, followed by Italian specials like lasagne and cornmeal polenta. Obviously there’ll still be room for pudding, because you won’t want to miss out on a home cooked dessert in the form of a chocolate tart and other such delights. Delizioso! For more chocolate drops of heaven, the Chocolat café offers a cosy venue for you to enjoy an Italian strength espresso or creamy hot chocolate, accompanied by a deliciously designed treat or two.
Make sure to try local delicacy Grolla dell’Amicizia (coffee, fruits, spices and lots of grappa) - tradition states it must be passed round the group clockwise until it’s finished, without touching the table...
After midnight the party venues crackle to life. At La Bricole, night owls swoop upon the classy cocktail bar, known for featuring live music for the perfect accompaniment to an Italian jig. If you’re staying in Planibel with a group of friends, you’re in the ideal spot for the Fantasia discotheque, playing all the tunes you’ll need for a night on the dance floor.
For evenings, non-skiers and days off the slopes, La Thuile has a magic hat full of endless goodies to keep you entertained and wowed. Try snowshoeing for a feel-good challenge through serene woods with the most spectacular viewpoints. Watch out for dog sledding runs, providing a faster way of appreciating the surroundings with the help of four legged friends. Fancy a little quality time inside? Head over to Pré Saint Didier for an unforgettable mountain spa experience. The Konver Music Café Sports Centre houses a climbing wall, gym, five-a-side pitch and beauty therapy centre.
Best time to go
Best time to ski La Thuile
Best time to visit & ski La Thuile
As a vast, grassy basin with access to glacier skiing and peaks up to 3,846m, you can usually enjoy fantastic conditions from mid-December to late April. Thanks to the ratio of beds to lift capacity, the lifts here are known for their minimal queues. The standard San Bernardo lift pass gives you access to the Southern facing La Rosière on the French side of the Franco-Italian boarder, providing sunnier skiing conditions early in the season. For Easter visits to this resort and late season skiing, the local domain is mainly north facing, meaning it’s sheltered from the brunt of the spring warmth. 398 canons serving the entire area provide a fresh coating of snow to keep you sliding over the pistes.
Peak Dates
Get involved in the festive celebrations and enjoy a cosy Christmas in La Thuile. With Christmas Mass, carols, mulled wine and a brilliant ski area to top it off, all ages can enjoy a fantastic festive holiday. La Thuile Christmas ski holidays ‣
Ski La Thuile at New Year to begin the New Year in style! Celebrations are known to spread out over several days with torchlight descents, concerts, Chinese lanterns and a firework display grand finale. La Thuile New Year ski holidays ‣
There’s usually lots going on during February Half Term in La Thuile, where annual competitions make a great addition to the atmosphere. The Italians don’t have a half term holiday and with minimal lift queues you can really make the most of the slopes. La Thuile Half Term ski holidays ‣
With celebrations usually including torch-lit descents and fireworks, a good history of spring ski conditions and one of the best chocolate shops around, you’re on to a winner over Easter in La Thuile. La Thuile Easter ski holidays ‣
Families in La Thuile
Take the clan to La Thuile for a week of family fun on the snow. The Planibel Hotel and Apartments can be found in the family-friendly Planibel complex and offer everything you need for a week in the mountains. Boasting a ski in / ski out position less than 1 minute from the nursery slopes, ski school meeting point and ski lift, you won’t have to worry about lugging equipment or travelling far for lessons or the lift.
Opt for hotel accommodation if you want cooking and cleaning taken care of so you can enjoy more time together. Look out for hotels with family rooms or adjoining rooms and hotels with childcare services if you’re travelling with children too young to ski. Self-Catering apartments are a good choice for families too – cook what you know everyone likes in your own space and time, usually saving money while you’re at it and explore the family-friendly cafes and restaurants as you please.
In the ski area, children will be greeted by resort mascot Thuilly and can learn to ski in Planibel’s amazing Fantaski snow park which has a magic carpet. Teenagers with more experience can learn and practice some tricks in the snowparks and have a range of things to do inside such as having a game of 5 a side football or spending some time in the arcades. Children too young to ski can be looked after in a safe environment with fun, games and activities at Bosco Incantato. A must for families staying here is Snowtubing for some fast snow fun.
GroupsGroup Holidays La Thuile
A group of experienced snow lovers have come to the right place here as it’s one of the only ski areas where heli-skiing is still allowed – clue up on avalanche safety, hire a guide, arrange a heli-drop to the Rutor - you’ll have an unforgettable time. Less experienced skiers and boarders are also well catered for with excellent ski schools and a lovely range of beginner slopes – book Hotel Planibel or the Planibel Apartments if anyone is taking ski lessons as they’re less than 1 minute from the ski school meeting point and nursery slopes. These options are brilliant for groups – they’re both part of the same complex with great facilities, so even if your group can’t decide who wants to self-cater and who doesn’t, you can pick and choose and enjoy everyone staying nearby.
Our large hotels can be a sensible choice if you think stragglers might want to join up later. Book a hotel with 4 or 5 stars for a luxury getaway and enjoy onsite wellness facilities and more. Self catering can work brilliantly if you’re a small group looking for a cheap holiday – take turns cooking and cleaning and you can all enjoy a flexible and relaxed home-from-home.
Book everyone and everything together in a package with flights and transfers to keep things simple. You can select the airport that works best for your group in the search below. Self-drive packages with channel crossings and accommodation-only deals are also available. Give our ski specialists a call with your criteria and we’ll do the hard work for you.
Which are the best ski holidays in La Thuile?
| Accommodation | Number of nights | Price (per person) from |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel Planibel (TH La Thuile) | 7 | £ 825 |
| Hotel le Miramonti | 7 | £ 995 |
| Residence Planibel (TH La Thuile) | 7 | £ 316 |
| Hotel Du Glacier | 7 | £ 593 |
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