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Courmayeur |
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Courmayeur
is a beautiful village, located on the Italian side
of Mont Blanc in the Aosta Valley. Though one finds
people from all over the world in Courmayeur, on the
weekends the beautiful
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people
come in from the nearby cities of Milano and Torino.
The beauty and charm of this place is what draws people
here, to mix and mingle, because its skiing is not at
the level of many other Italian ski resorts. Beginners
will like it, but most people come here to see and be
seen, and disco the night away.
The off-pist options may appeal to the more serious skier
and there are nearby cross-country trails. The resort
is located on the Italian side of the highest mountain
in Western Europe. It has a charming center with cobblestone
streets and beautiful old buildings. The town is very
laidback except on weekends, when the jet set comes to
town.
The locals are known as Valdostani and are very friendly
people. Although 100% Italian, they can usually speak
French and often English as well. The people are as down-to-earth
as the ambience in the town.
There is plenty to do in Courmayeur other than skiing,
so the non-skier will have a fabulous time as well. The
shopping, spas, restaurants, and nightlife combine to
provide all the ingredients for a wonderful vacation. |
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| Skiing |
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ski
area map
and description |
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| Known as one of
the most beautiful places to ski, Courmayeur is connected
to its French neighbor, Chamonix, |
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through
a system of cable cars. The fourteen peaks that surround
the town provides beautiful vistas while one skis the
25 trails over 60 miles of slopes.
There is skiing for any level, though intermediates may
be most happy here. There are two main skis area, Checrouit-Val
Veny, which is mostly for beginners and intermediates
and Mont Blanc, which is geared toward the expert skier.
The off-pist skiing is great, as a guide can lead experts
and intermediates over challenging terrain. The best or
most famous of the runs is the 13 mile Vallée Blanche,
which goes from Helbronner point down to Chamonix.
One can buy a lift pass in Courmayeur, which also includes
Chamonix, La Thuile and Megève. Waiting is long
lift lines can be an issue and the fact that one cannot
ski back to town may be problems for some. |
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| Ski
Map of Courmayeur |
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lifts
and tickets |
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| Courmayeur boasts
eleven draglifts, seven chairs, and nine cable cars and
in general is efficient. As stated before, one cannot
ski back to town, and must instead take the cable car
back. |
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full-day pass is about $39, and the six-day pass is about
$210: the weekly one gives access to one day in Chamonix
and one in another ski resort in Valle d’Aosta.
There are discounts available to children, senior citizens,
families, and groups. The beginner lifts Chiecco and Tzaly
are free. |
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| for
beginners |
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| The blue-coded
trails are the easy beginner runs and make up about 26%
of the skiing in Courmayeur. The best place for beginners
is in Checrouit-Val Veny, which has incredible views along
long, easy-riding slopes. The Dolonne, is a beginner area
close to Courmayeur and a good place for novices to try. |
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Though
most of the slopes are above the tree line, the blue-coded
runs are in general on the lower slopes under the tree
line and therefore novice skiers will have less difficulty
navigating in a whiteout.
The slopes at the peak of the |
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| mountain
are not on the beginner level, so novices are encouraged
to take the lift to the top just to enjoy the beautiful
panorama. |
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| for
intermediates |
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The red-coded intermediate
trails make up 57% of the skiing, and these trails are
generally long and winding providing great long runs perfect
for cruising.
The Vallée Blanche will be of interest to the intermediate
skiers as this off-pist experience is a 13-mile trail
that leads to the town of Chamonix in France. The trip
down takes about four to five hours (with time for stopping
and eating factored in), and goes through the Mer de Glace
(sea of ice). If going with a guide, there are great options
for off-pist skiing, including the Toula Glacier. |
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| for
experts |
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| The black-coded
or expert run make up the remaining 17% of runs on the
mountain, but the best skiers will not be challenged in
Courmayeur. The off-pist options are better for the truly
experienced skier, |
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and
La Palud has an almost 7,000-foot vertical drop, which
starts at Helbronner Point and goes over the Toula Glacier.
By taking the Youla cable car, one can reach the eight-mile
Col d’Arp trail that will attract expert skiers
as well with its challenging steep descent and pristine
snow. The Toula glacier and the Marbre trail are other
good runs and there are many natural jumps along the way.
For the competion’s lovers, the resort has the World
Cup Downhill and the International slopes. The later is
a 4-mile run that has a 3,300 vertical drop. The resort
hosts many races every year, but the trails are set up
and taken down right after the race. However, there are
ski schools that may arrange races that the public can
take part in. |
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for
children |
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Children are
most welcome in Courmayeur as the will be all over the
country. Driving is not permitted in the town center,
so one can feel safe letting one’s child run through
the streets. |
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There
are two childcare centers for kids over six months,
and there are English-speaking staff members in both
places.
The first is the ski school and the second is the Sport
Center. The ski school can be found at the bottom of
the slopes (but not in the town).
The school takes care of kids up to twelve, and offers
lessons in addition to other activities. |
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| night
skiing |
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| There is no possiblity
to ski at night, but one can ski down the mountain after
a dinner at one of the “rifufi” or mountaintop
restaurants. |
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| free
skiing |
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| Heli-skiing is
an option that more experienced skiers and snowboarders
should take advantage of. The service is available from
January until May. One can take a variety of different
excursions whether |
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on
the mountain, through the forest, or on the glacier. Prices
vary according to group numbers and the location skied.
It is organized with safety in mind, with an avalanche
system and an expert local guide.
Amazing off-pist skiing is possible also without taking
a helicopter; nice points can be reached with the lift
system as well. |
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| cross-country
skiing |
If one is interested
in cross-country skiing, the terrain and vistas are something
to behold in this area. There are more than 20 miles of
cross-country skiing trails that are located at the base
of Mont Blanc in Val Ferret. The trails follow four different
loops that vary not only in distance, but also in the
level of difficulty. There are places to eat and to rest,
and the price is about $4.
Other trails are available in the Dolone area, which is
outside Courmayeur, or in Arvier, Morgex, Saint Niccolas
or St. Pierre, which are all a short drive away. |
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Only
for
Snowboarding
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| The board facilities
at Courmayeur are extremely lacking. One, can still enjoy
the snowboarding here though because there are truly |
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great
free riding possibilities available. Boarders can go off-pist
like the skiers, or they can try heli-snowboarding.
The best runs off-pist will be the Col d’Arp and
the Vallée Blanche. Over the border in France,
Chamonix may provide better boarding. |
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| Other
Activities |
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| snow
sports |
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The 1998 Ice
Climbing World Cup was held here, so one can
imagine that Courmayeur is a great place to try out
one’s expertise in this sport. Most of the excursions
are located within an hour of town and are suited towards
the expert climber one is advised to hire a guide. There
are lessons and equipment available.
A guide can take one on a private snow hike
through the backcountry. The terrain is generally suited
to experienced hikers, though there may be a few opportunities
for novices. |
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As
with snow hiking, there are no formal trails for snowshoeing
in the area, however, one can hire a guide. As above,
there are more opportunities for experts than for novices.
For lovers of Ice Skating and Hockey,
the indoor ice rink in |
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Courmayeur
can be found in the Centro Sportivo Courmayeur Mont Blanc.
One can find local hockey teams playing games here and
one may rents the rink for a game well as hockey equipment.
But there are also some other nice activities.
In the nearby of Courmayeur is possible to enjoy Sled
Dog through a beautiful landscape or try the
crazy Snowbike.
For the golf addicted there is a 5-hole course on the
snow golf field.
If you are courageous, don’t miss the opportunity
for a hang-gliding or paragliding flight,
with an expert instructor, through the Monte Bianco Peaks.
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excursions |
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| The nearby town
of Aosta and the surrounding area is famous for its more
than 50 castles dating back to medieval times. Located
only about 31 miles away, this town is in the center of
the valley. The more famous of the castles |
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in
the region are Fenis, Castel Savoia, Verres, and Issogne.
The town of St. Vincent has a casino, that is much more
elegant than those in the States. There are other charming
mountain towns in the area like La Salle, or Tre-Sain-Dider.
The only other tourist attraction in Courmayeur is the
Duke of the Abruzzi’s Alpine Museum. |
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| fitness
activities |
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| The Centro Sportivo
Courmayeur Mont Blanc has activities such as tennis, squash,
a gym, a climbing wall and a sauna. |
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| Relax |
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| spa |
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There are no
spas per se in Courmayeur, but some of the finer hotels
will have small spa facilities and in the Centro Sportivo
Courmayeur Mont
Blanc there is a sauna. |
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| shopping |
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| Shoppers will be
happy in Courmayeur. There are more than thirty shops
that have sporting goods, clothes, souvenirs and anything
else one could want. Zermatt, Switzerland has duty-free
shopping and is just over the border. |
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| Apres
Ski |
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The town is know
for its activities as night as much if not more than its
skiing. The variety of restaurants, bars and pubs, and
discos will satisfy everyone. The resort is not expensive
and one will find the people ready to please.
Cafes in Italy are the place to go for
those with a sweet tooth. Specialties of the area include
dolcettas and shortbread cookies with almonds. Don’t
be alarmed if the cookies are drier than you are used
to; they are meant to be dipped in coffee or wine. |
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The food is one
of the best things about Courmayeur. There are choices
for even the most finicky diner. From
cafes, to cafeterias to fine dining, one has a plethora
of places from which to choose. Specialties of the region
are polenta, fontina (a type of cheese) and speck |
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(a
cured ham). Definitely don’t leave town without
having a wood-oven pizza, or some gelato.
There are over 20 different restaurants located on the
mountain’s slopes. One should stop to eat here not
only for the great food, but also for the fabulous panorama.
In the town itself, one can find all types of cuisine.
There are pizzerias, fine dining establishments, as well
as more casual places. Restaurants will serve between
7 and 10 pm, though bars may have limited menus after
that, restaurants are usually closed from 3 to 7 pm.
Courmayeur is the place to go to enjoy a hopping nightlife.
There are all types of places for the night owl. There
are American-style bars and pubs,
laidback relaxed lounges, and discos,
where you can dance the night away. |
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| Festivals
& Events |
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The New Year
is celebrated in Courmayeur on the 30th of December
with show in which instructors from the ski school ski
down the mountain while holding lit torches. |
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The
Festival of the Ski Instructor is a party that takes
place the 1st week of February and has food and drinks
and the instructors take part in entertaining races.
Carnivale is in February and Fat Tuesday is celebrated
with a carnival of music and food in the street of the
town.
The first week in December, Courmayeur host a local
film festival, which is known as the Noir. None of the
films are in English. |
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| Useful
Information |
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| location
and elevation |
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One of the
most famous skiing resorts in Italy, it is situated
at the foot of Mont Blanc, almost under the glacier
of the Brenva. Today the longest cable car system in
the world has made the peaks and glaciers of Mont Blanc
accessible to non-climbers. Since 1965, international
tourism has further been increased by the opening of
the motorway tunnel which starts at La Palud and connects
Italy to France and Switzerland. Despite the enormous
growth in tourism over the last few decades, Courmayeur
has maintained a pleasantly traditional character.
Resort and lift base: 4,029 feet/1,225 meters
Top of Mountain: 9,127 ffet/2,775 meters
Vertical Drop: 5,039 feet/1,532 meters |
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There could be
a problem with altitude sickness due to the fact that
Courmayeur is a high altitude resort. In order to avoid
this problem it is important to eat and drink water, and
be careful not to get too much sun. Also, people who already
know they have this problem should make |
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their
way to the top very slowly.
The majority of the skiing will take place above the
tree line, and whiteouts can be a problem. Beginners
should stick to the blue-coded slopes that are all under
the tree line. |
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| snow
and weather |
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| This resort tends
to enjoy good levels of snow each winter. The majority
of the slopes face towards the northeast and northwest
and so does not experience a lot of freezing and thawing,
which helps snow conditions. The average snowfall is about
280 inches yearly. Watch for avalanche warnings that will
be posted on lifts. |
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ski
and snowboard school |
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| The Monte Bianco
Scuola di Sci is the only ski school in town. It has more
than 100 teachers and offer private and group lessons
for all levels in downhill skiing, cross-country skiing,
telemark, and snowboarding. It’s very professional
and well-known. Instructors usually speak English. |
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Private
ski lessons costs about $ 44 for one hour, $ 50 for snowborders
and $ 39 for cross country skiing. Group lessons usually
last about 3 hours and cost about $176. There are discounts
available for children, seniors, families and groups.
Children’s lessons take place |
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in
the Kindrheim in Dolone area and kids twelve and under
can enjoy a myriad of activities here. A 5-day Kindrheim
and ski lessons costs around $ 325.
The Societa delle Guide di Coumayeur offers lessons and
guides for off-pist skiing and mountaineering such as
ice climbing. |
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| ski
rent |
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There are many
shops from which to rent equipment. There is a rental
shop on the mountain where one can also store skis overnight.
The shops have about the same quality of equipment as
well as prices. Long-term rentals will cost less, and
there are discounts for children and families.
Be sure to take care of rentals early to avoid standing
in line on weekends and on holidays. People will speak
English.
Why don’t you extend
your Italian holiday…
...pass a day in marvelous Venice with its mysterious
canals and its colorful Carnival, famous throughout the
world. Or else travel to Milan, and walk in the shadow
of the Duomo through the shops along one of the most famous
streets in the Italian fashion world.
We offer extensions of your trip in Italy with different
locations and durations. Contact us for more information... |
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