Courmayeur

Courmayeur Ski Resort

Located at the foot of Mont Blanc and at the head of the Aosta Valley, there are few places that can boast such an impressive location as the off piste mecca of Courmayeur.

Three access gondolas – two from the pretty cobbled streets of Courmayeur itself and one from Entrèves a little up the valley – access a compact but very varied network of pistes that run up from Plan Checrouit. There are some beginner slopes, but the pistes are best for intermediates, but most visitors come here for the off piste terrain. Long descents run from the summit of the tiny Arp cable car but the jewels in the crown are the huge descents off Punta Helbronner, served by the new Monte Bianco Skyway Cable Car – hire a guide and have the right equipment to enjoy these routes.

Its inclusion in the Mont Blanc Unlimited ski pass and its unique location that means that it often has snow when the northern Alps doesn’t, makes this a popular destination for skiers from Chamonix when conditions aren’t ideal on the other side of Mont Blanc. But this works both ways, so if the snow isn’t great in Italy, a quick hop through the Mont Blanc Tunnel will have you in France and shredding the powder of Chamonix’s slopes.

Our Courmayeur Resort Ratings

• Beginner ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
• Intermediate ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
• Advanced ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
• Snow Reliability ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
• Fast Lifts ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
• Resort Activities ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
• Après ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
• Value ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Courmayeur Skiing and Snowboarding

Although there are some gentle slopes above Plan Checrouit, there is little here for beginners. Most of the 43km of slopes suit intermediates best and there is some great cruising on offer, both in the trees down to Zerotta and above them towards Youla. The main attraction however is the off piste. There is some excellent tree skiing and some seriously long descents from Arp down either side of the ski area – get a guide to explore these routes best.

Expert off piste skiers and snowboarders should hire a guide and head up to Punta Helbronnner. The views are spectacular from the recently rebuilt rotating cable car, but the ski descents are equally epic. You can either lap the lift via south facing, rocky slopes or head north towards Chamonix and the world-famous Vallée Blanche – ski down and come back via the Mont Blanc Tunnel.

• Total Pistes: 43km
• Blue: 39%
• Red: 51%
• Black: 10%
• Lifts: 17
• Altitude: 1205m – 2755m

Courmayeur Piste Map

The local area map can be downloaded here.

Courmayeur Resort

The pretty resort sits in a deep valley so can struggle for sunshine in the depths of winter, but the cobbled streets and traditional main street make up for this. There is a good range of shops – including some excellent shops selling ski touring gear – as well as some cosy bars and restaurants that play host to a lively, but relaxed evening atmosphere in town.

For maximum convenience try and base yourself next to either of the access gondolas, of which the Dolonne is slightly further out of town – but here you do get the bonus of being able to ski down at the end of the day. Entrèves is an alternative a little further up the valley, stay here if you are looking to ski tour from the top of Helbronner each day, or if you’d rather escape to a very quiet, small village.

How to get to Courmayeur

You have two options here – either fly to Geneva and drive through the Mont Blanc tunnel or head up the Aosta Valley from Turin. Both journeys take around an hour and a half to two hours.

• Turin airport: 1.5 hours (driving)
• Geneva airport: 1.5 hours (driving)

Courmayeur Contact Details

• Website: www.courmayeurmontblanc.it
• Email: info@courmayeurmontblanc.it
• Telephone: +39 01 22 99 137
• Facebook: @CourmayeurMontB
• Instagram: @courmayeurmontblanc
• Twitter: @CourmayeurMontB