Sauze d'Oulx

Sauze d’Oulx Ski Resort

The liveliest of the Milky Way ski resorts, Sauze d’Oulx makes for the perfect base from which to explore the 400km of linked slopes in the area that hosted the 2006 Winter Olympics.

Sauze d’Oulx sits at the northern end of the Milky Way (the Via Lattea in Italian), a huge linked ski area famed for the quality and quantity of its intermediate terrain. Fears over snow reliability have been alleviated in recent years and now 60% of the slopes are equipped with snow machines and more is being invested each year.

Its party reputation of old has diminished somewhat but the resort is certainly buzzing, especially during the big holiday weeks. Food and drink are a major part of the holiday experience and the Milky Way boasts more than 30 on slope restaurants and bars – including some great rustic huts.

Keen skiers will want to reach Montgenèvre over the French border at the far end of the linked area. This an extremely popular excursion for the Ski Club Leaders – in resort this season between 5th January and 6th April.

For the latest conditions updates and to meet up with other skiers in resort make sure to visit the Ski Club Facebook Page for the resort.

Our Sauze d’Oulx Resort Ratings

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

Sauze d’Oulx Skiing

Most pistes are suited to intermediate skiers, who have an almost limitless choice of terrain across the ski area – which includes Sestriere, Sansicario, Claviere, Cesana Torinese and Montgenèvre. This is also a great resort for bad weather as a large proportion of the slopes are within the trees but crucially in this relatively dry corner of the Alps, most of these are now equipped with snowmaking.

• Total Pistes: 400 km
• Blue: 24%
• Red: 55%
• Black: 21%
• Lifts: 63
• Altitude: 1372m – 2749m

For Beginners

There’s a small slope in town but the main nursery area is quite inconveniently located up the mountain at Sportinia. At this level the snow is more reliable but there is only a magic carpet and downloading is required as the only routes back down are marked as red. Once beyond this level however, the gentle blues further up the hill provide some decent scope for progression.

For Intermediates

The whole area is ideal for confident intermediates and you really get a sense of travelling if you venture away from the local slopes, past Sestriere, and make your way towards Montgenèvre. Some of the reds down towards the link by Sansicario are particularly good, especially the quiet piste 71. Another area worth exploring is at Moncrons – despite the draglifts and slow chair – as it is often quiet and great on a sunny day as it lies above the treeline.

For Advanced/Expert

Despite over 80km of the slopes holding the ‘black’ rating, many of these would be reds in other resorts. In reality there are limited challenges for advanced and expert skiers, but if you catch the resort after fresh snowfall, the tree runs are often deserted and you could be finding fresh powder stashes days after the storm has rolled through.

Sauze d’Oulx Piste Map

The Sauze d’Oulx piste map, covering the entire Milky Way can be downloaded here.

Sauze d’Oulx Ski Pass Prices

We would recommended purchasing the Vialattea International Pass (this also covers Montegenèvre) if you’re in resort for more than a few days. It is also possible to pre-book your passes online – click here for more info. The cheaper prices listed are only available between 7th-21st December 2018 and 1st-7th April 2019. Also, please note that these prices may change, so check with the resort – by clicking here – for the latest or give the Ski Club’s expert info & advice team a call on 020 8410 2009.

A season pass costs €1100 and this covers the entire region, including the slopes beyond Cesana and across the French border at Montgenèvre. Cheaper rates are available for families.

Sauze d’Oulx Season Dates

• Opening Date: 7th December 2018 (some slopes in Montgenèvre may open earlier)
• Closing Date: 7th April 2019

For full details see resort's website and note that these dates are subject to change. The Ski Club’s expert info & advice team are also on hand to help – call 020 8410 2009.

Sauze d’Oulx Resort

The resort is centred on a cobbled, car-free zone in keeping with the traditional buildings of the region. From this, larger hotels and chalets spread out across the hillside so check where you want to be based if walking in ski boots to the lifts in the morning isn’t your thing. At night the centre is lively, with bars filling up quickly and staying full into the small hours.

For Families

As mentioned, the beginner slopes are far from ideal but there is a small area in the resort itself. Off the slopes there is not a great deal to do for families and the busy town centre may prove to be a bit noisy if you have children – try and stay a little bit further out if this is the case.

For Après

Sauze offers some of the best après in Italy but it doesn’t quite rival the party towns in France or Austria. That being said happy hours are very popular and several places will also serve up free antipasti with your drinks. Some recommendations include Grotta, Scacco Matto and Max’s Café – home to a four hour happy hour. Later on, the late night bars get going and don’t be surprised if you end up watching live music at Vagbondi’s before heading to the nightclub underneath Mira’s.

How to get to Sauze d’Oulx

Sauze d’Oulx is one of the most accessible resorts in the Alps and can be reached in around an hour from Turin airport. Private transfers are therefore good value, especially if you can share lifts. The resort is also only ten minutes from the train station at Oulx – which itself is around an hour and a half from Turin airport. Other airport options include Milan, Geneva, Lyon, Grenoble and Chambery – all of which are between two to three hours away by road.

• Turin airport: 1 hour (driving) or 2 hours (by train)
• Chambery airport: 2 hours (driving)
• Milan airport: 2.5 hours (driving)
• Geneva airport: 2.5 hours (driving)
• Grenoble airport: 2.5 hours (driving)
• Lyon airport: 2.5 hours (driving)
• Calais: approximately 11 hours driving (620 miles)

Sauze d’Oulx Contact Details

• Website: www.sauzedoulx.net
• Email: info.sauze@turismotorino.org
• Telephone: +39 0122 858 009
• Facebook: @sauzedoulxenglish
• Instagram: sauzeitaly