In the northeastern part of the province of Valle d’Aosta is the La Thuile ski resort. Just a few decades ago, it was an ordinary mining village. But with the advent of the fashion for ski resorts, money came here and La Thuile became a respectable ski resort.
However, the history of this settlement goes back to the distant past. Because La Thuile was once the last stop before the Little Saint Bernard Pass, beyond which France begins, and at one time it was Gaul. The remains of the Roman road that once led to the aforementioned Roman province can still be seen here today.
The town with its small, cozy houses made of stone and wood captivates with its rustic atmosphere, but at the same time provides modern opportunities for winter recreation. Tours to La Thuile are an opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the magnificent Alpine landscapes and try your hand at one of the numerous ski slopes. Skiing holidays in La Thuile will especially appeal to experienced skiers, as there are a number of winding and dynamic slopes. The La Thuile resort is built up with comfortable hotels and cozy restaurants where you can spend your free time with pleasure.
It is surrounded on all sides by high picturesque mountains, from the tops of which well-groomed snow-white slopes descend, forming a large-scale ski resort of high European quality. A characteristic feature of the local slopes is a rich layer of soft fluffy snow and a variety of terrain. All skiing areas, aimed mainly at experienced skiers, are interconnected by a network of cable cars and regular bus services, thanks to which tourists have the opportunity to move between all areas of the ski complex in a short period of time.
How to get there
However, even today there is a motorway connecting Italy and France, but it is closed in winter. And to avoid these inconveniences, a 22-kilometer tunnel was built, which operates all year round. By the way, thanks to the tunnels, the nearest airport to La Thuile is Geneva, only 120 kilometers away.
And for greater convenience, vacationers here, between Geneva airport and La Thuile runs an express, throughout the ski season. However, you can also get there from the airports of Turin (160 kilometers) and Milan (220 km). Many hotels offer a service such as a transfer.
The best transport for the resort is a car. Rented or your own, but most importantly independent of the schedule, and ready at any moment to help you get somewhere interesting
Recreation
A lot of attention is paid to creating comfort and convenience for vacationers at the resort. Numerous restaurants located right on the mountain slopes, cozy hotels, shops and entertainment venues are open daily for visitors and create an appropriate atmosphere of friendliness and hospitality in the tourist town. At the same time, in the vicinity of La Thuile there are many interesting natural and architectural monuments, so those who wish can always diversify their stay at the resort and take exciting excursions to the surrounding areas.
The length of the slopes in the vicinity of La Thuile is almost 121 kilometers. And their peculiarity is the fact that the difficult ones, for the most part, are located in the lower part of the mountains, and the gentle ones in the upper part.
Also a pleasant component of winter recreation here is considered to be the small number of people on the slopes. And this fact most likely indicates the large area of ski slopes per person here than in other resorts.
As a striking example, we can cite the French La Rozier, which is located on the other side of Mont Blanc and has slopes that are many times more crowded.
The La Thuile ski area is adjacent to the neighboring resort of La Rosière, located in France. Together with it, they form a single ski area – San Bernardo, which includes one and a half hundred kilometers of slopes of varying degrees of difficulty. They are served by several dozen modern lifts, for which there are almost never queues, which is another positive feature of this ski complex. For professionals and experienced connoisseurs of snow slopes, San Bernardo is a real delight. Almost two dozen of the most difficult routes and twice as many slopes of medium and high difficulty open up the widest opportunities for creativity for fans of alpine skiing. However, beginners also have something to do here, as well as snowboarders, freeriders and other winter sports enthusiasts.
The ski area in La Thuile is located between 1,176 and 2,642 meters above sea level. Beginners and children will find the gentle slopes in the upper part of the Italian ski area suitable. The La Thuile resort also has several interesting and difficult ski slopes that pass through the forest and descend directly to the town. Among them, the steep “Diretta” slope is particularly popular with professional skiers. In addition to skiing in La Thuile, you can also go cross-country skiing, taking advantage of the first-class slopes laid through picturesque forests.
La Thuile Ski Resort, Italy
At an altitude of just under 2,200 meters above sea level, the town of Petit-Saint-Bernard offers excellent trails for experienced skiers. The longest of them, San Bernardo, descends from the top of Chaz Dura, with a length of over two and a half kilometers. The best slopes for beginners are located above the Le Suisse area, in the Italian part of the ski resort. The only inconvenience is that they are spread out in the central region of the mountain range and to get down to the village, beginners have to overcome slopes of increased difficulty. Therefore, novice skiers who ski here prefer to use the lift. It is in the same area that the routes designed for “pros” start. They start from Le Suisse and run further down through coniferous forests. Excellent slopes for experienced skiers await their heroes at the Ruitor glacier, descending towards La Rosière. “Boarders” also usually spend time there. Fans of other winter sports, including sledding, ice skating and cross-country skiing, are usually based on the slopes of La Thuile, where the appropriate slopes and sections are equipped for them.
Sights and comfort
The main natural attraction of the resort is the Chanousia Alpine Botanical Garden, which, however, has an exceptional appeal only in the summer season. It flaunts itself at an altitude of over two thousand meters on the Petit Saint Bernard Pass. It is open to visitors from July to September, and in winter it can only be observed under a cap of white fluffy snow. Not far from the Rutor glacier, beautiful glacial lakes and picturesque valleys, Orgere and Cavanne, which are part of the Mont Blanc mountain range, stretch out. Of the architectural objects of the region, the ancient churches in the neighboring villages of Courmayeur and Pre-Saint-Didier are of particular interest. La Thuile itself has almost no cultural and historical monuments, and the city is full of modern, but low-rise buildings, comfortable and cozy hotels, restaurants, bars and discos. It is completely focused on the tourist industry and represents the image of a classic resort town.
What particularly stands out in La Thuile are its restaurants. Many of them offer a wide range of French and Italian dishes to visitors. For example, the restaurant La Grotta has on its menu both traditional Italian pizza and the famous French “bet bourguignon”. La Fordze specializes in vegetable dishes, as well as fruits and game. One of the most popular establishments in the city, Les Granges, is famous for its meat delicacies such as grilled meat or seafood fried on red-hot Alpine stone. Many dishes are served here with garlic and various types of oils. In general, in La Thuile it is impossible to die of hunger, but you can eat to your heart’s content in any eatery, and quite inexpensively.
The nearest major cities to the resort are Milan, Turin and Swiss Geneva. You can get to any of them in a short period of time, so many tourists vacationing in La Thuile often organize exciting excursions for one or two days. However, a vacation on the ski slopes of San Bernardo is also full of emotions and brings a lot of pleasant impressions to those who prefer this region and the town of La Thuile, in particular. This resort in some ways reflects all the advantages of international ski centers. It is never boring here. Bright sunlight contributes to a good mood, the excellent quality of the slopes ensures comfortable and safe skiing, and communication with cheerful and cheerful “Italian-French” irrevocably eliminates signs of fatigue.
Another nice feature of La Thuile is the mandatory presence of snow throughout the season, which allows you to ski here not only on the slopes, but also off them. Therefore, if you can only ski cross-country, then you will find it very interesting and comfortable here.
And since hotels in La Thuile are open in the summer, there is also something to do here at this time. In particular, the district has many hiking and cycling trails, after which it is very pleasant to return to a comfortable hotel, take a shower and calm the nerves with a delicious dinner in one of the many restaurants here.
Hotels
And now briefly about the best places to stay. Let’s start with Casa Elvis La Thuile apartments.
This hotel is located in close proximity to the lifts. The rooms have a hotel area, kitchen, bathroom, clothes dryer. There is free internet, parking, etc. Nearby is the Lo Tatà restaurant. The staff speaks English, Italian and French.
Hotel Letterario Locanda Collomb is located near the center of La Thuile. In addition to free parking and Wi-Fi, hotel guests have the opportunity to use the library. There is also a ski equipment rental.
You can get to the ski slopes using the free bus that stops near the hotel. Rooms are equipped with TVs and minibars. Breakfast is included in the price and is served in the living room and consists mainly of fresh milk, hot drinks, croissants, cold cuts, yogurt, honey and cheese.
Casa Belli Apartments are located 300 metres from the Bosco Express ski lift. Rooms have a living area with a kitchenette, which includes a fridge and a stove.
There is a private bathroom with a bidet. There is no TV or parking. But there is Wi-Fi and an on-site restaurant, which aims to correct the existing shortcomings with its food and drinks.
Hotel Boton D’Or & Wellness is located 200 meters from the nearest ski lift. Just over half a kilometer from the center of La Thuile.
The rooms, in addition to bedding and bathrooms, are equipped with LCD TVs, free internet, minibars and coffee or tea making facilities.
The hotel has its own wellness center, which includes a fitness room, two saunas and the same number of hot tubs. There is free parking near the hotel and it is possible to organize transfers. Hiking and horseback riding excursions are available for an additional fee.
Hotel Rolland is located 400 meters from the ski slopes.
The rooms are equipped with bathrooms with free Wi-Fi. On the ground floor there is a lounge with a fireplace. There is also a small library.
In the morning, the hotel guests are served a buffet, which, in addition to snacks and sweets, serves local cuisine. Lunch and dinner can be enjoyed at a discount in a restaurant located two hundred meters from the hotel.
There is also free parking, a terrace, a garden, a children’s playground and a bar. The staff speaks English, French, German and Italian.
Hotel Planibel is located next to the ski slopes. A large hotel with its own restaurant, bar, indoor pool and mini market.
Paid parking – 9 euros per day. It is possible to use the laundry, safe, dry cleaning. There is a free fitness center with a sauna. Massage services are provided, but for a fee.
The restaurant operates in two directions: menu and buffet. There is a playground on the territory. The staff speaks English and Italian.
In addition to those mentioned, there are many more hotels and apartments.
