The resort of Monte Rosa , Italy is a vast region of ski tourism, the center of which is the mountain peak of the same name – the second highest in Europe. Mount Monte Rosa is surrounded by five picturesque alpine valleys: Gressoney-la-Trinite, Champoluc, Antanyon, Gressoney-Saint-Jean and Brusson. All of them make up a single ski region, which today is equipped with 130 km of tracks of all levels of difficulty. It should also be said that this resort is relatively young, so its active development continues today.
In most cases, the resort of Monte Rosa (Italy) is preferred by those tourists who value a calm, peaceful atmosphere and surprisingly beautiful surrounding nature on vacation. Travelers have the opportunity to choose in which of the resort villages to book a hotel for the duration of the intended vacation. Popular resorts of Monte Rosa are Champoluc (mainly chosen by intermediate skiers), Alanya-Vasezia (it is often called the “hidden pearl of the Alps”; in terms of its potential, it can be compared with the Italian resort of Arabba ), Gressoney-la-Trinite(located in the immediate vicinity of the ski area), Gressoney-San John (it is quiet here, but the distance to the lifts is a little more than in other villages) and San John (the largest resort of Monte Rosa, here are all the main hotels, shops , restaurants and other entertainment; the tracks are more suitable for intermediate skiers and beginners).
Champoliuk
Located in the western part of the Val d’Ayas at 1,570 m, in a wide flat part of the valley, Champoluc has a stunning view of the impressive glaciers and peaks of the region. The cute resort has the classic atmosphere of a ski resort with an ice rink, plus plenty of traditional restaurants and Apres bars. The city has grown over the past few years; however, it still retains the charm and friendliness of Italy’s Aosta Valley.
Hotels and apartments are located in or near the center of the resort, which means easy access to the slopes. In addition, thanks to the fast climbs to Champolyuk and the absence of queues, you get access to the ski area in a very quick and easy way. The ski area is mainly a favorite among intermediate skiers, but there are some challenging black runs and an amazing off-piste area.
Gressoney
Right in the heart of the Monte Rosa ski area , just above Champoluc at 1,640m, Gressoney has the open slopes typical of Monte Rosa, but there are also some stunning forest pistes.
The resort itself is a quiet, unspoilt, neat village with convenient access to the lifts and a friendly, authentic Italian atmosphere. Although the resort doesn’t have a lively apres scene, the hotels are really cozy, so it’s nice to just relax and enjoy the atmosphere. There are plenty of ski resorts and hotels with luxury spas.
From Gressoney you can access the entire Monte Rosa ski run, as well as its own woodlands with fantastic off-piste areas, a large range of red pistes on both sides of the valley and children’s slopes with a magic carpet for beginners. You’ll love the heli-skiing option here, where you can descend into all three valleys from over 2,000 meters.
In total, the resort has 55 restaurants, 26 bars, a night club, a skating rink, a sports complex and a swimming pool. Sleigh, horse and dog sled rides are organized for those who wish.
Monte Rosa, Italy 2019: how to get there, where to stay, what to see
How to get to Monte Rosa
The mountain peak of Monte Rosa rises immediately above several valleys, in which the ski resorts of Italy are located. These include, in particular, Champolyuk, Gressoney and Alanya. The resorts of Monte Rosa are considered more intimate and suitable for family vacations or solitude, Italians themselves like to rest here.
Skiing trails in Monte Rosa are suitable for any level of training – there are easy, medium and difficult options, as well as many opportunities for freeriding. Cozy restaurants, bars and thermal complexes, as constant attributes of any ski resort, are also present. The resorts of Monte Rosa are shrouded in local flavor and comfort, except during the winter holidays, it is somewhat sparsely populated, which makes this place ideal for those who want a quiet vacation without the hustle and bustle.
The most convenient way to get to Monte Rosa resorts is from Turin or Milan. There are direct and connecting flights from Ukraine to both cities, it is easy to check on the search engine sites Aviasales, Buruki and others similar to them. Then you can get from Turin or Milan to the valley of the Monte Rosa mountains by transfer or rented car. As such, there is no public transport along the route.
You can order an individual transfer before the arrival time on services that specialize in this type of service, for example, on Kiwitaxi, Intui.Travel and others. Yes, a transfer from Milan to Gressoney will take about 1 hour 45 minutes, to Champolyuk – about 2 hours, to Alanya-Valsesia – about 2 hours 10 minutes. The transfer from Turin to Gressoney will take 1 hour 15 minutes, to Champoluc – 1 hour 25 minutes, to Alanya – 1 hour 35 minutes. A group shuttle service is also available in winter.
A rented car will be an equally convenient means of transportation, since there are a large number of rental offices at both Turin and Milan airports. You can clarify all the rental conditions and reserve the right car in advance with the help of specialized services. These include, in particular, Rentalcars, Autoeurope, Economybookings and others. The distance between Turin and the resorts of Monte Rosa is from 110 to 150 km, between Milan and the resorts – from 150 to 180 km. The routes connecting the cities are high-speed, sometimes mountain serpentines, but, in general, comfortable and well equipped even for trips in winter.
Gressoni
Where to stay in Monte Rosa
Several valleys spread out at the foot of Monte Rosa, where local ski resorts are located. If you are looking for a place to stay in Monte Rosa, the main resorts here are Gressoney-le-Trino, Gressoney-Saint-Jean, Champoluc and Alanya-Valsesia. These resorts are small and have a limited number of places, so it is better to book in advance. All Monte Rosa resorts are united by excellent infrastructure and a cozy atmosphere.
In the resorts of Gressoney, you can find hotels of all categories from 1 to 5 stars for accommodation, which means that the resort is suitable for tourists with different budgets. In addition, apartments and guest houses are popular in Gressoney. Many local hotels have their own access to the slopes, as well as many additional options on their territory, such as restaurants, parking, saunas, children’s playrooms. Most of the hotels in Gressoney are designed in the style of a chalet and are designed for a small number of residents, which creates an additional atmosphere of coziness and conditions for a relaxing holiday. Also, breakfast is usually included in the price of accommodation, and in some hotels, half-board is also provided.
There are significantly fewer places to stay in Champolyuk than in the resorts of Gressoney, and hotels prevail here. The number of apartments for rent is limited. Nevertheless, in everything else, in particular, in terms of infrastructure, the hotels of Champolyuk are in no way inferior to the hotels in Gressoney. The pricing policy is also comparable. The contingent of vacationers in Champolyuk is mainly Italians themselves, so it is not always possible to meet English-speaking staff here. The absolute highlight of the resort are hotels equipped with spa areas and indoor pools with a sauna area.
There are even fewer places to stay in Alanya-Valsesia, the resort is suitable for those looking for solitude or unity with nature. The resort itself has a less developed infrastructure, social life here is less saturated. In general, here you can find several hotels and only a few apartments for accommodation.
You can check the prices for all possible options for accommodation at the resorts of Monte Rosa on the specialized search sites Booking, Hotellook and others, which allow you to compare all existing offers for the required dates. The largest number of proposals for the accommodation of Monte Rosa resorts will be in Gressoney-le-Trino and Gressoney-Saint-Jean, these are the most urbanized towns, for seclusion you should look for accommodation in Champollyuk and Alanya-Valsesia.
For example, the following accommodation options are steadily popular:
Scoiattolo Hotel 4* – location in Gressoney, free shuttle to the slopes, availability of a health center, restaurant, bar, rooms of different capacities, food – breakfast, free private parking, wireless Internet, places for storing skis;
Ellex Hotel 3* – location in Staffale, the nearest ski lift is 250 m away, there is a spa area with hydromassage, sauna and bath, rooms of different capacities, food – breakfast, free private parking is available nearby, wireless Internet, places for storing skis;
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Hotel Flora Alpina 2* – location in Gressoney, proximity to skiing areas, rooms of different capacities, food – breakfast, parking, free Wi-Fi, ski storage;
Fridau Residence and Wellness is an apart-hotel, the location is in the vicinity of Gressoni, the nearest ski lift is 600 m away, guests can stay in studio rooms or apartments of various capacities, breakfast is provided upon request for an additional fee, there is a spa area with hydromassage and sauna, there is also a terrace for relaxation, free private parking, wireless internet.
Mountains in the vicinity
What to see in Monte Rosa
The total length of the trails of all Monte Rosa resorts is about 130 km, with the majority of red trails of medium difficulty. In addition, there are also great opportunities for heli-skiing and freeriding. The highest point exceeds the mark of 3000 meters. Lovers of cross-country skiing will also not be disappointed, for them the space for possibilities is practically unlimited. Other sports popular in Monte Rosa include paragliding, ice skating, mountaineering, snowshoeing and dog sledding. An adventure rope park is open in Monte Rosa even in winter. The resorts of Monte Rosa are largely oriented towards family vacations, which is why a children’s snow park has been opened here.
Monte Rosa
The cost of a ski pass for skiing in Monte Rosa is comparable to the cost at other ski resorts in Italy and differs mainly from the time of skiing (high and low seasons).
In the low season, the price is lower. The number of vacationers also decreases proportionately, so during this period you can find seclusion and feel like a pioneer at the Monte Rosa resorts .
For those who like to combine active recreation with relaxation, Champolyuk has an open spa center that offers many services in the field of relaxation procedures. The spa center is called “Monterosa Terme”. In addition, in the nearby town of Saint Vincent there is also a thermal complex “Fons Salutis”, which offers procedures using mineral waters of local origin. You can also find a spa center at the Jolanda Sport 4 * hotel, which is located in the town of Gressoney-la – Trinite , there is a swimming pool, hydromassage, gym, Finnish sauna, Turkish steam room, outdoor swimming pool, and spa treatments for the face and body, as well as massage.
The most unexpected thing about the Monte Rosa resorts is that there is also a place for cultural attractions. So, in your free time from skiing, you can visit the Savoy Castle, the museum of alpine fauna or the eco-museum of local culture. In the summer, the Monte Rosa resorts are also not empty, and tourists are invited to engage in rock climbing, hiking, horseback riding, golfing, fishing, cycling, rafting, canyoning and Nordic walking.
Monte Rosa