Monte Rosa Resort, Italy – 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-Trinité, Champoluc, Antagnan, Gressoney-Saint-Jean and Brusson. All of them make up a single ski region, which today is equipped with 130 km of slopes of all levels of difficulty. It is also worth saying 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 during their vacation. Travelers have the opportunity to choose in which of the resort villages to book a hotel for the duration of their intended vacation. Popular resorts of Monte Rosa are Champoliuk (mostly chosen by intermediate skiers), Alania-Valsesia (often called the “hidden pearl of the Alps”; in terms of its potential it can be compared to the Italian resort Arabba), Gressoney-la-Trinite (located in close proximity to the ski area), Gressoney-Saint-Jean (it’s quiet here, but the distance to the lifts is a little longer than in other villages) and Saint-Jean (the largest resort of Monte Rosa, all the main hotels, shops, restaurants and other entertainment are located here; the slopes are more suitable for intermediate skiers and beginners).

Champoluc

Located in the western part of the Val d’Ayas at 1570m, in a wide flat part of the valley, Champolluc has stunning views of the region’s impressive glaciers and peaks. The pretty resort has the classic atmosphere of a ski resort with an ice rink, plus plenty of traditional restaurants and Après-bars. The town has grown in the last few years; however, it still retains the charm and friendliness of the Italian Aosta Valley.

Hotels and apartments are located in or near the centre of the resort, meaning easy access to the slopes. Additionally, thanks to the fast climbs to Champoluc and the lack of queues, you can access the ski area very quickly and easily. 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, located just above Champoluc at 1640m, Gressoney has the open slopes typical of Monte Rosa, but also some stunning forest runs.

The resort itself is a quiet, unspoilt, neat village with easy access to the lifts and a friendly, authentic Italian atmosphere. Although there is no lively après-ski scene, the hotels are really cosy, so it is nice to just relax and enjoy the atmosphere. There are plenty of places to ski, as well as hotels with luxurious wellness centres.

From Gressoney you can access the entire Monte Rosa ski area, as well as its own forest areas with fantastic off-piste areas, a large range of red runs on both sides of the valley and children’s slopes with a magic carpet for beginners. You will love the heli-skiing option here, where you can descend into all three valleys from an altitude of over 2000 metres.

In total, the resort has 55 restaurants, 26 bars, a nightclub, an ice rink, a sports complex and a swimming pool. Sleigh rides, horse riding and dog sledding 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 Monte Rosa rises above several valleys at once, in which the ski resorts of Italy are located. These include, in particular, Champoluc, Gressoney and Alanya. The resorts of Monte Rosa are considered more intimate and suitable for family vacations or solitude, and Italians themselves like to relax here.

The ski slopes in Monte Rosa are suitable for any level of training – there are easy, medium, and difficult options, as well as many opportunities for freeride. Cozy restaurants, bars and thermal complexes, as constant attributes of any ski resort, are also present. The resorts of Monte Rosa are imbued with local flavor and coziness, except for winter holidays, it is somewhat uncrowded, which makes this place ideal for those who want a quiet vacation without the hustle and bustle.

The most convenient way to get to the resorts of Monte Rosa 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. There is no public transport, as such, on the route.

You can order an individual transfer before the time of arrival on services specializing in this type of service, for example, on Kiwitaxi, Intui.Travel and others. So, a transfer from Milan to Gressoney will take about 1 hour 45 minutes, to Champoluc – about 2 hours, to Alanya-Valsesia – about 2 hours 10 minutes. A transfer from Turin to Gressoney will take 1 hour 15 minutes, to Champoluc – 1 hour 25 minutes, to Alanya – 1 hour 35 minutes. In winter, a group transfer is also available.

A rented car will be an equally convenient means of transportation, as there are a large number of rental offices at both Turin and Milan airports. You can also clarify all rental conditions and book the desired car in advance using specialized services. These include, in particular, Rentalcars, Autoeurope, Economybookings and others like them. 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 roads connecting the cities are high-speed, in places – mountain serpentines, but, in general, they are comfortable and well equipped even for trips in winter.

Gressoni

Where to stay in Monte Rosa

At the foot of Monte Rosa, several valleys stretch out at once, in which local ski resorts are located. If you are looking for where 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 to stay, so it is better to book in advance. All resorts of Monte Rosa have excellent infrastructure and a cozy atmosphere.

In the resorts of Gressoney you can find hotels of all star categories from 1 to 5, which indicates that the resort is suitable for tourists with different budgets. In addition, apartments and guest houses are popular in Gressoney. Many of the 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 hotels in Gressoney are made in the chalet style and are designed for a small number of residents, which creates an additional atmosphere of comfort and conditions for a relaxing holiday. Also, the cost of accommodation usually includes breakfast, and in some hotels half board is also provided.

In Champoluc, there are significantly fewer places to stay than in the resorts of Gressoney, and hotels predominate here. The number of apartments for rent is limited. However, in everything else, especially in terms of infrastructure, Champoluc hotels are in no way inferior to hotels in Gressoney. The pricing policy is also comparable. The contingent of vacationers in Champoluc is mainly Italians themselves, so you can not always find English-speaking staff here. The absolute highlight of the resort are hotels equipped with spa areas and indoor swimming pools with a sauna area.

In Alanya-Valsesia, there are even fewer places to stay, 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, you can find several hotels and only a few apartments for accommodation.

You can check the prices for all possible accommodation options at the resorts of Monte Rosa on specialized search engine sites Booking, Hotellook and others, which allow you to compare all existing offers for the required dates. The largest number of offers for accommodation in the Monte Rosa resorts will be in Gressoney-le-Trino and Gressoney-Saint-Jean, these are the most urbanized towns, for solitude you should look for accommodation in Champoluc and Alanya-Valsesia.

For example, the following accommodation options are consistently popular:

Scoiattolo Hotel 4* – location in Gressoney, free shuttle to the slopes, availability of a wellness center, restaurant, bar, rooms of various sizes, meals – breakfasts, free private parking, wireless Internet, ski storage;

Ellex Hotel 3* — located in Staffal, the nearest ski lift is 250 m away, there is a spa area with hydromassage, sauna and bath, rooms of various sizes, meals — breakfast, free private parking available nearby, wireless Internet, ski storage;

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Hotel Flora Alpina 2* — located in Gressoney, close to the ski areas, rooms of various sizes, meals — breakfast, parking, free Wi-Fi, ski storage;

Fridau Residence and Wellness is an apart-hotel, located in the vicinity of Gressoney-les-Bains, the nearest ski lift is 600 m away, guests can stay in studios or apartments of various sizes, breakfast is available on request for an additional fee, there is a spa area with a hydromassage and a sauna, there is also a terrace for relaxation, free private parking, wireless internet.

Mountains in the area

What to see in Monte Rosa

The total length of the slopes of all resorts Monte Rosa is about 130 km with a predominant number of red slopes of medium difficulty. In addition, there are also great opportunities for heli-skiing and freeriding. The highest point exceeds the mark of 3000 meters. Cross-country skiing enthusiasts will also not be left out, for them the space for opportunities is practically unlimited. Other sports that have become popular in Monte Rosa include paragliding, ice skating, mountaineering, snowshoeing and dog sledding. Even in winter, Monte Rosa has an adventure rope park. The resorts of Monte Rosa are largely family-oriented, which is why there is a children’s snow park.

Monte Rosa

The cost of a ski pass for skiing in Monte Rosa is comparable to that of other ski resorts in Italy and varies mainly depending on the time of skiing (high and low seasons).

In the low season, the cost is lower. The number of vacationers is also proportionally reduced, so during this period, you can find solitude and feel like a pioneer in the resorts of Monte Rosa.

For those who like to combine active recreation with relaxation, a spa center is open in Champoluc, which offers many services in the field of relaxation procedures. The spa center is called “Monterosa Terme”. In addition, in the neighboring 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 hotel Jolanda Sport 4 *, which is located in the town of Gressoney-la-Trinite, there is a swimming pool, hydromassage, gym, Finnish sauna, Turkish steam room, outdoor pool, and spa treatments for face and body care, as well as massages.

The most unexpected thing about the resorts of Monte Rosa is that there are also cultural attractions here. So, in your free time from skiing, you can go to see the Savoy Castle, the Museum of Alpine Fauna or the Eco-Museum of Local Culture. In the summer, the resorts of Monte Rosa are also not empty, and tourists are invited to go climbing, hiking, horseback riding, golfing, fishing, cycling, rafting, canyoning and Nordic walking.