The ski town of Courmayeur sits nestled in the midst of spectacular scenery on the sunnier side of Mont Blanc. Here, charming cobbled streets of the resort centre provide visitors with exquisite Italian wining and dining and fashionable local shops – all of this before you’ve even hit the slopes of this famous ski area.
Courmayeur lies within the Aosta Valley, a stunning winter destination that combines Italian and French cultures in the best ways. Fantastic food, friendly welcoming locals and a relaxed atmosphere will greet you here, across a range of winter resorts.
Arguably the most famous of these is Courmayeur. From its iconic location at the foot of Mont Blanc to its snowy cobbled streets, lined with fashionable shops and luxury hotels, this is a resort that oozes exclusivity.
A Superb Ski Area
With 100km of slopes, it’s not the largest of ski areas – but it’s more than enough for all skiers to enjoy, with beautiful tree-lined slopes for all abilities. A resort height of 1224 metres means that the snow cover is impressively reliable and even in dry spells, over 250 snow cannons mean that you can ski all day every day.
The local Courmayeur area is fantastic for beginner and intermediate skiers, with plenty of blue and red runs to enjoy, including the ‘Baby Bowl’, an area ideal for those making their first forays onto the slopes!
More advanced skiers will enjoy varied black runs and challenging mogul fields, as well as epic off piste terrain – including heliskiing!
For those keen to get as much serious skiing in as possible, a quick and easy link to the freeride Mecca of Chamonix is available via the spectacular Skyway Monte Bianco cable car. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even arrange to ski the world famous Vallée Blanche over the back of Mont Blanc down to Chamonix. The Chamonix and Argentiere ski areas are often hailed as having some of the best skiing in the world for adventurous travellers and are well worth a day trip from Courmayeur.
Keen skiers will particularly enjoy the fact that if you buy a 6 day lift pass, you have the option to ski two days in another Aosta Valley resort, so can easily explore two or three resorts in one holiday!
From short ski breaks to week-long holidays, the proximity of Courmayeur to both Geneva, Turin and Milan Malpensa airports makes it a popular destination for British skiers even just looking for a long weekend. With transfers between 1 hour 20 and 2 hour 40, it’s also a great choice for families with younger children keen for a ski holiday without a lengthy journey!
A Famously Exclusive Resort
Originally a spa resort, Courmayeur also has a lot to offer those that might want to use their mountain getaway to relax and rejuvenate in Alpine luxury. Hot springs, historic spas and beautiful hillside villages make this the perfect destination for winter enthusiasts who want to enjoy all the mountains have to offer – not just the ski slopes.
The village of Courmayeur is centred around the quaint, pedestrianised Via Roma, which boasts a variety of restaurants and bars, as well as fashionable boutiques and antique treasure troves.
Don’t be surprised to see impeccably well-dressed weekend visitors from the fashion capital of the World, Milan, gracing the streets and lively bars and cafes throughout the day here. It’s a destination that’s frequently enjoyed by Italians and international visitors alike, giving the village a bustling, lively atmosphere.
© Courmayeur Mont Blanc / Facebook
Indeed, for many visitors to Courmayeur, the ski slopes are just an added bonus! This is an added bonus for keen skiers, as it means the mountain is often nowhere near as crowded than in other resorts of a similar size. Wide, open slopes and hardly a lift queue in sight? Sounds good to us!
For a truly spectacular evening experience, take the cable car up and enjoy dinner in one of the delicious mountain restaurants. Last descents run until midnight, so you are really able to make the most of these spectacular views.
However, no matter how exclusive Courmayeur is, it doesn’t need to break the bank!
Yes of course it does have more than its fair share of luxury 5-star hotels and boutique accommodations, but there are also many affordable options for those that want to experience this resort in a more affordable way. Companies such as Interski, the Aosta Valley experts, can easily find you your perfect Courmayeur getaway, no matter your budget.
Hotel Crampon
A charming, family run hotel located in a quiet position just off from the main pedestrianised centre of Courmayeur. Shops, bars and restaurants can be reached on foot in just a few minutes.
Hotel Del Viale
Owned by four generations of the same family, with impeccable service and friendly staff to ensure you have the best holiday. Located on Courmayeur’s main street, the pedestrianised centre is just 300m walk away and, although it’s only 900m to the gondola in Dolonne, the hotel even provides an efficient complimentary shuttle service.
Hotel Dolonne
Just a short walk from the gondola, the Hotel Dolonne occupies a beautiful 16th-century building of particular architectural interest in the historic village of Dolonne, on the outskirts of Courmayeur.
A contemporary hotel in an incredible location in the centre of Courmayeur, just metres from the main street and under 200m from the main cable car and with a state-of-the-art Wellness Centre.
Hotel Scoiattolo
A modern, cosy 4* hotel with a peaceful spa area, set next to the pedestrianised area of Courmayeur and just a short walk to the lifts
In addition to great hotels, in Courmayeur, you can experience some of the best mountain food around, for a fraction of the price of other resorts. Mouth-watering cream-topped hot chocolates, flavoursome Italian coffee, delicious pizzas and pastas, gelato that needs no introduction… there’s good reason that Courmayeur is known as one of the gourmet capitals of the Alps!
Why Interski?
Interski are the Aosta Valley specialists, with almost 40 years of experience giving them an unparalleled knowledge of the local area. Focusing on just the Aosta Valley means that Interski’s expertise and in-resort service is second to none.
All prices include lift pass and winter sports insurance, both often forgotten elements of a ski holiday that can quickly ramp up a package price. With Interski, half board packages even include a hot snack lunch at a mountain restaurant each day, so you don’t have to worry about facing hidden charges for food each day!
Interski offer amazing flexibility, from room-only bookings to self-catering B&B, half-board and 5-star accommodation options. Travel can be added, whether you’d prefer to fly, coach or self-drive.
However, what really sets Interski apart is the convenience they offer, in all aspects of your ski holiday.
They are the only tour operator to have their own ski hire building, located right on the piste, so Interski guests never have to carry ski equipment back and forth from hotel to lift. For anyone that’s experienced that lovely walk to or from ski lifts (particularly with kids in tow!) you will know that this is an incredibly helpful addition to your ski holiday! This also means that expert Interski technicians will be on hand throughout your holiday, with a range of high quality skis, boards and boots on offer.
Interski also have their own ski school set up, with the Interski Snowsport School the largest British run Snowsports school in the Alps. Staffed by all English-speaking minimum BASI Level 2 instructors (or national equivalent), they offer specialised lessons, from Learn to Ski weeks, adult lessons, junior ski school and private sessions.
If you are travelling with children, particularly those aged 7-15, Interski offer additional benefits. Not only do 7-15 year-olds get free ski, boot and helmet hire, but they can also enjoy Interski’s unique ski clothing rental service, with quality ski wear delivered directly to your hotel room for the week!
Finally, Interski trips are fully ABTA and ATOL protected for total peace of mind.
For more information, head to interski.co.uk