Pila has a very unique offer in the world of skiing. Besides having slopes right up to 2,700m, part of the reason why the snow cover here is so good; and spectacular views out across the French, Italian and Swiss Alps reaching Mont Blanc, Monte Rosa and the Matterhorn, it also has the option of a gondola ride from the ski resort base down to the valley town of Aosta.
Aosta is not just any town either, it’s rich in Roman remains, so as well as taking the 20-minute ride down to perhaps do some shopping or enjoy a meal, there are Roman buildings to explore, if you fancy something really different on your ski holiday.
But back to the ski resort itself and the slopes. Staying on the mountain you’ll find a great value, snow sure, family friendly resort where 90% of the accommodation offers doorstep skiing on quiet sheltered pistes, mostly above 2000m, making it one of the most snow sure destinations in the Alps and with breath taking views. Even without the added Aosta option, it is pretty special.
There are 75km of perfectly prepared pistes, served by 10 chairlifts, the gondola and a cable car as well as five conveyor lifts, there are no drag lifts. Beginners have half-a-dozen easy blue runs to hone their skills on, then intermediates have a great choice of 27 red pistes to explore. For expert skiers there are four black runs but plenty of off piste to be found with a guide. An Aosta Valley regional lift pass gives the option to explore neighbouring ski areas too and for the well-heeled there’s even the possibility of heli-skiing. Freestyle ski and snowboard fans van enjoy Pila’s AreaEffe Snowpark which has been expanded for the 22-23 season.
There’s a good mixture of tree-lined and above tree line terrain at Pila, and along with its excellent natural snowfall record the ski area has more than 500 snow cannons to initially build up bases and top up when needed.
To make your Pila ski holiday extra special, besides that option of the gondola down to the Roman City of Aosta, there are little extras organised in Pila that you can add to your days on the slope. Popular options include dinner in a mountain restaurant, accessed using a snowcat over-snow piste machine, or there’s the magical torch light descent by ski, the chance to go snow shoeing at night or a fun wine tasting at the Yeti with Sommelier Katia Albanese.
Pila is friendly and welcoming and although it is quiet in the week and feels like your own private ski area, it can get busier at weekends when the Italians arrive en masse and there’s a surprisingly lively apres ski scene. There are great value bars and restaurants on the slopes and in the base village. You’ll find a wide variety of excellent food on offer to satisfy any taste in the restaurants on and off the slopes, from fine dining at Society on the Nouva Piste to Pub food at the Boulin Rouge.
Pila is a short transfer from Turin airport and the Aosta Valley is Italy’s smallest province, in the northwest corner of the country, making it one of the closest and easiest areas of Ital to reach by rail or road from the UK too.
The New Gondola
The team at Pila are hard at work on a new gondola which will have three drop off points on its way up to Cima Couis 1 at the top of the ski area at 2700m and is due to open for the 2023-24 season.
The new lift is designed to make the mountain accessible to anyone wishing to admire one of the most incredible views of the Alps, whisking skiers to the top of the ‘Platta’ Piste No 27 in no time .
Pilaski Ltd
Pilaski are the Pila experts, run by BASI qualified ski instructor and race coach Carole who has specialised knowledge of Pila, and takes ski guiding groups out almost every morning to help explore the slopes and help her guests make the most of their holidays. Carole is part of the Pila Tourist Board and fluent in Italian with 80% of her clients returning each season.
Pilaski offers holidays to all, from individuals, families to groups of any size. As well as package ski holidays, Pilaski has created an affordable tailor-made holiday experience, where clients are looked after, from start to finish, simply get in touch with your needs/requirements and they will do the rest.
The company also works with the Caring Cancer Trust, Special Olympics and Impulse Racing and many more.
“With Pilaski you will get a personalized experience. I ski and spend time with my clients, not just at the end of a phone. No call centres, no speaking to someone that does not know the resort, no hard sell and if by any chance I don’t know the answer, I will find out!” says Carole.
pilaski.co.uk
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