Mountain and winter sports Italie - Alpes italiennes et Dolomites

The Saint-Barthélémy valley holds the title, shared with Cogne, of regional cross-country skiing capital. In total, the area offers three blue trails (from 3.5 to 9 km), six red trails (from 11 to 19.5 km) and one black trail (30 km). The trails start in the village of Porliod and run for dozens of kilometers in an absolutely magnificent environment of dense fir forests alternating with expanses of alpine pastures, for a total and soothing immersion in the mountains. The rather high average altitude (approx. 2,000 m) ensures excellent snow cover throughout the winter season, despite the south-facing aspect and sunny location. Nine different trails of all levels of difficulty, ranging in length from 3 to 30 km, wind their way up and down the high Saint-Barthélémy valley, passing by some fifteen alpine chalets, crossing dozens of streams and always staying well away from any inhabited area - a truly enchanting adventure in communion with nature, so rare and appreciated. The resort's "mythical" trail is the Gran Tor, the only black trail, which runs from Praz de l'Arp all the way to Alpe Ollière after a long, thirty-kilometer loop on the other side of the valley. The cross-country foyer has all the services skiers need (rental, bar, restaurant, toilets...) and there's even an alpine refuge on the slopes.

There is a jet-ski school and rentals.

Pian del Frais is the small mountain hamlet above Chiomonte. It became a south-facing ski resort in the early 1930s. It lies at an altitude of 1,500 m, in a basin where the eight slopes, forming a total of 25 km of skiable terrain, converge. It is a particularly suitable resort for beginners, families, school groups or ski clubs. To reach the resort, in summer and winter, a chairlift leaves from the centre of Chiomonte and climbs some 700 metres in about 10-15 minutes.

In addition to the traditional on-piste alpine skiing lessons for all levels and snowboarding, experienced guides can take you on exceptional off-piste skiing, snowshoeing or ski touring trips. In a panorama like the Dolomites, you can embark on this kind of expedition to take your eyes off the slopes. And a guide is essential to explore these summits. In the summer, you can experiment with vias ferratas or climbing, again technical sports that require equipment. They are versatile!

This association of alpine guides has 25 alpine guides and 3 mid-mountain guides. On their website you can book a visit and discover the team. You can ask for Nadia, who speaks quite good French and transmits her passion very easily! She, or her colleagues, will propose you a program adapted to the many possibilities: via ferrata, but also hiking, climbing, ice climbing, snowshoeing, skiing. This is the ideal way to discover the best of the Dolomites in complete safety and to rent the right equipment.

This ski and snowboard school offers lessons for adults and children (from 4 years old), in individual or group versions. For adults: off-piste skiing, freestyle skiing and snowboarding lessons. All of the school's instructors speak French, which will make it easier for the youngest children to learn the techniques specific to snow sports, especially in a beautiful alpine environment, in a domain that has more than 400 km of slopes. Handiskiing lessons also available, ask for more information.

A ski and snowboard school that offers lessons for children and adults of all levels at attractive prices. Intensive courses are possible during a weekend or a week to learn the basics of skiing or to perfect your technique in a magnificent environment and in the company of mountain professionals, in complete safety. Many formulas are planned, remember to contact them to check the dates and types of training available.

Scuola Sci Bardonecchia is a ski school located in Bardonecchia. It offers ski lessons for all levels, from beginner to expert. The school also offers cycling lessons at half price thanks to Voucher Servizi Regione Piemonte ESTATE 2023.

This ski school, for adults and children alike, offers downhill skiing and snowboarding lessons, in private or group lessons, for one hour, half a day or a full day. Two thirds of the instructors speak French, a real plus to learn the particular techniques of the board sport you have chosen. They are all very competent and will allow you to learn or improve your skills in sublime landscapes, in complete safety. Their watchword? The passion, which they will undoubtedly pass on to you!

The school provides specialized instructors to learn the different techniques or to improve their skills in downhill skiing or snowboarding. Courses for children and adults, in individual or group versions. For absolute beginners, it is advisable to start with individual lessons, as the support allows rapid progress. This is even more true for snowboarding, which requires a good start to master your balance.

It is the most important ski area in the world with 1 180 km of slopes, 460 cable cars and 1 100 km of hiking trails.

The San Bernardo ski area links two border resorts: La Thuile on the Italian side and La Rosière on the French side, by means of two fast chairlifts on the Mont Valaisan sector installed in 2018. You ski with Mont Blanc in the background on the Italian side, and a breathtaking view of the Haute-Tarentaise on the French side. The area is suitable for forest skiing (fir trees on the French side, larches on the Italian side) and free riding (with a guide). The Rutor glacier is open for skiing in summer.

A ski area of over 100 km (including 5 black runs), the scene of several competitions at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, and home to six ski schools. Colomion, Les Arnauds, Melezet and the Jaffereau slopes (2,800 m) offer runs for all levels, with some twenty ski lifts. Snowboarders and cross-country skiers will find plenty to keep them happy at the snowpark and on over 10 km of cross-country trails. There's even a skating rink! Various types of ski pass are available.

On the site of the 2006 Olympic Games, the upper Susa valley and part of the Pinerolo valleys form one of the largest ski areas in Europe. The Vialattea (the Milky Way) extends its 400 km of tracks between Sestriere, Sauze d'Oulx, Clavière, Cesana, San Sicario, Pragelato and Montgenèvre (the only French starting point 2 km from the Italian border). In a breathtaking landscape, the area also offers cross-country skiing enthusiasts a ring about 8 km long, departing from the town of Monterotta.

Adjacent to the sanctuary of Oropa, in the heart of the Sacro Monte nature reserve, the Oropa Sport area is a reference point for all mountain enthusiasts, both in winter and summer. The ski lifts connect Oropa to a popular ski area, while in summer the whole area becomes the kingdom of hikers and mountain bikers, among others. An adventure park has even recently opened to satisfy even the most avid tree climbers. It is a real paradise for the little mountain people and their guides.

This area, enclosed between Monte Civetta and Monte Pelmo (3,168 metres), includes the resorts of Alleghe (at the foot of the majestic lake of the same name), connected to Palafavera, where the famous piste 2000 is located, which in turn is connected to the Val di Zoldo and Selva di Cadore (in the forest). Not to be missed: the illuminated Pecol trail at night and the Great War theme trail. We appreciate the view on the lake, its family dimension and a snowpark open even at night.

"The mountain of Belluno". This is the nickname of this high plateau (1,000-1,700 m) located 13 km from the city. The Nevegal area is a tourist resort that offers a wide range of activities in summer and winter: downhill and cross-country skiing, hiking and mountain biking are just some of the sports that can be practiced in this exceptional natural setting. A 6-hectare botanical garden and an accrobranche course complete the ensemble. On sunny days, from the highest peaks, the panorama extends to the Venetian lagoon.

A ski area in winter, with cross-country trails, snowpark and lifts, the "Merano Terrace" transforms into a paradise for hikers and mountain bikers in summer. Excursions to the San Pancrazio mountain lake, panoramic trails with views of the Dolomites, hut tours or summit climbs - there's something for every taste and level of difficulty. Merano 2000 is the ideal winter destination for families. Soak up the sun, enjoy the snow and explore the wonders of the Alps.

From the end of November to mid-April, you will enjoy the sport of skiing on the Kronplatz or Plan de Corones, with its thirties of ski lifts and 119 km of tracks all levels. In summer, the ski lifts leading to Ruis and the Kronplatz 2000 deposit you in the heart of the mountains. You can also climb on foot.

On the north-western slope of the Paganella, an exceptional ski area (2125 m) with constant snow cover and impeccable maintenance over 50 km. The pride of the ski area remains the "3-Tre" run, a descent that has been the scene of epic performances by the world's greatest ski champions. The black run "Olympic 2" has become the European training centre for the US international ski team.