Charm, nature, sport, wines and cuisine!

The joint ski area of La Thuile and La Rosière spans the Petit St Bernard Pass, the link between Italy and France, over which, it is reputed, Hannibal rode his elephant. The old village is attractive, and hosts various shops, restaurants and bars run by the friendly locals. The resort has grown over the last decade to make use of the large area of ski slopes which run down to the village, making it particularly popular with those who seek doorstep skiing.

Access to the slopes is by the main cable car, or a chairlift, situated at the edge of the complex. There is an excellent variation of pistes, from blue to black, all easily accessible. Pistes are well groomed and clearly marked, allowing for easy navigation in all conditions when followed in conjunction with a piste map. Snow conditions are generally excellent due to the height of the resort, the facility of snow cannons and the fact that the slopes are north facing. However in early season, conditions can be fairly cold and windy and adequate ski wear is, obviously, essential. Daily updates on the skiing conditions are available on the information board located at the departure point of the main cable car.

For intermediate and the more experienced skiers, it is worth skiing over to La Rosière in France. The views are spectacular and the experience superb, but you must take careful note of the time of the last lift back. Off-piste is also excellent, especially in the bowls between the two resorts and, for those who have always fancied a day’s heli-skiing, this area of Italy offers some very reasonably priced day excursions.