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Courmayeur
Introduction
The restaurants are not only plentiful, they represent everything that is great about eating in the Italian mountains: hot chocolate so thick that you have to finish it with a spoon, risottos with shavings of truffles, succulent fresh pasta, lavish spreads of home-made desserts and south-facing sun terraces full of Italians.
Courmayeur is also a delightful old town, with the best shopping in the Val d'Aosta. Window shopping along the cobbled streets is like a who's who of the fashion world: Hermes, Cartier and Prada to name but a few. And the restaurants and bars in town are not bad either. Can this be enough to justify its inclusion? If Courmayeur did not happen to back onto the Mont Blanc (or Monte Bianco, as they call it this side of the border) mountain range, perhaps not. But with this setting, the answer is an emphatic ‘yes’.
Off-piste and heli-skiing in Courmayeur
The views across to the massif are awe-inspiring. Three cable cars service the ski area on the Italian side of Mont Blanc, all of which is off-piste and forbidden territory without a guide. The descents available here include an alternative route down the Vallée Blanche, 15 miles (24 km) of intermediate off-piste from the Punta Helbronner (11,358 ft/3,462 m) all the way down to Chamonix, to testing descents down the side of the Toula glacier.
Courmayeur also offers some of the best heli-skiing in Europe. You take off, quite dramatically, from the heart of the main ski area to access the terrain at the head of the Aosta valley.
Courmayeur at a glance
On the mountain
Ski area
Ski days in Courmayeur are divided into two halves: the morning rays of Checrouit and the afternoon sun of Val Veny, with a copious lunch in between. more...
Lift system
Despite some antiquated cable cars and slow two-man chairs, queues are not really a problem in Courmayeur. more...
Ski schools & guiding
There are two ski schools in Courmayeur, both of which offer good tuition for skiers and boarders. The mountain
guides are very professional and offer individual guiding
and group tours.
more...
Advanced
The pistes of Courmayeur will disappoint the advanced skier, but the
off-piste, partly on the Mont Blanc itself, more than makes up for this.
more...
Intermediate
Intermediate skiers may find Courmayeur
slightly limiting, but the skiing is very pleasant and
you also get a free day in Chamonix on a six-day ski pass.
more...
Beginner
Courmayeur has one of the most inspirational learning areas in
the world, with Mont
Blanc cheering you on.
more...
Boarding & freestyle
Courmayeur has a new snow park, boarder-friendly lifts and mostly intermediate pistes.
Stronger riders come for the off-piste.
more...
Mountain restaurants
With a great number of excellent mountain restaurants on offer and only so many days to eat in them, it is important to choose wisely. more...
Ski Map
- open Ski map
Off the mountains
Village
The charming old mountain town of Courmayeur comes alive at the end of the skiing day. more...
Après-ski
Many bars and restaurants in Courmayeur offer free drinks and food to entice their customers. more...
Restaurants & bars
Traditional Italian food, sparkling wine, pizzas the size of dustbin
lids and sun terraces make the restaurant scene in Courmayeur.
more...
Other information
Top of the list for non-skiing activities in Courmayeur is shopping. more...
Getting there
Geneva is two hours away through the mont Blac tunnel, but Turin and Milan are also options.
more...
Boxes leftside
Navigation
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Courmayeur facts
Ski Area
| Base | 4,016 ft 1,224 m |
| Summit | 9,039 ft 2,755 m |
| Elevation | 5,023 ft 1,531 m |
| Area size | 376 a 152 ha |
Trails/runs
| Number of trails | 24 |
| Advanced | 12 % |
| Intermediate | 54 % |
| Beginner | 34 % |
Lifts
| Gondolas/Cable cars | 5 |
| Chairs | 8 |
| Surface lifts | 3 |
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