Via Lattea (Milky Way) Villages

The Milky Way’s different resorts are very varied and getting from one end of the Via Lattea to the other is very time consuming so it’s worth carefully considering which village and local ski area is most suitable for your party. We cover the accommodation options in all the resorts in our Via Lattea Accomodation page.

Claviere

Claviere is a small village, on the Italian/French border, where some say the sport of skiing began in Italy. It is positioned in a snowy bowl, at an altitude of 1760m. The entire Via Lattea circuit is accessible from Claviere, but many people choose to divide their skiing between Claviere and neighbouring Montgenevre as reaching the other resorts involves taking a lot of lifts. Claviere used to be dominated by the international through road but that has now been diverted, leaving a main street that’s nice to stroll around in the evening. There are restaurants and bars but this is not a resort for hard-core night clubbers.

Ski hire in Claviere

There are a number of ski hire options. The Skiset concession is located in the centre between two of the main lifts. It has a decent range of skis and boards for every standard and gives discounts of up to 50% if you book online in advance – which makes it good value. You can check the location, the equipment available and the discounts currently on offer here.

Montgenevre (France)

This is a quiet resort over the border in France and on the Western edge of the Via Lattea ski area, featuring some pleasant bars, pizzerias and restaurants. Montgenevre also has the best snow record, not only of all the Via Lattea resorts but also of all the neighbouring French ones. The through road is now buried which has hugely improved the ambience. Although Montgenevre is earning a reputation as a freeride destination for expert skiers, beginners will find its village centre nursery slopes both convenient and a great place to start skiing. There are plenty of long blue and wide red runs to progress on to. For intermediates, the local slopes are good and usually uncrowded, but taking advantage of the whole Via Lattea area and visiting the villages beyond Claviere is much harder than it is for skiers based in the central or eastern Via Lattea resorts. It’s still possible but you have to start early and often catching a bus is a better option than going all the way on long slow ski lifts. (A better option might be visiting the Serre Chevalier ski area:one day there is usually included in a 6 day Montgenvre ski pass and the lift station in Briancon is only about 25 minutes away by car from Montgenevre, and there is a public bus service between the two resorts.) Compared to other high altitude ski resorts in France with access to a large ski area, Montgenevre is an inexpensive place to stay in, eat in, drink in and ski in. 

Ski hire in Montgenevre

There is a good range of ski hire shops but you will be charged a full price if you just turn up at the shop at the start of your holiday. Instead we recommend you book online in advance. Skset has two outlets in the resort, both well placed for the lifts. Like all Skiset shops they both have a good range of equipment and if you book online in advance, not only will your equipment be prepared and ready for you when you arrive, but you should also get a discount of up to 50% (check shop locations and exact prices here). 

Sansicario

Sansicario itself is a very attractive old town, but most of the holiday accommodation is in modern hotels close to the piste. Though there is a pleasant baby lift for beginners, the resort is more suitable for intermediates or good skiers. The handily placed Besson Sports shop is a good option for ski and board hire and gives generous discounts if you book online in advance. 

Pragelato

Linked to Sestriere by a new cable car, Pragelato has been transformed into a modern ski village, dominated by the Club Med complex. The resort, which hosted the Nordic ski events of the 2006 Winter Olympics, also has some good cross country skiing.

Cesana

Despite its central location offering easy access to both the western (chair lifts to Claviere) and eastern sides (gondola to San Sicario) of the area, Cesana is little used as a ski destination by British skiers. It is a pretty small town, with a historic centre, positioned at an altitude of 1350m. For ski hire, there are plenty of options. The Skiset concession gives about the biggest discount, provided you book online in advance, and has a decent range of equipment.

Sauze d’Oulx

Sauze d’Oulx, at an altitude of 1509m, is a lively resort that has long been popular with both young British skiers and Italian weekenders from Turin. Though largely modern in appearance, the historic centre retains some of the original charm of the village and features an attractive 16th church and some interesting old buildings. Sauze d’Oulx is known for its après ski scene and has plenty of good pubs, clubs, bars and reasonably priced pizzerias and restaurants. In the 1980s and 1990s before it made a concerted effeort to move upmarket, it risked becoming the ski resort of choice for British lager-louts (‘Suzy Does It’ was its nickname) and some of its clubs and bars can still get boisterous, so check where you’re staying if that’s not your scene. There are plenty of cosy, traditional Italian restaurants as well, which are good value compared to other ski resorts.

Ski hire in Sauze d’Oulx

There is no shortage of ski hire shops but if you just turn up on their doorstep at the start of your holiday they tend not to negotiate on price. To get a discount, you really have to book online in advance with a reliable outlet. The Skiset shop will give discounts of up to 50% if you book online in advance. You can check the location and the discounts currently available here. 

Jouvenceaux

Jouvenceaux is a small hamlet of character, just 1½ km south of Sauze d’Oulx. It is served by a new chairlift (also allows non-skiers), which takes you to the beginner’s area of Sauze Sportinia, and from there links into the extensive Sauze and Via Lattea ski area. The hamlet is very quiet and relaxing but has its own informal pizzerias, restaurants and bars, meaning that there is no need to travel to nearby Sauze d’Oulx (unless you wish to!). There is a frescoed 16th century chapel and stone fountain in the centre of Jouvenceaux.

Sestriere

Purpose built by the Agnelli family, owners of Fiat, in the late 1930’s, Sestriere became one of Europe’s most popular skiing destinations. Its early development also became its downfall as newer, more modern resorts started to emerge – but it has recently been much improved and is now an up to date, cosmopolitan resort with a good range of leisure facilities, restaurants, pizzerias and bars. It’s still functional rather than pretty or charming, though.

Ski hire in Sestriere

There is a decent choice of ski hire shops but to get the best price on rental equipment you will have to book online in advance. The two Skset outlets give discounts of up to 50% if you book through this link.

See our Via Lattea Accommodation section for details of hotels, chalets, apartments, rooms and B&Bs in all the Via Lattea resorts