Chamonix’s sister valley is located just the other side of the Mont Blanc in Italy: the Aosta valley. For those who have already explored the off-piste that Chamonix has to offer, or simply for those who love to start their morning with an Italian coffee and finish their day with a bowl of fresh pasta…skiing in Aosta valley is made for you! When the weather is questionable in Chamonix valley, you will often find that it is better in Aosta.
Aosta Valley an amazing backcountry ski spot
There are some fantastic freeride spots in Italy, and our guides will choose the best location for you every day. There are several ski resorts just across the border, such as Courmayeur and La Thuile, which gives us access to a whole new playground within resort. But being in Italy also opens up the whole South side of the Mont Blanc massif for some fantastic adventures on the Italian side of Mont Blanc!
An alternative to the “Classic Vallée Blanche”
The Italian Vallée Blanche is a great way to vary the descent down to Chamonix. Instead of starting at the Aiguille du Midi, we would start at the Punta Helbronner in Italy. There are several ways to start this trip. Either we would drive through the tunnel and take the Skyway lift up from Courmayeur, go up the Aiguille du Midi and across the Helbronner lift, or, if you’re looking for something a little different, we could even stay in the Torino hut up at Punta Helbronner and ski down the next day.
Much like the classic version, the Italian VB remains an accessible off-piste ski route, which is about 20km long with a descent of about 2700m. It is an excellent and memorable experience where you will be surrounded by magnificent peaks throughout the entire trip. A definite alternative to try for those that have already done the Classic Vallée Blanche!
There are also other descents that can be taken on from Punta Helbronner, such as skiing back down to the Skyway lift via the Toula Glacier. Another favourite, this ski can involve skiing down couloirs, between seracs and crevasses and when it is in condition, can be an excellent powder day!
These are just a few examples of the types of outings that we could do in Italy, where trips can be just a one-off day trip from Chamonix, or a full trip staying in Italy. We adapt to what you are looking to do, so please get in touch and we can organise the perfect Aosta Valley trip for you!