Courmayeur Ski Resort Guide
Courmayeur is one of the premier ski resorts in Italy’s Aosta Valley. Skiing in the shadow of Mont Blanc will appeal to many with views of this historic peak available from many aspects of the resort. Courmayeur is a incredibly scenic ski resort that has an appeal for both the advanced and family skiers.
Advanced skiers and snowboarders will enjoy the big mountain feel and off-piste terrain. When you also consider Courmayeur’s proximity to Chamonix across the border then there are options for skiing some classic off-piste routes.
Families will appreciate the lay out of the resort with good lift access direct from the town of Courmayeur ensuring accommodation and amenities are easily accessible from the slopes.
COURMAYEUR FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Arriving in Courmayeurs for my first foray into Italian ski resorts I was quickly impressed by the character of the car-free village. Surrounded by epic mountain scenery, Courmayeurs location in the valley is stunning. There are plenty of upmarket shops that were well out of my price range, but the restaurants and après ski was reasonable. I stayed across the river in Dolonne which was quiet with it’s cobbled streets and traditional housing.
COURMAYEUR SKI AREA
Courmayeurs pisted ski area is quite modest with 50km of pistes but this doesn’t do the ski area justice. Part of the Aosta Valley ski area with a combined 350km of pistes, Courmayeur is perhaps best known for it’s off-piste terrain. The ski area at Courmayeur has 1500m of vertical drop from the Arp down to Dolonne which means the top to bottom run from Youla to Dolonne is a leg burner.
The majority of the Courmayeur ski area is above 1700m with only a small beginners area down at Dolonne. With the majority of the ski area being above 1700m the snow conditions across the resort are reliable. The ski area of Courmayeur is accessible directly from the village via cable car.
COURMAYEUR SKI AREA BY ABILITY
BEGINNERS TERRAIN COURMAYEUR
Courmayeur is not the most suitable resort to learn to ski or snowboard as the majority of its terrain is geared towards advanced skiers. There are however dedicated learners area which can be used to for learning to ski and snowboard. The beginners areas have magic carpets to transport learners to the top of the the beginners runs. The progression at Courmayeur is limited for beginners with no green runs to speak of you will be moving from the bunny hill onto blue terrain.
INTERMEDIATE TERRAIN COURMAYEUR
Intermediates skiers will be well suited to a Courmayeur ski trip. The majority of the pistes in Courmayeur are red graded including the run back down to Dolonne. To avoid overly repeating runs, plan day trips to nearby Aosta Valley resorts.
ADVANCED TERRAIN COURMAYEUR
In terms of on piste options there are not many advanced trails. The groomed terrain is excellent and lends itself well to carving especially if you can get some early tracks.
The real appeal to advanced snowboarders at Courmayeur is the off-piste with the backcountry off the Arp and Punta Helbronner being the cream of the crop. This really is an area for those with experience and knowledge so ski within your limits or hire a guide. Being in Italy also opens up the option for heli-skiing which in the area surrounding Courmayeur offers endless opportunity.
COURMAYEUR FREESTYLE TERRAIN
Courmayeur has one park with nothing major to speak of. The terrain park at Courmayeur has kickers and rails that are perfect for your first forays into freestyle. It is likely that freestyle will not be your motivation for visiting Courmayeur ski resort but it is a nice addition to what is available off-piste.
LIFTS AT COURMAYEUR
Courmayeur has a great connection of lifts, gondolas and surface installations although some could do with updating. In total Courmayeur has 18 lifts to transport skiers around the mountain.
The resort is linked well to the town below with a cable car that rises 500m to the resort at 1704m. Whether you take the Courmayeur cable car or the parallel Dolonne Gondola you will end up at Plan Checrouit.
From here it is possible to take a series of gondolas to the top of the resort at Cresta D’Arp 2755m. The Arb cable car is old but once at the top you have some incredible perspectives of the mountains around you. It is from the Cresta D’Arp that you will access the best of the off-piste terrain at Courmayeur ski resort. There is a third entry point to the ski resort using the Val Very cable car from Entreves.
COURMAYEUR SNOW RECORD
Courmayeur is known for its off-piste skiing so you would assume it would receive plentiful snow. On average Courmayeur receives around 3-4m of snow per winter. This on on par with European freeride Mecca Verbier but falls way below the resorts of Japan or West Coast USA. The cold climate and altitude at Courmayeurs highest installations ensures that the snow quality remains good throughout the season.
COURMAYEUR PISTE MAP
COURMAYEUR SEASON DATES
The Courmayeur ski season opens towards the end of Novemeber/first week of December with the season running into late April.
COURMAYEUR LIFT TICKETS
To ski in Courmayeur you have a number of interesting lift ticket options depending on your needs.
If you want to cover the most terrain and explore a few different resorts the then Aosta Valley pass may serve your needs the best. The Aosta Valley (Valle d’Aosta) pass includes skiing in; Courmayeur Monte Bianco, Gran Paradiso, La Thuile - La Rosiere, Breuil - Cervinia (including Zermatt), Pila, Monterosa, and more. Plenty to keep yourself occupied whether for a week or a season.
You can also either choose a solitary Courmayeur pass or the Courmayeur Monte Bianco combined ski area.
Another interesting alternative to skiing in resort is Heliski Courmayeur who offer the opportunity to have an incredible off-piste experience within reach of the highest peak in the Alps, Mont Blanc. To learn more about their packages you can check their website here.
TRAVEL TO COURMAYEUR
WHERE IS COURMAYEUR?
Courmayeur in the Aosta Valley is close to the borders of France and Switzerland. Surrounded by some of the most impressive mountain peaks in Europe Courmayeur is within a short drive of Chamonix and Mont Blanc. Turin is a popular access point for Courmayeur with an International airport.
DRIVING TO COURMAYEUR
Driving to Courmayeur is possible from France, Switzerland and of course other Italian cities. If you are driving to Courmayeur from France be prepared to pay for regular tolls and for access to the Mont Blanc Tunnel. Within Italy Turin and Milan will be the best access points.
FLIGHTS TO COURMAYEUR
If you are heading to Courmayeur by air then the airports of Milan, Turin and Geneva are your most likely entry points. All have regular flights from Europe but flights to Geneva tend to be cheaper than those to Milan and Turin. You may find that if hiring a car when you land this cost may be cheaper at the Italian airports so you will need to consider this. Geneva is the closest airport to Courmayeur but will mean crossing the border from Switzerland.
COURMAYEUR PROS
Courmayeur has incredible off-piste terrain
The scenery surrounding Courmayeur will rival most ski resorts
Courmayeur is included in the Aosta Valley pass so there are options to ski multiple resorts on the same lift ticket.
Transfers to the resort in under two hours with multiple options for flight destination.
Courmayeur makes skiing on Mont Blanc possible.
Ski in two countries on the same trip with day trips to La Thuile or La Rosiere
COURMAYEUR CONS
Courmayeur is not suited to a beginners ski holiday with little terrain for learners.
50km of terrain is ok but not huge in comparison to some other ski areas.
COURMAYEUR GALLERY
COURMAYEUR ACTIVITIES
Courmayeur is a up market town, some might say posh, with a number of expensive boutiques. Shopping in Courmayeur is popular with visitors and may be a draw for some. Similarly if you are in the mood for relaxation then heading to a Courmayeur spa could be the perfect down day activity. The Pré Saint Didier Spa near Courmayeur has an outside pool with views of Mont Blanc!
Cross country skiing is possible in Courmayeur where Val Ferret has 20km of nordic trails.
COURMAYEUR FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
IS COURMAYEUR GOOD FOR BEGINNERS
Despite having a dedicated beginners area Courmayeur is not a great resort to learn to ski at. There is very little terrain for progression so able beginners may get bored lapping the same terrain.
IS COURMAYEUR GOOD FOR SKIING?
Courmayeur has. great reputation for skiing around the world. Primarily suited to intermediates and advanced skiers and snowboarders with an interest in off-piste.
WHAT IS THE LONGEST RUN AT COURMAYEUR?
It is possible to ski from top to bottom of the resort in Courmayeur with a combination of runs that have 1500m of vertical drop!
WHAT IS COURMAYEUR FAMOUS FOR?
Courmayeur is famous for the incredible off-piste terrain and its location close to Mont Blanc in the Aosta Valley.