COURMAYEUR
Ski & Snowboard Resort Review
The delightful resort of Courmayeur, ITALY, located in the Aosta Valley on the Italian side of Mont Blanc can boast having some of the best mountain views in the World and an excellent snow record.
Courmayeur Skiing and Snowboarding Terrain
The skiing and snowboarding terrain at Courmayeur is fantastic; expect to find huge open powder fields, deep natural bowls, seemingly endless groomed fast trails, mogul runs, tight tree skiing and gentle beginner areas.
It is also possible to ski or snowboard from Courmayeur down the Vallee Blanche to the neighbouring resort of Chamonix. For more information on Chamonix click here
Advanced Skiing and Snowboarding
Advanced skiers and snowboarders at Courmayeur should head to the upper areas of the resort for wide open off piste skiing and snowboarding.
One of the most challenging off piste runs is the Cresta D’Arp run. It is 14 kilometres in length, unpatrolled and very steep and narrow; it should only be attempted with an experienced guide.
Be aware that while off piste skiing and snowboarding is approved at Courmayeur out of bounds skiing and snowboarding is highly illegal due to avalanche risk. Those who do cross under out of bounds ropes risk facing prosecution.
On the piste first thing in the morning head to the very long International trail starting in the Col Checrouit area; after it has been groomed it is great for giant carving GS turns.
The heavily treed terrain under the Zerotta Chairlift is the place to go for fast moguls and challenging tree skiing and snowboarding similar to that you would find in the United States.
Courmayeur has no terrain park and halfpipe but it does have a fun boardercross course on the right hand side of the Plan de la Gabba Chairlift.
Intermediate Skiing and Snowboarding
Intermediate skiers and snowboarders can cover the entire resort of Courmayeur on long linking corduroy groomed trails.
From the top of the Cresta Youla peak at 2,624 meters take the long Youla trail that winds through the powder fields all the way down to the base of the Checrouit Gondola. All the terrain around the gondola is perfect for intermediates; it is wide, open and sun filled.
From the top of the gondola take the lengthy Lazey trail down to the Zerotta area; this side of the resort receives less sunshine and has terrific fast trails cutting through the trees.
Beginner Skiing and Snowboarding
Beginner skiers and snowboarders can easily access wide gently sloping easy runs at Courmayeur. In the Dolonne area, just above the village under the Courmayeur Cable Car there are a couple of really wide flat groomed trails suitable for young children or first time skiers and snowboarders.
Above the cable car in the Plan Checrouit area beginners head to the flat and wide Chiecco run and the long and winding Pra Neyron trail. From the top of the Pra Neyron trail make your way down the Val Veny trail to the Pre de Pascal area.
The Courmayeur ski and snowboard School offer group, private and day long lessons for all ages and ability levels with professional bilingual instructors. Mountain guides and off piste powder lessons are also available.
Skiing and Snowboarding the Vallee Blanche
Set aside a full day to experience the thrill of skiing or snowboarding from Courmayeur down the world famous 20 kilometre long Vallee Blanche that descends into the French town of Chamonix. The scenery is unbelievable so make sure you take your camera.
The Vallee Blanche is not just for expert and advanced skiers and snowboarders, confident intermediates could enjoy the run with an experienced guide. A guide is highly recommended as they know the safest way down the glacier fields in ever changing conditions.
From Courmayeur catch the Mont Blanc Cable Car from La Palud which transports you to 3,000 + meters where the decent of a lifetime begins!
Once you arrive in Chamonix buses or taxis are available to bring you back to Courmayeur via the Mont Blanc tunnel, just don’t forget your passport.
Courmayeur Heli Skiing and Snowboarding
Heli skiing and snowboarding guided tours of the surrounding magnificent powder filled pistes and glaciers are available at Courmayeur. The tours are usually in groups no larger than four advanced skiers or snowboarders and one professional mountain guide.
Other Activities at Courmayeur
Other outdoor activities available at Courmayeur include ice skating, ice curling, snow biking, snowshoeing and tobogganing.
Indoor activities include playing tennis or squash, indoor golf, climbing walls and massage and beauty treatments.
Courmayeur Shopping
The shops in the town of Courmayeur vary from ski and snowboard shops stocking the latest equipment and rental gear to high fashion boutiques, children’s shops and small gift and souvenir shops. There are also grocery markets, cheese shops, bakeries, butchers and wine stores.
Courmayeur Restaurants
The town of Courmayeur has over fifty restaurants, pizzerias and cafes serving appetising Italian cuisine.
The family friendly and busy Ristorante Pizzeria Bellevue serves some of the best wood fired pizzas you will ever taste along with hot steaming bowls of pasta.
Restaurant La Padella specialises in local cheese dishes, tomato sauce with homemade sausages and beautiful desserts.
The quaint family run Ristorante la Terrazza have ever changing menus serving local Italian and international cuisine.
For fine dining go to the restaurant in the Cresta et Duc Hotel they have daily specials and an excellent Italian and international wine list.
Courmayeur Nightlife
The nightlife at Courmayeur is really entertaining with crowded bars, loud pubs and nightclubs scattered throughout the town.
For après ski drinks go to Bar Roma for happy hour or the trendy Cadran Solaire Bar for a good selection of Italian wines sold by the glass.
The Jimmy Night Café is the most popular night spot in Courmayeur; the café upstairs mixes delicious cocktails and has bar snacks while the loud disco downstairs plays music from the 70s and 80s all night long.
The American Bar and Poppy’s Pub are both open for dinner and remain open until late with DJs and occasional live bad performances.
More About Courmayeur
Your Courmayeur Ski & Snowboard Resort Reviews
K Bates, Canada. March 2006 I just did not want to leave, 2 weeks passed so quickly. What a beautiful, romantic, enchanting traditional old town. We stayed at a small hotel called the Meuble Laurent, everyone was so hospitable. The riding was terrific, while the resort is not huge it is large enough to keep you more than busy. On the Chamonix side there are great steep fast tree lined trails, while the upper areas offer wide open cruising trails, there are good tight treed sections to be found and lots of areas which are fun in fresh powder. You can even store your board at the top of the cable car at Plan Checrouit making the transit from the town to the slopes easy. The food was outstanding, I have never eaten so well, it was out of this world, with the cafes and restaurants in town and the restaurants dotted across the resort it's hard to stop eating! The night scene is relatively quiet but after an enormous dinner and a few vinos who wants to go out?
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