Valle d'Aosta

Big Mountain in the Alps?
Freeriding in terrain so vast that you’ll often lay down first tracks through untouched snow more than once a day. These kinds of freeride areas have become rare in a region squeezed between busy destinations such as Verbier, Les Trois Vallées, and Chamonix. Yet, they still exist. On the southern side of the "high" ridge, above Italy’s Aosta Valley, Big Mountain takes on a different meaning: slopes in a league of their own. But there are also plenty of less extreme descents to enjoy. That’s why this updated trip is now also perfect if you’re looking for a slightly more relaxed adventure.

We’ve adapted this ski dream trip. During this program, we won’t be skiing extremely steep faces, but we will fully enjoy the impressive, grand mountain scenery all around us. Would you still like to ride the true Big Mountain lines? Reach out to us for a custom-made program of ski extrême in the Mont Blanc area.

Of course, we’ll also explore Courmayeur’s own ski area. The descent from the Arp Vieille valley into Val Veny, with views of the Miage, Brenva, and Freney glaciers, is simply spectacular. And naturally, this fun resort offers plenty of playful terrain between the pistes—or we might venture carefully into the Torrent de Dolonne.
In just half an hour, we can also reach La Thuile, which connects to French La Rosière. With a few short hikes, countless off-piste options lie at our feet. Chamonix, with its world-class descents, or the family-friendly resort of Pila, are excellent alternatives that we can reach in no time. If you’d like to switch things up from freeriding with a ski touring day, the slopes above Val Ferret often hold beautiful snow.
But we mustn’t forget life’s essential pleasures. Our base, La Palud near Courmayeur, has many faces: a stylish mountain village with designer boutiques and first-class restaurants, cozy wine bars, or coffee houses with scattered newspapers where the guida alpina and maestro di sci sip their espresso or strong grappa. In true Italian style, we’ll indulge in excellent food and fine Valle d’Aosta wines. Our hotel, run for generations by the same extraordinarily welcoming family, is small and charming, with a sauna, a comfortable lounge, and good rooms with private bathrooms.
Not only are there several restaurants around our basecamp, but we’re also just a stone’s throw from the cable car that whisks us up to the 3,460-meter Punta Helbronner. If conditions allow, we’ll ski the world-famous Vallée Blanche all the way to Chamonix. We’ll take our time here, as it’s truly special to glide down a vast river of ice surrounded by towering granite peaks. Once in Chamonix, we’ll hop on the bus through the tunnel and return to our little hotel in La Palud.
The combination of challenging freeriding and outstanding cuisine, set among towering mountains, can only be described as… Big Mountain.