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La Thuile may not be one of the best known resorts in Europe, but you can make a strong case for it being one of the best. Located in a quiet side of the Aosta Valley area of northwest Italy, it shares a lift-linked ski area with the French resort of La Rosière, on the opposite side of the Petit Saint Bernard pass.
The town is a mixture of charming, traditional Italian mountain architecture and convenient modern apartments, with a wide range of facilities that make it perfect for family ski holidays. We've teamed up with Interski, who specialise in holidays to the Aosta Valley, to bring you this guide to one of Europe's most underrated ski areas.
Where is La Thuile?
La Thuile sits in the Aosta Valley region of northern Italy, about two hours' drive northwest from Turin. It's the town at the bottom of an ancient mountain pass which crosses the Alps into France—known as the Col du Petit Saint Bernard in French, or the Colle del Piccolo San Bernardo in Italian.
Like the Great Saint Bernard Pass, which connects Italy and Switzerland (and gives its name to the famous rescue dogs) the Petit Saint Bernard is named after the Catholic priest Bernard of Menthon, who was canonised after his death and became the patron saint of mountaineers. A statue of him sits near the top of the pass.
La Thuile: Two countries, One lift pass
Start your day in Italy with a strong coffee and a cornetto, ski over to France for a traditional Tarentaise tartiflette at lunch, and finish the day with a plate of polenta and piping hot venison stew—an Aosta Valley specialty. Not a bad plan for breakfast, lunch and dinner right?
One of the best things about a ski holiday in La Thuile is the opportunity to ski in two different countries, soaking up their quite distinct skiing culture. The Espace San Bernardo, as the joint ski area between La Thuile and La Rosière is called, isn't quite as big as, say, the Three Valleys. But with 152km of pistes, there's more than enough to keep you occupied for a week.
The ski area is particularly good for intermediates and families, with a large number of blue and red runs, and plenty of kids areas. Best of all, because it's not as famous as other lift-linked ski areas like the Paradiski or Portes du Soleil, it's very rarely crowded.
La Thuile, on the north-facing side of the pass, tends to get the better snow, while La Rosière, on the southern side, gets more sun. But the best thing about two ski resorts for the price of one liftpass is you can pick and choose where you want to go, when.
This unique location also lends itself very well to corporate ski trips, with enviable features such as plentiful ski in/ski out accommodation, unique attractions and the opportunity to tailor itineraries to your needs. Whether you want to plan an overseas conference, go on a team-building trip or simply organise a holiday for your staff, unforgettable things to do such as relaxing at the QC Therme, stargazing in clear mountain skies, tasting the outstanding local produce, experiencing the teetering Monte Bianco Skyway and loads more, make La Thuile and the wider Aosta Valley the perfect destination.
Gateway to the Aosta Valley and Espace San Bernardo
While it offers access to the large expanse of the Espace San Bernardo on one side, La Thuile is also a great jumping off point for exploring the wider Aosta Valley region.
It's just a 20-minute drive to Courmayeur, at the foot of Mont Blanc (or Monte Bianco, as the Italians call it). And if you have a down day, the Aosta Valley is full of castles and other historic sites to visit. The region is unique in Italy for being bilingual, with French being spoken as often as Italian. And has a distinct history and culture all of its own, dating back to Roman times.
La Thuile: A ski Resort that's Perfect for Families
The Espace San Bernardo is one of the most family-friendly lift-linked ski areas in Europe. It's got a lot of easy, cruisey blue and red runs that'll suit groups of different ability levels, and easily accessible beginner areas. Cosy mountain rifugios and chalets serving hot chocolate are dotted all around the mountain, for any time you need to warm the young ones up.
If your kids are a little older and ready to head off by themselves, La Thuile is a great place to take them because while there's plenty to ski, the resort isn't so big that they're likely to get lost.
Off the slopes, there's plenty for kids too—from the ice skating rink, to the dedicated snow playground, to the Pyramid recreational area, with its table football, ping pong and games consoles. The village is easily navigable and relatively quiet at night, making it the ideal place for a wintery mountain getaway en famille.
Ski La Thuile with Interski
Interski pride themselves on being Aosta Valley specialists, so they know La Thuile back to front. With a wide range of properties on their books, including the stylish and historic Hotel Le Miramonti, located just above the River Dora, the ski in/ski out Hotel Planibel, and the Hotel Boton d’Or, a traditional wood-and-stone styled chalet hotel that's right next to the main ski lift in resort, they have options to suit all budgets.
Book your trip to La Thuile with Interski now!
