Ski Holidays in Bardonecchia, Italy

• Snow Conditions in Bardonecchia Italy +

  Snow report issued:	6th Feb 12
  Last snowed:	31st Jan 12
  Fresh snow depth:	5cm
  Depth at resort:	50cm
  Mountain depth:	130cm
  Piste state:
  Good (Best skiing on groomed runs, variable elsewhere)
  Weather report:
  Light clouds dotting the sky
  Temperature:	-11°C
  Open lifts:	23 of 23

  View Bardonecchia snow history

• Bardonecchia Resort Statistics+

  Slope Direction	N W NW
  Very Easy Runs	2
  Easy Runs	16
  Medium Runs	18
  Difficult Runs	5
  Toughest Run Name	Vallon Cros
  Skiable Vertical	1377m
  Number Of Lifts	21
  Top Lift Height	2650m
  Night Skiing	N
  Snowboarding Parks	1
  Half Pipes	1
  Swimming Pools	1
  Night Clubs	1
  Mountain Restaurants	18

• Bardonecchia Transfer Times+

  Turin:	1 hour and 40 minutes
  Milan:	2 hours and 50 minutes

Bardonecchia is one of Italy's oldest, largest and best known resorts. Located in a wide amphitheatre-like valley, the town is a mixture of old and new, with settlement in the area dating back for thousands of years. Bardonecchia became famous shortly before winter sports arrived in the area, as it is located at the Italian end of the Frejus rail tunnel, which opened in September 1871, completing a 2,100km (1,300 miles) long rail line from Calais to Brindisi for the first time. The 13km (eight mile) long tunnel was joined by a road version more recently, in 1980.

Bardonecchia today is a busy town with ski areas rising up on two sides of it, although these are usually quite quiet in the week, leaving empty runs for holiday makers. The town's long history has left it with a colourful mix of architecture and ambience which provide lots of character for a stay here. At the weekends the crowds arrive from Turin, 90km (57 miles) away. The resort hit the headlines most recently in 2006 when it hosted snowboarding and combined slalom events for the Torino Winter Olympics.

• Skiing for Beginners+

  There are several nursery ski areas, the closest being at Campo Smith with another at Melezet, where there are convenient progression slopes to move on to once you have mastered basic technique. Bardonnecchia is one of the more affordable places in the Alps to learn to ski, of which we can offer a combined lift ticket, tuition and equipment rental packages for little more than the equivalent package in eastern Europe, and less than half the cost at major resorts in the French Alps a few kilometres west.

• Intermediate Skiing+

  Bardonecchia's ski area is split in to three main areas, two of them (Colomion and Melezet) lift linked, with the third area and the highest slopes on Jafferau, on the other side of the resort. All are linked together by a ski bus service which is free for lift pass holders and takes about five minutes to connect the base lifts of the two areas. There is a great variety of long easy blue and intermediate red runs covering 90% of the combined ski area with wonderful long runs both above and below the treeline.

• Advanced+

  Bardonecchia has quite a few appealing factors for advanced skiers, including off-piste powder to be enjoyed with a guide, the option to go heliskiing behind Melezet, and half-a-dozen good long black runs scattered around the three ski areas. The Jafferau sector is probably the most exciting, with powder fields above the treeline providing lots of exciting natural terrain features. The toughest pisted run is the two kilometre (one-and-a-quarter mile) long Vallon Cros which has average gradients of 30%.

• Snowboarding at Bardonecchia+

  Bardonecchia went from having very limited snowboarding facilities prior to the 2006 Turin Olympics to becoming one of Italy's leading boarding venues when it hosted all events at the Games. The Olympic half pipe is still rebuilt every year for everyone to enjoy, with major international contests now staged here annually too. The pipe is part of the larger Olympic Terrain Park in the Melezet sector.

• Other Activities And Facilities at Bardonecchia+

  As a small town that's also a ski resort, Bardonecchia has both year-round and season attractions for locals and resort guests alike. The fixed facilities include an indoor public pool (discounted entry with your lift pass) complete with sauna, massage facilities and fitness room, indoor tennis court, games room, museums, sports centre, cinema, library, concert hall and a selection of shops.
  
  Winter activities include cross country skiing, snowshoeing, cleared winter hiking trails and an ice rink.

• Apres Ski And Dining Out+

  There are about 30 bars and restaurants in the town which can be busy in to the small hours, particularly at weekends. Most of the restaurants serve local Italian dishes and it is possible to dine very affordably each night. Popular venues include La Filanda for high-quality cuisine and La Baita for great pizza. There's a nightclub for late night dancing.

• Ski Holidays in Bardonecchia suitable for Families+

  There's only limited provision for younger children in Bardonecchia with no non-skiing nursery, and ski school classes taking kids from age four for ski lessons and age seven for snowboarding. There are no special classes for young children however and no lunch cover option. Children also pay the same price for a lift ticket as adults. However the resort does offer a high value package of lessons, lift ticket tuition and rental for children who have never skied or boarded before. Other positive factors for families are affordable family dining and the good range of family-friendly facilities off the slopes.