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Resort Guide

Suitability	Resort height: 1450m
Families:		[Yes]
Glacier:		[No]
Beginners:		[4]
Intermediates:		[5]
Advanced:		[4]
Snowboarding:		[3]

La Thuile is a traditional village with a long history before the ski industry, although that's been alive here for more than 60 years. Located in Italy's Aosta Valley, it is one of the few Italian resorts to have a direct ski-lift link over the border in to France.

For more than 20 years the resort has shared the Espace San Bernardo region of 150km (93 miles) of piste with its French counterpart, La Rosiere. Abandoned fortifications sticking out of the snow show that the relationship goes back much further.

The village itself is slightly divided, with the giant modern slopeside Planibel complex housing the lion's share of facilities, and the older traditional village lying just below. The local scenery is quite spectacular with Mont Blanc a feature on the horizon, as well as majestic Mount Rutor.

Most skiing on the La Thuile side of the area takes place on the Belvedere slopes, which climb up to 2600m and well above the treeline, meaning there are wide open powder slopes with long runs (up to eleven kilometres / seven miles) back down into the valley.

Beginners

Although there are nursery slopes in the village, ski school will often take beginners in the gondolas from the base of the resort to the snowy plateau at Les Suches (2200m), where there are more snowsure nursery slopes and good progression slopes. The Scuola di Sci La Thuile organises three and six day courses (starting on Mondays for beginners) of two hours per day.

Intermediates

Intermediates will enjoy La Thuile's snowy attractions the most, with a great range of runs in the powder fields above the trees, and then classic narrow runs winding down through the forest.

The link to La Rosiere in France must of course be skied at least once during your stay, but be sure to leave enough time to make the return journey, and be aware that the link is sometimes closed by bad weather – usually strong winds.

There are some long stretches on drag lifts to make the connection. One of the most enjoyable runs is the 11km (seven mile) piste number seven which departs from the top of Chaz Dura and descends through woods and past mountain huts, old military outposts, and forts from World War II, before arriving in La Thuile.

Advanced

Highly rated for advanced skiers with 29 black runs across the region. Of these, one not to be missed is slope number three, which is dedicated to the great local skier Franco Berthod, and has hosted downhill competitions for the Europe Cup in the past. The slope gradient reaches 73% in places as it descends four kilometres (two-and-a-half miles) to the village.

Run number 25 is also recommended for expert skiers, and descends from the top of Belvedere diving down into the valley at the base of the Fourclaz Express chairlift. However, run number 27, Le Defi, is considered the toughest in the resort, plunging for a kilometer (two-thirds-of-a-mile) at pitches of up to 71%. Heliskiing and ski touring are also popular in the area.

Snowboarding

The region operates three different snow zones featuring a snowpark, snow cross and boarder cross for the pleasure of freeriders. The fun park and boarder cross courses are in La Rosière where the predominance of chair and gondola lifts makes getting around easier, although it's mostly drag lifts
getting across to it.

Other Activities and Facilities

For cross country skiers, La Thuile has four tracks of three, five, seven and a half and ten kilometres suited to all ability levels. On-mountain rental shops allow you to test out new equipment, and also new snow sports such as big foot and snowblades – both types of mini skis. The new sport of ski kiting is also available on the pleateau between La Rosiere and La Thuile.

In resort there's a large swimming pool in the Planibel complex and other gym facilities. The village also has about 30 shops but otherwise there's not a great choice of non-ski activities. It's possible to do an excursion to the local market town of Aosta or the famous ski resort of Courmayeur.

Après Ski and Dining Out

There are 30 bars and restaurants in La Thuile, but the resort has a stronger reputation as a family resort than a hedonistic night spot. Popular bars include Cage Aux Folles and La Bricole in Entrèves. The Discoteca Fantasia is located in the Planibel complex.

Of course it's worth skiing over to France for a lunchtime crepe, but you'll find French as well as Italian options in La Thuile anyway. There are about a dozen restaurants in La Thuile and a further dozen bar-restaurants. Try La Grotta and La Lisse for pizza or La Lune for Aostan as well as Tuscan cuisine.

Families

La Thuile operates a snow playground for children where they're highly likely to meet the resort's mascot "Thuilly". There's a special children's area with two free magic carpet lifts for learning to ski. Italian law insists that children age 13 and under must wear a safety helmet when skiing or boarding.

A mini club for children aged four to 12 operates from Christmas to Easter in the village. Other kids' activities on the snow include snow tubing, and off the snow there's a video-arcade in the Planibel complex.

Piste Map for La thuile

Accommodation in La thuile

• Chalet Alpina - 2 star, bed & breakfast
• Du Glacier - 3 star, bed & breakfast
• Hotel Dora - 4 star, bed & breakfast
• Hotel Dora - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Dora - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Du Glacier - 3 star, bed & breakfast
• Hotel Planibel - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Planibel - 3 star, half board
• Monte Bianco Apartments - 4 star, self catering
• Monte Bianco Apartments - 4 star, self catering
• Planibel - 4 star, self catering
• Planibel - 4 star, half board
• Planibel - 4 star, half board
• Planibel - 4 star, half board
• Planibel Apartments - 3 star, self catering
• Planibel Apartments - 4 star, self catering
• Planibel Apartments - 4 star, self catering
• Planibel Apartments - 4 star, self catering
• Planibel Apartments - 4 star, self catering
• Planibel Apartments - 4 star, self catering
• Planibel Apartments - 4 star, self catering
• Planibel Apartments - 4 star, self catering
• Planibel Apartments - 4 star, self catering
• Rolland - 2 star, self catering
• Rolland - 2 star, bed & breakfast
• San Bernardo - 2 star, half board
• San Bernardo - 2 star, half board

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