A holiday in Courmayeur is the ideal opportunity to discover and enjoy Alpine traditions at the foot of Mont Blanc, in a green valley surrounded by forests, mountains and glaciers. Despite being an internationally renowned tourist resort, Courmayeur has retained an authentic Alpine atmosphere you'll discern as you stroll among the shops on the narrow winding Via Roma, in the city centre, as well as in the villages that surround the heart of the town, where the Dora della Val Veny and the Dora della Val Ferret rivers flow into the Dora Baltea, crossing the Valle d‘Aosta region. Hospitality, a love of tradition and respect for local architecture are present in every detail here.
If you decide to spend your holiday in Courmayeur, don't miss the crossing over Mont Blanc, an extraordinary experience made possible by the modern cable cars that carry you 2,000 metres up the mountain in just a few minutes. During the crossing, which offers a magnificent view of the glaciers and the great Alpine peaks, we recommend visiting the Alpine Botanical Gardens and the Mont Blanc Crystal Exhibition. Courmayeur, the story of which has always been linked to Mont Blanc, is a historic centre for mountaineering and mountain hiking. To learn about the great feats that marked the history of mountaineering, you can visit the Duca degli Abruzzi Alpine Museum, which houses documents, heirlooms and climbing equipment. The museum is located in the Guides' House, in the heart of Courmayeur, beside the old parish church.
Courmayeur's Alpine skiing district is visited by skiers from all over the world. The Toula glacier downhill run is exceptionally good for off-piste skiing, as is the Vallée Blanche downhill, which crosses the Mer de Glace glacier to Chamonix on the French side of Mont Blanc. The Val Ferret slope for Nordic skiing, very pleasant and suitable for inexperienced skiers, is partly flanked by a pedestrian trail through the snow for non-skiers, providing an opportunity for a lovely stroll surrounded by nature only a few kilometres from Courmayeur. In addition to skiing, there are many other activities to enjoy in the snow, including traditional snow shoeing, ice skatingand an exciting ride on adog sled. Fitness and relaxation fans will enjoy the fully equipped Forum Sport Centre or the hot spring waters of the Terme di Pré-Saint-Didier.
During the warmer months of the year, at the foot of the highest peak in Europe, the best sports activities aretrekking, mountaineeringand mountain biking. The Valdigne trails also provide a perfect opportunity for walks and excursions to discover the beauty of the valleys, with routes suitable for expert hikers as well as families with small children. The most notable ones definitely include theTour du Mont Blanc circuit, the Alte Vie, the Balconate del Monte Bianco, the pastures in the Chavanne valley and the Rutor glacier.
Valdigne isn't just a paradise for Alpine sport enthusiasts, it also offers a range of activities for every taste: from golf coursesin the Val Ferret to rope trails high in the trees at theAdventure Parkin Pré-Saint-Didier from riverrafting, canoeing and hydrospeed boating on the Dora Baltea river, to long relaxinghorse rides, paragliding and hang gliding. La Thuile, in particular, offers mountain bikers an impressive 16 cross-country itineraries between Italy and France, for a total of 220 kilometres of trails, as well as 15 downhill and free-riding itineraries served by two chairlifts specially equipped to carry bikes up the mountain. Take a look at the holiday packages to Courmayeur and get ready to discover the beauty of Mont Blanc and its valleys.