La Thuile, 10 things to do on the Wild side of Mont Blanc

La Thuile, small and authentic mountain village of the Piccolo San Bernardo valley, the westernmost municipality of the Aosta Valley, is the ideal destination for a holiday in contact with nature in an environment with wild and unspoilt beauty.

Reachable in a few minutes from the highway and therefore easily accessible, the alpine village has been able to preserve the characteristics of the isolated mountain place and disconnected from the frenzy of everyday life, where to recharge and regain its psycho-physical balance.

Here are 10 activities to do on the snow La Thuile to live an active, regenerating and energizing stay in the ski resort on the Wild side of Mont Blanc.

La Thuile, 10 things to do in winter

1. Skiing without frontiers

If you are a fan of alpine skiing, you have at your disposal 152 km of slopes of the vast international ski area Espace San Bernardo connecting La Thuile with La Rosière in Savoia (France).

A real ski border area where you can ski without borders, without queues and no-stop, touching the altitude of 2.800 meters of Mont Valaisan (the highest in the area). It is reachable both from the French and from the Italian side through the Belvedere (2,650 meters), from which the view ranges 360° on the surrounding peaks.

Don't miss a descent along the famous track "3 Franco Berthod", one of the most steep and difficult in Italy, which more than all makes La Thuile unique.

2. Ski mountaineering: pure mountain

There are many ski mountaineering routes possible from La Thuile. From Pont Serrand (1.609m) to Combe Varin (2.620m), a 4-hour trip is not challenging but extremely regenerating.

From the Colle del Piccolo San Bernardo in La Thuile, a route of thirteen kilometers with some sections of falsepiano and spectacular views of Mont Blanc and the Aiguille de Trélatête. If you are ready for something more challenging, you can try the route from La Joux (1.494 m) to Mont Valaisan (2,891 m), which offers a 360° view of the French mountains and the highest peaks of the Alps, then go back downhill in the woods.

3. Freeride: free snow

A The Thuile can practice skiing and snowboarding 360° to live the wildest side of the winter mountain. Follow the call of nature and throw yourself in the fresh snow, looking for the ‘powder’ and the energy that here is more alive and powerful than ever.

But it is necessary to have a high technical level, but also great respect for the mountain and its ecosystem; for this reason we recommend that you accompany yourself with an alpine guide and be equipped with adequate equipment.

4. Snowkite: surfing snow

Use the wind to surf the snow; with a sail, a pair of skis or a snowboard board, Snowkite in La Thuile is distilled adrenaline.

At the Colle del Piccolo San Bernardo (2.188 m), border point between Italy and France, you will have a large area – accessible with the lifts – which, besides the wind, which never fails here, will make you discover the wild aspect of the Mont Blanc chain. A place where you can enjoy and regenerate, surfing along the snowy slopes, in freedom and safety.

5. Eliski: emotions in flight

If you want to reach the peaks of the highest Alps in Europe, fill your eyes with unique scenery and live the mountain in total freedom and its total power, the eliski in La Thuile is the activity that you do for you.

Powerful emotions await you. The eliski area of La Thuile is between the Pointe Lechaud, Mount Miravidi, Mont Ouille, Mont Freudaz, the White Becca and the Head of Rutor, with different points of recovery and various possibilities of descent on the Italian or French side.

Accompanied by an alpine guide or by a ski instructor, the Colle del Piccolo San Bernardo with a peak destination of the Rutor (3.486 m) or top of the Miravidi (3,051 m), you will experience the thrill of taking off the flight and a bribery adrenaline rush.

6. Nordic skiing: the fabulous world of the bottom

The mountain is not just skis on the track. If you want to get the best benefit from the mountain, you appreciate the spirit and power there is nothing more beautiful than practicing cross-country skiing in La Thuile.

From the plain of Arly, behind the Foyer de Fond, you can find ring tracks of various lengths – from 1 to 7 km, accessible for free – and degrees of difficulty. Another 4 cross-country tracks (from 3 to 7.5 km) are located in Arpy area, under the Colle San Carlo, between larici and fir trees.

7. Snowshoeing: a slow pace between snowy landscapes

If you want to recover the beneficial pleasure of slowness, finding a rhythm of life that favors meditation, relaxation, contemplation, opts for a beneficial snowshoe for the environment and health.

A La Thuile you can immerse yourself in the oxygenated area of the woods, enjoy the tranquility of the white landscape and give you a stop in the small Alpine villages experiencing the pleasure of recovering your natural rhythm of life.

From the municipality of Valdostano and the small hamlets of Pétosan, Les Granges, La Joux, Buic, Villaret, there are itineraries of different difficulty and length (from one to 4 hours), which allow to reach extraordinary panoramic areas in which to rest and to be lost by the mighty force of the mountain.

8. Discover the ancient mines

Whether with snowshoes or on foot, in La Thuile discover the history of the Aosta Valley, thanks to the old paths of the mines that lead to the entrances of the tunnels and the ancient village of the miners.

Here the history of the territory is the custodian of a rich mining heritage, linked to the extraction of silver lead and anthracite, for the production of coal, for centuries a source of wealth for the local population.

9. Admire the Rutor Falls

The strength of the elements is manifested in all its power at the waterfalls of the Rutor, among the most spectacular of the Aosta Valley; three jumps of impetuous water that throw in gorges and precipices.

Perfect for a regenerating pause: focusing on listening to the flow of water, the mind is free from tensions and opens on nature, intensifying the perception of fragrances and sound vibrations. During the winter season, it is possible to reach only one of the three with snowshoes or by practicing mountaineering skiing along a fairly simple path that you can walk in about 2 and a half hours.

10. Cenare in altitude

After practicing healthy physical activity, the flavors of mountain cuisine contribute to complete the general state of well-being. A dinner at the top in one of the 16 restaurants/bars – surrounded by snowy peaks – allows you to experience local flavors and get to know the local products.