La Thuile Ski Resort

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La Thuile ski resort. Approaching 2200m on the Les Suches gondola.
La Thuile ski resort. Approaching 2200m on the Les Suches gondola.
La Thuile should be spelled with a
La Thuile should be spelled with a 'P' for powder!
The Fourclaz chairlift services La Thuile
The Fourclaz chairlift services La Thuile's most interesting off piste terrain.
Mountain splendour at La Thuile.
Mountain splendour at La Thuile.
The Les Suches base area at La Thuile.
The Les Suches base area at La Thuile.
Pristine powder below Chaz Dura at La Thuile.
Pristine powder below Chaz Dura at La Thuile.
Approaching La Thuile village on the Diretta piste trail.
Approaching La Thuile village on the Diretta piste trail.
Ski and snowboard in Italy or France at La Thuile.
Ski and snowboard in Italy or France at La Thuile.
The Chaz Dura chair services La Thuile beginner and intermediate piste.
The Chaz Dura chair services La Thuile beginner and intermediate piste.
Not hard to see why Powderhounds loves La Thuile ski resort.
Not hard to see why Powderhounds loves La Thuile ski resort.
The Belvedere is the highest point at La Thuile - 2641m.
The Belvedere is the highest point at La Thuile - 2641m.
Crossing the border from La Thuile into France on the way to La Rosiere.
Crossing the border from La Thuile into France on the way to La Rosiere.
La Thuile has steeper terrain for the more adventurous skier.
La Thuile has steeper terrain for the more adventurous skier.
Perfect La Thuile on and off piste terrain for beginner and intermediate skiers.
Perfect La Thuile on and off piste terrain for beginner and intermediate skiers.
A picture from La Thuile speaks a 1000 words!
A picture from La Thuile speaks a 1000 words!
Spectacular Piccolo San Bernardo chair on the north side of La Thuile.
Spectacular Piccolo San Bernardo chair on the north side of La Thuile.
The Roxi bar and restaurant at the base of the Fourclaz chair is excellent.
The Roxi bar and restaurant at the base of the Fourclaz chair is excellent.
Relax in style at the Roxi in La Thuile ski resort.
Relax in style at the Roxi in La Thuile ski resort.
La Thuile ski resort base area.
La Thuile ski resort base area.
Ski La Thuile.
Ski La Thuile.

La Thuile Ski Resort

Readers Ratings

La Thuile

La Thuile3.5/56
La Thuile3.5 out of 5 based on 6 reviews
  • Recommend
    100%
  • Would Revisit
    83%
Bansko Ski Packages Snomads Lodging Bulgaria Transfers

Interlinked Ski Resort

La Rosiere

La Thuile Maps & Stats

    La Thuile Ski Trail Map
  • La Thuile Ski Trail Map
  • Vertical (m)
    La Thule only
    1,450m - 2,650m (1,200m)

    Espace San Bernardo
    1,170m - 2,800m (1,630m)
  • Average Snow Fall
    7 to 10m
  • Lifts (17)
    1 Gondola
    11 Chairs
    Espace San Bernardo - 38 lifts
  • Opening Dates & Times
    Late Nov to mid-April
    8:45am to 4:45pm
  • Terrain Summary
    Runs - 160km
    Longest run - 11 km
    Advanced - 27%
    Intermediate - 46%
    Beginner - 27%
  • Lift Pass Price
    Day Ticket 23/24
    Espace San Bernardo
    Adult - €55
    Child - €14 to 39
    Child u/8yr - Free
    Valid La Thuile & La Rosiere
    Discounts available for online purchases
    La Thuile North-side Ski Trail Map
  • La Thuile North-side Trail Map
    Espace San Bernardo ski trail & piste map
  • Espace San Bernardo Trail Map

La Thuile Ski Resort Italy

La Thuile ski resort in Italy is a fun, low key, snow magnet near the head of the Aosta valley. Situated at the end of the road in winter, a short distance from Courmayeur, close to the border with France and surrounded by Mont Miravidi and the Rutor Glacier, La Thuile has all the mountain splendour one could ever wish for.

Loads of beginner & lower intermediate piste terrain, a wonderful off-piste & freeride terrain, reliable snowfall, plus fun challenges for the more advanced & adventurous, makes La Thuile a great ski destination and Powderhounds favourite. Its international link with La Rosiere ski resort in France adds some more spice to the sauce!

Pros & Cons for La Thuile Ski Resort

Pros

  • Excellent snow quality & quantity.
  • Glorious range of off-piste freeride terrain for beginner to advanced powder hounds.
  • Uncrowded.
  • Fun tree skiing.
  • Child & family friendly terrain.
  • Sensational value for money - lifts & accommodation.
  • Fabulous views.
  • Delectable mountain hut dining.
  • Heli-skiing & backcountry access is great.
  • International border crossing, plus lift, piste & pass linked to La Rosiere!

Cons

  • Piste trails generally not challenging (with some notable exceptions!).
  • Some long, flat traverses are not snowboard friendly.
  • Dated base & resort facilities.

Pro or Con (depending on your perspective!)

  • Village is in deep shade for much of winter.
  • No high-end luxury (5-star et al) accommodation in the area (go to Courmayeur).

Skiing & Snowboarding, Lifts & Terrain

La Thuile is a ski resort of skiing & snowboarding terrain contrasts. A huge area of flattish beginner & lower intermediate terrain above Les Suches is juxtaposed against the fast, steep (and frightening!) world cup ski course immediately below (the excellent combination of #2 Diretta & #3 F.Berthod trails). Long, awkward traverses, particularly for snowboarders, end in fun intermediate cruisers & interesting (read sometimes challenging) off-piste freeride terrain.

Check out the ski trail map for La Thuile below.

La Thuile Ski Trail Map
La Thuile (Espace San Bernardo) Ski Trail Map

The lift system at La Thuile isn't super modern but is perfectly adequate. No crowds & no queues = no need for ultra-modern high-speed lifts. The pick of the lifts (& terrain) is on the north-facing side of La Thuile off the Fourclaz, Belvedere and Petit San Bernardo chairlifts (where you will find skiers from the lift pass interlinked La Rosière poaching the powder!).

The longest run in La Thuile is the 11km long San Bernardo (#7). It is essentially the snow-covered road down from the Petit Saint Bernard pass. Marked intermediate, but really a beginner trail, it realistically is more of a relaxing journey of discovery where, in true Italian fashion, one can link up several restaurants & bars on the way down to La Thuile. With several long flat sections, snowboarders need to avoid it at all costs! Jump onto the bottom of #2 and #3 for a super-fast finish.

The real fun at La Thuile is the off-piste. Nothing too intimidating, but just enough to get your adrenaline pumping. The Powderhounds absolutely loved it. 40cm of super dry powder kind of helped as well! La Thuile is a great location to learn to ski powder due to the huge low-angle off-piste available, particularly above Les Suches & Arnouvaz.

Interlinked with La Rosiere Ski Resort

The La Thuile ski resort is linked by lifts, piste & lift passes with family friendly La Rosière in France to form the Espace San Bernardo ski domain. Whilst La Rosiere has a more sun-drenched disposition, the Powderhounds think that everything is better on the Italian side, but you be the judge! Regardless, the linked ski area creates a total of 160km of piste trails & ski routes over 3000 hectares of terrain. New pistes, and off-piste advanced & freeride terrain at La Rosiere have forever changed the resort........ for the better!

For detailed information on lifts, terrain and lift passes, see our Skiing & Snowboarding La Thuile page.

Where is La Thuile Italy?

Along with the Dolomites, the Aosta valley is the best-known Italian ski region. La Thuile is in the Valle d'Aosta of far north-western Italy but doesn't have the reputation (or panache!) attributed to the valley’s best known ski resort, Courmayeur, located only 15km away (20min or so by car).

The closest major centre is Aosta, 50km to the east (50min by car). Main international gateway airports are Geneva (GVA) (134km), Turin (TRN) (155km) or Milan Malpensa (MXP) (220km).

Bus transport to La Thuile is available directly from Milan, Turin, Aosta or Courmayeur & can be combined with trains that terminate at Aosta. A free ski bus does regular circuits within the town.

For more information on the best way to get there, see our Travel to La Thuile page.

[AdListings collection="Europe" category="Italy Aosta" subcategory="Aosta Transfers"]

La Thuile Accommodation

The town of La Thuile is perfectly situated near the base of the ski resort. A range of aging multi-storey apartment blocks are immediately across the road from the ski lifts & runs. What they lack in style is more than made up for in location and facilities. A huge number of shops, bar and restaurants are sneakily located at the base of all the buildings.

Search & book La Thuile ski accommodation.

La Thuile's main town centre is a short 5min walk from the resort base. Hotels of varying quality, apartments, guesthouses, and rental homes are spread along the way. A few excellent ski-in options exist.

For information on the best accommodation choices, see our Where to Stay in La Thuile page.

[AdListings collection="Europe" category="Italy La Thuile" subcategory="La Thuile Packages"]

Ski Rentals, Lessons, Facilities & Services

As expected of any large European ski resort, La Thuile has all the ski rental, ski school, bars & restaurant facilities one could require or desire. But ............ it does kind of feel a bit tatty & run down; as though it is past its used by date & needs a refresh. Case in point is the 'squat' toilet in the men's ablutions at the base of the Les Suches gondola. Ever tried to take a dump in ski boots in a slippery squat toilet. If it was at a remote mountain hut or rifugio - fair enough; in a ski resort's main base area - definitely not! That said, it does not change the quality of the snow & skiing, which is great.

On mountain restaurants & bars are as good as one would expect from any Aosta valley ski resort.

Ski & snowboard rentals are available via our local partners right at the base of the main gondola. Receive a discount when you search & book via our La Thuile Ski & Snowboard Rental page.

Find a great local instructor or mountain guide, plus ski schools & lessons via the listings below.

[AdListings collection="Europe" category="Italy La Thuile" subcategory="La Thuile Guiding"]

Nearby Ski Resorts

La Thuile is remarkably close to the superb Courmayeur ski resort & the huge off-piste terrain from Punta Helbronner on Monte Bianco. Other great Italian ski resorts near La Thuile are the Powderhounds freeride favourite, Monterosa Ski & the unheralded Pila ski resort above the city of Aosta. Our Aosta valley secret stash, Crevacol, is a short drive north of the city.

Across the border in France past La Rosiere is the Tarentaise valley with the huge ski resorts of Les Arcs, La Plagne, Tignes - Val d'Isere and the little secret stash of Sainte Foy. The legendary Chamonix is a short drive away via the Mont Blanc tunnel, or perhaps you might ski there via the 22km Vallee Blanche from Punta Helbronner. above Courmayeur. Oh, the possibilities......

Reviews

The Powderhounds last fully skied La Thuile a few years ago, but it is still fresh in memories because of the awesome powder we found & the lack of people skiing it. We more recently skied into its upper reaches in March 2023 via the wonderful new lift accessed freeride terrain from Mont Valaisan in La Rosiere. See the review links in the left column (or top of page if on a mobile) for our review, more photos & sparkling repartee.

See how La Thuile compares to the rest of the Italian ski resorts on the Italy ski resort ratings page, or compare to the rest of Europe on the European ski resort ratings page.

Follow Powderhounds Europe on Instagram to see where we are currently skiing. Follow our main Powderhounds page on Facebook to stay in touch with up-to-date info, tours, and discussions.

Tours in or near La Thuile

Safari (Road Trip) Tours

Tarentaise Powder Ski Safari
GUIDED OFF-PISTE SKI ADVENTURE
8 Days | 7 Nights | 6 Days Skiing | 3+ Resorts
Ability: Strong Intermediate to Expert
Discover the best snow & off-piste terrain in the world famous ski areas of the French Alps' Haute Tarentaise. Lead by an experienced guide, ski descents of up to 2,000m vertical through untracked powder, days after a snowfall. Join a "fixed date" tour or get your own group together for your best dates & duration.
Price p/p From price based on twin/double-share room occupancy & min group of 6 people on an 8-day tour
Base/invoice currency is in EURO inc taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 2,290
View Details
 
See all Safari (Road Trip) tours that visit La Thuile here

Single-Base, Multi-Ski-Area Tours

Tarentaise Valley Star Ski Tour
GUIDED OFF-PISTE ADVENTURE
8 Days | 4+ Ski Resorts
Ability: Intermediate to Expert
Ski untracked powder in the most famous ski areas of the world in France with an experienced guide riding vertical descents of up to 2,000m vertical. Explore the 3 Valleys, Les Arcs, Sainte Foy, La Plagne & La Rosiere. Join a "fixed date" tour or get your own group together for a custom tour on your best dates....
Price p/p From price based on twin/double-share room occupancy & min private group of 4 people on a 8-day tour
Base/invoice currency is in EURO inc taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 2,149
View Details
 
See all Single-Base, Multi-Ski-Area tours that visit La Thuile here
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