Courmayeur is a charming, traditional mountaineering village situated in the lee of Mont Blanc at the Italian end of the Mont Blanc tunnel is an extraordinarily popular weekend skiing destination for the posher snow bunnies from Milan and Turin. The town is pleasant, with plenty of shops and après ski entertainment, from well reputed restaurants to bars and specialty delicatessens. Perhaps not in line with Courmayeur’s party ski resort reputation, the skiing is actually pretty good for the confident intermediate. The off-poste terrain however, is a pretty hard challenge and must not be attempted unless a confident skier. There are classic off-piste runs from the Cresta d’Arp at the top of the lift network, while the SkyWay Monte Bianco cable car from Entrèves, provides access to some serious descents, including the famous Vallée Blanche and Punta Helbronner. If you’re not keen on hard core skiing, do make time for a trip in this cable car which boasts a rotating cabin…
