Monte Rosa is a ski resort in Italy. Monte Rosa Extreme Black Descents

How to get to Monte Rosa

The mountain peak of Monte Rosa rises immediately above several valleys, in which the ski resorts are located. Italy. These, in particular, include Champoluc, Gressoney and Alagna. The resorts of Monte Rosa are considered more intimate and suitable for family or solitude vacations; Italians themselves like to relax here.

The slopes in Monte Rosa are suitable for all skill levels - there are easy, medium, and difficult options, as well as many opportunities for freeriding. Cozy restaurants, bars and thermal complexes, as invariable attributes of any ski resort, are also present. The resorts of Monte Rosa are full of local color and comfort, except for the winter holidays, they are relatively uncrowded, which makes the place ideal for those who want a relaxing holiday without fuss.

The most convenient way to get to the Monte Rosa resorts is from Turin or Milan. Direct and connecting flights from Russia fly to both cities, this is easy to check on search engines. Aviasales, Buruki and others similar to them. Then you can get from Turin or Milan to the valley of the Monte Rosa mountains by transfer or rented car. There is no public transport as such on the route.

You can order an individual transfer by the time of arrival at services specializing in this type of service, for example, at , and others. So, a transfer from Milan to Gresson takes about 1 hour 45 minutes, to Champoluc - about 2 hours, to Alagna-Valsesia - about 2 hours 10 minutes. The transfer from Turin to Gresson takes 1 hour 15 minutes, to Champoluc - 1 hour 25 minutes, to Alanya - 1 hour 35 minutes. In winter, a group transfer is also available.

A rented car will become no less convenient means of transportation, since rental offices operate in large numbers, both at Turin airport and at Milan airport. You can also clarify all the conditions for renting and book the right car in advance through specialized services. These include, in particular, , , and others like it. The distance between Turin and the resorts of Monte Rosa is from 110 to 150 km, between Milan and the resorts - from 150 to 180 km. The routes connecting the cities are high-speed, in some places there are mountain serpentines, but, in general, they are comfortable and well equipped even for trips in winter.

Matteo Galli/Gressoney

Where to stay in Monte Rosa

At the foot of Monte Rosa, there are several valleys at once, in which local ski resorts are located. If you are looking for where to stay in Monte Rosa, then the main resorts here are Gressoney-le-Trinite, Gressoney-Saint-Jean, Champoluc and Alagna-Valsesia. These resorts are small and have a limited number of accommodations, so it's best to book in advance. All Monte Rosa resorts are united by excellent infrastructure and a cozy atmosphere.

In the resorts of Gressoney, you can find hotels of all categories of stars from 1 to 5, which indicates that the resort is suitable for tourists with different budgets. In addition, apartments and guest houses are popular in Gressoney. Many of the local hotels have their own access to the slopes, as well as many additional options on their territory, such as restaurants, parking lots, saunas, and children's playrooms. Most of the hotels in Gressoney are designed in the style of a chalet and are designed for a small number of residents, which creates an additional atmosphere of comfort and conditions for a relaxing holiday. Also, breakfast is usually included in the price, and in some hotels half board is also provided.

In Champoluc, there are noticeably fewer places to stay than in the resorts of Gressoney, and mainly hotels prevail here. The number of apartments for rent is limited. However, in all other respects, in particular with regard to infrastructure, Champoluc hotels are in no way inferior to hotels in Gressoney. The pricing policy is also comparable. The contingent of vacationers in Champoluc is mainly Italians themselves, so it is not always possible to meet English-speaking staff here. The absolute highlight of the resort are hotels equipped with spa areas and indoor pools with a sauna area.

In Alanya-Valsesia, there are even fewer places to stay, the resort is suitable for those who are looking for solitude or unity with nature. The resort itself has a less developed infrastructure, the social life here is less saturated. In general, here you can find several hotels and just a couple of apartments for rent.

You can check the prices for all possible accommodation options in the resorts of Monte Rosa on specialized search engines Booking, Hotellook and others that allow you to compare all existing offers for the required dates. The largest number of offers for accommodation in Monte Rosa resorts will be in Gressoney-le-Trinite and Gressoney-Saint-Jean, these are the most urbanized towns, for privacy it is worth looking for accommodation in Champoluc and Alagna-Valsesia.

Stable popularity is enjoyed, for example, by such accommodation options:

• Hotel Scoiattolo 4* – location in Gressoney, free transfer to the slopes, availability of a wellness center, restaurant, bar, rooms of various sizes, meals - breakfasts, free private parking, wireless internet, ski storage;

• Ellex Hotel 3* - location in Staffal, the nearest ski lift is 250 m, there is a spa area with hydromassage, sauna and bath, rooms of various sizes, meals - breakfasts, free private parking nearby, wireless internet, ski storage;

• Hotel Flora Alpina - location in Gressoney, proximity to ski areas, rooms of various sizes, meals - breakfasts, parking, free Wi-Fi, ski storage;

• Fridau Residence and Wellness – apart-hotel, location – in the vicinity of Gressoney, the nearest ski lift is 600 m, guests can stay in studios or apartments of various sizes, optional breakfast is provided for an additional fee, there is a spa area with hydromassage and sauna on site, there is also terrace for relaxation, free private parking, wireless internet.

What to see in Monte Rosa

The total length of the slopes of all Monte Rosa resorts is about 130 km, with a predominant number of red slopes of medium difficulty. In addition, there are also extensive opportunities for heli-skiing and freeriding. The highest point exceeds 3000 meters. Fans of cross-country skiing will also not be offended, for them the scope for opportunities is practically unlimited. Other sports that have become popular in Monte Rosa include paragliding, ice skating, mountain climbing, snowshoeing and dog sledding. Even in winter, Monte Rosa has an adventure adventure park. Monte Rosa resorts are largely focused on family holidays, which is why a children's snow park is open here.

The cost of a ski pass for skiing in Monte Rosa is comparable to the cost in other ski resorts in Italy and differs mainly in terms of skiing time (high and low seasons).

In the low season, the cost is somewhat lower. The number of vacationers is also proportionally reduced, so during this period in the resorts of Monte Rosa you can quite find solitude and feel like a pioneer.

For those who like to combine active holidays with relaxation, Champoluc has a spa center that offers a wide range of services in the field of relaxation procedures. The spa and wellness center is called "Monterosa Terme". In addition, in the neighboring town of Saint Vincent, there is also the Fons Salutis thermal complex, which offers treatments using mineral waters of local origin. You can also find a spa center at the Jolanda Sport 4 * hotel, which is located in the town of Gressoney-la-Trinite, it has a swimming pool, hydromassage, gym, Finnish sauna, Turkish steam bath, outdoor pool, and spa treatments are also carried out here for the face and body, as well as massage.

The most unexpected thing about the resorts of Monte Rosa is that there are also cultural attractions. So, in your free time from skiing, you can go to see the castle of Savoy, to the museum of alpine fauna or to the eco-museum of local culture. In summer, the resorts of Monte Rosa are also not empty, and tourists are invited to go rock climbing, hiking, horseback riding, golf, fishing, cycling, rafting, canyoning and Nordic walking.

We will be happy to answer your questions in the comments!

On a note:

Going on a trip to Italy, do not forget to take out a travel insurance policy, which is mandatory already at the stage of applying for a tourist visa. You can take out insurance on your own without leaving your home. For this, there are special services, such as , and others. You can buy a policy online and then print it on a regular printer.

Photo at the beginning of the article: Matteo Galli

Useful information for tourists about Monte Rosa in Italy - geographical location, tourist infrastructure, map, architectural features and attractions.

Ski resorts in Italy.
Aosta Valley (Valle d "Aosta), Monte Rosa (Monte Rosa)

Monte Rosa, the vast ski area of ​​Valle d'Aosta, unites five villages at once with a single network: Antagnon, Champoluc, Bluesson, Gressoney-la-Trinite and Gressoney Saint-Jean. The ski area provides ample opportunities for both experienced skiers and beginners. For the less experienced, it is better to choose Champoluc and Greessoney Saint-Jean: most of the gentle pistes are located here. The resorts of the Monte Rosa region - Champoluc, Gressoney and Alagna - are located in the Aosta Valley and are considered among the best places in the world for freeriding.

Recommended: freeriders, experts, good riders, those who want to save money.
Not recommended: lovers of secular resorts and luxurious accommodation, those who are looking for a vibrant nightlife, non-skiers.

PROS
+ A huge skiing region that combines three valleys with ski lifts
+ Great opportunities for freeride, ski touring and heli-skiing
+ Relatively uncrowded even in high season
+ A very distinctive region with a long tradition
+ Moderate prices

MINUSES
- Very modest opportunities for après-ski
- In windy weather, the connecting lifts between the valleys are closed
- Relatively few trails for beginners
- Opportunities for luxury accommodation are almost non-existent
- Shopping and entertainment after skiing is very specific

How to Get to Monta Rosa
The nearest airports are in Turin (90 km), Milan (140 km) and Geneva (235 km). The nearest railway station is Verres, which has a regular bus service to the resorts. It can be reached with a change in Aosta by train from Milan or Turin.

Height difference: 1212-3275 m

Lifts: gondolas - 3, cabins - 5, chairlifts - 18, rope tows - 4, belt - 8

The total length of the slopes is 180 km: blue - 46 km, red - 117 km, black - 17 km

Monte Rosa official website: www.monterosa-ski.com

Ski pass prices: Ski pass for 1 day – 38 euros
Ski pass for 6 days – 210 euros
Ski pass for 13 days – 343 euros
Children under 7 years old ride for free (a document confirming the age of the child is required), from 7 to 14 years old - a 25% discount.
A ski pass from 6 to 10 days includes two days of skiing at any other resort in the Val d'Aosta region (Courmayeur, Cervinia, La Thuile, Pila). There are ski passes for select days. Monte Rosa ski passes are not valid in the Champorche region ( Champorcher) (and vice versa).

Monte Rosa, prices: Ski / snowboard kit rental 130-150 euros for 6 days
Dinner in a regular restaurant - 25-40 euros (with drinks)

Total length of tracks: 109 km, blue - 44%, red - 60%, black - 15% Alta Valtellina slopes - 220 km

Skiing in Monta Rosa
The Monte Rosa region includes three valleys - Ayas Champoluc, Gressoney and Alagna Valsesia, located parallel to each other and abutting the Monte Rosa massif. In 2005, they were united by lifts and today they represent one of the most interesting skiing regions in the Alps. The altitudes at which the tracks are located guarantee reliable snow cover and a long season. The region is interesting primarily for its difficult trails and great opportunities for off-piste skiing, ski touring and heli-skiing. Ayas-Champoluc, Gressoney and Alagna-Valsesia offer about 200 km of prepared pistes and even more off-piste routes between the valleys, around the Monte Rosa massif, and if desired, also with the inclusion of neighboring Cervinia or Zermatt. Accompanying a guide on such trips is highly desirable. Beautiful views and the traditional alpine atmosphere of the old towns are guaranteed in any valley. The main tourist center of Monte Rosa is Champoluc. A small cozy village with a very modest range of entertainment, but ideal for small companies of avid skiers who put skiing above all else.

The nature of skiing on the slopes in the region is highly dependent on the valley. While Champoluc and Gressoney will be comfortable for intermediate skiers, Alanya is mainly a place for expert skiing. For beginners, there are not many opportunities to ski in Monte Rosa - in fact, the blue slopes are marked only on the slopes in Champoluc. One slope descends from Mont-Roc (2457 m) to the middle lift station from Frachey. The other is between it and the middle lift station from Champoluc. A couple more slopes are located on the slope near the village of Antagnod, which is a 10-minute drive from Champoluc. More experienced skiers should pay attention to the Crest plateau and further to Colle Sarezza (Colle Sarezza, 2700 m), where cabins are lifted from Champoluc - interesting red runs start here, descending back to the resort. From the Cross plateau, you can move to another skiing area - Colle Bettaforca (2672 m). There are many trails for amateurs in the area, as well as the most difficult descent on the black C12 in Frachey. Having crossed the ridge and Colle Bettaforca to Stafal, you find yourself at the lower stations of the opposite slope of the Gressoney valley, from where you can quickly reach the top of the Passo dei Salati (2971 m). There are many interesting trails for experienced skiers here - narrow, with a very interesting terrain and a height difference of more than 1200 m. Really extreme routes to the Alanya-Valsesia valley, to Pianalunga, 2046 m, start from here. The slopes in Alanya-Valsesia are very interesting due to their length and relief. Special mention deserves the Balma V5 track from the top of Punta Indren (3260 m) to Bocchetta delle Pisse Forcella Bors and to Bocchetta delle Pisse 8 km long. You can also return to the Gressoney valley by an off-piste route from the highest point of Forcella Bors, but this entertainment is exclusively for experienced skiers accompanied by guides.

Apres-ski

Champoluc has many establishments serving gourmet dishes of traditional Valdostan cuisine, as well as restaurants whose owners always try to offer guests something out of the ordinary. The best establishments where you can spend more than one hour and more than one evening are Le Vieux Lyskamm, Le Petit Coq and Saveurs d "Antan. In Gressoney-La Trinite, you should try Castore Lounge Bar & Ristorante, Bar Tavola Calda Hirsch Stube and Bar Favre In Gressoney Saint-Jean - Ristorante Birreria Bierfall, Ristorante Carducci and Ristotante Il Braciere.

Wellness center and gym in Champoluc, located in a chalet overlooking the Monte Rosa massif - fitness room, massage room, relaxation room, Turkish bath, sauna, hot tubs. Sports center in Gressoney Saint-Jean - swimming pool, sauna, Turkish bath, gym, squash, golf course, climbing wall, cinema. Champoluc is perhaps the busiest tourist center in Monte Rosa. All resorts have many shops where you can buy unusual souvenirs, local gastronomic and wines. There are many interesting excursion sites in the Monte Rosa valleys, but for something more like Roman parade arches or medieval castles, you will have to at least leave the valley (one is located right at the entrance) or go to Aosta.

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In the north-west of Italy, in the tiny but most beautiful province of Valle d'Aosta, on the border with France and Switzerland, there is the highest alpine massif Monte Rosa (Monte Rosa, 4663 m). Four-thousanders, covered with ice helmets, surround the Aosta Valley - one of the five in Italy.

Resort Monte Rosa, belongs to the "heavenly" region of the highest mountainous Italy, it also known as the "Italian Three Valleys". Three parallel gorges with tiny villages are connected by a single system of lifts:

1. In the Val de Ayas are Shampoluc, Brusson, Antagnon;
2. In the Gressoney Gorge - the communes of Gressoney-Saint-Jean and Gressoney-La-Trinité;
3. In Alagna Valsesia, there are mountain shelters Stafal and Alagna Valsesia.

Among these mountain villages, only Champoluc has the infrastructure to serve tourists, which allows it to be a popular ski resort - it is the capital of the "Three Valleys". The region attracts those who know a lot about skiing: 180 km of ready-made slopes; giant off-piste routes along the Monte Rosa massif, with the capture of slopes (Cervinia) and Swiss Zermatt (Zermatt); opportunities for heli-skiing (Heliskiing) with a lift by helicopter; ski touring is not for beginners.

However, the resort also has schools for advanced training and mastering snowboarding, freeride, and carving. In the resort's children's school (ScuolaSciChampoluc), instructors - the best Italian and English specialists - work with children from 4 years old.

Lovers of comfort and entertainment in the resort of Champoluc will be bored, it is interesting for companies of avid skiers and sports families. Monte Rosa is loved by the Scandinavians, and they already understand the places of skiing. Champoluc with its adrenaline opportunities and affordable prices deserves the attention of Russian tourists, although in the Aosta Valley they are more familiar with the resorts of Cervinia and (Courmayeur).

When to go

Snowfalls begin here in November, sub-zero temperatures prevail, but the real "powder" - freshly fallen snow cover, which is so appreciated by freeriders, appears in the second decade of December.

• Low season: November 26 - December 8; March 29 until the end of the season.
• Main season: December 8-24; January 9 - February 10;
• High season: December 24 - January 8; February 11 - March 28;

The Monterosa Ski area has its own peculiarities of purchasing ski passes.

Seasonal differences apply to 3- and 6-day passes. So, a six-day ski pass for an adult tourist cost: in the low season - 216 €; in the main - 222 € in the high - 242 €. The cost of one-day ski passes all season, except for the Christmas holidays, is the same: 41 euros in the normal season and 46 euros on holidays.

Those who want to “catch” good snow and not overpay at the same time need to have a tactic of behavior before the start of the skiing season:

1. Select one or more resorts;
2. Buy a ticket, but with the possibility of a refund;
3. Book accommodation, but without prepayment;
4. Stay up to date with the weather forecast in the region using the official website snow-forecast.com.

If it snows and the weather is favorable: the sun, the wind is weak, you have to fly. The best time for the Monte Rosa resort is before the Christmas holidays on December 17-24. If the weather is unfavorable, you will have to return tickets and book apartments for March.

In March, there is still snow here, and there are few people, and there will be no problems with housing. The only negative is the weather: cloudy, windy, the snow melts in the evening, and in the morning it is covered with an ice crust. In case of bad weather, a tourist staying at the Champoluc resort needs a car: there are few entertainments in the village itself, and there are interesting places to visit in the area.

Trails, lifts, ski passes

A single ski pass for the entire Monterosa Ski area gives access to 67 pistes with a total length of 180 km. In addition to them, there are ski areas for freeride, heli-skiing, one track for border cross, and ski touring routes.

Slalom

Of all the equipped slopes, 19 are blue, 41 are red, 6 are black. All slopes descend into the valleys of Champoluc, Gressoney, Alanya. In the Champoluc zone, the total length of the slopes is 70 km, and the elevation difference is 1900 m; in Gressoney - all slopes are 50 km, and the drop is 1600 m; There are few slopes in Alanya - 23 km, but they are the steepest, the height difference is 2350 m.

Blue runs

The blue slopes are located mainly on the slopes of the Champoluc valley, which gives reason to consider the resort as a family one. In other valleys the blue runs are very short.

One of the good blue runs comes down from the Mont Ros area (Mont Ros, 2457), the other goes from the foot of Ostafa. The children's area is located in the village of Antagnod with a height difference of about 400 m.

The blue slope at Passo Salati in Alanya is the only easy descent in the third valley of Monta Rosa.

Red runs

Red slopes start at the peaks of Crest and Colle Sarezza (2700 m). Here tourists are delivered by a lift from Champoluc. Starting on a plateau, the tracks pass through a coniferous forest, preparing a lot of surprises for skiers.

The Frachey lift takes tourists to the Colle Bettaforca area (ColleBettaforca, 2672). This pass has descents into both valleys: Champoluc and Gressoney. The red trails to the second valley, especially the descent from the Passo dei Salati (Passodei Salati, 2971 m) are relief and swift (up to 1200 m difference).

Extreme Black Descents

• The long and difficult slope C 12 leads from the ridge of Colle Bettafork to the Fracey lift, this is the second most difficult slope of the resort;
• Another black track - B6 - descends from St. Anna (Sant'Anna) on Stafal (Stafal) in the Gressoney valley;
• From the top leading to the third valley, Alagna-Valsesia, a descent is made along the Balma V 5 route from Punta Indren (3260 m) with a length of 8 km and a vertical drop of up to 1200 m. On the descent there are many steep drops with hillocks and ice sections. This track is the “black pearl” of the resort;
• Another black descent into the Alanya valley starts at Passo dei Salati and leads to Pianalunga (2046 m) - the V3 route. For snowboarding, there are two parks here: on Mount Gabiet and on the Col Dolen pass.

freeride paradise

The Mount Rose Grand Tour is an 8-hour off-piste tour of three valleys. Frachei - Colle Bettaforca - Gressoney valley - Passo dei Salati - Valsesia slopes - Alagna - Punta Indren glacier - Gressoney slope - Champoluc.

An even more extreme opportunity to engage in a duel with heights is heli-skiing, heli-boarding. The helicopter drops the athletes to the Lys pass, from where the descent is made along the Grenz glacier.

Ski touring

Downhill skiing does not allow you to feel the beauty of the snow-white peaks of the Celestial Alpine region. Therefore, many fans of ski touring come here. Here you can win a bet against a skier who can reach speeds of up to 250 km per hour, or take a grand "Swiss" trip to Zermatt - the Monterosa Ski ski pass provides for such an opportunity.

Lifts

Rope, chair, cabin, belt, gondolas and funiculars. They serve local areas and unite the valleys into a single space. The general connection is carried out by a lift from Fracei to the Colle Bettaforca ridge, and from there to the Passo dei Salati area. These high-speed modern lifts were installed in 2005.

How to get to the resort

Transfer from the airport is not cheap, but convenient. A taxi from Milan (Aeroporto di Milano-Malpensa) to Champoluc costs 220-280 €; from Turin - 170-200 €. You can order.

The most convenient way to get to and spend your winter holidays in the Monte Rosa area is to rent a car. This will make it possible to expand the areola of skiing at the expense of nearby resorts; visit interesting sights, go to have fun if the weather is bad. You can rent a car at.

Hotels

The difficult skiing on the slopes of Monte Rosa requires recuperation and good rest, therefore ski hotels with a full range of services and comfortable rooms are in demand in Champoluc. There are 19 hotels in the three valleys.

4 stars

– a typical ski hotel with helpful staff, a spa center and a restaurant, located in the center of the resort near the ski lift. The restaurant serves local cuisine.

Hotel Lo Scoiattolo

The Hotel Lo Scoiattolo is located in Gressoney-la-Trinite, a central valley, equidistant from all the challenging slopes. Sauna, solarium, restaurant with Waldorn cuisine will perfectly restore strength for a new sports day.

3 stars

Stadel Soussun

The 3-star Stadel Soussun is located in a historic building, all rooms with heating, each room has a bath and shower. The 16th century style restaurant is located in the basement.

Hotel L'Aiglon

The 3-star Hotel L’ Aiglon is 500 meters from the ski lift to Crest Plateau. A bathroom with hydromassage, a bar with hot drinks and pastries, luggage storage for ski equipment, family rooms - this is the range of services that the hotel offers.

Apartments

Apartments are an option for budget housing, which provides opportunities for sleep and relaxation. Nutritional issues have to be addressed additionally. In the village there is, of course, a chain of restaurants and a spa center, but will there be the strength and desire to visit them after a busy day with a maximum of physical exertion.

Housing of this type is located away from the ski lifts, so in the morning and in the evening you will have to make a forced march in full uniform 600-1600 meters long.

Champoluc apartment

The apartment is located 600 meters from the ski lift, provides bedrooms, a common living room, kitchen, bed linen; free parking. Meals are in nearby restaurants.

Ramey Apartment

Ramey Apartment - proximity to the ski lift (100-200 m), kitchen with oven, bathroom - this accommodation option is popular with tourists.

When choosing accommodation, it is better to save money on early booking of a quality hotel than to choose cheap apartments and suffer all week with everyday problems. Booking hotels in winter is carried out for a period of at least 6 days.

Restaurants and apres-ski

Not every tourist in Champoluc has the desire to visit a restaurant after a daily ski marathon, but on rainy days there is a place to chat with the public. The bars are especially popular: CaféRimbaud with a rich selection of cocktails; Golosone, where live music sounds every evening; Bistro with weekly discos; WestRoadBar with entertainment on Fridays.

Bars provide tourists with "purely masculine" entertainment: tasting local wines in turn in each bar on their day. This is really apres-ski, because available only during the ski season, until 30 April. Some Valdostan wines are a rarity available only in this region: red Torrette (Torret), for example, or white Blanc de Morgex (Blanc de Morges).

Popular in these places are the warming Fild’Fer punch with a citrus-clove aroma, as well as Valdostan coffee (Caffe valdostana) - a mixture of wine,