Heli-skiing in Italy - The ultimate adrenaline rush
Heli-Skiing in Italy and Ski ToursDolomites, Monte Rosa and Monte Bianco Massifs
The heli-skiing in the Italian Alps and Dolomites can rival the best of what Canada can offer with incredible vertical descents of over 2000m!
And, unlike the wilderness and remoteness of many backcountry areas in the Canadian Rocky mountains or other more exotic heli-skiing destinations like the Tien Shan mountain range in Kyrgyzstan, the base stations are usually in a ski resort.
This means that when the weather is too bad to fly, you can always ski around the resort runs and enjoy that special Italian hospitality in one of the excellent mountain restaurants.
Some of the best heli-skiing can be found around the Monte Bianco and Monte Rosa Massifs where the hidden valleys can be wild and great fun.
Aosta Valley
Once through the Mont Blanc tunnel coming from France, the impressive Aosta Valley opens out in front of you. The first ski resort you come to is the pretty medieval and chic resort of Courmayeur. Further down the valley and off to the right, the high altitude ski resorts of La Thuile and Valgrisench, a stunning village on the border of Tarentaise in France, can be found. If you turn left heading East, you will arrive at the Monte Rosa area of the Aosta Valley.
Monte Rosa
There are three valleys on the Italian side of Monte Rosa each with its own ski resort. Champoluc is in the western Val d’Ayas and Gressoney in the central valley whilst Alagna sits in the third. No matter which resort you base yourself, the heli-skiing in this part of the Italian Alps is oustanding with huge verticals and long descents.
Heli-Skiing in the Dolomites
This is another popular area in Italy for experiencing untracked deep powder and breathtaking scenery from a high altitude drop-off. Marmolda, the highest mountain in the spectacular Dolomites at 3343m is where all the heli-skiing action takes place.
Valgrisench is a beautiful village sitting at 1664m just 28km off the main Aosta Valley and provides some of the best heli-skiing terrain in the Alps. It offers more than 50 high altitude landing sites with diversified terrain catering for all levels of skier and snowboarder.
Blessed with glaciers, open fields and tree skiing plus descents into Val d’Isere and St. Foy in the Tarentaise part of the French Alps, heli-skiing from Valgrisench can rival the best in the world.
Getting there
Turin is the closest airport taking around 1 hour 45 minutes to cover the 147km to Valgrisench. Alternatively, it is 153km from Geneva airport via Chamonix and the Mont Blanc tunnel.
La Thuile is a beautiful high altitude village in the Aosta Valley linked to La Rosiere on the French side of the Mont Blanc massif. The resort provides extensive on-piste skiing and great apres-ski with shops, lively bars and restaurants.
However, its not until you are looking down at the vast unmarked deep powder ski areas from a helicopter that you get the true sense of what this part of the Alps can offer.
There are many drop-off points with some of the most popular being...
- Maurin at 3212m - a good place for snowboarders and descents up to 1500m
- Ormelune - the drop-off is at 3278m and depending upon the selected route, the vertical can be as much as 1500m and there are options to ski over in to St Foy in France
Getting there
La Thuile is 132km from Geneva airport and takes just under 2 hours by car.
The area around Monte Rosa is full of charming alpine villages and steep valleys that are ideal for heli-skiing such as...
- Valle Anzasca and Macugnaga ski resort
- Valsesia and the pretty village of Alagna
- Valle del Lys with the charming resort of Gressoney
- Val d'Ayas Champoluc
Many of the drop-offs are between 2500m and 4200m giving huge verticals and long descents such as on Col Lys and the Grenz Glacier, Breithorn and Val Di Verra.
Getting there
Turin is the closest airport at just over 112km from Gressoney-La-Trinité.
The Valle di Susa heli-skiing area is close to the international ski resorts of Sauze D'Oulx and Sestriere in the Milkyway ski carousel or Via Lattea as it's known in Italy.
There are over 50 drop-off points around the area including the impressive Monte Viso that stands at 3841m.
Getting there
The closest airport is Turin at 109km and transfers to Sestriere ski resort typically take around 90 minutes.
Driving from Turin, the route is via the A55 ring road and exiting on to the A3. This takes you stright in to the mountains where Sestriere is clearly sign-posted.
The dolomites are home to spectacular 4000m jagged peaks, the famous resort of Cortina, the 26km Sella Ronda carousel and the Marmolada mountain that requires 3 cable-cars to get to the top.
Away from the 1200km of pistes, there are many deep powdered descents around the Marmolada area that can only be accessed when heli-skiing. Many of the ski resorts such as Corvara, Arabba and Canazei have local operators and ski guides that can organise anything from 1 to 6 day packages.
Getting there
The closest international airport is Innsbruck with transfers to Cortina taking around 70 minutes to cover the 96km.
Grenz Glacier
Dolomites
Mont Blanc
Heli-Ski Operators
To help you choose your heli-skiing operator, Mychaletfinder has teamed up with some of the leading companies who offer heli-skiing in Italy. Just click on the links below for further information.
Chamonix Sport Adventure
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At a glance Enquire
| Where | Aosta Valley |
| Resort | La Thuile |
| Activities | Heli-ski and Ski Touring |
| Duration | 1 day |
| Drop-offs | 2 |
| Fitness rating | 3/5 |
| Technical skill | Competent off-piste |
| Max vertcial | 2000m |
| Heli-time | 1 hour |
| Groups | Max group size of 4 |
Chamonix Sport Aventure are here at your service to provide you “A unique and unforgettable experience” Looking for something special, something a little bit different or a once in a lifetime treat? Then you have found the ultimate experience on the doorsteps of Chamonix!
Heli skiing can take you to remote areas of the Mont Blanc massif, where the backdrop of stunning scenery is enhanced by the true feeling of being far away from it all.
After a wonderful helicopter flight, register your first tracks on some of the highest peaks in Europe surrounded by breathtaking scenery...an experience not to be missed!!