Nira Montana La Thuile – ski weekend in style

A ski weekend in La Thuile? Sounds good. But where is this La Thuile and how on earth do you get the idea to travel to La Thuile? Admittedly, the mountain village, which is wedged between the highest mountain peaks in the Alps at almost 1,500 m above sea level in the farthest corners of the Aosta Valley, is not mentioned in the same breath as Chamonix, St. Moritz, Zermatt or Val d’Isère. But that’s exactly what makes it so appealing. La Thuile is a place for those who like the original, prefer the backcountry runs to wild après-ski parties and prefer to spend the evening in front of the crackling fireplace rather than wandering around the houses.

Design hotel in Valle d’Aosta

I first noticed the ski resort in the border area Italy/France – located virtually opposite Chamonix – at the beginning of last winter season in connection with the opening of the first five-star design hotel Nira Montana. One of them, the Nira Alpina, offers the best ski-in ski-out conditions in Silvaplana and is a great location for extended hikes in the Upper Engadine and Bregaglia in summer. Since the concept at the Nira Alpina already appealed to us two years ago, the Nira Montana lured us to the Aosta Valley.

Actually, La Thuile wouldn’t be far away – if it weren’t for the high mountains that make the way a little more cumbersome. Since the pass road over the Great St. Bernard is closed during the winter months, the journey by public transport is unfortunately very cumbersome and takes a full day. You can cover the distance from Zurich in about four hours by car. And so I jumped over my “I don’t like driving” shadow and rented a car from Zurich for this weekend trip. The fastest route is via Martigny and the Trient Valley to Chamonix and on through the Mont-Blanc tunnel to the Aosta Valley. As an alternative, you can drive via the Great St. Bernard Tunnel. For the outward journey, we chose the former and stopped in Chamonix for a phenomenal lunch menu at Le Bistrot, which we already raved about last winter. For that alone, this trip was worth it.

The journey through the approximately 11.5 km long Mont Blanc tunnel made it easier for us by 44 euros (one-way / round trip 55 euros). And in the early afternoon we reached the sleepy la Thuile, which presented itself “suffering” under the spring-like temperatures in a green dress. Even though everyone is feeling the same at the moment, the lack of snow was still a drop of melancholy. La Thuile would make an enchanting picture with the quaint chalets powdered in white! We were comforted by the Nira Montana, which lived up to all our expectations. The rooms are generously furnished and the design relies on timeless elements with purposefully placed eye-catchers.

Frühstücksglück

The good basis for an active day in the mountains is set at breakfast. At Nira Montana, muesli lovers will get their money’s worth with an extensive selection. Cheese lovers have to take it. But no one has to go hungry on the slopes. Some guests also sat down on the terrace in full gear and enjoyed breakfast in the fresh mountain air.

Skigebiet La Thuile / la Rosiere

Even though spring-like temperatures prevailed in the village below, the slopes in the La Thuile / La Rosiere ski area presented themselves in an astonishingly good quality thanks to snow cannons and experienced helpers – with slightly better conditions on the French side. More than 150 kilometres of cross-border pistes are available to winter sports guests. Dolce vita or savoir-vivre? In La Thuile / La Rosiere you can have both. The only thing that bothered me was the scorching rays of the sun, which made me sweat even at this altitude. Imagine all these beautiful huts freshly snowed in! A dream, isn’t it?

Away from the ski area, there are numerous hiking trails (and snowshoe routes) around La Thuile that lead to remote valley areas and offer pure nature.

Après-ski at Nira Montana

Back at the hotel, it’s time to relax. In the Nira Spa there is not only a panoramic view from the bubble lounger with the peaks glowing in the sunset, but also from the bio sauna. In the light-flooded wellness oasis, you can relax wonderfully after an active day on the slopes.

Genussmomente

With red glowing cheeks from the fresh air and warmed up by the sauna, we start the evening with an aperitivo at the bar. As usual in Italy, we are served homemade appetizers along with the drink. Cozy and tasty. For dinner, Nira Montana has two options to choose from – either salads, burgers and pizza in the bar area or fine dining in the Stars restaurant. We tried both and it tasted excellent overall. The homemade ravioli and the sensational price-performance ratio deserve special mention.

Conclusion after this weekend: we will be back! On the one hand, we want to experience La Thuile deeply snowed in and on the other hand, this place has inspired us with its simplicity and the Nira Montana as a great location. Experiencing nature and recreation are in the foreground. The après-ski madness is left to other destinations. Sympathetic.

Practical tips and information about La Thuile

• Day ski pass La Thuile/La Rosiere adults 36 euros / youth 22 euros / children free
• Overnight stay with breakfast in a Deluxe Room from 250 Euro / night
• In case of bad weather, take a detour to Aosta and/or Chamonix
• The journey through the St. Bernard Tunnel costs just under 30 CHF (one way)

Note: Our stay in La Thuile was supported by Nira Montana – thank you very much for this. As always, my readers can be sure that I always represent my views and enthusiasm here.