ACCOMMODATION
We offer many more accommodations than those featured and will always search the best options and deals for you.
GOOD FOR
RESORT SUMMARY
- Located at the heart of the huge 400km Vialattea skiing area, aka The Milky Way, consisting of Sestriere, Sauze d'Oulx, Sansicario, Claviere and the French resort of Montgenevre.
- One of the largest ski areas in the world and hosts to the 2006 Winter Olympics alpine events which saw the modernisation of the main lifts and new resort facilities.
- Small purpose-built resort in the Susa Valley of the Italian Alps in Piedmont, north-west Italy and host to the Men's World Cup race every December.
- High-altitude resort famous for its excellent snow record, extensive snow making equipment, well-maintained slopes, sunny skiing and fantastic mountain views.
- Cosmopolitan resort attracting international tourists and Italian weekenders.
SKIING
- Slopes for all levels of ability with uncrowded, extensive and well-groomed runs.
- Intermediates playground with a vast and varied terrain of reds and long cruising slopes.
- Ski schools teaching skiing and snowboarding to all levels.
- Beginner runs above the ski school meeting point in the centre with easy runs from the two baby lifts and two drag lifts.
- Mostly open runs with some shading and woodland on the local slopes, and a vast open bowl above the treeline.
- More challenging terrain compared to other Milky Way resorts, with technically testing runs and excellent off-piste for the advanced.
- Lifts from town access three main areas; Mt Sises (in front of the village), Mt Motta (above Borgata) and Mt Fraiteve (linking to Sauze d'Oulx and Sansicario).
- All areas of the Milky Way covered by the Vialattea lift pass (Montgenevre included in the 6 day pass only).
IN THE SNOW ...
- Perfect intermediate terrain on Banchetta and Sises with a variety of short steep moguls, wooded areas and long and wide cruising runs.
- Head to Mt Fraiteve for the long reds down to Sansicario or over to Sauze d'Oulx for a wide choice of open red and pretty tree-lined runs from Monte Triplex down to Jouvenceaux.
- Steep and vertical blacks on Mt Motta, the steep and challenging Kandahar Barchetta Olympic run on Mt Sises and the women's Olympic downhill run from Mt Fratieve for the advanced to tackle.
- Fantastic off-piste in the high powder bowls, from the slopes of Mt Sises and various off-piste routes from the top of Fratieve.
- More fun in Saulz d'Oulx for the advanced with challenging runs in the Moncrons area with fantastic cruising above the treeline and long descents through the trees, the narrow Malafosse run and great off-piste in the Genevris area.
PARKS
Sestriere Snowpark is located on a slope in front of the village and caters for all levels of ability with a specific area for beginners to learn the basics of freestyle safely. The park is 300m long, served by two lifts running parallel and characterized by three lines structures, arranged according to the level of difficulty:
- slopestyle line M / L with three jumps in sequence from 8-12m and two jib features at the end.
- jibbing line with at least six facilities including rails, boxes and wooden structures.
- slopestyle line S equipped with two jumps from 2-4m and two boxes at the end.
Facilities include kink-box, rainbow box, c-box, two 3m modular boxes, wooden pole and fence, pole-jam, 6m rail, ratatam, wallride and 2 rails. During the season, the setup of the structures is constantly modified for new games.
Saulz d'Oulx, Sansicario and Montgenevre also have snowparks.
APRES-SKI
On the Mountain:
There are more than 50 bars and restaurants on the Vialattea mountains, most set in traditional chalets with sun terraces offering fantastic views. Sestriere alone has a good choice of friendly and reasonably priced restaurants, some offering dinner and activity packages with transportation on snow mobiles or snowcat.
In Sestriere the party starts on the slopes straight after skiing at the Gargote Fashion Cafe with live DJs on most days (always Wednesdays and Saturdays) from 4.30pm - 6.30pm. Or for a friendly aperitivo before dinner in a traditional Italian wine bar try the Osteria del Conte next to the Torre Rossa hotel.
In the Resort:
Sestriere's friendly and cosmopolitan vibe attracts international tourists and becomes especially lively at the weekends when the Italians arrive from Turin and Milan to strut their stuff amongst the bars on the main street. It has a lively apres-ski before dinner, after which entertainment moves to the discopub Kovo or one of the local cocktail bars before moving on to the Tabata nightclub which opens every evening until the early hours.
There are plenty of welcoming and reasonably priced places to eat in Sestriere from laid-back pizzerias to elegant restaurants offering traditional local and international dishes.
For two weeks every January or February Sestriere is host to 'Summit Week' which sees many Danish revellers come to the resort to ski and party!
A full list of restaurant, bar and club recommendations will be provided with your itinerary.
Activities
Cinema, curling, cross-country skiing, helicopter flights, heli-skiing, ice-skating (outdoor rink also offering broomball, curling, and ice-hockey), ski race, sledding, snowcat with evening mountain dinner, snowshoeing, swimming, treasure hunt on the slopes.
In Pragelato (10 mins transfer): biathlon, go-karting on ice, ice-driving, snowmobile excursions, survival activities in the snow.
Excursions:
- transfers (less than one hour) to the casino in Briançon (France).
- transfers and tickets to see Juventus, AC Milan, Inter Milan and Torino, and ice hockey matches in Briançon (France) and Torre Pellice.
WELLNESS & SPORT
Sestriere has an indoor and outdoor swimming pool (heated at 26°) with piste and valley views, a sports hall (with gym, squash and tennis courts, basketball, volleyball, five-a-side, indoor golf and climbing wall) and a mini wellness centre (with sauna, jacuzzi, Turkish bath, relaxation area and sports massage).
The Olympica Fitness Centre offers an indoor swimming pool, well-equipped gym (set up for the athletes during the 2006 Olympics), dance, step and aerobic classes and a larger wellness centre with a sauna, steam room, Jacuzzi, solarium and massages.
All the big hotels have their own private wellness facilities.
NEAREST AIRPORTS
Turin: 112km (1hr30)
Milan Malpensa: 232km (3hr15)
Geneva: 230km (3hr30)
Milan Linate: 254km (3hr30)
Bergamo Orio al Serio: 279km (3hr30)
Please note:
- the above times are approximate and for guidance only - road & weather conditions, diversions and busy traffic can affect transfer times.
- please see our airports page for details of the UK airports and airlines that serve the resort.
