Courmayeur
Courmayeur: the back story
The back story
About Courmayeur: the back story
Courmayeur sits at the head of the Aosta Valley, under the south face of Mont Blanc. Its lifts climb to Plan Checrouit and l’Arp at 2,755 metres, and the Skyway Monte Bianco carries you in rotating cabins to Punta Helbronner at 3,466 metres, the start of the Vallée Blanche.
The village under Mont Blanc
Courmayeur is an old village at the very end of the Aosta Valley, with Entrèves, La Palud and Dolonne gathered around it and the Val Ferret and Val Veny opening behind. The Mont Blanc Tunnel puts Chamonix a short drive away, and the pedestrian Via Roma, with its jewellers, outfitters and cafés, is where everyone meets after the lifts close.
The ski area
Courmayeur Mont Blanc Funivie runs 18 lifts and 33 runs (11 blue, 17 red and 5 black), with 100 km of groomed slopes and off-piste terrain. Three base stations, in Courmayeur, Dolonne and Entrèves, lead up to Plan Checrouit, where the huts and the snowpark are, and on to l’Arp at 2,755 metres. Snowmaking covers more than 80% of the slopes. The 2026/27 season runs from 28 November 2026 to 11 April 2027.
Ski Plan Checrouit by day, ride the cable car back up for dinner, and come down under the stars.
The Skyway and the Vallée Blanche
Skyway Monte Bianco climbs from Courmayeur at 1,300 metres to the Pavillon at 2,173 metres and on to Punta Helbronner at 3,466 metres, in cabins that turn through 360 degrees on the way up. From the top, the Vallée Blanche runs 18 km down the Mer de Glace to Chamonix at 1,042 metres: a glacier descent for confident red-run skiers, taken with a mountain guide. The Skyway closes for maintenance from 16 November to 4 December 2026 and from 19 April to 21 May 2027.
Guides, huts and evenings on the mountain
The Società Guide Alpine di Courmayeur, founded in 1850, was the first mountain guides’ society in Italy, and its guides still lead the Vallée Blanche, ski tours and heli-skiing on Mont Fortin. From December to April the Courmayeur cable car runs every evening until midnight, so you can stay up at Plan Checrouit for an aperitivo at sunset or dinner in a hut, and ride down afterwards.
Every budget
Next to the five-star Auberge de la Maison and the Grand Hotel Royal e Golf, the tourist board lists family-run hotels with ski shuttles and B&B hotels near the bus station. Children under 8 ski at no charge when an adult, youth or senior pass is bought, under-16s get 30% off, and beginners on the round-trip ticket can hire skis, boots and a helmet for €19.50 in 2026/27.
Our advice: buy passes online early, because Courmayeur prices by demand; book the Skyway in advance; and keep one clear day for the Vallée Blanche with a guide.
Why it's on our list
- Season 28 Nov 2026 – 11 Apr 2027
- 100 km, 33 runs, 18 lifts
- Skyway to 3,466 m
- Mountain guides since 1850
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Courmayeur: the back story before you go.