Courmayeur Mont Blanc is all set for the highly anticipated opening of the 2023/2024 ski season, which starts on the 8th of December. In this feature, we look at what visitors to the renowned Alpine region can experience.
Situated in the heart of the Italian Alps, Courmayeur offers more than just a season of exhilarating slope-based fun. The traditional ski resort offers an extensive calendar of enticing culinary and family events amidst the stunning snow-capped peaks, in addition to its much-loved ski experience.
In a continued collaboration with Momentum Ski, the highly anticipated Gourmet Ski returns to the resort, a high-end culinary weekend welcoming back two internationally acclaimed Michelin-starred chefs, Jean-Philippe Blondet and Claude Bosi, promising an extraordinary culinary experience.
For the 2023/2024 ski season, Courmayeur Mont Blanc will also be hosting two Family Ski Weeks for the first time, expanding its schedule to include Christmas festivities in addition to the usual Easter activities.
Courmayeur Mont Blanc invites guests to immerse themselves in the great outdoors this winter, to recentre themselves in the Italian mountains. Courmayeur stands as the dream destination for travellers seeking adventure, outdoor activities, and a deep connection with alpine nature, with a taste for fine dining and traditional Italian alpine cuisine.
From December through the UK’s gloomier months, Courmayeur transforms into an irresistibly enticing destination, offering fresh powder-covered slopes, pristine trails, and serene views from the highest peaks. Perfect for mountain enthusiasts, Courmayeur offers a wide array of activities, including heliskiing, off-piste and cross-country skiing, ice skating, fat biking in the picturesque Val Ferret, hiking, dogsledding, snowshoeing, and climbing – catering to non-skiers as well.
Guests can also take a ride on the Skyway Monte Bianco, a state-of-the-art cableway reaching Italy’s highest point at 3,446 metres and enjoy wine tasting or snowshoeing across the Mont Blanc glacier.
The Italian ski resort is easily accessible from the main airport hubs of Geneva, Turin and Milan. It has over 43km of piste and reaches an elevation of almost 2,800m – a perfect choice for a quick weekend away. The resort offers unmissable ski packages through leading tour operators, including Momentum Ski, Ski Solutions and Inspiring Travel Company.
A regular Eurostar runs from London to Chamonix Mont Blanc, with an average total journey of 20 hours, so it is now possible to embark on this journey by rail and avoid the stress of flying.
Courmayeur’s Gourmet Ski Experience Returns
Created by Momentum Experiences and Heston Blumenthal OBE, Courmayeur’s Mountain Gourmet Ski Experience has a renowned and well-deserved reputation for attracting outstanding chefs to Courmayeur’s gourmet haven.
Taking place from 22nd to 24th March 2024, Gourmet Ski presents two distinct experiences led by two of London’s top Michelin-starred chefs with international acclaim. This season’s edition welcomes back Jean-Philippe Blondet, the three-star Michelin Executive Chef of Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, for the second consecutive year. Joining him is Claude Bosi, the two-star Michelin Executive Chef of Bibendum.
This year’s Gourmet Ski experience introduces a novel addition: an après-ski lunch and barbecue, accommodating up to 150 guests – an event bigger and better than ever before. The programme is as follows:
- Friday 22nd March: An exceptional Michelin-starred dinner at Les Dame Anglaises featuring a six-course tasting dinner crafted by the Michelin-starred international chefs and their teams. Wine pairings are available at a supplementary cost. Priced at £230 per person.
- Saturday 23rd March: Michelin-starred lunch, barbecue and après ski party at the iconic Rifugio Maison Vieille. With incredible views of Mont Blanc, an outdoor barbecue will be prepared by the team, with live music and drinks included. Price at £145 per person.
- Sunday 24th March: Jean-Philippe, Calude, and their teams will prepare canapés live, to be offered to Courmayeur visitors in the historic centre, with a Q&A and cocktail/wine pairings. The event will be free to attend.
For more information and inquiries regarding pre-launch information, please visit https://momentumski.com/get-inspired/mountain-gourmet-ski-experience/.
Family Ski Week
Following the resounding success of the Family Ski Week during Easter this year, it returns for a Christmas adventure from the 17th to the 23rd of December, 2023. Hosted by Momentum Ski and partnered with Archy Events and the Monte Bianco Ski School, this special week includes the kid’s holiday club and group ski lessons. Family Ski Week will also be an annual Easter tradition, taking place from the 25th of March to the 1st of April 2024.
Recognising the potential stress of skiing holidays for families, particularly those with young, inexperienced members, Archie and his team at the club aim to streamline the experience. The team transports children from their hotels to the ski school, providing ski rentals, lunch, and a full schedule of afternoon and evening activities. This ensures that parents have ample time to enjoy Courmayeur’s exceptional restaurants and facilities, both on and off the slopes.
Suitable for children aged 4 to 13 years old. Prices start from £685 per child for five days. For more information on the December Family Ski Week, please visit https://momentumski.com/december-family-week-2/.
For more information on the Easter Family Ski Week, please visit https://momentumski.com/easter-family-week/.
Additional Culinary Offerings
In downtown Courmayeur, a new addition to the culinary scene is ARTST, a vibrant coffee shop run by a group of local youth dedicated to excellent food and locally sourced products. ARTST transcends being a mere bakery or coffee shop; it is a place where guests can relax and engage with others in the name of art.
A venue where you can stop for a quick coffee, enjoy a snack or a healthy meal, and simply savour the surroundings. ARTST will also host exhibitions and live music. The soft launch is scheduled for the 8th of December, with the official opening set for the 15th of December.
Owner Jean Pierre and Pastry Chef Valeria Liberti are set to blend high pastry and art, drawing inspiration from the peaks of the Aosta Valley that envelop their shop, aiming to captivate both the eyes and the taste buds of their customers.
Skiing, Free Riding and Spectacular Slope
With over 100 kilometres of slopes and off-piste terrain on both sides of the mountain, Courmayeur Mont Blanc caters to both novice and expert skiers. The resort offers ski and snowboard schools to hone skills, a range of cosy chalets and restaurants for accommodations and fine dining, and an evening cable car service for sunset aperitifs or dinners with panoramic Mont Blanc views.
On the slopes, there are 33 runs of varying difficulty levels and elevations reaching up to 2,755 meters, all supported by snow-making systems to ensure consistent snow coverage.
Thrill-seeking free-riders can tackle exhilarating descents through Val Veny’s forested off-piste routes or the challenging chutes of Vesses, Arp Vieille, and Youla.
For those craving even more fresh powder, expert guides are available for exciting skin-up hikes and heliski adventures.
Accommodation Offerings
Accommodation ranges from 3 to 5*, and there is something suited to all tastes and styles. For true alpine luxury, Le Massif is a modern mountain hideaway, whilst Auberge de la Maison provides a traditional lodge experience. Renovated last year, Gran Baita Hotel & Wellness Resort affords one of the best locations in town and offers a boutique feel.
For more information, visit https://www.courmayeurmontblanc.it/en, call +39 0165 841612 or email [email protected].
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