Summer

Summer is the ideal season for walks and for trekking, and the trails in this part of the region really are feasible everywhere, with hundreds of paths of all difficulty levels that lead up to the numerous refuges, as well as more challenging routes, such as the inter-valley trails. Number 102 starts out from Pont Suaz, in the municipality of Charvensod, and runs through woodland, across cols, valleys and part of the Mont Avic Regional Park on to Champdepraz, while number 105 reaches the valleys of Monte Rosa, starting out from Porossan, above Aosta, and crossing the Saint-Barthélemy Valley.

Those interested in more than just walking itself can make their way along the part of the ancient Via Francigena, following in the footsteps of the pilgrims who once journeyed along it from Canterbury to Rome. The Aosta Valley stretch of the route goes down from the Great Saint Bernard Pass and follows the “Chemin des Vignobles” vineyard trail to Saint Christophe, before crossing the whole of the region on to Pont-Saint-Martin; another option is the beautiful Route des Salasses,  which links the Great Saint Bernard area with Saint-Nicolas.

In summer, Pila is also the ideal destination for mountain bike fans, who will find 12 cross-country routes here, as well as a downhill and free ride bike stadium. And as if all this were not enough, it's also possible to organise horse-riding trips, rafting trips down the waters of the Dora Baltea and balloon flights, or to spend an adventure-filled day in the Adventure Park in Pila.

Winter

Skiing in Aosta means the Pila ski resort, at an altitude of 1800 m and reachable from Aosta in just 17 minutes with a gondola lift that will take you rapidly up the 1000 m + altitude that separates the regional capital from the ski runs. Pila is a paradise for both expert skiers and beginners, who are guaranteed an unforgettable experience on the 70 km of runs the resort offers.

This is also an ideal destination for snowboarding fans, who can choose to tackle the more challenging routes or go freestyle snowboarding in the superbly equipped snowpark, while for youngerskiers there is a ski slope with magic carpet lifts and plenty of opportunities for fun on the snow, with a bob and sledging area and even an adventure park on the snow.

For cross-country skiers, Saint-Barthélemy offers a little trail next to Lignan; alternatively, at an altitude of 2000 m you will find the 24 km “Gran Tor turistico” trail or the longer, 30 km variant, the “Gran Tor agonistico”. The ski area is both quiet and sunny, with splendid views of the surrounding peaks glistening in the light.

During the winter, the farm roads and paths become excellent trails for truly relaxing, reviving walks on snow shoes, a superb alternative to skis that allow visitors to enjoy the beauty of the alpine winter to the full.