Experience The Best of Italy's High Country at Montana Lodge and Spa

Rooms and suites at Montana Lodge & Spa

Photo: Booking

Photo: Booking

Photo: Booking

Photo: Booking

Make yourself at home in one of the 55 rooms and suites at Montana Lodge & Spa, by R Collection Hotels. Accented by traditional Valdostan wood these are loosely styled on traditional chalets and mimic the alpine scenery through snow-white Italian linens and earthy textures. The vast majority have a private balcony overlooking the mountains. All units have a coffee machine and iPod dock plus all the trappings you’d expect from a luxury hotel at any altitude.

Deluxe and grand deluxe rooms accommodate up to three guests and are perfect for couples and smaller families. Push the boat out with a loft room complete with a mezzanine nook. Top-tier suites come furnished with a Hästens bed you’ll want to steal and an open-plan bathroom with a whirlpool tub.

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Activities for all seasons in La Thuile

Skiing and snowboarding are the main draw for winter guests at Montana Lodge & Spa – but that’s just the start. Freeriding, snowkiting, and heli-skiing are also on the table. As part of the Espace San Bernardo ski area, La Thuile (1,440 meters) and La Rosière (1,850 meters) provide over 99 miles (160 km) of uncrowded slopes.

A complimentary shuttle drops you at the lifts serving Les Suches and Mont Belvedere where you’ll warm up on twisty reds before tackling the 73% gradient Franco Berthod, Italy’s steepest and toughest piste. Federica Brignone made history on this very slope as the first Italian female racer to win the Women’s Ski World Cup in 2020.

Beginner skiers have a reasonable 8 miles (13 km) of blue and green runs although there’s certainly more here for intermediate and advanced skiers. The Aosta Valley is the sole Italian ski region where heli-skiing is permitted. Choppers circle the peaks of Rutor (3,486 meters) and Miravidi (3,051 meters) before dropping you on the French or Italian side of the Alps. Mixed-ability groups and families can sign up for three cross-country loops and guided snowshoeing excursions.

Summer brings an outdoor pursuits bonanza in La Thuile. High-altitude mountain biking trails traverse ancient paths carved by the Romans whereas road cycling tracks follow the route of the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia. Hikers have over 186 miles of terrain while climbers can ascend Testa del Rutor or the Grand Assaly. The Dora Baltea River offers powerful Grade III and IV rapids from June through August.

Rejuvenate in an alpine spa

Photo: Booking

Photo: Booking

Photo: Booking

The full-service wellness center at this boutique ski resort will see to any aches and sprains – not that you should need an excuse to visit. Erre Spa comprises an indoor heated swimming pool, outdoor hot tub, Finnish sauna, Vitarium, and Turkish bath. Herbal tea and healthy snacks are laid out in the relaxation rooms.

Treatments start at 126 EUR ($136) for a 50-minute massage or ritual. Private spa packages merge ancient and modern practices in a scrub, wrap, and massage combination delivered in exclusive suites. This is priced at 245 EUR ($265) per person.

Italian cuisine in the Aosta Valley

Photo: Booking

Photo: Booking

Photo: Booking

Round off a day on the slopes or trails with a signature cocktail or hot toddy at Ottavio’s Lounge Bar. The Montana Mule swaps out vodka for gin while the Bombardino sees mulled brandy garnished with whipped cream and cinnamon. Pizza, club sandwiches, salads, and gelati are served with a view over the mountains.

Restaurant Bistro’ Alpino hits the spot through seasonal menus based on the freshest ingredients sourced regionally. Look out for cured meats served with chestnuts, hearty legume soups, and black truffle tajarin pasta plus an assortment of chops and steaks in winter. Menus are created with all diets in mind including vegetarians, gluten-free diners, and children. Rates include a daily breakfast.

The laid-back restaurants of La Thuile are a 10-minute walk where a hushed après scene keeps you on track for a bright and early start.

Getting there

Montana Lodge & Spa arranges private and shared transfers from Geneva Airport. The closest train station is in Aosta which is accessible from Turin and Milan. Shuttle buses also operate between these cities from early December until the middle of April.

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