La Thuile, Espace San Bernardo

The ski area extends approximately between 1,176 and 2,800 metres above sea level and offers 152 km of alpine ski runs, served by 38 lifts. The highest point is reached in the French sector at Mont Valaisan, while from the village of La Thuile, Les Suches at 2,200 metres is reached quickly. The double exposure is one of the Espace San Bernardo’s strengths: the Italian side, facing largely north, generally preserves compact, high-quality snow; the French side is more open, panoramic and sunny. The international connection crosses the Little Saint Bernard Pass and may be affected by wind or bad weather.

The ski offering is varied, but La Thuile’s character emerges above all on its red and black runs. On the Italian side there are long, technical and often uncrowded pistes, with descents that run through the forest down to the valley floor. The most famous is run 3 Franco Berthod, a venue for the women’s World Cup and considered one of Italy’s most demanding black runs: on the Grand Muret section it reaches a maximum gradient of 76%. Also worth mentioning is run 7, which at approximately 11 km long with 1,100 metres of vertical drop is the longest descent in the ski area.

Intermediate skiers have a particularly broad choice between Chaz Dura, Belvedere, Little Saint Bernard and the La Rosière side. For beginners and families, the blue runs at Les Suches and the ski-school areas on both sides are more suitable, while those taking their first steps may find some of the runs back to La Thuile demanding. La Rosière complements the offering well with generally wider and easier pistes, ideal for a relaxed ski with panoramic views.

The lift network is efficient along the main routes, although it does not consist entirely of recent facilities and still includes several older drag lifts and chairlifts. A major upgrade arrives in the 2026/2027 season with the new 10-person gondola Les Suches–Chaz Dura, equipped with an intermediate station and capable of transporting 3,000 people per hour. The lift replaces two old chairlifts, improves access to the blue runs at Les Suches and makes the connection towards Little Saint Bernard more convenient.

Overall, La Thuile is recommended above all for intermediate and expert skiers looking for significant vertical drops, technical pistes, good snow quality and a still relatively peaceful alpine environment. The connection with La Rosière nevertheless broadens the range of options and makes Espace San Bernardo suitable for families and groups of skiers with different abilities.