France

Espace San Bernardo

Accommodation

Espace San Bernardo Ski Holidays

Stretching across the le Col du Petit Saint Bernard, the Espace San Bernardo is a one-of-a-kind ski area that effortlessly connects Italy’s La Thuile with France’s La Rosière.

This international link allows you to travel between two countries and cultures in a single day, simply by riding a series of lifts and pistes. The Italian side, nestled in the Aosta Valley, is known for its dramatic, rugged landscapes and long, challenging runs, while the French side offers a sunnier, more open feel with a distinct Savoyard atmosphere. It's an unforgettable experience to start your day with an Italian espresso and enjoy a French crêpe later in the day.

The skiing itself is defined by a wonderful sense of space and variety. From the Italian side, you can explore a wide network of impressive, north-facing slopes that hold their snow well and offer a few truly thrilling descents. Over the pass, the terrain in France opens up into sun-soaked, gentle bowls that are perfect for cruising and taking in the breathtaking scenery. Both countries offer incredible, panoramic views of the surrounding peaks, including the majestic Mont Blanc, providing a stunning backdrop to every run you take.

The Espace San Bernardo is a great destination for anyone who values variety and a more relaxed pace. The area is known for being uncrowded and exceptionally family-friendly, so you can enjoy the mountains without the stress of long lift queues. With two distinct cultures to explore and a wide range of terrain to suit all abilities, a holiday here offers a genuinely rewarding and memorable experience.

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Mountain Facts

The Espace San Bernardo is a substantial ski area, with a combined total of 152km of pistes and 38 lifts. The altitude ranges from a low of 1,190m on the French side up to the highest point at 2,800m on Mont Valaisan, offering a significant vertical drop and consistent snow. The terrain is well-balanced, with a diverse mix of 33 easy, 35 medium, and 14 difficult slopes, ensuring that every level of skier and snowboarder can find a fantastic run to enjoy.

Snow conditions in Espace San Bernardo

The Espace San Bernardo is known for its excellent and reliable snow conditions. This is due to its high altitude and a favourable microclimate that channels snowfall between Mont Blanc and le Col du Petit Saint Bernard. The Italian side, with its predominantly north-facing slopes, tends to hold fresh powder for longer, while the French side benefits from a sunny, south-facing aspect. The entire area has extensive snow-making capabilities, ensuring that the pistes remain in great condition from the start of the season in December all the way through to late April.

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Skiing in Espace San Bernardo

Skiing in the Espace San Bernardo offers a remarkable variety of terrain. Beginners will feel right at home on the gentle, wide slopes of La Rosière, where safe learning zones and magic carpets are perfect for finding your feet. For intermediate skiers, it’s a true paradise, with an endless network of long, cruising runs that invite you to explore the entire area. The Italian side, in particular, has famous long, sweeping red runs that provide a thrilling sense of flow, while the sunnier French pistes offer perfect conditions for effortless, relaxed skiing.

The area also provides plenty of thrilling challenges for advanced skiers. The Italian side is home to the steep and demanding Franco Berthod black run, which is known as one of the most challenging pistes in the entire country and is sure to test your skills. For those who love fresh tracks, the terrain around Mont Valaisan offers excellent off-piste opportunities, with vast, open powder fields that are perfect for an exhilarating freeride experience.

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Snowboarding in Espace San Bernardo

The Espace San Bernardo is an ideal destination for snowboarders, offering a great variety of terrain to suit all styles. For riders who love cruising, the wide, well-groomed pistes on both the Italian and French sides are perfect for carving and enjoying long, uninterrupted descents. For those who want to get some air, the area also has a dedicated snowpark and a boardercross course, providing a fun and progressive playground for riders of all abilities.

For those who love fresh tracks, the high-altitude terrain is brimming with fantastic off-piste possibilities after a snowfall. The vast, open bowls and untouched powder fields are easily accessible from the lifts on both sides of the pass, providing an exhilarating landscape for backcountry exploration. The area's overall design, with its varied terrain and open pistes, makes for a fantastic and memorable snowboarding experience for anyone looking to explore the mountains.

Things to do in Espace San Bernardo

Après-ski in Espace San Bernardo

The après-ski scene in the Espace San Bernardo is generally relaxed and family-friendly, favouring a chill atmosphere over wild parties, best defined by the distinct cultural feel on each side of the border.

  • The Italian side, in La Thuile, is all about the art of the aperitivo. Right at the base of the slopes, you'll find bars like Le Fantastik Bar, which is a great spot to grab a final drink and a snack after your last run.
  • Later in the evening, the village centre comes alive with a handful of cosy pubs and bars, such as Le Petit Skieur, where the atmosphere is warm and welcoming, perfect for unwinding and enjoying good conversation.
  • Over on the French side, in La Rosière, the vibe is similarly laid-back. The south-facing slopes are home to a number of sun terraces that are perfect for a final drink as the sun sets, with places like Le Flocon and La Traversette offering a great atmosphere with fantastic views.
  • In the village, a few bars provide a pleasant evening atmosphere. Le Relais du Saint Bernard, for example, is a popular place to enjoy a local beer or a glass of wine with friends.


While neither resort is a major party hub, they both have options for those who want to stay out later. In La Thuile, some bars extend their hours and occasionally have live music. The overall focus, however, is on unwinding with a drink and enjoying the local hospitality. The real charm of the après-ski here lies in embracing the distinct cultures on either side of the pass, whether you're enjoying an Italian aperitivo or a sun-soaked beer in France.
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Facilities in Espace San Bernardo

The Espace San Bernardo offers a comprehensive range of facilities designed to make your holiday seamless and stress-free. In both La Thuile and La Rosière, you can easily find top-tier ski and snowboard rental shops and professional ski schools with multi-lingual instructors. A major highlight is the single, unified Espace San Bernardo ski pass, which lets you travel freely between Italy and France without any hassle, giving you the freedom to explore the entire area at your leisure.

Beyond the slopes, both villages provide a charming mix of amenities. You can browse a great selection of shops to pick up quality sportswear or unique local products. The dining options are extensive, with everything from authentic Italian pizzerias to traditional Alpine eateries serving up hearty regional specialities. Both sides of the pass also have useful services and easy access to public transport, making it simple to get around and enjoy your time off the mountain.

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Facilities for children in Espace San Bernardo

The Espace San Bernardo is a fantastic choice for families, with a reputation for being one of the most family-friendly ski areas in the Alps. In both La Thuile and La Rosière, you’ll find excellent ski schools and kids’ clubs that are specifically designed to introduce children to snow sports through fun and engaging games. Each resort has well-defined and safe learning zones with user-friendly magic carpets and gentle slopes, making it a stress-free environment for young skiers to build confidence at their own pace.

Beyond the slopes, there's plenty to keep children entertained. Both sides of the pass have dedicated fun zones and exhilarating sledging runs, perfect for an afternoon of play. The overall atmosphere in the villages is also a huge plus for families. From the warm Italian hospitality of La Thuile to the Famille Plus-certified welcome of La Rosière, a holiday here ensures children are well taken care of and feel right at home. It's a place that perfectly balances thrilling mountain adventures with a safe, welcoming environment for the whole family.

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Why choose a ski holiday to Espace San Bernardo with Erna Low?

Experience and service: We offer you a one-stop shop for everything you could possibly need for a ski holiday.

Incredible value holidays: We’ll beat any competitor’s price, giving you the best value for money.

Huge choice of accommodation: Choose from bargain breaks, 5-star premium deals and so much more.

Customisable travel: We specialise in fully customisable ski holidays; offering a wide range of options to suit all tastes and budgets.

Fully protected bookings: We’re ABTOT and ATOL members and abide by their Code of Conduct.

5-star Trustpilot reviews: We pride ourselves on the service we provide, which is why out of 10 of our clients would recommend us.

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Sking over to France for lunch or a crèpe is a highlight of staying on the Italian side of Espace San Bernardo

Jane Bolton, Product Director

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Other Ski Areas in France

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