Day 1 - Arrival in Milan Malpensa

The group transfer is scheduled to depart from Milan Malpensa Airport at 16:30, and arrive in Cogne in time for dinner (journey time approx 2 hrs 40 mins), however we may bring this forward once we have the group arrival details if it suits group members to arrive earlier. Previously we used Geneva Airport but for now we have decided to keep the trip within Italy to remove any complication that might arise travelling through Switzerland or France due to covid travel restrictions.

 

It would also be possible to organise your own transport to either Geneva or Turin and then hire a car to reach Cogne if you prefer.

 

We aim to stay at the charming Hotel du Grand Paradis in the heart of Cogne, and close to the shops, bars and restaurants. It was the first hotel to be built in Cogne and has its own cosy spa, and we eat at a fantastic restaurant each evening.

 

Accommodation: Hotel, evening meal included

Luggage access

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Day 2 - Introduction to cross country

Our hotel is just 5 minutes from the ski tracks, so after fitting our skis we'll get straight onto the snow. The instructor will start with a few exercises to introduce us to the techniques of classic style cross country skiing and what is known as the basic 'diagonal stride'. Cogne has beautifully groomed tracks in a large flat area, and a range of trails suitable for every level of skier so it really is the perfect arena for learning to ski. After lunch in a local restaurant or café we'll don our skis to practice what we have learnt and consolidate our new skills. Depending on how much progress has been made and how the group is feeling we also have the option to ski some shorter routes. After a day on the ski trails we'll still have plenty of time to explore the shops, enjoy a pre-dinner apéro or relax in the hotel spa.  

 

Accommodation: Hotel, evening meal included

Luggage access

 

Day 3 - Building on skills

The Cogne Valley has around 80 kilometres of ski trails, so it's no surprise that many regional and national cross country ski competitions, such as the Marcia Gran Paradiso, take place here. The trails are flat or gently undulating and are the perfect training ground for all levels, from beginners to racers. Using the free ski bus we can explore a bit further afield today, starting in one of the neighbouring villages such as Epinel or Lillaz. We will review and practice the skills we learned yesterday, and take a short tour to our lunch stop. The aim is to make sure you progress each day at your own level, and really enjoy the experience. In the afternoon we will adapt our basic diagonal stride for the different types of terrain, with plenty of chance to learn new skills and practice along the way.

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Accommodation: Hotel, evening meal included

Luggage access

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Day 4 - Valnontey day tour

Today we will take a longer tour that can be adapted to suit all levels reached so far, and put all the skills we've learned into practice. We'll aim to ski to the delightful upper valley of Valnontey, which is famous for ice climbing. We might even spot some ice climbers tackling the spectacular frozen waterfalls that line the valley on both sides. We'll stop for lunch at the charming family-run Albergo La Barme, which sits in a tiny hamlet of old wooden houses with stone-tiled roofs. After lunch we continue along the undulating trails, following the river's edge to the head of the valley. We may even spot ibex and chamois on the slopes  of the valley, and in the woods next to the trails. As we head down we have some enjoyable downhill sections which can be adapted - or even avoided!  - depending how you're feeling. In the evening we'll enjoy our final Italian meal - a fitting finale to our Italian Ski Weekend. 

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Accommodation: Hotel, evening meal included

Luggage access

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Day 5 - Departure day

Our trip ends after an early breakfast, and we provide a group transfer to Milan Malpensa airport. We aim to arrive at the airport between 10:30-11:00 to cater for flights from midday onwards. We may change this to slightly later if all group members' flights depart later in the day.

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