Sauze d'Oulx

If you feel like doing some extra special then having dinner at a Refugio on the mountain at night is a pretty amazing experience. Ciao Pais is one of our favourite restaurants on the mountain in the day, but best of all, you can take a skidoo up at night for €15 per person and enjoy a meal on the mountain. The menu is the normal, fantastic menu so there won’t be any hidden extra costs when you get there. Make sure you book in advance, especially for special occasions.

Reservations: 0039 335 180 1752 (You can also WhatsApp this number in English)

There are plenty of things to do in Sauze d’Oulx, but as you’re in Italy, we really recommend that you take the time to indulge in the finest offerings from the local area with an evening of wine tasting. Paired with specially selected cheeses and meats it’s a very authentic and wholesome experience as you hear the local customs from the sommelier. Our favourite wine tasting can be found at the Il Lampione in town (reservation required).

The closest Husky Experience is in Sestriere. Luca and the team have been working with sleigh dogs professionally since 1995 and can arrange the perfect experience for all the family. Once you’ve gone through a short briefing, and you know everything there is to know about keeping safe on the snow, it will be time to get out there with the dogs. With an instructor at the lead, each of you will experience the incredible thrill of mushing with your own 3 or 4 dog sled team of Siberian Huskies.

Click here to be taken to their website

Heli skiing is the ultimate adventure for thrill-seekers who love skiing or snowboarding. It involves being transported by helicopter to remote mountain locations that are otherwise inaccessible by other means. Heli skiing provides access to untouched powder, steep descents, and incredible terrain that will challenge even the most experienced skiers or snowboarders. This high-intensity activity requires a high level of skill and fitness, but the adrenaline rush and sense of accomplishment are unparalleled. It’s an experience that will leave you with unforgettable memories and a newfound appreciation for the mountains.

You can find further details on the Pure Ski website here

Of all the things to do in Sauze d’Oulx as a non-skier or if you just fancy a day off from skiing, snowshoeing is one of the most popular activities. If you’d like to hire snow shoes and walk without a guide from Sauze d’Oulx, a gentle route takes you out to the historic Tachier Refugio in around 30-40 minutes from town. Head past the Clotes lift towards Sportinia. Stay right and walk through the back of the car park. It’s well signposted. From the bottom of the Jovenceaux lift, Trail 14 takes you through the woods on a relatively flat trail to Malafosse Bassa. You can follow trail 17 to make it a more challenging ascent & descent, but the ‘easy’ loop is suitable even for children.

There are plenty more snowshoeing trails throughout the Via Lattea, often best accessed by car and with a guide and you find can more information here

There are some lovely walking trails through the woods from Jovenceaux, which although sometimes need snowshoes, are often relatively clear in December and March. There’s a lovely walk out towards Monfol, and you can stop along the way at a little lake, which gets loads of sunshine and has a great little bar. The Franciscan trail is easily accessible from Borgata San Marco: Just jump on the bus toward Oulx for five minutes, take the narrow street opposite the water fountain and head straight down until you reach the river. Follow the road to the right, and keep walking. If you’re feeling really adventurous, and the snow isn’t too deep, you can walk through the woods all the way up to Tachier, Jovenceaux, or Sauze d’Oulx from here.

Turin is a beautfil city and absolutely worth a visit if you feel like a day away from the slopes. Interestingly, it was actually the first capital of Italy! The easiest way to visit Turin is to take the Arriva bus down to Oulx train station and get a direct train to the city. The bus takes around 15 minutes and the train takes 1-1.5 hours. It’s a lovely city to visit, with a classic car museum, art galleries, the Juventus stadium and the church of San Lorenzo. Train tickets are around €8 each way.

The Gros Wellness Spa in Jovenceaux is a small, friendly spa that has sauna, a steam room and outdoor jacuzzi. It’s recently been refurbished in a gorgeous mountain modern vibe. There are regular yoga classes for €15 drop in, and the instructor is happy to teach in both English and Italian at the same time. If you’re after treatments, there are plenty to choose from: massages, facial treatments, waxing, manicures & pedicures. Massages start at around €80. The views from the floor to ceiling windows look out over the mountains towards Bardonecchia are gorgeous and the staff are super welcoming. Click here for more information.

The spa at The Chaberton Lodge has steam, sauna, Himalain salt scrub cave, outdoor jacuzzi and Thalassotherapy indoor pool. For visitors who aren’t staying in the hotel, it’s around €70 for a day pass, which also gives you access to a small gym and a robe and slippers. Massages start at €50 for 30 mins and use carefully sourced Italian oils and scrubs.