Valle Maira Ski Touring week
Peaceful Ski Touring paradise in Alps
Hidden away in Italy’s Piedmont region, near the French border, lies Valle Maira – one of the Alps’ best-kept secrets. This remote and authentic valley is a ski touring enthusiast’s dream: long ascents, soft powder runs, varied terrain, and a tranquility that is increasingly rare to find.
The valley is dotted with small, traditional villages such as Acceglio, Chiappera, Elva, and Prazzo. Especially in winter, the villages are quiet and see very few tourists – part of their unique charm. Still, the services available are more than sufficient for a ski touring trip.
There are no ski lifts in Valle Maira – and therefore no crowds. Every descent must be earned with your own effort, making each day a truly holistic experience. The terrain ranges from gentle powder fields to technical couloirs and classic ridge runs, always adapted to the group’s preferences – and the options are plentiful.
Valle Maira remains a living mountain community, not a resort overtaken by the ski industry. That’s why you won’t find large hotel complexes here; instead, accommodation is mostly in traditional, family-run guesthouses. On this trip, our base is Ceaglio Valle Maira, an authentic, cozy, and eco-friendly lodge in a historic setting. After a day of skiing, the hotel welcomes you with a sauna, a three-course dinner, and a glass of Barolo in its warm-hearted Italian restaurant.
Your guides
The trip is guided by a local Italian mountain guide Andrea Berrino, and depending on the group size, Pette Halme may also join. Andrea is well known from, for example, Lumiversum’s Mont Blanc and Haute Route trips, and he has consistently received excellent feedback from clients.
The trip is guided by a local Italian mountain guide Andrea Berrino, and depending on the group size, Pette Halme may also join. Andrea is well known from, for example, Lumiversum’s Mont Blanc and Haute Route trips, and he has consistently received excellent feedback from clients.
Valle Maira Ski Touring week
Program of the week
The trip includes six skiing days, from Sunday to Friday. Each day begins after breakfast with a short transfer to the starting point. Depending on snow and weather conditions, the guide plans the day’s tour, and lunches are usually enjoyed out in the mountains.
After skiing, the return to the hotel is around 4:00 p.m. Dinner is served either at the hotel or in other local restaurants in the village.
Flights and ground transport
Airport transfers to and from the hotel, as well as morning and afternoon transfers, are arranged with the guide’s minibus.
Passport and visa
A visa is not required for Finnish citizens to enter Italy. Check your country's visa requirements.
Difficulty level
You are able to ski in variable snow and terrain conditions outside groomed slopes, and you have the fitness to complete full-day backcountry tours without lifts. On touring days, the ascents amount to approximately 1,000–1,400 vertical meters.
Equipment
- Ski Touring equipment
- Si crampons (if you own them)
- Backpack large enough to carry gear for a day tour
- Avalanche safety equipment
- Off-piste / freeride insurance
Other
Price
Price includes
- Flights
- Ski carriage on flights
- Airport transfers Milan–hotel–Milan
- Accommodation in twin rooms with breakfast
- Guiding by a local Italian guide (fluent in English) and, depending on group size, by Pette Halme for six ski days
- Local transfers with the guide’s vehicle
- Carbon offset for the trip
- Lumiversum’s avalanche safety day in Helsinki in autumn 2025
Price excludes
- Lunches
- Dinners
- (Finnish tour leader or guide)
Accommodation
Hotel Ceaglio is not located in a single building; instead, the rooms, restaurant, and sauna are spread across several former farmhouses that have been carefully restored. In Italy, this type of hotel is called an “Albergo Diffuso.”
At Ceaglio, you get to spend your holiday in the authentic atmosphere of a centuries-old village in the Maira Valley. While the historic architecture is unique, Ceaglio is not a stylish design hotel, but rather a simple, family-run, and typically Italian hotel where every room has its own character.
The hotel offers genuine, traditional Piedmontese cuisine. Its selection includes over 50 different antipasti, local pasta dishes, soups, and both meat and vegetarian specialties such as wild boar, game, and fish. Breakfast is buffet-style, heartly and generous.