Livigno is Italy's 'Little Tibet' Ski Resort
Livigno is Italy’s ‘Little Tibet’, a magnificent high alpine valley resort that offers one of the best all round ski experiences in the alps.
Dave Windsor has dropped in both solo and with the family of four, having a great experience every visit.
Livigno is a tale of two mountains and two lift companies.
To the east is Mottolino, with its dominant Mont da la Nef peak at 2,785m and alternate black, red and blue routes down; to the west is Carosello, a sweeping ridge that runs the length of the north-south village. Fortunately the Livigno ski pass seamlessly covers all 31 lifts servicing 115km of piste, as does the golden sun, beaming rays over the village and making it possible to ski sun runs all day long. Italy claims to be the sunny side of the Alps and it’s true.
The dual mountain rivalry in Livigno is friendly though competitive, which bodes extremely well for guests who benefit from a constant state of improvement and renewal. Both sides are big, brilliant and distinguishable enough to make it feel like two resorts in one. Slope side there are big air bags to practice aerials; recreational race, slalom and boarder cross courses; parks for both beginners and experts alike; and plenty of rifugios to have a cleansing ale, polenta, risotto, pasta or steak while enjoying live music and DJs.
Carosello rises out of the middle of town, and is extensively lifted, providing countless cruisers to do laps on.
Mottolino has a big park reputation that draws competitors to events like the boarder World Rookie Tour, the amazing Nine Knights invitational, and the Italian Freeski Tour.
Mottolino can also lay claim to having the snappiest dressed lifties I’ve ever seen, making it Itay’s alpine fashion capital.
Livigno’s lavish and lively lifestyle makes a dream destination for fun, friends, families and lovers.
Perched high in the Alps at 1816m, the vibrant village exudes charm and character, whilst the pristine postcard presentation is simply flawless. From the piazzas to the pedestrian centre, the hotels to the residences, this is ski-in, lift-out perfection personified. Tucked up at such high altitude I didn’t feel a sense of being surrounded by grandeur, rather that I was part of it.
In town the fashion parade continues as the streets are lined with boutiques bursting with name brands.
Livigno’s special status as a duty free zone attracts buyers of apparel, accessories, electronics and fuel.
No wonder local Tourism boss Luca Moretti gets excited talking about it.
“Livigno has been confirmed as an ideal destination for enjoying unique experiences in the very heart of the Alps, also thanks to the heavy snowfall, which characterised the 2017/2018 winter season. The acknowledgement of Best Ski Resort 2018 we were awarded by go4ski.com has further confirmed this.”
“Indeed, Little Tibet, as this area is also known, continues to stand out on the national and international panorama thanks to our freeride project, incredibly modern ski-lifts, well-organised entertainment programmes and a range of tourist offers which satisfy even the most demanding of our guests.”
“We organise a wide range of activities and adrenaline-filled descents, multisensory food and wine experiences and afternoons which focus on wellness. The great passion and dedication we, the sectorial operators, have always had means we’re committed to offering tourists from around the world alternative ideas for enjoying unique experiences immersed in a postcard-like setting”
Luca is understandably enthusiastic about his own bambino, but it’s all true. Check it out as soon as you can is my hearty recommendation.
Best way to get to Livigno
Fly to Milan, 4½ hours over the Passo di Foscagno on the Livigno Express ski shuttle.
Resort info/packages
www.livigno.eu www.skipasslivigno
www.carosello3000.com www.mottolino.com
Livigno Packages & specials
From Australia use the experts at www.skiitaly.com.au
Owner Tania Peccedi’s dad was the Italian Alpine Team race coach for many years in the glory days, she knows her stuff!
Check their FreeSki Promotion (free lift tickets included with accommodation) for December pre-Christmas weeks for Livigno & nearby Bormio.
Plus, Livigno has a very popular Family Week (last week of January) with lots of advantages for families (free skipass for under 12s & promo rates for kids group ski lessons + rental).
