Set in Italy's Aosta Valley beneath the Monte Rosa massif, Champoluc is the main gateway to the Monterosa ski area and one of the Alps' best-kept secrets. The atmosphere is distinctly Italian: family-run hotels with proper hospitality, sun-drenched terraces serving fresh pasta at lunch, and a pace that's unhurried and refreshing. Champoluc has Walser heritage woven into its character, with traditional wooden buildings and satellite hamlets dotted along the valley that give it a unique identity.

The Monterosa Ski area links three valleys, Ayas (Champoluc), Gressoney, and Alagna, with around 200km of pistes climbing to 3,275m. Long, sweeping reds dominate the groomed terrain, but the area's real reputation is for freeride: the steep slopes above Alagna and around the Passo dei Salati are famous among off-piste skiers worldwide, and heliskiing is available for those wanting the full Monte Rosa experience. The season runs from late November through to mid-April, with altitude and snowmaking keeping conditions reliable.

Away from the slopes, Champoluc has the warmth of a real village rather than a resort built to a blueprint. The MonterosaSPA wellness centre, an outdoor ice rink, and charming craft shops fill rest days, and the dining ranges from rustic mountain huts serving polenta and fontina to refined Valdostana restaurants where the food alone justifies the trip. Aosta is a short drive down the valley for Roman ruins and a market town atmosphere, and Turin and Milan are both within reach for a day out.