On our recent trip to our home in Morgex, we have to use the Grand Saint Bernard Tunnel, instead of the Mont Blanc Tunnel. This is because the latter has closed for repairments. It will be doing so for many more years to come. The Mont Blanc Tunnel will open in the night of 18th December 2023, in time for Christmas.
Coming from Britain, the way to come into the Aosta Valley is then via the Grand Saint Bernard Tunnel. That implies driving through Switzerland.
It has some pros and cons.
Pros would be that the landscape is very pretty and you do not pay as much peage as you do if you go all through the French Motorways. Another pro would be going through all the west of France, on D roads through lovely towns starting in Poligny. You can see some small ski resorts before the limit with Switzerland. I imagine that they don’t get too much snow nowadays, unless they invest on snow making – I did not see any hint of that!
Cons would be that it adds one hour to your trip. You need to buy a vignette (40 CHF), you pay to go to the bathroom in Swiss stops and the traffic is slower.
As usual we stop in Chaumont on our way to Morgex, as we leave super early on the Eurotunnel. We always stop over at the Ibis Styles Chaumont Centre Gare, that is located in the centre of the village and has a great service and amazing beds. Which is what we need for having a long nap, before going out for dinner in town!
The next morning we have breakfast at the hotel (it is included) and we set off. On the A38, on the exit of Lons le Saunier we get off the motorway . Here you turn away of Lons le Saunier towards the lovely town of Poligny. From there, you go through a network of D roads to the dogana (customs) and into Switzerland.
In Switzerland you go south to Lake Geneva and then east towards the end of the lake and towards Martigny. From there you start going up to the Grand Saint Bernard tunnel.
Driving this road in autumn, more in good weather as we did, is amazing, as the foliage is stunning!
We paid for a return ticket for our car (that is open for one month) and it costs CHF 50 (which is cheaper by the way than the Mont Blanc Tunnel cost!). As a side note, now we have a 10-times pass of the Mont Blanc Tunnel, which makes it much cheaper. This only works if you are going to use them in 2 years time!
On the Italian side of the Grand Saint Bernardo, you start getting down the covered galleria. The first you see is the ski resort of Crevacol on your right. I’ve never skied it, it is small, but looks fun! Then you go towards Etroubles, one of the most beautiful villages in the Aosta Valley. The road takes you down to Aosta and from there, we take the SS26 to our home in Morgex.
Even in summer, with such long queues at the Mont Blanc Tunnel, the Grand Saint Bernard tunnel is a good option. In summer you can go through this pass. Or even through the Petit Saint Bernard pass (that takes you from La Rosière to La Thuile!). This last one though, takes a long to get you to St Gervais Les Bains to take then the motorway. If you are up to it, you have to think of four hours to get to St Gervais from Prè-Saint-Didier (just out of Courmayeur!)
Start planning your next trip!
You can search for your own accommodation in the snow for your next ski holiday through our Accommodation Search tab. Or if looking to stay in the heart of the Mont Blanc Valley in the Aosta Valley, check the direct booking for Il Coure della Valdigne here. This is our own family home in the mountains, that I am renting out when not using.
Il Cuore della Valdigne. Book your lodging directly with me here.Il Cuore della Valdigne. Stay at the Heart of the Valdigne to ski in Courmayeur, La Thuile and Pila/Aosta.Featured Image: Maier Sports Ski Pants Review- Ski Apparel Review. Photo: The-Ski-Guru
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Featured Image: Grand St Bernard Tunnel, another option into the Aosta Valley. Photo: The-Ski-Guru. Using the Grand St Bernard Tunnel as the Mont Blanc Tunnel is closed till 18th December.
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