Champoluc

Stone-house Ayas Valley base: quiet, scenic, freeride-heavy.

Champoluc is the Ayas Valley base for Monterosa Ski. The pedestrianised stone-and-larch village sits at 1,568 m at the foot of the Crest gondola, with direct access to the area's renowned freeride routes off Punta Indren. Lodging skews family-run rather than purpose-built; the pace is slow, the food is Aostan, and lift queues are usually shorter than at the bigger French and Swiss resorts.