A ski area of galactic proportions (400km to be precise), Italy’s Milky Way (or Vialattea in Italiano) links seven resorts across two countries.
Those resorts are Sestriere, Sauze d'Oulx, Sansicario, Cesana, Claviere, and Pragelato in Italy, and Montgenèvre over the border in France.
With 163 red runs across the ski area, the Milky Way is known for being particularly good for intermediates.
However, of the 300 slopes, 9 are green, 97 are blue, and 36 are black, with everything from kids’ ‘Fun parks’ to outstanding off-piste - a balance that will make for an incredible ski trip whatever your abilities.
Over 80% of the skiable terrain is above 1,900m, so you can be fairly confident of decent conditions during your Milky Way ski holiday. And with a collective capacity of over 75,000 people per hour across its 70 lifts, getting around is a breeze.
The Milky Way also has a rich sporting pedigree, having hosted over 30 Ski World cup events, as well as the Winter Olympic Games in 2006. That, combined with its snow reliability, and diverse terrain, means the Milky Way can rival anywhere on Earth, and perhaps even the Universe, for the quality of skiing on offer.
But which of the seven resorts is right for you? Whether you’re skiing solo, as a group, or as a family, this guide will tell you everything you need to know about the Milky Way ski area.
Which Ski Resorts are in the Milky Way?
There are seven ski resorts in the Milky Way: Sestriere, Sauze d'Oulx, Sansicario, Cesana,, Claviere, and Pragelato on the Italian side, and Montgenèvre in France.
From lively Sauze d'Oulx, with its wide pistes and thriving nightlife, to the quiet hamlet of Sansicario and its gentle, wooded slopes, you’ll find something to suit your particular brand of ski holiday in the Milky Way.
And, with the Vialattea International ski pass, you’ll have free reign of the entire ski area for just over €300.
Below, we go into more detail about each of the ski area’s resorts.
Sestriere offers high altitude and North West-facing slopes
Sestriere
Perched up at a 2,035m, and right in the centre of the ski area, Sestriere occupies, perhaps, the Milky Way’s most enviable location.
That altitude (it also has lifts going up to 2,800m), as well as its North West facing slopes, make it the area’s most snow sure resort, while it’s also the best positioned for exploring the entire ski area.
Tabata Disco, the only nightclub in town, will have you on your feet until 4am.

The Sauze d'Oulx ski area has an expansive network of local runs and beautiful scenery
Sauze d'Oulx
If you want a taste of the entire Milky Way but could only visit one resort, it should be Sauze d'Oulx. The largest and liveliest of the ski area’s villages, Sauze d'Oulx is home to a quarter of its runs and is something of a Vialattea (Milky Way in Italian) in miniature.
There are dedicated kids’ areas, Olympic-standard black runs, meandering tree runs and everything in between.
And off the slopes, the traditional architecture and cobbled streets of the old town sit side-by-side with the resort’s more modern developments, just as its more laid-back nature exists in harmony with a fairly boisterous après scene.
Sauze d’Oulx also boasts a surplus of sunshine and panoramic views over the Susa valley.

A gentle slope in Sansicario
Sansicario
The quiet hamlet of Sansicario sits right in the middle of the Milky Way. Like Sauze d’Oulx, it marries traditional Alpine charm (some of its chalets are over 400 years old) with more modern, purpose-built infrastructure, though it’s the latter that’s most noticeable today.
As well as its own predominantly wooded slopes, which are mostly suited to beginners, Sansicario’s prime location puts you within touching distance of the high altitude runs of Sestriere, as well as the challenging pistes of Claviere and, over the border, the more varied terrain of Montgenevre.
Don’t expect a wild night out in Sansicario, but you will find many places to have a nice meal and a quiet drink.
Cesana
The charming and unspoilt resort of Cesana is the crossroads of the Milky Way, offering easy access to both Sestriere/Sansicario and Claviere/Montgenèvre, courtesy of its convenient lifts.
Cesana’s quiet village atmosphere has made it a popular destination for families, while intermediate skiers are particularly well catered for by the slopes immediately surrounding the resort.
Gentle, tree-lined slope in Claviere
Claviere
Claviere is a small but well-connected resort that sits on the border between France and Italy. The slope supply tends toward the more intermediate/advanced end of the spectrum, with some lovely open runs at higher altitude and a huge bowl above the treeline that’s a safe bet for those that want to sink their skis into some powder.
In town, you’ll find both fancy and rustic restaurants, and a handful of quiet bars.
Sunny Pragelato in December. Photo Credit: Iglu Ski's Head of Commercial, Gordon
Pragelato
Though it takes its name from the Piedmontese for “icy meadow”, Pragelato is not at all as inhospitable as that name would have you believe. The rustic mountain village is full of charm and character, and surrounded by stunning natural scenery.
While it only has 50km of its own slopes, which are mostly beginner-level, it's well connected to the wider Milky Way, and especially to Sestriere, which is a 10 minute drive away or a short ride on the Pattemouche cable car.
That’s a useful connection if you want to party, as you won’t find much in the way of après in the village itself. Pragelato also has a reputation as a great resort for off-piste exploration, thanks to its powder record, and for cross-country skiing, with 30km of dedicated trails surrounding the resort.

Montgenevre is the only French resort in the Milky Way ski area
Montgenèvre
The outlier of the ski area, due to its French setting, Montgenèvre is nonetheless a match for its Milky Way neighbours thanks to its laid-back atmosphere, spectacular scenery, and generous helping of pistes for all abilities.
The village is compact, attractive and traditional, and equipped with all the facilities you will need during your stay. Much of the accommodation is close to both the town centre and the slopes, making it easy to get around and a great resort for families.
It’s smaller, cheaper, and quieter than your typical French resort, but livelier than some of the smaller villages in the Milky Way, with a wide selection of restaurants and several bars where you can have a drink and even a dance.
Ski Holidays in the Milky Way
A veritable fonduta (an Italian fondue) of the best of Italian and French ski traditions, the Milky Way’s 400km ski area is vast and varied enough to accommodate all preferences and abilities.
From quiet and traditional villages to bustling town centres, sweeping, high altitude pistes to thrilling tree-lined runs, the Vialattea has it all.
Whatever type of holiday is to your taste, in the Milky Way, you can be fairly confident that it will include that all important ingredient: snow.
An altitude range from 1350m to 2,823m, a healthy snowfall history, and a smattering of snow cannons combine to all but guarantee optimal skiing conditions.
Top reasons to ski Milky Way ski area
Here are all the reasons why we think you should choose the Milky Way ski area.
A vast ski area
It might pinch a little portion of the French Alps, but there’s no bigger ski area in Italy. With 400km of pistes and over 300 interconnected slopes, you could come back year after year and always find something new.
Pistes for all abilities
There are 9 green runs, 97 blues, 163 reds, and 36 blacks, not to mention the baby fun parks, snow parks, and ample off-piste.
While, as you can see by the number of reds, intermediate skiers are certainly the biggest winners in the Milky Way, there’s still a healthy share of terrain for all types of skier.
Stunning scenery
Almost without exception, wherever you are in the Milky Way, you’ll enjoy classically alpine panoramic views of jagged, white capped mountain ranges and snow dusted conifers.
That’s not to mention the traditional chalets and rustic charm of its many mountain villages.
Excellent lift system
There are 70 ski lifts across the ski area, which, combined, are capable of transporting over 75,000 people per hour. With that capacity, you shouldn’t have to spend too much of your holiday waiting in queues.
Ski sporting pedigree
The Milky Way hosted events for the 2006 Winter Olympics and regularly hosts Ski World Cups - a skiing stamp of approval if ever there was one.
Up in Sestriere, you can even have a crack at a couple of the black runs used for these events.
Group ski holidays in the Milky Way
Thinking of booking a group ski holiday to the Milky Way?
If you want to maximise the range of options available to your group, Sauze d’Oulx is probably your best bet. It’s the largest resort in the Milky Way, with budget-friendly and more luxurious hotels, chalets and apartments available, as well as skiing to suit all abilities.
Without a doubt, it also has the liveliest après scene in the ski area. Whether your group likes to party and hit the slopes hard or prefers a more tranquil kind of trip, Sauze d’Oulx can cater to your needs.
That said, Sestriere also has qualities that make it ideal for a group holiday, namely its central location, which makes it easy for all your friends or family to reach terrain that they feel confident on. It also has some decent après bars and a nightclub.
Family ski holidays in the Milky Way
If you’re skiing as a family, you’ll find the Milky Way’s resorts to be very accommodating.
Although the piste supply in many places is on the more challenging side, there are excellent nursery slopes and fun parks within easy reach of many villages, plenty of ski schools, as well as non-skiing activities to keep kids entertained when they’re not skiing.
If you have to choose a base, we’d recommend Montgenevre. The village is small and relaxed, making it easy for young children to get around, with affordable accommodation and dining options, and kid friendly ski slopes.
In the evening, you can go ice skating, check out the cinema, or ride the Monty Express toboggan, a 1,400m luge that descends through the forest at 40km per hour.
Beginner ski holidays in the Milky Way
The Milky Way is definitely best for intermediate skiers, but, with 9 greens and 97 blues, there’s more than enough terrain for beginners to make their first turns and to start pushing themselves.
The smaller, quieter resorts of Sansicario and Pragelato are both great options for novices, with a significant portion of the piste supply given over to blues.
However, if it’s green runs you’re after, you should base yourself in Montgenevre.
Why not check out our beginner ski holidays to the Milky Way ski area?
Milky Way: Key Information
Here's all the key information for the Milky Way ski area:
Where is the nearest airport to the Milky Way?
Turin Caselle is the nearest major airport to the Milky Way, and is served by most british airlines. Depending on which resort you stay in, the transfer time is between 1 hour and 2 hours by road.
What is the highest point in the Milky Way?
At over 2,800m, Mont Motta is the highest point in the Milky Way. You can access it by taking a series of chairlifts up from Sestriere. But be aware that, if you’re not comfortable skiing on black or red runs, you’re going to have a tough time coming down the mountain.
How many lifts in the Milky Way?
There are 70 lifts in the Milky Way ski area, including cable cars, chairlifts, button lifts, and magic carpets. They have a collective capacity of over 75,000 people per hour.
What’s the longest run in the Milky Way?
The longest continuous run in the Milky Way is, probably, the descent from the Mont Fraiteve node at 2,701m to the village of Jouvenceaux. The route starts on blues before joining the Gran Pista, a wide and winding red run that takes you through the woods above Sauze d’Oulx. In total, it is 9km long and descends over 1,300m in altitude.
What’s the most difficult run in the Milky Way?
If you’re after a challenge, head up to the steep, high altitude slopes of Sestriere. It’s here you’ll find the Kandahar Banchetta and the Kandahar Giovanni Agnelli, both black runs that have hosted either Olympic or World Cup skiing events.
The Kandahar Banchetta descends over 1,000m from Motta at 2,800m to Borgata Sestriere at 1,800m, and begins with a precipitous 60% gradient on its starting wall. The Kandahar Giovanni Agnelli is a long, almost bendless, black that’s been used for many World Cup slalom events.
Are there any glaciers in the Milky Way?
No, there are no glaciers in the Milky Way. However, most resorts are snow sure enough to remain open from December to April.
What are the top apres bars in the Milky Way?
You’ll find the top après bars in the Milky Way in Sauze d’Oulx and Sestriere. If you finish your day of skiing in the former, check out Ghost Bar or the Hotel Derby Bar (famous for its nail game), both of which put on DJs or live music until late.
The terrace of Assietta is another good option, and you can catch major sports fixtures at La Grotta.
The après scene in Sestriere is more limited, but there’s fun to be found. Go to Gargote Fashion Cafè for DJ sets on the terrace from 4pm, or I.gloo and QB bar for more of the same. Tabata Disco, the nightclub, is open until 4am.
How much does an Milky Way lift pass cost?
There are a few different types of Vialattea lift pass, including daily, multi-day, and season passes, some of which open up the entire ski area and others that restrict you to particular resorts.
The Vialattea International is the only pass that allows you to access the entire Milky Way, including Montgenèvre. You can also buy a cheaper pass that restricts you to the Italian side, as well as dedicated beginners passes if you’re happy with a more limited and localised skiing trip.
Duration | Milky Way (Vialattea) | Milky Way International (Vialattea International) |
---|---|---|
Daily (low season/high season) | €71 | €59 |
6 days (low season/high season) | €426 | €354 |
15 days (low season/high season) | €923 | €767 |
Accurate 24/25 seasion
Discover the best deals on Milky Way Ski Holidays
The Milky Way promises an Italian Ski holiday like no other, with over 400km of pistes, stunning views, snow surety, and indulgent Italian cuisine - and your next ski holiday is just a few clicks away.
Here at Iglu Ski, we have a flurry of fantastic package and non-package deals available on chalets, hotels and apartments across the Vialattea.
Whether you prefer the peace and quiet of Pragelato, lively Sauze d’Oulx, or stunning Sestriere, we can ensure your holiday gets off to a great start by helping you to find the perfect base.