Inspiring Adventure

During the summer holidays we spent a week exploring the Aosta Valley and absolutely loved what we found. Below are five of our highlights and how much they cost us to visit.

Chamois and Lago di Lod

Chamois is a beautiful, traffic free, mountain village which can only be accessed by cable car from Buisson. Parking in Buisson is free. The cable car costs €4 per adult and is free for under 8 year olds.

Within Chamois there are a few restaurants and bars which were reasonably priced (paninis around €5). During the summer there are also a number of inflatables set up for kids. At €2.50 for 15 minutes of play it gave us time to enjoy the scenery in peace while the boys happily played.

From Chamois there are a number of walking trails and a chair lift which takes you up to Lago di Lod. The chair lift costs €8 per adult, free for the boys, but the lake is easily accessible by walking trail.

Lago di Lod is surrounded by pine trees to one side with plenty of picnic benches and BBQs for use. There are two restaurants and it is possible to fish in the lake.

Total cost to visit Chamois and Lago di Lod- €29 including:

• Cable car from Buisson to Chamois
• Chair lift from Chamois to Lago di Lod
• Boys playing on inflatables

Lillaz Waterfalls

The waterfalls are close to the village of Lillaz. There are a few free parking spaces (find bays with white lines) in town. If these aren’t available there are parking areas with plenty of spaces just beyond the village. Parking here cost us €3 for three hours.

The waterfalls are reachable in about 15 minutes from the car park if you are without kids, 45 if you have people with little legs. The views from the top are spectacular and there are many spots where you can rest and take pictures.

It is possible to do a circular walk of the falls, heading up one way, crossing the bridge at the top and walking down the other side of the river.

Across the river from the car parks are picnic benches and water fountains to fill your bottles (the kids loved doing this so kept well hydrated!)

Total cost to visit Lillaz waterfalls – €3 including:

• parking

Cogne and the Grand Paradiso National Parc

Cogne is a five minute drive or 45 minute walk from Lillaz so we visited after walking up to the waterfalls. Parking in the town is free at Parrcheggio Macchina. The main part of the village is a short walk up some steps, or you can take the lift.

The pretty village is lovely to walk around with narrow streets winding up to the Funivie Gran Paradiso and winter ski areas. There is also a brilliant playground right in the centre of town, with spectacular views down the valley to the 4,061 metre Gran Paradiso. The boys played there for ages and we enjoyed the views.

We caught the Funivie Gran Paradiso, which was an eye watering €10 per adult, free for the boys. Compared to the other gondolas we have been on we felt it was quite pricy. At the top there is a small restaurant, Bar Estivo, where we stopped for ice creams (€2 each and coffee €1.20). As the boys had already walked up to the Lillaz waterfalls and navigated the steep alleys up to the gondola they were not keen to go for another hike. Although the views were stunning it probably was not worth us going up for the price. However, if you are interested in hiking there are plenty of trails from the top and it would be worth the trip.

Total cost to visit Cogne – €25.20

• Funivie Gran Paradiso
• Ice creams and coffee

Petit San Bernard pass

The Petit San Bernard Pass from La Thuile to La Rosiere is closed during the winter months. The top at 2,188 metres above sea level is covered in snow and parts of the pass become ski runs. Having skied in La Rosiere we really wanted to drive the infamous pass.

The drive takes 20 minutes. The road wiggles its way up from La Thuile alongside the ski runs. At the top there are two very austere looking buildings, previously passport control between the two countries, and a couple of bars. The drive down to La Rosiere is straighter and you arrive into the centre of the village.

On our return journey we parked at the top of the pass. The boys were very excited to be able to walk from France to Italy and back again.

Just below the summit of the pass is Lago Verney. This is a very popular walking and picnic spot with a very small, but free, car park. There are no facilities here but I don’t think I have ever found a more perfect picnic spot, it even had a view of Mont Blanc (snow capped peak on the right of the photo below).

The boys excitement level increased further upon the discovery of snow. And an August snowball fight ensued!

Total cost to visit the Petit San Bernard Pass – €0

Fort Di Bard

Fort di Bard is located high on a rocky outcrop at the narrowest point of the Aosta Valley. Parking is in an underground car park at the base of the fort and cost €1 per hour. Entrance to the Fort is completely free and you just pay for the attractions you are interested in. These include:

• Museum of the Alps (Adult €8 / Children €4)
• The Children’s Alp Museum (Adult €6 / Children €4)
• The Prison (Adult €4 / Children €3)
• The Ferdinando, Museum of Fortifications and Frontiers (Adult €9 / Children €5)

Children 0-5 years are free at all attractions.

With the boys having a very short attention span we didn’t visit any of the exhibitions but thoroughly enjoyed catching the three mini funiculars up to the top and admiring the views down the valley. We then walked back down via one of the two paved foot paths before returning to the top again and walking down the second footpath on the other side of the fort.

When visiting the fort it is also well worth walking around the medieval village of Bard.

Total cost of visit to Fort Di Bard – €3 including:

• Parking