Sestriere - Slope

The season runs from early December until late April.

Sestriere's skiing is spread over four local areas - Banchetta, Fraiteve, Sises and Rio Nero, with hundreds of kilometres of lift-linked terrain beyond, towards neighbouring Sansicario (and on to Cesana, Claviere and Montgenèvre, or back over to Sauze d'Oulx). If you do venture over to France by ski, make sure you allow a full day and set off early to be sure you make all the connections back.

Sestriere itself lies in an area of gentle meadows, so there are excellent nursery slopes around the resort and, with the altitude and snowmaking, these remain open throughout the season.

Experts should not miss the Kandahar Slalom Giovanni Alberto Agnelli run, which has hosted countless Alpine Skiing World Cups as well as the slalom races run during the Winter Olympics in Turin. The Col de Sises black is also a must-ski, having been host to giant slalom races in the same Games.