Airport

About Sauze d Oulx

Sauze d'Oulx is at one end of the ski area chain known as the Milky Way, with a massive 400 km of pistes available under one lift pass. The area includes the slopes of Sestriere, Cesana, Sansicario and Montgenevre. Sauze d'Oulx , a large sunny resort, has maintained its alpine charm, and is an intermediate's paradise - a mountain covered in mainly red slopes of every variety. Most of the slopes are dotted round a large bowl above the resort, which is famous for its rowdy apres-ski scene, good value for money and uncrowded slopes.

Confident beginners and intermediates will improve tenfold here, with the long, wide, varied reds building skill and the chance to travel over to neighbouring areas. Try Sestriere or the long red runs down from Fratieve to Sansicario. For complete beginners and experts, Sauze d'Oulx is not ideal. There are only a few blue runs and they are pretty basic, the next step up to the reds is a bit of a leap. For expert skiers, there are only a couple of black funs which you'll easily exhaust.

However the Milky Way ski area has dozens of challenging pistes across the many resorts, so if you don't mind a little travel, the world is your oyster. A good effort has been put into updating some antiquated lifts, and there are relatively few queues. The village itself is known for its buzzing apres-ski scene, with pubs, clubs, cocktail bars, restaurants and pizzerias taking guests looking to have great nights as well as great days from the first après ski drink to the small hours of the morning. Prices are relatively cheap, often drawing a young crowd looking to have fun.

For beginners

For intermediates

For the advanced

Ski school

Après Ski

Off the Mountain

Getting there

By air

Airport transfers

By train

By car

For beginners

There are good ski schools here, but if you are a complete beginner wanting to learn on your own, this may not be the best resort for you. You can start on the Sportina Plateau, but from here is will be here to progress as there are not many easy blues. Beginners who are more confident could do well here, trying some of the easier reds, especially if they get lessons with the good, English-speaking ski school.

For intermediates

Intermediates rule the roost at Sauze d'Oulx. Many come here to enjoy the high, undulating terrain and the peaceful cruising at the top of the mountain. The varied red runs that snake across the mountain will help you improve quickly, and when you're ready you can take the trip over to the massive snowy bowl around neighbouring Sestriere. A day trip to Montgenèvre is also a fun idea, and the updated facilities have made it easier and quicker. All the same, try to set off and return early to give yourself plenty of time - and take your passport and a trail map.

For the advanced

On piste, Sauze d'Oulx doesn't have too much to offer an expert skier. The Gran Pista to Prariond which descends 650 vertical metres is fun, is run 29 which shoots through pine and larch trees from the Capanna Mollino. Otherwise you'll have to look off-piste for any kind of challenge. If you don't mind a bit of travel, the resorts in the Milky Way area offer up 400 km of pistes, with many steep scary blacks to belt down. Sauze d'Oulx's Double Black terrain park, in the Rio Nero bowl, offers freestylers a selection of jumps, spines and rails.

Ski school

The two main schools that deal with the English are Scuola Sci Sauze d'Oulx and Scuola Sci Sauze Sportinia. There is a third school, Sauze Project however they tend to deal more with the Italian clients and local ski clubs. Generally known to be very good, a lesson here is worth investing in especially if you are an intermediate wanting to stretch yourself. Lessons can be booked in the resort where you can choose to have a group lesson or private lessons.

Scuola di Sci Sauze d'Oulx
Director Marco Ambrosiani
Via Monfol, 1
10050 SAUZE D'OULX (TO)
0122/858084
info@scuolascisauze.it
Scuola di Sci Sauze Project
Director Alberto Bergoin
Via Clotes, 9
10050 SAUZE D'OULX (TO)
0122/858942
info@sauzeproject.it
Scuola di Sci Sauze Sportina
Director Renato GIONO
Via Clotes, 26
10050 SAUZE D'OULX (TO)
0122/850218
info@scuolascisauzesportinia.com

Après Ski

The nightlife is one of the main attractions at Sauze d'Oulx. With many bars, pubs and clubs all cranking, the après-ski starts early and finishes late. Try the popular Derby and the Queen's Lounge, or have a pint of Guinness at the always packed Paddy McGinty's. Try Il Gran Trun and Vagabondi's for live music and for late night partying - Varioteca Gina, Banditos and The Schuss. There are over 30 restaurants to choose from ranging from traditional pasta houses in the old town to restaurants that will serve you a 10 course gastronomic extravagance. Del Borgo does excellent pizza cooked in a traditional wood burning stove, and Le Pecore Nere or The Black Sheep serves local pasta dishes. Sugo's also has a good reputation for pasta. For fine dining, try the intimate Il Capricorno. Most restaurants have a full menu and all are reasonably priced.

Off the Mountain

There is quite a bit to do off the slopes at Sauze d'Oulx. If your aching muscles need a break, head wellness centre of the Grand Hotel La Torre for a day of spa treatments. This may include hydromassage and a ‘purifying' spell in the Tepidarium and Hammam (Turkish steam bath). Once you're feeling revived, there are lots of places to cruise round and enjoy a bit of sightseeing. Head to the Church of St John the Baptist, which dates back to 1532 and has a beautiful Romanesque clock tower. Elsewhere, the Sauze d'Oulx fountain that was built in the 16th century, and the Sant'Antonio Abate Chapel, which dates back to the 14th century are beautiful. There are also 30 shops, a cinema, ice rink, sports centre, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, table tennis, mini-bowling, heli-skiing and ski touring, with alpine guides, torch-light processions with ski instructors and a market every Friday morning.

Getting there

Sauze d'Oulx is located in the Susa Valley within the Piedmont region of the north-western Italian Alps, very close to the border with France.

By air

The closest airport to Sauze d'Oulx is Turin (79km). The transfer should only take around 1 hour 30 minutes, making the resort a good choice looking for a convenient holiday with as little hassle as possible. Several airlines fly from the UK to Turin, including: British Airways (London Gatwick), Easyjet (London Luton) and Ryanair (London Stanstead, Dublin) (Liverpool Newcastle Glasgow to Milan).

Airport transfers

You can rent a car from Turin airport,
try: http://www.easycar.com/. Alternatively you can jump on a bus which departs every 30 minutes to and from Turin, Porta Nuova station. A taxi will cost you around €35-45, or get the train to Oulx station. The railway station is located 150 metres away from the airport. There is a pedestrian link that connects the two accessed from near the check-in counters on the Departures level.

By train

With the train service Torino-Bardonecchiayou arrive at Oulx station and then use the regular bus service to Sauze d'Oulx

Train timetable:
http://www.trenitaliaplus.com/
Bus timetable
http://www.sapav.it/

By car

If you want to reach Sauze d'Oulx by car, take the motorway A32, which connects Torino with Bardonecchia-Frejus. You'll come to the toll gate of Oulx and from there take the trunk road.
You can also follow S.S. 24 Monginevro.

Resort rating and reviews

04 November 2010

Traveller rating: 5 star