In The Spotlight: Pragelato Sestriere

Have you ever travelled to the Milky Way? Pragelato is a collection of villages in the Piedmont region that form part of a network of remarkable of pistes strung out like a starfield across the Italian Alps.

The resort is a pure pleasure for those who want surroundings that are breathtaking, a break from the outside world and chalets that feel like they’ve been there for hundreds of years. The secluded nature of the resort means that it feels untouched and a million miles away from mega resorts bustling with noisy families and endless queues.

Even for non-skiers Pragelato is well worth a visit. In particular, you should strap on snowshoes or jump on a snowmobile and head for the local forest to weave between trees and soak in a fairytale atmosphere. Ever raced a car on ice? Why not pump up the adrenaline with a crash course around the local circuit?

Afterwards, there’s plenty of opportunity to relax in a spa and get pampered with beauty treatments before heading for a meal that is infused with the heady smells and tastes of the local region.

If you want great skiing then you’ve got it.

Pragelato offers over 400km of slopes in the Milky Way area. Lift systems are connected together to take you to exciting descents for both beginners and expert skiers. It’s easy to get to Sauze d’Oulx, Sestriere, Claviere, Sansicario and Montgenevre and you can also hop on the modern gondola to access the Via Lattea, one of the world's biggest ski areas.

Pragelato is particularly noted for its guided off-piste skiing and there's also a dedicated cross-country ski school for beginners with some beautifully scenic passes. The local cross-country skiing circuit is regarded as one of the most technical and difficult in the world, but who doesn’t enjoy a challenge?

Beginners have some gentle slopes in the centre of the village to start out on and will soon be able to work their way up to the higher runs. The experts can also take advantage of the area’s Olympic legacy with amazing runs at Sestriere and Sansicario.

The scenery is your friend. The runs are wide open are fully exposed to the sun so you get to enjoy the stunning scenery of the mountain. Combined with the high altitude, great skiing can carry on late into the season.