Is it worth visiting Chamois in the winter?
Yes, it is worth visiting Chamois during winter! We went there in March!
First and foremost, did you know that there is a town in Italy that cannot be reached by your own vehicle? Absolutely, many don’t even know this. It is Chamois, the highest village of Aosta Valley, a small town placed at 1800 m of altitude.
This is really a little paradise where cars are banned. No cars means no traffic, no noise, only clean air, and a relaxing atmosphere surrounds you!
Chamois is the one and only Italian car-free municipality, I mean an urban area absent of motor vehicles.
For visitors, Chamois represents an opportunity to discover a community that has been able to preserve its identity and unspoilt nature. Life here follows the rhythm of the seasons, offering authentic experiences, including the simple pleasure of walking in the woods and admiring the breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and peaks.
According to the word on the street, the inhabitants of Chamois (population 100) are very proud of this decision taken back in 1955.
That been said, let me now try to answer some questions such as how to get to Chamois, is it worth visiting Chamois, what to do in Chamois etc…
How to get to Chamois: FAQ
As I said in the introduction, Chamois can’t be reached by your own vehicle. I mean Chamois can only be reached by walking, by bicycle, small plane, or cable car. At this point, it is inevitable to say that the most used means of transport to Chamois is the cable car.
WHERE TO GET THE CABLE CAR TO CHAMOIS
The cable car to Chamois starts in Buisson, a fraction of Antey St. André (Aosta).
CAR PARKING FOR THOSE TRAVELLING TO CHAMOIS
There is a huge paid parking garage here at the cable car station in Buisson. Parking is free for the first two hours, but the daily rate is € 3.00 after the first two free hours, and it’s valid until midnight of the same day.
The ticket will be issued upon parking (press the button by the parking entrance coloumn to get the ticket) and you need to keep it safe until you get back from Chamois, since you need it for the payment during departure.
In case you are planning to stay in Chamois for more than one day, like we did, you can buy “the parking card” which allows unlimited entries and exits during its validity period. It can be purchased at the cable car’s ticket office by filling out the given form.
Campers, caravans, and vehicles with a width greater than 2.60 m cannot park in the parking area.
BUISSON-CHAMOIS CABLE CAR OPENING HOURS AND TIMETABLES
Buisson-Chamois cable car is open every day from 7 a.m. to 10.30 p.m., with rides every 30 minutes (or 15 in the case of heavy traffic). During the summer the opening hours are extended on Saturday and Sunday, during the period of August as well as when there are special events. Increased rides are also guaranteed on some special days (such as the evening of 31 December/the taste of a walk of 31 August to be able to attend the picturesque traditional events.
The ride takes about ten minutes, and covers an altitude difference of 700 metres. Whatever the weather is, the journey to Chamois by cable car is always an impressive experience so you will never regret this decision.
HOW MUCH DOES THE CABLE CAR TO CHAMOIS COST?
To date the one way ticket for the non-residents from Buisson to Chamois costs €3.50 and the round trip costs €5.50. In case you are visiting Chamois with animals, baggage, children, or any other options, I suggest that youtake a look at their official website to check all the fares.
Travelling by cable car to Chamois with animals.
You can travel with your pet to Chamois by cable car all year around. It costs € 2.00 for a one way ticket and 3.00 for round trip.
Use of muzzle and leash is mandatory. In case you don’t have your own muzzle you can buy one at the ticket office for € 5.00. In Italy, dogs must be kept on a leash in all urban areas and public places, so it’s assumed you already have it.
DON’T FORGET these 5 essentials when you pack for Chamois.
If you really want to enjoy and benefit from the Chamois car-free lifestyle, it is necessary that you have to re-orient your mindset. Here are some tips to help you get ready for your stay in Chamois:
- Staying on track with medications during holidays is very important. When it comes to Chamois, it becomes even more important because here in Chamois it’s not so easy to find what you need at the last minute.
- If you are staying more than one day in Chamois, I advise you to do a small grocery shopping trip before the cable car (unless you always want to eat in restaurants) because there is only one supermarket in Chamois which doesn’t have much choice. Many products had an eminent expiration date so I couldn’t even buy them.
- Check the weather before travelling to Chamois and pack your clothes accordingly. If you see that the temperature is high, take something for the cold weather anyway because in the mountains, the weather can change rapidly. Always carry heavy clothing and a waterproof windbreaker, even on a clear summer day, just in case. Shoes are also not to be underestimated.
- An umbrella can be very useful. We had one and we used it a lot.
- Don’t be afraid to walk and stay flexible. This is the only way to have fun and feel the benefits when travelling to this beautiful car-free town in Italy.
What to do in Chamois during winter
As I said at the beginning, we went to Chamois at the end of March, and it was totally winter.
I summarize here very quickly based on what we have done.
Once you reach Chamois, you will be enchanted by the characteristic mountain village and the marvellous surrounding landscape. It is also well worth it to travel with children to Chamois: No cars means they can walk around freely, right? And also there is a children’s park with picnic tables and drinking water from where you can enjoy the panoramic views.
The village itself is small, but you can walk around a lot to breathe a relaxing atmosphere of nature. From the inhabited area of Chamois it is also possible to go up further with the chairlifts and reach places such as Lake Lod where there are restaurants, a picnic area, and refreshment points.
It is not only a pleasant stop but also a great starting point for various excursions and hikes towards other villages and peaks, and for the route towards the Clavalité sanctuary both in winter and in summer.
Chamois has more than 16 km of ski slopes of various difficulties and some off-piste routes. Lake Lod is an interesting point to reach the ski slopes. Lake Lod is accessible either by chairlift or after a 40-minute walk from Chamois.
Today Chamois offers hospitality to all those who want a peaceful holiday immersed in nature. There are many accommodation facilities which are ideal for a relaxing and quiet stay away from hectic mass tourism.
Is it worth visiting Chamois during winter?
Yes, it is worth visiting Chamois during winter!
Located at 1,800 m of altitude, Chamois has been included among the ‘Pearls of the Alps’, distinguishing mountain resorts for their environmental sustainability and soft mobility. It is a quiet place suitable for families, couples, and anyone looking for a slower pace of life. We had a very good time there.
So, we went to Chamois at the end of March and I didn’t expect to find such a low temperature. But instead it was fully winter: snow and cold. This didn’t matter that much to us anyway because we were well prepared for any type of weather.
Think that my husband had even brought his skis, because the apartment we reserved on booking.com was exactly 20 steps from the ski slopes!
And for Priya we had the baby carrier, so I can truly say that we had foreseen everything. We could do everything that a winter hamlet can propose.
If you ask me then whether it is worth visiting Chamois during the winter, I can only say yes.
It is said that the landscape is equally interesting during the summer. I can only believe it.
In fact, we have a plan to return in summer, too.
