Our expert for Livigno is Xavier Goodwin, Inghams Product Manager for Italy. Xavier’s love for skiing was born when he visited the small French village of Praz de Lys as a child. He then discovered more of the Alps working ski seasons and fell further in love with the mountains. Xavier has worked at Inghams for three years and manages their Italian holiday programme. Livigno is a particular favourite of his, because it has so much to offer. “It truly has something for everyone: it’s a charming resort for families, a fun resort for groups and there are plenty of things to do for non-skiers too, all of which are easily accessible. The ski area is high, ideal for intermediates, and the award-winning Mottolino freestyle snowpark is considered one of the best in Italy.”
Duty free shopping
Aside from its excellent snow record and long winter season, Livigno is well known for its duty free status. There’s a bit of history to this. It was Napoleon who made Livigno exempt from excise duties in 1805 due to its strategic geographical location. These privileges were reaffirmed in 1818 by Austria-Hungary and ratified by the Kingdom of Italy in 1910. As a result, you’ll benefit from significantly reduced prices of cigarettes and tobacco, alcohol, perfumes, electronic items and leather garments. If you love shopping and you love mountains, it doesn’t get much better than Livigno’s unique shopping experience, with designer boutiques sitting alongside good-value arts and crafts shops.
Husky sledding
A thirty-minute drive from Livigno, in Arnoga in the Alta Valtellina valley, you’ll find the husky village. Arnoga is home to one of the most exciting stages of the famous Alpirod dog-sled race. Visitors can experience this for themselves on an exhilarating ride (choose from 40 minutes to two hours) along flat, snowy tracks. The huskies are fully-trained, the expert staff give thorough instructions, then it’s over to you to take the reins (literally) and unleash your inner Alaskan cowboy!
Ice rally car driving
If you’ve got a driving licence, why not test your skills on ice with the Livigno Ice Driving School in Tresenda? Under specialist instruction, enjoy a thrilling ride as you learn the most suitable techniques to driving on surfaces with very low grip! Prices start from 100 euros per person.
Fat biking
What is Fat biking? The clue’s in the name: fat bikes have big, fat wheels with low tire pressure, which ensure maximum grip on soft surfaces such as snow. In Livigno, you can hurtle along tree-lined cross-country trails with a guide and see for yourself why this novel sport is becoming an increasingly popular alternative activity to try on your ski holiday! Three hours cost from €55 per person.
Aqua Granda pool and wellness centre
The 10,000m2 Aqua Granda leisure centre has something for everyone. It has been separated into various zones, with a ‘Slide&Fun’ zone for family fun, a ‘Wellness&Relax’ zone for those looking to unwind after a day’s skiing, a ‘Fitness&Pool’ zone, which includes an open-air gym, ideal for sports and high-altitude training, and a ‘Health&Beauty’ zone, where health professionals offer advice and therapies. Opening times for each zone vary, but guests can visit and enjoy Aqua Granda every day:
- ‘Slide&Fun’ zone from 10:00 – 22:00 (10:00 – 24:00 on Wednesdays)
- ‘Wellness&Relax’ zone from 12:00 – 22:00 (12:00 – 24:00 on Wednesdays. Closed on Sundays)
- ‘Fitness&Pool’ zone from 09:00 – 22:00 (09:00 – 20:00 on the weekend)
- ‘Health&Beauty’ zone from 09:00 – 20:00
Livigno Dairy
Visit Livigno Dairy and discover how locals used the environment before it became a ski resort. You can take a guided tour to see the processes involved in dairy production, sample delicious, fresh local produce in the cosy dining room, and admire the antique farm equipment in the small museum. Products include milk, yoghurt, fresh cheese, butter and ice cream.
Inghams offers half board ski holidays to Livigno from just £599 per person for seven-nights, including flights and transfers. The in-resort Representatives can assist with booking lift passes, equipment hire and tuition, as well as non-skiing activities and après entertainment. For more information, visit: www.inghams.co.uk/livigno or call 01483 791114.
