Pre-Saint-Didier, the Forgotten Gem of the Italian Alps.
Spring has sprung in the Val D’Aosta, Northern Italy. Our first rafting guests for 2016 have arrived in Pre-Saint-Didier and the Dora Baltea, our beloved river rises each day as the snow melts further up the Mont Blanc glacier. A variety of flowers have already blossomed in the valley, giving incredible visual contrasts with the rugged alpine, still gorged with snow.

Pre Saint Didier, tiny Italian village deep in the mountains. Photo: Aurelien Sudan
While most folks with a passion for the mountains know of Chamonix, Courmayeur, Mont Blanc and the Val d’Aosta, few have heard of the village of Pre-Saint-Didier. The Val D’Aosta flocks with tourists over the summer period, but Pre-Saint-Didier remains a place of transit, that few chose to stopover and visit. Yet, this old alpine village, with a direct view over Mont Blanc and the Grandes Jorasses is full of charm. Worth a visit. Or maybe even three. In need of adrenaline? Come here for rafting or a tandem paragliding flight. Got a sore back? Relax peacefully in the pristine Terme of Pre-Saint-Didier, or come here for a Yoga class. With a population lesser than 1,000 residents, all the locals know each other. Many even still drive the iconic Fiat Panda 4×4, legend from another time. Aside of the church bells which ring every 15 minutes, everyone’s clock seem to have stopped ticking a long time ago in this ancient alpine village. Local development has come to a stall, giving greater personality to this remote location. We invite you to discover below some of the local landmarks of Pre-Saint-Didier and the Val d’Aosta.

Old Castles and ruins abound the region of the Val D’Aosta.

Dropping into one of our secret rafting spots. Photo: Aurelien Sudan

Mont Blanc, the highest summit of the Alps is a stonethrow away from Pre-Saint-Didier. Photo: Aurelien Sudan

More Waterfalls. Photo: Aurelien Sudan

Picture perfect. Getting into a rapid with Mont Blanc as a background. Photo: Aitor Arce