Which Montgenèvre Lift Pass Should You Buy? The Honest, No-Nonsense Guide for Skiers Who Just Want to Get It Right

The Lift Pass Dilemma: Why It’s More Confusing Than It Should Be

Let’s be honest: picking a lift pass in Montgenèvre can feel like trying to order from a restaurant where all the menus are written in code. You’ve got the Montgenèvre-only pass, the Monts de la Lune pass, and the mighty Via Lattea. And no, they’re not just fancy names for “small,” “medium,” and “large.”

Every year we get the same questions:

“Can I get to Italy with the Montgenèvre pass?”
“Is it worth paying more for the full Via Lattea?”
“What pass do I need for the kids’ ski school?”

Well, that ends here. This is your one-stop guide to making the right choice without needing a spreadsheet or a degree in Alpine geography. Whether you're a beginner finding your feet, a family wrangling lift passes for six, or an off-piste warrior looking to rack up the mileage, we've got you covered.

What's on Offer: The Three Lift Passes Demystified

1. Montgenèvre-Only Pass
The core of the resort. Ideal for most skiers and families.

Area covered: Just Montgenèvre (approx. 110km of pistes)
Includes: Gondola Chalmettes, Rocher de l’Aigle, beginner areas, and the snowpark
Best for: Beginners to intermediates, families, short breaks, ski school base
Prices (6 days):
Adult: ~€250 | Child (under 15): ~€215 | Family rates available
Extras: Access to sledging zones and night skiing on selected dates

Pros:
✅ Easy navigation for families and new skiers
✅ Cheaper than the other options
✅ All ski schools operate here

Cons:
🚫 You’ll hit every run by Day 3 if you’re experienced
🚫 No Italian access

2. Monts de la Lune (Monti della Luna) Pass
The hybrid pass: adds the Italian border resorts of Clavière and part of Cesana.

Area covered: Montgenèvre + Clavière (160km of pistes)
Includes: Everything in the Montgenèvre-only pass plus border-hopping access
Best for: Intermediate skiers, day-trippers, those after a bit of adventure
Prices (6 days):
Adult: ~€270 | Child: ~€230
Perks: More lunch options across the border, quieter runs, some tree skiing

Pros:
✅ You get to say, “Let’s ski to Italy for lunch.”
✅ Better value than full Via Lattea if you won’t stray past Cesana
✅ Great scenery and quieter slopes in Clavière

Cons:
🚫 Still doesn’t cover all of Sestriere and Sauze
🚫 Long ski back if you miss the last link lift

3. Via Lattea (The Milky Way) Pass
The full-throttle, no-limits option. Go big or go home.

Area covered: 400km+ of pistes across Italy (Sestriere, Sauze d’Oulx, Cesana, Clavière) + Montgenèvre
Includes: All lifts in Montgenèvre and the full Italian side of the Via Lattea
Best for: Confident intermediates and advanced skiers, mileage junkies, groups doing big ski days
Prices (6 days):
Adult: ~€295 | Child: ~€255
Tips: You'll need a car or shuttle to reach Sauze/Sestriere unless doing an epic ski tour via Cesana

Pros:
✅ Access to world-class Italian resorts
✅ Ideal for big groups of confident skiers
✅ Sestriere’s Olympic pistes and Sauze’s tree-lined gems

Cons:
🚫 Not worth it if you’re staying close to home
🚫 Long, tiring days – not for faffers or families with small children
🚫 Weather or lift closures can make links tricky

The Big Questions

Q: My kids are in ski school. Which pass do they need?
A: 99% of ski schools operate in the Montgenèvre-only zone. No need to go bigger unless you're planning off-piste or private adventures further afield.

Q: Can I upgrade my pass mid-week?
A: Yes. You can upgrade from Montgenèvre to Monts de la Lune or Via Lattea. It’s best to do it a day in advance at the main ticket office or via us directly if you pre-booked with Go Montgenèvre.

Q: Is the Via Lattea pass worth it if I’m here for just 3 days?
A: Probably not. You’ll barely touch Montgenèvre’s full terrain in 3 days. Save your money unless you’re a rapid skier on a mission.

Q: What about lunch in Italy?
A: Great shout. Even a Monts de la Lune pass gets you to Clavière, where you can grab pizza or polenta for half the price of French resort meals.

Q: Any family discounts or freebies?
A: Absolutely. Book with us directly and we can apply the family bundle (2 adults + 2+ kids), saving around 10% off total cost.

Real Talk: Who Should Get What?

First-timers & Families with Young Kids:
Stick to Montgenèvre. It’s gentle, safe, and ideal for lessons and confidence-building.
Tina, if you're reading this, your teens will thank you for keeping things easy to navigate. And you can still enjoy a cheeky après-ski at Le Graal.

Intermediate Skiers & Couples:
Go Monts de la Lune. It adds Italian flair, gives you longer ski days, and a bit of romance over a plate of gnocchi in Clavière. Peter and Ingrid, this one’s got your name on it.

Advanced Skiers & Explorers:
You want Via Lattea. Hands down. If you're like Mark or Olivier – chasing powder and chasing pints – go big. Just don’t miss the last lift back, yeah?

Your Turn

What type of skier are you?
Have you ever tried the full Via Lattea and regretted it (or loved it)?
Which hidden gem piste did you find in Clavière or Sauze?

We’d love to hear your tips, near-misses and best days. Drop us a line in the comments below.

The Wrap-Up: Your Lift Pass Strategy

Montgenèvre: Best value for families, short stays, beginners
Monts de la Lune: Smart upgrade for intermediate skiers wanting variety
Via Lattea: Full-throttle pass for confident, experienced skiers
You can always upgrade, so start modest and go bigger if needed

Ready to Roll?

Book your lift passes now through Go Montgenèvre to save time, stress and get them delivered straight to your door:
👉 https://go-alpes.com/lift-passes

Direct bookings come with exclusive perks, priority delivery, and personal advice from our local team. That’s not fluff – that’s just how we do it.

Got questions? Give us a ring or catch us on resort. We’re happy to talk you through it – or meet you for a vin chaud while we’re at it.

Lift Passes