Location

If you are flying to the Aosta Valley, there are two principal airport choices, Geneva and Turin. Geneva is served by a huge variety of airlines, while Turin is served by Ryanair as well as the national airlines. There is also the third airport choice of Milan which is slightly further than Turin but on the same motorway to the Aosta Valley. By car, Turin is one hour 15 minutes 125 km), while Geneva and Milan are two hours 180 km).

GPS co-ordinates for Terra Alpina: N45.784055 E7.288184

Directions From Geneva to Gignod

If you are renting a car, make sure you rent from the Swiss side, not the French side. There are military airfields in Russia that are easier to find than the French car returns area.

When you leave the airport, follow signs to France and then pick up signs for the Mont Blanc tunnel and Turin (Torino). Once through the tunnel, come off at the second Aosta turn-off (also signposted for the motorway service station), following signs to Aosta Est. The exit is a bit fiddly - you bear left at the first roundabout and, at the second roundabout, you take the fourth exit, apparently heading back to the motorway. The road then splits with one lane signposted Gran San Bernardo, which you follow.

Go through another smaller tunnel and follow the road towards the St. Bernard tunnel. After 10 km you pass signs to Gignod. You will go through a very short tunnel (only 150 metres long) and shortly after that the road loops around a church above the road. You will immediately see a signpost to a golf club. Take that side road to your left (it is almost a 180 degree turn). Then take the first right which is signposted to about 10 hamlets including La Coliere and Buthier. Carry on past the golf club and drive on for another two kilometres. You will then pass a sign saying La Coliere 1233 metres. The road then curves to the right and Terra Alpina is on the left 300 metres after the sign. If you drive through a wood just before Buthier, you have gone too far.

Directions From Turin to Gignod

When leaving Turin airport, follow signs to Turin and Tangenziale. At the Tangenziale (ring road) you want the A5 Tangenziale Nord heading towards Aosta and Gran San Bernardo. The A5 goes all the way to Aosta, where you exit the motorway (it is the exit after Nus). You follow the signs to San Bernardo (the road on your right as you come off the motorway).

Go through another smaller tunnel and follow the road towards the St. Bernard tunnel. After 10 km you pass signs to Gignod. You will go through a very short tunnel (only 150 metres long) and shortly after that the road loops around a church above the road. You will immediately see a signpost to a golf club. Take that side road to your left (it is almost a 180 degree turn). Then take the first right which is signposted to about 10 hamlets including La Coliere and Buthier. Carry on past the golf club and drive on for another two kilometres. You will then pass a sign saying La Coliere 1233 metres. The road then curves to the right and Terra Alpina is on the left 300 metres after the sign. If you drive through a wood just before Buthier, you have gone too far.