In early Sept., I am meeting my husband in Chamonix and together, we are traveling throughout Italy for 10 days. We want to take the recommended gondola ride over the mountain, and I am very clear on how to get into Italy. But I can't find an updated bus/train schedule from Aosta to Milan. Anyone have any suggestions regarding this trek? Is it better to do the round-trip gondola ride and then arrange transport from Chamonix into Milan (train vs. bus). Any help is appreciated. Many thanks!
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
Doing this can be tricky. Rewarding if it works out, weather-wise, etc. Check out these 2 discussions, 2 years old but contains some good info
This one's from 2009:
http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/helpline/index.cfm?topic=29301
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
According to the timetables on the German Rail site, you can travel by train from Aosta to Milano (one connection in Chivasso) in a little over three hours. Go to www.bahn.de and click on the drop-down flag menu for English. After you get summary timetables for Aosta-Milano, click on the arrow to the left of each departure time to see the connecting points.
According to the Trenitalia site, if you take regional trains (Aosta-Chivasso and Chivasso-Milano), the fare is €11.80.
Posted by
Everett, WA
1299 posts
Be sure you have a back up plan for getting from Chamonix to Milan. The Helbronner gondola closes if it is at all windy, etc. I have spent 6 days in Chamonix (3 different trips) and the gondolas were closed about 50 percent of the time. (My first trip, we were there mid September for 3 days and the gondolas were open for about 3/4 of a day) I have always been there in September. Hopefully you will have the wonderful, clear weather we had our second trip when the gondolas were open from morning to night. Have fun.
Posted by
Bay Area
3551 posts
Good advice about alternate plan. I was just in Chamonix in July 2009 and we had a snow fall for 2 days.Thank goodness day 3 was clear and we were able to gondola anywhere but our hiking was not possible w/o ice cleats.
Posted by
Italy
247 posts
Take the cable car if you can to La Palud. You can walk from la Palud to Entreves. There is frequent bus service from Entreves to Courmayeur where you can get buses to Milan.
If the cable car isn't running, you could take the SAVDA bus. SAVDA has service from Chamonix to Aosta and Aosta to Milan.