The early bird catches the worm and the early-rising skier gets the best turns. So first thing in the morning, board the helicopter to one of the blockbuster descents surrounding the resorts of Courmayeur, Cervinia, La Thuile or Monterosa, and clip in for up to1,500 metres of untouched, untracked powder with just you, your guide and three others to share it with.

Surely there must be a catch? Nope. Aosta Valley is the home of affordable heli-skiing adventures and whilst an experience like this can sometimes cost upwards of the price of a small car, in Aosta Valley, you can have a one day taster as part of an unforgettable long weekend for not much more than the price of a lift pass. And after a day of such extravagant action, there’s no better place to relive the action than in the lounge of the luxurious St Hubertus Hotel in Cervinia or Pilier d’Angle in Courmayeur. You’ve earned it.