Vermont Skiers Gain More Global Access as Ikon Pass Adds Italian Alps for 2025–26
By the Montreal Gazette, adapted for Vermont readers
Vermont skiers who carry an Ikon Pass will have even more international options next winter, as five resorts in Italy’s Valle d’Aosta region join the lineup for the 2025–26 season. The expansion, announced this week by Alterra Mountain Company, adds to a network that already includes several of Vermont’s own premier ski areas.
New Access in Europe
The Valle d’Aosta, a storied alpine region in northern Italy surrounded by Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn, and Monte Rosa, brings Courmayeur Mont Blanc, Cervino Ski Paradise, La Thuile Espace San Bernardo, Monterosa Ski, and Pila under the Ikon umbrella. Pass holders will receive seven combined days across the Italian resorts with no blackout dates, while Ikon Base Pass holders will have access to five days.
According to Courmayeur Mont Blanc Funivie General Director Danilo Chatrian, the partnership “opens the door to U.S. skiers and riders, offering the opportunity to discover the breathtaking scenery and exceptional winter experiences that make Valle d’Aosta a true hidden gem of the Alps.”
The Italian addition also connects skiers to nearby Swiss and French destinations. From Cervino Ski Paradise, pass holders can cross into Switzerland’s Zermatt Matterhorn, while Courmayeur offers quick access through the Mont Blanc tunnel to Chamonix in France—both already Ikon destinations.
What It Means for Vermont
For Vermonters, the announcement expands the global reach of a pass that already includes Stratton, Sugarbush, and Killington here in the Green Mountains. With those three Vermont mountains offering Ikon access, local skiers can carve home snow all winter, then take their same pass overseas to explore the Alps without buying additional lift tickets.
The pass is now valid at 63 destinations across five continents, covering more than 273,000 skiable acres. For Vermont’s winter sports economy, the presence of three major Ikon destinations helps position the state alongside global heavyweights like Switzerland’s St. Moritz, France’s Chamonix, and now Italy’s Valle d’Aosta.
The Bigger Picture
Ikon’s expansion is part of a wider trend in ski pass consolidation, where multi-resort passes increasingly drive skier travel patterns. According to Alterra Mountain Company Chief Marketing Officer Erik Forsell, “Endless joy abounds when exploring the special mountain culture of the Alps, and Valle d’Aosta serves it up among five distinct mountains. We are excited to expand Ikon Pass access in Europe by offering even more Italy for winter 25/26.”
For Vermont ski areas, inclusion in the Ikon network continues to tie local slopes to international ski tourism, potentially drawing more visitors from out of state—and out of country—while giving local skiers global adventure opportunities.