Regions such as the area around Val Susa are becoming rare in the Alps and deserve protection from the influx of ski touring tourists. It almost works in their favour that Cesana Torinese tends to inspire more surprise than excitement at first glance, and that the true brilliance of this ski touring area only reveals itself on closer inspection.

You might not notice it at all unless you are willing to explore the region's vast and remote ski touring possibilities. Since we first organised ski touring weeks in Val Maira many years ago, we have never felt more like explorers in the Alps than we do in the mountains of Val Susa.

The region offers everything from steep Western Alpine peaks rising well above 3,000 metres to gentle, grassy summits ideal for skiing; remote side valleys that are difficult to access and lift-assisted ascents with correspondingly long descents; deep-winter, avalanche-safe larch forests and impressive spring firn descents.

Therefore, it is no surprise that this playground offers ski tourers not only the right tour for every snow and avalanche situation, but also for every level of ambition. Although the most prominent peaks of Val Susa tower almost intimidatingly above our accommodation, providing plenty of challenges for those hungry for vertical metres, there are just as many gentle summits with perfect ski slopes, followed by open larch forests that truly deserve the label 'pleasure' — especially on the descent.

After returning from a ski tour and arriving at our agriturismo above Cesana Torinese, we realise that we are on holiday in Piedmont, an area known for its hospitality, culinary delights and award-winning wines.

Our farm stay fully meets all GLOBO ALPIN standards for simple, good accommodation where honest cuisine and traditional hospitality more than make up for the lack of wellness frills or artificial fripperies.

Of course, everyone is different and tastes differ, but those who have travelled with GLOBO ALPIN to lesser-known regions before will know exactly the kind of hidden gems we are offering this week.