The Basics

Valtellina – Geographical Division & main Takeoffs Overview

Valtellina is roughly divided into three sections:

1️⃣ Lower Valley (From Lake Como to the Mount Disgrazia watershed)
2️⃣ Middle Valley (From Mount Disgrazia to Tirano/Val Poschiavo)
3️⃣ Upper Valley (From Tirano/Val Poschiavo to Bormio)

📍 Map Overview:

• Green dots indicate the main XC takeoffs (detailed on the "Main (XC) Takeoffs" page).

• Orange dots indicate other takeoffs, less "strategic" for XC flights.

🚍 No Shuttle Service: There is no official shuttle service to any of the takeoffs. However, local pilots are often willing to share information and may sometimes offer lifts to the takeoff points (please check information shared on any specific page).

Takeoff Access from Lower to Upper Valley

• Scermendone → By car + 40min walk

• Carnale (Sondrio) → By car

• Alpe Mara → By car + 40min walk

• Prato Valentino (Teglio) → By car (permit needed for the upper takeoff)

• Nemina (Bianzone) → By car (permit needed)

• Bormio → By cable car only (available during winter & summer)

• Livigno area →

  • By cable car (available during winter & summer)

  • By car (for certain takeoffs)

🚀 For a visual reference, check the map below.

Valtellina – A comprehensive takeoffs map

A detailed map showcasing all the take-off sites in Valtellina and Val Poschiavo, is available, due to Patrick Armanasco (@credits), as a Google Earth project: View the map. Please note that this list does not account for restrictions within Stelvio National Park.

XC Flight Takeoffs & Stelvio National Park Restrictions

The takeoffs listed above are the most commonly used by local pilots for XC flights.

📍 Bormio & Livigno Areas:

• Included for completeness, though less frequently used for XC flights.

• Restriction: Due to the Stelvio National Park, flights below 500 meters AGL are prohibited (marked as a green area on the map below).

🔗 For more details on regulations, refer to:

• 📄 Official Stelvio National Park Regulations (Italian)

• 🗺 Burnair/FlyXC Maps for real-time airspace restrictions.

General Notes for Flying in Valtellina

1️⃣ Weather & Safety Considerations

• Always check the weather conditions and make your own evaluations before flying.

• Low North Foehn:

  • The middle part of the valley (from Valmalenco-Sondrio to Val Poschiavo-Tirano) can often be flown with a reasonable degree of safety, thanks to the protection of the Bernina Massif.

2️⃣ Transportation & Logistics

• Train Service:

  • A train runs regularly from Colico to Tirano.

  • Some trains stop in Sondrio and skip smaller stations.

• Bus Connections:

  • Buses are available from Tirano to Bormio.

• Travel to Livigno:

  • More challenging, especially in spring when the Forcola Pass may still be closed.

  • 🚗 Check Google Maps before landing—this could save you a long walk or help you plan for a possible lift request!