Off-piste adventure in the Dolomites

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS 

• Enjoy some of the most challenging – and beautiful – off-piste slopes in the Dolomites, all accessible by chairlift and gondola
• Ski “hut-to-hut” and enjoy the atmosphere and cuisine of mountain rifugios, the best in all of the Alps
• Ski some of the Dolomites most famous runs including Val Lasties, Val Mesdi, Val Setus, Marmolada Glacier, Val Litres and Cristallo, surrounded by superb Dolomite panoramas

Fantastic off-piste skiing, lift service, and fine Italian dining – now that’s our idea of a great winter vacation! Each day you'll set out with your guide to ski the best snow and off-piste terrain – some of the finest off-piste skiing in the world. Powder, spring snow, breakable crust and crud... we ski them and love them all!

On this off-piste ski safari you’ll enjoy 12 ski areas that will lead you to discover the breathtaking beauty of the Dolomites. Terrain varies from steep couloirs (up to 50° slopes!), to more open terrain excellent for learning to ski the steeps, to more moderate and easier descents that afford time to take in the beauty of these incredible mountains. While the emphasis is on where, rather than how, you ski, you’ll also have general coaching, tips and hints on how to ski specific terrain and snow conditions, and sessions on mountain awareness and avalanche safety.

The itinerary will be set by your guide based on the snow and weather conditions, fitness levels and skiing abilities of participants, your interests, and his or her recommendations. Skiing days are intended to be fun with lots of thrilling skiing, but always directed with maximum attention to your safety and the safety of others.

Each day you will have the opportunity to ski different off-piste areas (see a list of sample descents below). This tour also provides you with the opportunity to explore the Ladin valleys of the Dolomites and their people, as well as discover their traditions and history, and explore the excellent culture and cuisine. Each night you’ll stay at a different rifugio – charming mountain inns with simply the best access to the slopes (you’ll ski right out the door each morning!), breathtaking vistas, and incredible cuisine. So what are you waiting for!?

LEARN MORE: 

Want to learn more about skiing in the Dolomite Mountains? Check out our Winter Article Resources, featuring articles on The Not to Miss Ski Tours of the Dolomites, Dolomites Ski Resorts, Transitioning from On- to Off-Piste, and MORE! 

Check out our video gallery with some of the best free-ride videos in the Dolomites and check out our new video Freeride Off-Piste: Val Culea Integrale in the Sella Group.

Ski in the Dolomites

TRIP DETAILS

Length: 6n / 7d

Dates: This trip is available as a custom departure on dates of your choosing mid-December to mid-April, or as a group departure on set dates (see calendar).

Start / Finish:  Alta Badia / Cortina d'Ampezzo

Activity Level: For skiers in good and active physical health. All skiing will be lift-service, with opportunities for off-piste descents.

Guide Ratio from 1:6 Dolomite Mountains professional UIAGM/IFMGA mountain & ski guides have many years of experience skiing the Dolomites. We have guides that speak Italian, English, French and Spanish. From the moment you arrive in the Dolomites they will look after you. They know the best ski runs, mountain restaurants, and how things work in the Italian mountains.

Cost:  €2480 with minimum 6 members

Includes: Accommodations in double rooms in hotels and rifugi/mountain inns as per itinerary, meals as per itinerary, UIAGM/IFMGA mountain ski guide, Dolomiti Superskipass, local transportation, luggage transfer during the itinerary.

Single room on request in hotels only. Airport transfers available on request.

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  Ski Dolomites

ITINERARY
Note: Itinerary may vary based on weather conditions, fitness levels and skiing abilities of participants, and/or the recommendations of your guide. 

Day 1 ~ Arrive in Alta Badia, Dolomites
Arrive in Alta Badia on your own. Upon arrival, you’ll meet your UIAGM/IFMGA ski guide for a trip briefing and equipment check (and rent any equipment if needed), and pick up your Dolomiti Superskipass. Evening trip orientation and dinner at the hotel.
D… Hotel in Alta Badia

Day 2 ~ Sella Massif
Ski some famous descents such as Val Mezdi – the "Valle Blanche of the Dolomites", Val Setus – with it’s 1,400 meter (4,595') vertical drop, Val Lasties – or Witch’s Valley, Piz Boe – with various descents and fantastic steeps, and Joel and Holtzer on the Sass Pordoi – considered the gateway of extreme skiing in the Dolomites.
B,D… Hotel in Alta Badia

Days 3 & 4 ~ Sella Massif & Marmolada Glacier
The Marmolada Massif, aptly named “Queen of the Dolomites,” boasts the highest peak of all the Dolomites, reaching a height of 3,342 meters (10,965'), and features the only glacier in the Dolomite Mountains. It also provides some of the most spectacular off-piste skiing experiences on earth. Tackle Antermoia, Bellunese Vecchia, Punta Penia, In Fra i Sass, Lydia, or the Forcella Marmolada (Marmolada Pass) itself!
B,D… Rifugio

Days 5 ~ Cortina d’Ampezzo
Ski down to the Cinque Torri (Five Towers) area and arrive in Cortina d’Ampezzo, well-known all over the world for its fascinating beauty, surrounding mountains, and as host to the 1956 Winter Olympics. We’ll enjoy off-piste descents off the Cinque Torri, Lgazuoi, Tofana, and Cristallo Massifs.
B,D…  Rifugio

Day 6 ~ Cortina d’Ampezzo
You have a second day to explore the off-piste descents such as Creste Bianche, Bus di Tofane and Sci 18 around Cortina d’Ampezzo. Descend to your hotel at the end of the day for a final evening together.
B,D… Hotel in Cortina d’Ampezzo

Day 7 ~ Depart
Breakfast and departure.
B…

Off-piste ski Val di Mezdi, Dolomites

OFF-PISTE SKI DESCENTS
From the Alta Badia there are incredible off-piste descents off Marmolada, Piz Boè, Sella, and Tofane, to name a few. Below is a list of some of our favorites that you may enjoy during your trip. We’ve selected these for their incredible skiing and breathtaking scenery. These include, but are in no way limited to:

Sella, Val Mezdi
Vertical drop: 1,400 meters / 4,560 feet. Facing: north. Technical difficulty: moderate.  Dubbed the "Valle Blanche of the Dolomites", the Val Mezd’ is a classic and wonderful 4,000 foot downhill in quintessential Dolomite surroundings.

Cristallo, Creste Bianche - Pra del Vecio
Vertical drop: 1,500 meters / 4,920 feet. Facing: north.Technical difficulty: moderate to difficult.  The beginning is difficult (including a 45° couloir that often requires a rope), and finishes with a moderate descent.

Bus di Tofana
Vertical drop: 1,900 meters / 6,232 feet. Facing: south. Technical difficulty: moderate to difficult (40° slope).  Difficulty varies depending on weather conditions. On this run you can find snow conditions in December more like April, and vice-versa!

Marmolada, Bellunese Vecchia
Vertical drop: 1,150 meters / 3,775 feet. Facing: north. Technical difficulty: easy, with wonderful downhill skiing at the foot of the Serauta west face.

Marmolada, In Fra i Sass
Vertical drop: 1,350 meters / 4,430 feet. Facing: north. Technical difficulty: easy to moderate. A spectacular descent!

Piz Boè, Canale del Ghiacciaio
Vertical drop: 1,500 meters / 4,920 feet. Facing: north-west and north. Technical difficulty: difficult.  The greatest challenge with this run is avalanche danger, so it can only be skied when conditions allow.  When it is skiable, the snow is very good.  This route is a great alternative to the classic entry into the Val Mezdi.

Sella, Val Setus
Vertical drop: 1,400 meters / 4,595 feet. Facing: north. Technical difficulty: moderate to difficult.  Steep, up to 40°.  The entry into the couloir is very difficult to navigate, and the snow conditions are very important on this descent!

Sass Pordoi, Val Lasties
Vertical drop: 1,200 meters / 3,950 feet. Facing: north and south. Technical difficulty: easy. A wonderful Dolomite itinerary!

Piz Boè, Vallon + Val Litres
Vertical drop: 1,500 meters / 4,920 feet. Facing: from east to north-west. Technical difficulty: moderate, but very difficult to identify the correct passages between the various rock walls.

Sass Pordoi, Canale Heini Holzer
Vertical drop: 1,200 meters / 3,950 feet. Facing: north. Technical difficulty: difficult (use of a rope is required). Considered the gateway of extreme skiing in the Dolomites!

Sass Pordoi, Val Lasties
Vertical drop: 1,200 meters / 3,950 feet. Facing: north and south. Technical difficulty: easy. A wonderful Dolomite itinerary!

Faloria, Cortina "Sci 18"
Vertical drop: 800 meters / 2,630 feet. Facing: west. Technical difficulty: difficult.  Named for the adjacent via ferrata “Sci Club 18” founded by a group of 18 skiers in the 1930s who wanted to "promote skiing and the moral standpoint of youths." A great downhill with grand panoramic views of Cortina d’Ampezzo.

Padon, Valle Ornella
Vertical drop: 850 meters / 2,790 feet. Facing: north. Technical difficulty: easy. From this run it is possible to visit one of the most beautiful villages of the region: Ornella.

Forcella Col dei Bos
Vertical drop: 600 meters / 1,970 feet. Facing: south. Technical difficulty: easy. Ideal for spotting lots of animals such as eagles and chamois (a native European mountain goat-antelope species), and to visit relics from the First World War.