Dolomites Ski Touring

Dolomites Haute Route Ski Tour

Looking for a challenge? Join us on one of the most memorable backcountry and off-piste ski tours in the Dolomites. Follow Haute Routes, or Alta Via, as you hike, skin, and ski the dramatic hidden backcountry of Marmolada, Sella, and Val di Fassa, far from the crowds.

Trip Overview

Did you know there were Haute Routes in the Dolomites!? Known in Italy as Alta Via, these long-distance north-to-south High Routes – or Haute Routes, wind their way across The Dolomite Mountains, over some of the most challenging terrain available in this vertical wonderland, and offer unparalleled, ever-changing vistas of these breathtaking jagged mountains!
 
On this backcountry tour, you’ll ski following one of the Dolomite Alta Via. Traveling from hut-to-hut over mountain passes and down exhilarating backcountry runs and off-piste slopes, you’ll discover a world that most skiers never get to experience. Explore the Ciampac, one of the most famous and exciting black slopes of the entire Val di Fassa; ski the Marmolada, the highest peak of the Dolomite Mountains and home to the largest remaining glacier here, as well as host to some of the most spectacular off-piste skiing experiences on earth; the Sella Massif, with spectacular descents including the Val Mezdi – the "Valle Blanche of the Dolomites," and the Joel and Holtzer Couloirs on the Sass Pordoi – considered the gateway of extreme skiing in the Dolomites.
 
This superb ski touring and off-piste adventure will show you not only the best descents in the region, but breathtaking terrain and panoramic vistas that surpass what you could possibly imagine. And the Dolomites have much more to offer than the skiing and vistas. Throughout you’ll experience the rich combination of cultures, traditions, and cuisines – Italian, German, and Ladin – found in northern Italy, that make this region so unique. Join us!

Highlights

  • Backcountry ski across a Haute Route – High Route or Alta Via – experiencing the distinctive geology and fascinating blend of cultures found in the Dolomite Mountains
  • Ascend the Marmolada (3,350m / 10,990'), the highest mountain and only remaining glacier in the Dolomites, and ski down its incredible open bowls
  • Enjoy superb skiing with our Professional UIAGM/IFMGA Ski Guides, who will show you the best of the Dolomites backcountry on skis
  • Ski tour from hut-to-hut, staying in cozy mountain rifugi with the civilized comforts of a warm bed and the delicious hearty cuisine the Dolomites are known for
  • Perfect for experienced skiers looking for a challenging ski tour!

Day By Day

Trip itinerary may vary based on weather conditions, fitness levels and abilities of participants, and/or the recommendations of the Dolomite Mountains Team and your mountain guide. Daily mileage and altitude gain may vary depending on the device used.

  • Day 1

    Hotel in Canazei, Val di Fassa (D)

  • Day 2

    Rifugio (B,D)

  • Day 3

    Rifugio (B,D)

  • Day 4

    Rifugio (B,D)

  • Day 5

    Hotel in Alta Badia (B,D)

  • Day 6

Accommodation

Great hotels with Dolomite Mountains. Whether intimate lodge, family run B&B, or luxury spa resort, our hotels are unique, eminently local, and hard to leave.

Want to learn more about our Hotels and B&Bs?
The Dolomites has a multi-faceted culture and history that is reflected in each village we visit, and we make sure to provide you with the most authentic experience of the region possible through the hotels and B&Bs we offer. Hotels and chalets are available in the larger villages, while agriturismos (working farms with accommodations similar to B&Bs) are more common in rural areas. And we always make sure you have access to inspired regional cuisine, and the best panoramas you can get in the Dolomites!

Prefer luxury accommodations?
You can also book a custom departure of this trip using our Luxury Hotels. For details, please contact us.

Want to learn more about our Mountain Inns & Rifugi?            
Rifugi – or mountain huts in English – are the classic accommodation for hikers, climbers, mountaineers, and ski mountaineers in the Alps. Set in spectacular locations high in the Dolomites, rifugi are accessible only on foot (with a few exceptions that are reachable by car). These marvelous establishments are open primarily in the summer, with a select few in winter, and offer meals and sleeping facilities.

The Dolomite rifugi are considered the best in the Alps. While some are dormitory style with bunk beds, many meet the standard of a simple guest house with private rooms and en-suite bathrooms, and each has its own unique character and charm. Bedding and linens are provided, hot showers are available, and meals are served in common dining areas – like a small mountain inn set high in the mountains with the most incredible vistas in the Dolomites. Whether you’re hiking in summer or skiing in winter, an overnight rifugio stay is not to miss on a Dolomite holiday.

To learn even more about rifugi in the Dolomites, check out our Rifugios in the Dolomites article, and learn about one of the best ways to experience these incredible mountains!

Guided: Guide Ratio 1:4 (maximum 4 skiers per guide)
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.

Technical Equipment for Backcountry Ski Touring Trips

  • Ski crampons (aka harscheisen): most randonnee bindings have ski crampons specifically designed for the binding. We always carry these just in case. Fritschi now make them an integral part of their ski binding and although there were some initial teething problems, the newer models are now working well.
  • Ski skins:  fitted skins are recommended especially if you have very wide skis.
  • Boot crampons:  Ideally lightweight aluminum with ‘quick fit clip-on bindings.'
  • Climbing harness:  a simple lightweight climbing harness. The key feature should be that it has fully adjustable leg loops for putting on over ski boots, crampons, etc.

Boot/ski crampons and climbing harness can be rented locally at an extra cost, your guide will advise according to the local conditions and activity. 

Safety Equipment for Off-Piste trips

The “Safety Trilogy” – applicable for all our off-piste trips involves the use of the items listed below. These can be rented in resort at an extra cost:

  • Avalanche beacon / transceiver (be sure to bring two sets of fresh batteries!)
  • Snow shovel
  • Avalanche probe

Remember it is not enough just to carry this equipment; you have to know how to use it.  Most mountain resort areas offer courses where you can learn and practice these skills. If you are not familiar with this equipment, are unable to attend a course before your trip, or simply would like a refresher, we can provide training for you as part of your trip!

OFF-PISTE SKI DESCENTS
The Dolomites seem to have a never-ending supply of lift-accessible off-piste ski descents!

On this great itinerary, you'll enjoy lift-serviced off-piste skiing in the Alta Badia area. From Alta Badia there are incredible off-piste descents of Marmolada, Piz Boè, Sella, and Tofane, to name a few. To see a list of some of our favorites that you may enjoy during your trip, click here.

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 DolomitesDolomites Ski ResortsTransitioning 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.

 EXTEND YOUR ADVENTURE

Still want more adventure? 
We can two additional days of skiing in the Cortina d’Ampezzo area! From Cortina d'Ampezzo there are incredible off-piste descents of Cinque Torri, Lagazuoi, Tofana, and Cristallo Massifs, to name a few. Click here to see some of our favorites!

Still want even more? Why not extend your adventure!
Dolomite Mountains offers fantastic extensions that you can enjoy before or after your trip in the Dolomites. Explore VeniceVeronaLake GardaFlorence, or Milan, or any of the many other magical places found throughout Italy. There's no more perfect way to recover from jet lag upon arrival, or delay your return to reality at the end of your trip!

Cost

All itineraries are subject to change due to circumstances beyond our control including, weather, road or trail conditions.

Guided Private Trip: 
€ 4.990 per person (2 members)
€ 3.710 per person (4 members)
€ 3.920 per person (6 members) > 2 guides

Single room supplement: on request, in hotels only

High Season Dates: 24th January – 16th March --- 15% surcharge
Holiday Blackout Dates:  (7-night minimum hotel stay required) Christmas / New Year — 22nd December – 7th January

The cost is based on the specified hotel category (please see the cost inclusions list). If you would like an upgrade, please get in touch with us for a quotation.
We will do our best to accommodate you in the specified class of accommodations. However, if there is no availability in this category, we will offer you the next available classification at a supplementary price.
Please note that prices may increase between the time of quotation and booking. Your Dolomite Mountains consultant will inform you of any such changes.

Cost Includes:

  • Trip briefing
  • Logistics and maps of the area
  • 1 night accommodation in 4-star hotel in Val di Fassa
  • 3 nights accommodation in rifugios
  • 1 night accommodation in 4-star hotel in Alta Badia
  • All breakfasts & dinners
  • Local English speaking Professional UIAGM/IFMGA Ski Guide
  • Dolomiti Superskipass
  • Transfers in the area as per itinerary
  • A €15 donation to Wow Nature’s reforestation projects makes your trip carbon-neutral 
  • Luggage transfer on days 3 and 5
  • Local tourist tax
  • Italian VAT tax

Area Map