Italy 14:47 – 27 September 2023

VENTURE Dolomites Ski Safari

For the More Adventurous Skier who like's to Ski ... a lot!

17 Ski Areas | 11 Ski Resorts | Challenging Skiing | Great Distances

For skiers who like to to clock up the kilometers, bag vertical meters and the most exciting ski slopes

The Inspired ITALY VENTURE Dolomites Ski Safari connects 11 Dolomites ski resorts and more than 17 different ski areas through 6 days of non-stop on-piste skiing. Staying on the mountain each night in high-mountain rifugio, the Venture Dolomites Ski Safari takes on some of the very best ski challenges that the Dolomites has to offer.

Suited to fit, good intermediate and better skiers.

Prices from $3,464 per person View Prices

Summary

  • Only suitable for Fit, Good Intermediate or Better Skiers
  • SMALL Group - Max 7 Guests
  • PACE - Fast
  • 7 Nights including ...
  • ... 5 Rifugi Nights Half Board | 2 Base Hotel Nights B&B
  • Full Area 6 Day Ski Pass | Back-Pack
  • Six Full Ski Days
  • 17 Dolomites Ski Areas | 11 Dolomites Ski Resorts
  • You must be able to ski black ski slopes
  • 4 World Cup Slopes
  • 6 Days Ski Rental

Statistics

  • ACTIVITY LEVEL: High

  • SKI DISTANCE: 240+ Km
  • VERTICAL METRES: 37,000+ m
  • SKI LIFTS: 110+
  • PLANNED COFFEE STOPS: 3
  • MINIMUM SKI ABILITY: Good Intermediate or better
  • YOUR SKI FITNESS: Buzzer to buzzer skiing
  • Statistics vary depending upon conditions, ability and fitness. The above statistics are typical of a VENTURE Dolomites Ski Safari. Inspired ITALY VENTURE Dolomites Ski Safari on Google Maps

Day by day

Experience the freedom of skiing on-piste with your life in your back-pack - it is truly liberating!

Launching from your four star base hotel, spend 5 nights on the mountain staying in rifugi that range from comfortable to luxurious and journey through this remarkable skiers gift - the Dolomite Mountains.

Day 1: Arrival

Ski fitting, if required, happens en route to the Cavallino d'Oro, your 4 star base hotel.

18:00 Pre-Safari Briefing - meet your ski leader & back-pack!

Highlights

Aperol Spritz & the Vaude Splash 20+5 Back-Pack

Accommodation

Hotel Cavallino d'Oro | Castelrotto

Excellent hotel in the central square of Castelrotto and great choice of local restaurants.

Find out more:
Travellers Tales article

Day 2: Warm-Up in the West

Ski Areas - Obereggen & Passo San Pellegrino

08:00 - We get underway on the western edge of the Dolomite Superski area. Obereggen offers 37 ski runs and a total of 48 km of perfectly groomed pistes.
Just before lunch we take the 12min taxi ride to San Pellegrino. First exploring the south facing slopes. Moving across the valley and the new ‘La Volat A’ black slope; 2.35 Km and 640m vert of pure adrenaline. Volat A plunges into the valley from Col Margherita to Passo San Pellegrino with gradients of almost 50%. We finish the day with a venture into the outback and descend the 12k or so to Falcade on the Innamorati piste.

The taxi to Rif.Fedaia at the very end of the day sets up for an early start tomorrow.

Highlights

★Obereggen ★San Pellegrino ★Pistes - La Volat A & Innamorati

Statistics

19 lifts | 6,381m vert | 30.90 Km+ skied

Accommodation

Rifugio Passo Fedaia | Marmolada | 2.050M ASL

Super friendly family business, the evening menu is almost star level with a friendly charming service, warm welcome, wonderful stay, and at the foot of the Queen of the Dolomites.

Find out more:
Travellers Tales article

Day 3: Your Marmolada Morning

Ski Areas - Marmolada, Arabba, Alta Badia & Cinque Torri.

08:15 - Descend the Marmolada from 3,265m ASL, along its 12km piste and 1,800 m vert, one of the finest ski slopes in the Alps. Do it twice or three times. Crest the ridge into Arabba to bag one of the steepest most challenging ski areas of the Dolomites before taking a breather as we cross Alta Badia. The 15 min taxi transfer to Falzarego to take in Lagazuoi favoured by Graham Bell and on to the Cinque Torri.

Highlights

★Marmolada, ★Arabba ★Pistes - La Bullenese, Sourasass, Lagazuoi

Statistics

17 lifts | 6,857m vert | 40 Km+

Accommodation

Rifugio Averau | 5 Torri, Cortina d'Ampezzo

There is a unique, friendly, warm and caring atmosphere here on this mountain, in this rifugio. Add in a wonderful evening menu and wine list and see why its has earned its nickname 'Averwow'!

Find out more:
Travellers Tales article

Day 4: The Choice - Cortina d'Ampezzo -OR- Civetta

08:50 - Ski Area - Civetta - Civetta tends to be a quieter ski area than Cortina with 80 km of great carving ski slopes and some of the very best views in the Dolomites.

- or -

08:50 - Ski Area - Cortina d'Ampezzo - The famous Cortina d'Ampezzo comprises 3 areas, Tofana, Faloria & Cristallo. We ski them all!

The choice of ski area will depend upon conditions and group desire!

Highlights

★Civetta-80k of great ski slopes. ★Cortina-Tofana, Faloria & Cristallo

Statistics

Typical: 19+ Lifts | 6,492m Vert | 30 Km+ skied

Accommodation

Rifugio Averau | 5 Torri, Cortina d'Ampezzo

The Sunday The Times included Rifugio Averau on the list of the ten best mountain restaurants in the Alps. Rifugio Averau has won many prestigious Italian and international awards, confirming their reputation. Sandro Siorpaes and his wife Paola delight their customers by offering traditional dishes but with added refinements.

Find out more:
Travellers Tales article

Day 5: Venture North

Ski Areas - Cinque Torri, Col Galina, Lagazuoi/Hidden Valley, Alta Badia, St.Croce, St.Vigilio, Kronplatz

08:50 - A ski day with multiple highlights. Travel through the back-country on piste of the 5 Torri/Lagazuoi/Col Galina ski areas. And drop in on the Lagazuoi piste followed by the world famous Dolomites Hidden Valley.

On towards Kronplatz via the mens world cup slalom ski slope and eventually to Kronplatz where the Black Five await. We will conquer most of them as we journey through this popular ski resort.

Highlights

★Lagazuoi, ★Hidden Valley ★Gran Risa, ★St.Croce ★Erta

Statistics

20+ lifts | 5,861+ vert | 48 Km+ skied

Accommodation

Rifugio Kronplatz | Kronplatz

Rifugio Kronplatz (2,050m ASL) is 300 meters from the top of the Kronplatz. Offering remarkable vistas south towards the main Dolomite mountains. *We use a number of rifugi on Kronplatz. Your accommodation will be confirmed in your personal itinerary

Find out more:
Travellers Tales article

Day 6: The Longest Ski Safari Day

Ski Areas - Kronplatz, St.Vigilio, Picluin, La Villa, Alta Badia, Arabba, Belvedere, Ciampac, Buffaure.

08:30 - we've never actually measured it, but the second run of the day bags around 10k. The return lift is 4.8 Km and 800m vert! Time allowing we may slip in another Kronplatz black. On to Piculin and another of the Black Five.

Bus back to La Villa and into the Alta Badia and on to Arabba, Ciampac and Buffaure.

Highlights

★Kronplatz Perca, ★Piculin, ★Alta Badia

Statistics

24 Lifts | 7,102m vert | 37 Km+ skied

Accommodation

Rifugio Baita Cuz | Val di Fassa

“…extracted from a grey UK winter the contrast clearly had an impact on me...the mountain views on all sides, the pink sunsets, - I couldn’t stop pinching myself. We had a very comfortable, spotlessly clean bedroom with a balcony, and were treated to delicious Italian mountain food. Not the setting, not the food, not the room, not the outside sauna with the sunset, Baita Cuz's best asset is the staff; they made us feel so welcome and looked after us so well."

Find out more:
Travellers Tales article

Day 7: Curves & Corners

Ski Areas - Buffaure, Catinaccio, Ciampac, Belvedere, Plan de Gralba, St. Cristina, Seceda.

08:30 - Roll straight onto the piste and Buffaure 1, one of the best red ski slopes in the Dolomites to begin our Curves & Corners morning. Loads of ski highlights today! Too many to list ...

  • Buffaure 1
  • Vulcano (black)
  • Thöni
  • Tomba (black)
  • Pera
  • Ciampac (black)
  • Saslong (black mens world cup downhill/GS)
  • Catores (black)
  • La Longia - (10.5 Km red)

Highlights

Loads of Skiing! ★Saslong ★Catinaccio

Statistics

21 Lifts | 7,375m | 39 Km Skied

Accommodation

Cavallino d'Oro, Castelrotto

We came here for the start and the final day of our Inspired ITALY Ski Safari of the Dolomites. I have travelled literally around the whole world, but have yet to find a hotel personnel as friendly and helpful as the one encountered here. But of course, that is not all; the hotel has class with its imitation rustic furniture, a pleasant bar and library room; the rooms are small, but you don't come here to spend the day in the room... Great breakfast buffet, too.

Find out more:
Travellers Tales article

Day 8: We have to say goodbye ...

At your leisure!

Do take time to enjoy the Cavallino d'Oro breakfast and the attention of the wonderful Maria-Grazia!

Highlights

Breakfast!

A breakfast not to be missed ....

Journey Map

“Fantastic experience! Sleeping at the top of the mountain and early morning untracked corduroy or powder”

Grant Milne 🇦🇺

“Huts don't have to be hardcore, especially when your staying in the jewel of the Dolomites darling!”

Fall Line Magazine 🇬🇧

“We had the most marvellous Dolomites Ski Safari, it was beyond anything I had ever expected. Such an adventure in such an awe inspiring landscape, all so well planned and executed. Our guide wasn't half bad either, in fact he was terrific.”

Belinda Callaway on a Dolomites Ski Safari 🇳🇿

An on-piste ski adventure through the Dolomite Mountains

“..for skiers who like to to clock up the kilometers, bag vertical meters, find the best snow and the most challenging and exciting ski slopes”

Using the vast network of 1,200 Km of perfectly groomed ski slopes, you travel through 11 Dolomite ski resorts, 17 ski areas and 5 nights in high-mountain rifugi on the Inspired ITALY VENTURE Dolomites Ski Safari including Cortina d'Ampezzo | Val Gardena | Alpe di Siusi | Val di Fassa | Arabba | Marmolada | Obereggen | Alpe Lusia/San Pellegrino | Civetta | Alta Badia | 5 Torri | Lagazuoi/Hidden Valley | Santa Croce Pilgrimage | Plan di Corones/Kronplatz | Belvedere | Ciampac | Buffaure | Catinaccio Rosengarten | Col Rodella | Plan di Gralba.

Ski Pace & Tempo

On the VENTURE Dolomites Ski Safari, we ski at a good pace and with minimal stops. And the Dolomites Superski area is ideal for a quicker pace of skiing.

The VENTURE Dolomites Ski Safari is for skiers who like to to clock up the kilometers, bag vertical meters, find the best snow and the most challenging and exciting ski slopes.

For these reasons, the VENTURE Dolomites Ski Safari is scheduled at quieter times of the season. Coffee breaks are few and far between and lunches tend to be shorter.

Never Ski the Same Slope Twice

The exception may just be the Marmolada, which must be skied twice (at least). Otherwise, it is on to find the next carving and curving ski slopes and the next rifugio.

▪︎ CLASSIC Dolomites Ski Safari

▪︎ SPECIAL Dolomites Ski Safari

Long Cruisy Ski Slopes

The Dolomite mountains is made for skiers who like long, constant gradient, groomed, smooth, carving ski slopes with, for the most part, few people on them!

There are some cracking black ski slopes too and we hunt them down too, rest assured!

⬇︎ VIDEO ⬇︎ Watch the video below and if this is your style of skiing, you'll fit right in ... This is piste Thöni, Day 6.

VENTURE Dolomites Ski Safari FAQ's

“It is about 'pace'. The pace of the VENTURE Dolomites Ski Safari is intended to be fast.”

I don't want to hold up the group; Is my ski ability good enough? Am I fit enough? - probably the number one concern of many booking an Inspired ITALY VENTURE Dolomites Ski Safari. To start with, the VENTURE Dolomites Ski Safari isn't about 'speed'. It is about 'pace'. The pace of the VENTURE Dolomites Ski Safari is intended to be fast. We restrict groups to 7 guests to facilitate a faster pace. Mainly, it is about the fluidity with which we move through the day. Strictly no faffing! On most days you will ride 20 or more ski lifts; 2 mins lost 'faffing' on each lift losses an hour a day. Whilst we build in a certain amount of 'wiggle' room, we do keep the pace steady and constant. But don't worry, when you contact us, we will discuss your ski ability and fitness before you book.

What is a 'good intermediate' ski ability? - the term 'intermediate skier' is liberally banded about. Some over estimate, some under estimate. We have some clear, detailed descriptions of ski ability and we will send these to you. Together we can then ensure that your ski ability is what is needed. But it is your fitness that is key.

How fit do you need to be? - one person's park run is another's marathon. You need to be able to ski all day. Our ski days start around 8:30 and finish usually around 15:30 or later. Although we get an abnormal amount of sunny days, when conditions are tough, you still have to go skiing to get to the next rifugio!

I don’t normally ski with a back-pack - That’s ok. As long as you’re fit, the additional weight makes little difference. We provide you with a suggested pack list and as long as you take the advice you will hardly notice the weight. How you deal with the back-pack on the ski lift is personal preference. Most people keep the pack on but some prefer to slide them around their shoulders and place the pack on their knees. It’s whatever is most comfortable and safe for you. The lift company advise that you remove the pack. Our back-packs are carefully chosen and especially designed for skiers. You get to keep the pack after your Dolomites Ski Safari. You are only required to ski with your back-pack for four nights/five days.

Helmet? - At our heart, we're a little bit 'anti-establishment'. All our ski leaders have (reluctantly ... ) taken to wearing helmets over the last couple of seasons. If you do not want to wear a helmet, that's fine by us. You can rent a helmet and we can arrange that for you or bring your own. Either is fine with us.

What about my main luggage? - Your luggage is left at the base hotel ready for your return. We do not transport the luggage Rifugio to Rifugio, for a variety of reasons mainly, the great distances we cover, the complex logistics and entrusting your luggage via taxi and multiple chair lifts is rather hazardous!

Do the Rifugio have WiFi? All Rifugio have WiFi. Some are better than other but posting your pics to Facebook shouldn't be a problem.

I’m a vegetarian/celiac/gluten free - Let us know in advance and we’ll let the Rifugi know so that you won’t be eating cheese omelette every night! Vegetarian options are usually, pasta or polenta based. If you are vegan, gluten free or have nut allergies, you will struggle. The kitchens in the Rifugi produce some excellent culinary experiences, but they are often limited in what they can offer! Remember, you are staying on the very top of a mountain!

What happens if you can’t get to the Rifugio? - The main threat to a Dolomites Ski Safari is strong wind. These can cause chair lift connections to close. Although we have encountered this on a number of occasions, we’ve never failed yet to get to our destination! In the 2015/16 season, major snow storms meant we had to reroute and spend two nights in one Rifugio. Eventually, we decided to call the helicopter to get us out!

What happens if someone gets lost? - It’s never happened yet, but it will! We brief each group on safety and operational protocol before departure, which is probably why we’ve always successfully counted them all out, and back again! In the event mobile/cell phone coverage in the Dolomites is superb!

Coffee/Comfort Stops – non-lunch stops are minimal. There are three scheduled coffee stops throughout the week. Day 1 for the briefing. Day 2 for the view. Day 4 to gather the group after a free skiing section. Other than this, we only stop for lunch! Most of the lift stations are equipped with toilets. However, some groups wish to stop more regularly, and so long as the group is happy, then we are here to show you the very best hot chocolate stops!

Accommodation – Rifugi tend to sell beds, rather than rooms. Because we pre-book our rooms well in advance, most couples get their own private rooms with en suite. However, we are unable to guarantee this. It is most likely that you will, at some point, have to share with other members of your group – read ‘On a Ski Safari in the Dolomites’, by Christian Wolmar, published in The Times.

Which are the best airports for the Dolomites? - Innsbruck! Yes, fly to Austria, ski in Italy! The transfer from Innsbruck to your Ski Safari base hotel is no more than 90mins in normal traffic. Next best option is Verona at around 2hrs transfer and then Venice, Bergamo and Munich Airports. Transfer costs are based upon 4 people sharing.

Off Piste – we don’t do ‘off piste’! All Inspired ITALY Dolomite Ski Safaris are ‘on-piste’ ski tours. Some clients do choose to test out the off piste conditions when circumstances allow, but this is done entirely at their own risk. If you wish to ski off piste we advise that you first familiarise yourself with the rules and regulations in Italy for off piste skiing.

Can I come on a snowboard? – The nature of the Inspired ITALY Dolomites Ski Safari makes it difficult to mix skiers with snowboarders. If you are a group of snowboarders, then do contact us!

Am I protected? – Inspired ITALY Ltd is bonded by the Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited which provides financial protection under the Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992 for Inspired ITALY Ltd. and in the event of their insolvency, protection is provided for the following – non-flight packages commencing in and returning to the UK; non-flight packages commencing and returning to a country other than the UK.

Price

$3,464 per person

Your adventure includes:

Your adventure includes:

  • 7 Nights Accommodation
  • Ski Pass - 6 Day Full Dolomiti Superski Area
  • Ski Rental - 6 Days All Mountain Skis
  • 6 Full Ski Days
  • 5 Rifugio Nights Half Board ... 4 Different Rifugi
  • 4 Different World Cup Ski Slopes
  • 3 Coffee Stops ( if you're lucky )
  • 2 Nights B&B at the Cavallino d'Oro 4☆ Hotel
  • 1 Dedicated Ski Leader
  • Airport Transfers by Private Taxi to/from Innsbruck based on 4 people
  • Inspired ITALY BackPack - to keep
  • EXCLUDED Flights, Ski Boots, Helmet, Lunches & 2 Dinners

If you ski like Prof. Mickey Howard, you'll love the VENTURE Dolomites Ski Safari

This is the Marmolada. A world class ski slope.

Here, guest Mickey Howard takes the 12 Km slope in his stride and kills it.

If you ski like Mickey, then the Inspired ITALY VENTURE Dolomites Ski Safari is for you!

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