FreeWheeling Dolomites

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Freeride ski safari dolomites is our solution for an unconventional holiday.

A ski safari in the Dolomites usually means exploring a vast area of the Dolomites, skiing from one valley to the next on groomed slopes, staying overnight in different refuges or mountain chalets along the way. Our idea is to combine this purpose with your freeride desires: we will move from one valley to another, skiing off-piste as much as possible. Compared to the “off-piste skiing dolomites week” you can expect a more groomed-ungroomed mix, as we have to cover a certain distance each day to discover the next “refugio”.

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FREERIDE SKI SAFARI VS OFF-PISTE WEEK

How do these two suggestions differ? Certainly the Dolomites Freeride Ski Safari is an innovative and fun trip: changing accommodation so often and staying in mountain refugios is fun and a perfect way to discover the region. On the other hand, during the freeride skisafari there is less flexibility and sometimes, when the snow conditions off-piste aren’t great, the only alternative is to stay on the groomed slopes. Conversely, the hotel week allows us to decide each day where better to go, but it lacks the hut adventure!

CUSTOM-BUILT PLAN

On this skisafari you will not change the accommodation every night, this is an example, do you rather prefer to change every night? Or do you might chose for less changes? We are ready to modify our plan depending on your request!

HIGHTLIGHTS

  • – 3 nights mountain refugios and chalets and 2 nights hotel.
  • – A mix of groomed-ungroomed skisafari.
  • – Exploring the most renowned and beautiful area of the central Dolomites.
  • – A flexible plan, depending on the weather, snow condition, and the level of the group we will adapt the plan almost every day.

ALL-INCLUSIVE

Accommodation during the tour is included in the price: nights plus breakfast and dinner. The night before the tour and the last night are not included, sometimes you don’t need those nights, sometimes you prefer to sleep near the airport. In any case, we will help you find and book the best solution for you. Price details are here: “prices”.

EQUIPMENT AND LUGGAGE TRANSFER

The guide will provide the avalanche transceiver kit, shovel and probe free of charge if needed. It’s strongly recommended to bring or rent wide skis (from 85mm to 100mm in the middle). You can choose to carry your equipment on a backpack (see what to bring) or choose the luggage transfer service (see the price list). It’s also possible to choose a compromise: for example, to book two luggage transfers along a one-week ski-safari.

YOUR GUIDE

The freeride ski safari is carried out by a mountain guide  UIAGM/IFMGA certified. This is the most valuable qualification for a guide in Italy and all over the world. Besides, Freedolomites guides most definitely sport the best knowledge and will guarantee your safety and your fun.

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Program

One week freeride ski safari dolomites

DAY 0: ARRIVAL IN THE DOLOMITES!

FIORENTINA VALLEY, SELVA DI CADORE.

Today you’ll reach the Dolomites: Venice airport is the closest one and from there it takes just 2 hours driving. Selva di Cadore is a pretty village: in the winter is very sunny and the view is magnificient,  from the town you will admire the Pelmo and Civetta peaks which are 2 of the ten highest peaks in the Dolomites. The Pelmo is also renowned as God’s throne, due to its shape, from the south side it actually seems a huge throne while the north side is a vertical and massive wall.
The town is one of the access to the Civetta ski area, if you get here early you can enjoy a couple of hours of ski before the start of our skisafari!
Dinner and night at ***Hotel in Selva di Cadore

Pelmo north face, the view from Selva di Cadore town.

DAY 1: FIRST DAY OF FREERIDE SKI SAFARI!

5 TORRI AND LAGAZUOI AREA.

Today we’ll start our tour with one of the most spectacular places in the Dolomites: above Cortina d’Ampezzo there is a very scenic area surrounded by walls and towers. Here we will spend the first day and the first night in a cozy “Refugio” at the foot of the 5 towers. Today we will have the opportunity to do some short off-piste runs: some of the itineraries from the 5 Towers are mostly in the forest, which is very convenient on a snowy day or when the wind is blowing. The Lagazuoi don’t have any forest around them, but they do have some steep couloirs; moreover, we are not far from the Tofana ski area, so if the conditions are good, we can decide to try one of the biggest runs there. You can find a description of some itineraries of the 5 Torri, Lagazuoi and Tofana on these pages: “intermediate freeride in the Dolomites” or “advanced freeride”. The Refugio is located in a very scenographic place, if you’re lucky enough to find the full moon you’ll be looking at the Tofana, maybe drinking a beer in the external hot-tube of the hut!
Dinner and night at Refugio.

The 5 towers above Cortina d'Ampezzo, one of the Dolomites freeride area

DAY 2: A LONG DAY OF THE DOLOMITES SKI SAFARI

FROM THE 5 TORRI TO MARMOLADA.

The ski safari will take us from the 5 Towers to Marmolada, the highest peak in the Dolomites and a true freeride paradise! However, the Marmolada day is tomorrow, today we ski all the way through the Val Badia and Val Fodom to reach it! First we have to take the famous Lagazuoi cable car to reach the top. From here there are at least 2 off-piste options: one is described here and it’s called Armentarola Nord, the second is an easy-medium freeride run that crosses a huge plateau, at the foot of great walls, before entering a wide gully. This run does not require an approach and is 500 meters downhill.
Once back on the groomed run, we reach the beginning of the Val Badia valley, which we have to cross, run after run, to reach the highest village of the valley, Corvara. From here we cross a pass called Campolongo and ski down in the Val Fodom to Arabba, another beautiful village. In this area the possibilities for freeriding are enormous, maybe we won’t have so much time to do the longest runs, but we will certainly enjoy some side country runs or short and interesting couloirs, for example the first part of Ornella or the “Antenna Couloir”, which are close to the lifts. Our main goal today is to reach the base of the Marmolada, where we will spend the next two nights in a nice hotel. From the top of the cable car called Porta Vescovo, a long and wild off-piste run is a cool way to reach Marmolada: a 500 m descent brings us to Passo Fedaia and from here a walk on the road brings us back to the groomed slopes and finally to the hotel.
Dinner and night at ***Hotel in Marmolada.

 

At the sunset during the off-piste dolomites ski safari, before descending to Marmolada.

DAY 3: BEST OF DOLOMITES FREERIDE.

MARMOLADA FREERIDE PARADISE.

Day 3 is dedicated to freeriding in Marmolada: the freeride runs are among the longest and best powder in the Dolomites and are well described on this page: “intermediate freeride” and on the fourth day of this page: “off-piste week”. In Marmolada the type of terrain is an open field and the gradient is constantly between 30° and 40°, with some exceptions, such as the run called Canyon, which surprises with its narrow gully that must be skied through to reach the lowest and most beautiful slope of this great itinerary. Today the plan is to tackle 2 runs: the first one will be an itinerary not far from the groomed run, for example the “bellunese vecchia” or “intra i sass”. These runs have the advantage of a quick return with almost no walking. For the second run, we take the cable car back and maybe we can make a short stop at the middle station to visit the WW1 Museum. This small and very interesting museum is located at an altitude of 3000 meters above the sea, in a place where the Italian and Austrian soldiers fought a crazy war, trying to survive against the enemy and an extreme nature.
The second run will take place on the left side of the glacier, for example the “canyon” or “Villetta Maria”. After one of these two itineraries the day will probably be almost over, maybe we still have time to ski along the Sottoguda Canyon, a spectacular passage through ice falls. A short description can be found here.
Dinner and night at ***Hotel in Marmolada.

A powder day in Marmolada during the dolomites ski safari.

DAY 4: MASTERPIECE OF THIS DOLOMITES SKI SAFARI.

FREERIDE SKISAFARI ACROSS THE SELLA MASSIF.

Today we’ll go to a different place, but the distance we have to cover is not as big as on day 2, so we’ll have a lot of time to freeride. Our goal is to reach the Pordoi cable car, which is the entrance to the freeride area of the Sella massif. Here the possibilities are huge: from intermediate runs with 0 access, like the Lasties Valley, to steep and advanced couloirs with 2 hours and 30 minutes of skinning access, like the “Rissa del Dain”. The most famous itinerary here, and one of the most famous in the Dolomites, is certainly the Mezdi Valley. Why is it so famous? Once you’ve tried it, you’ll understand: it requires an approach over the summit plateau, which is worth the trip in itself, it’s 1500 meters of descent, first through a rather steep couloir, then through a beautiful valley surrounded by high towers and pinnacles. At the end of this great run we deserve a nice lunch, maybe on a terrace of a hut looking at what we just did. After lunch we will ski on the resort to reach the Pordoi Pass and our place for the night.
Dinner and night at Refugio.

Val Lasties in Sella massif during a freeride descent.

DAY 5: THE SKISAFARI CONTINUES.

FREERIDE OR GROOMED SKI IN GARDENA VALLEY.

The plan for today is to reach a “Refugio” in a wonderful place, on the top of a mountain above Ortisei, in Val Gardena. Once again I remind you that this is an example of a plan that will be adapted to your needs: Val Gardena doesn’t offer so many freeride possibilities, but one of them is great: from yesterday’s place we have the chance to ski a magnificent itinerary called “Sassolungo Fork”, which is described here. The access requires a skin approach, so not everyone is willing to do that. But if so, the descent is definitely worth it, a never-ending descent in a very wild environment will be our reward after the 1 hour and 30 minutes ascent. The descent ends in the Alpe di Siusi, one of the most famous landscapes of the Dolomites. From here we ski down to Ortisei and up again for the last flat walk to reach our dream place.
Dinner and night at the Refugio.

The skier is enjoying the first track on powder, Sas Ciampac, Badia Valley.

DAY 6: LAST DAY OF SKI SAFARI DOLOMITES.

THE LONG WAY BACK TO THE STARTING POINT.

The plan for today is a long way across the Dolomites, from west to east, to return to our starting point: Selva di Cadore. We have to ski all the way back through the Val Gardena, crossing the Gardena Pass and skiing from one side of the Val Badia to the other. Once at the end of the Badia Valley we will take a short car transfer to reach the Falzarego Pass and from here we will ski to the Fedare lift station, where our Dolomites Freeride Ski Safari started 6 days ago. Obviously it’s an ambitious plan to ski so many kilometers in one day, and we may not have the time or energy to do any off-piste skiing today, but the groomed runs are great and it will be a very fun day! Alternatively, we can decide to end our trip before, for example at the Falzarego Pass, and return to the hotel by car transfer. If you have more time and want to ski another day, we can spend an extra night in the mountains and tackle a great run in Badia Valley which is called “Val di Litres”: the next day we will make our way back to Selva with no rush and, why not, add another freeride run!
Dinner and night at ***Hotel in Selva di Cadore

The landscape from the top of Lagazuoi peak, Dolomites.

Comments

Your voice

Echoo
We spent a week doing an off piste Dolimiti safari. What an amazing week and experience. Fabrizio was a wonderful guide very knowledgeable and engaging The skiing was incredible, the day on the Marmolada glacier will never be forgotten. Moving around and staying in different areas really worked well, a special mention to Sottoguda which was such a nice hotel and pretty village. As ever the Dolomites delivered. Thank you
Noel Tinker
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Long weekend ski trip in the Dolomites

Short on time? This proposal is made for you! So live with us the authentic Dolomite ski-safari experience, during an unforgettable long weekend! This 4 days plan is set for those who are leaving home in the morning of the first-day ski-safari and want to be back home on the night of the last day. What is a ski-safari? Within 12 different valleys connected to each other by 1200 km of groomed slopes, the Dolomiti Superski is the biggest ski resort in the world. The Ski-safari is the funniest way to visit the Dolomites: it entails skiing across a huge area, among different dolomites valleys,  on perfectly groomed slopes. The result is to enjoy the best astonishing view, spend each night on a different charming mountain inn, tasting the best traditional food and never ski the same slope twice!

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Experience required

The long weekend ski safari, which fits perfectly for a group of friends or a family, it can be easily tackled by an intermediate skier.

Luggage transfer

The luggage transfer service is included in the price and allows you to ski without your luggage. You will find your traveling bag at the next mountain inn.

Accommodation

The selected mountain inns offer common bed-rooms of 3-6 bed with common or private toilets. The accommodation linked on the day by day description is our first choice and depends on availability.

Extra accommodation

The night before the ski-safari and its last night  accommodation on a three stars hotel is available on request.

Ski rental

Please tell us if you need ski equipment, we will book the best solution for you!

all inclusive and airport transfer

In the ALL-INCLUSIVE formula, we think about everything: the offer includes half-board during the tour. Even so, our desire is to satisfy your personal needs and resolve any logistic issue, for example, we will give you the best options for the airport transfer: organizing, when is possible,  a shared transfer among the skiing weekend participants.

your mountain guide

This skiing weekend is entirely organised and carried out by a mountain guide within UIAGM/IFMGA certified. Local mountain guides most definitely sport the best knowledge and will guarantee your safety and your fun.

Disclaimer

This 4 days plan dolomites skiing, is set for those who are leaving home in the morning of the first-day and want to be back home on the night of the last day.

resciesa hut in winter
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Program

DAY by DAY

DAY 1: meeting at 1130 at Alleghe (2 h from Marco Polo International Airport).

The ski-safari starts on the beautiful and quite Civetta ski resort: the view on its massive rocky wall is the most impressive welcome in the Dolomites! After approximately 3 hours spent exploring the slopes of the area, and a quick lunch break, we take the only car transfer of the tour. Within 25 minutes drive, we reach 5 towers ski area. This place offers one of the most iconic views of Cortina d’Ampezzo Dolomites. So after some other nice slopes, we don’t really want to leave this place and we stop just at the base of the 5 towers at Scoiattoli hut, for the first unforgettable dinner and night.

Ski-safari, 5 towers, Cortina d'ampezzo, Dolomites.

DAY 2: from Falzarego pass to Ortisei.

Today is a really big day, in fact, we will enter the heart of Sellaronda ski area, crossing entirely Badia and Gardena valley. These 2 valleys offer a huge number of slopes: we wouldn’t ski it all but we will try to do our best! We start from Falzarego pass with the so-called hidden valley, a never-ending run from the top of Lagazuoi peak to San Cassiano village. We then keep going until reaching Gardena pass which divided the two valleys. Now is time to ski down to Selva di Val Gardena and try the world championship downhill slope “Sasslong“. After this amazing run is time to reach Ortisei and finally end up to Resciesa hut. This enchanting little hut offers nice rooms, tasting food, and a good selection of Gins! Above all, you will love its fantastic view of the sunset!

Resciesa hut, Gardena valley, Dolomites.

DAY 3: from Ortisei to Passo Sella.

Today we move from Gardena valley towards Fassa Valley, another masterpiece of the ski in the Dolomites. After one “special” run from Resciesa hut we take off our skies and in ten minutes walk cross the little Ortisei village: this is an opportunity to see the ancient square and church surrounded by fashion bars and shops. The next gondola takes us up to Alpe di Siusi plateau: sited at the very center of Sciliar-Catinaccio nature park, is the largest mountain plateau in Europe famous for its idyllic scenery. After lunch, we move from the plateau toward Sella pass. Here we find Valentini hut, from where we can enjoy the view on the Sella towers and Sassolungo. At the sunset, starring in front of these rocky giants, we watch their color turning in pink: we are actually attending at “Enrosadiria” magic effect.

Sassolungo, Gardena Valley, Dolomites.

DAY 4: Last day of Dolomites skiing, from Passo Sella to Sottoguda village.

Today we will end up our tour at the highest point in the Dolomites: Marmolada is indeed the tallest peak in the Dolomites and its ski slope which starts at 3265 meters and ends at 1450 meters, is the longest. The Passo Sella and Passo Pordoi ski area is beautiful but the lunar landscape that we can enjoy from the top of Pordoi peak has no comparison. After Pordoi we enjoy the ski in Arabba which is renowned for the quality of its slopes. From Arabba to Marmolada the way is short and we have also the opportunity for a short visit to the WW1 museum, at the intermediate station. This exhibition explains to us how the soldiers were able to survive in this environment during that insane war. The Marmolada run is the most unforgettable way to end our tour: the desire to be back in the dolomites again will not leave you till the next time! Once in Sottoguda is possible to take a transfer to the airport or spend one more night in the Dolomites, in a nice and comfortable hotel.

happy faces in the long weekend ski safari: off piste course

Comments

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Echoo
We spent a week skiing with Fabrizio Dalla Rossa on the freeride ski safari and it’s safe to say it was the best week skiing I have ever had. Fabrizio took us to great restaurants, runs and hotels, I would recommend to anyone looking for an adventure!
Molly Tinker
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ski safari italy: customised plan from 2 to 7 days in the Dolomites.

This Ski-Safari is a of seven days long circuit: it gives us the opportunity to ski in the sight of the most impressive massif of the Dolomites as Marmolada, Tofane, Sella and Civetta. Is exactly from this ski area we will start our tour. After being skiing below the world-famous five towers and along the Cortina d’Ampezzo slopes, we will move toward the huge Sellaronda ski area. During this 7 days ski safari we will spend the night on charming mountain ills, surrounded by the most dramatic view of the Dolomites, and tasting the best cosine of the tradition.  The end of our tour will be really breathtaking: from the top of the highest Dolomite peak, Marmolada, we will ski its 14 km slope which leads through the Sottoguda canyon. Skiing inside it, surrounded by its marvelous icefalls, it will be the masterpiece of our trip!

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Customised proposals

Starting from the first contact, we will start building an itinerary that fits around you. Read through the suggestion below, this is a good starting point for your customised plan: depending from the number of days you want to join us, we will adapt it at its best!

Experience required

The ski safari holiday, which fits perfectly for a group of friends or a family, it can be easily tackled by an intermediate skier.

standard or exclusive?

We offer two different ski-safari choices: they are distinguished by the accommodation type: on type standard the accommodation is at *** hotels and refugios (common rooms accommodation), on type Exclusive the accommodation is in **** hotels and in charming mountain inns in private rooms with private/shared bathroom. Find a detailed description of the dolomites huts here.

Luggage transfer

You can decide to bring your stuff on a backpack during the ski-safari (look here what to bring) or choose the luggage transfer service (look at the price chart). It’s also possible to choose a compromise: for example to book two luggage transfers along one-week ski-safari.

Ski rental

Please tell us if you need ski equipment, we will book the best solution for you!

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Program

7 days ski safari

the ski safari “Italy” starts

Arrival in Sottoguda village. This village, close to the Alpine lake of Alleghe, is renewed to be one of the most beautiful small villages in Italy. Before your dinner you will meet the IFMGA guide for the breefing.

San Pellegrino pass, Dolomites

DAY 1: Civetta ski area

The tour starts in the sights of one of the biggest peak in the Dolomites: its name is “Civetta”. The slopes of this ski area are usually uncrowded and with good snow; the sight on Civetta as well as “Pelmo” will constantly impress us. After reaching Pecol village, a transfer will take us to five Torri ski area. Here other slopes are ready for us and, above all, a charming mountain hut will welcome us for the night.

arabba holidays ski safari

DAY 2: Cortina d’Ampezzo ski area

From the five Towers we will head to Cortina d’Ampezzo: its location is renowned for the beauty of the surrounding peaks. But is not just about the view: today we will tackle one of the most impressive ski slopes of the dolomites and its 1500 meters vertical gap, the Ra Valles slope. In the afternoon we will move by ski bus up to Falzarego pass. From here a red gondola is reaching tonight hut: Lagazuoi mountain hut is at 2800 meters by the sea level and from here you will enjoy a 360° view.

Averau hut, Dolomites

DAY 3: Lagazuoi and hidden valley

Today warm-up is represented by Armentarola slope: this long run is one of the most spectacular in the Dolomites: it will surprise us by WW1 accessible caves, ice falls, and horses. From here we will move to La Villa in Badia where we will get the chance to test our self on the World downhill Championship slope called Gran Risa. The surprises are not finished yet and in the afternoon we will visit Badia ski area and its ancient monastery. This night we will end up in a beautiful hotel down in the village.

sella pass, Dolomites

DAY 4: Badia valley ski area

Today we keep exploring Badia Valley. In the morning we will ski along Corvara nice slopes, here the master piece is surely the Boè run. After lunch we will move to Colfosco: here the slopes get in the sun during the afternoon and the dolomite rocky walls get orange and pink colored. This fascinating phenomenon is called “Enrosadira” which literally means: rose transformation. 

Piz ciavazes shape an the background, Arabba ski area

DAY 5: Gardena valley ski area

Val Gardena is the place we want to explore today: the big massif which stands over this valley is called Sassolungo. This peak gives the name to another famous World ski Championship run, the Sasslong. After getting lost among the 80 lifts of the valley we will end up to an isolated and charming mountain hut called Resciesa. Today you must be careful: the friendly owner is an expert of the Ladin whisky called “Grappa”.

Dantercepies, Dolomites Sasslong on the back

DAY 6: Fassa Valley ski area

Trough Sella pass we will leave South-Tyrol region and enter in Trentino region. this amazing ladin valley offers the sights of the Catinaccio massif. We will ski towards the sun, on beautiful slopes, crossing the nice alpine villages called Pozza di Fassa, Campitello, Canazei before getting on our night place.

7 days Ski safari Italy, Val Badia, Dolomites

the last day of the 7 days ski safari: back to the start

The last day must be unforgettable, passing trough Arabba village and its slopes, we will take the never ending Marmolada lift. Its three sequential gondolas will leave us nearly the top f the highest peak in the Dolomites: Marmolada. Now it’s time to ski down along its 14 km slope before the last surprise. Our tour will finish by an easy ski slope which run inside Sottoguda canyon. Between its narrow walls, surrounded by a number of ice falls we fell so small and happy….

 

After 7 days you probably will not leave. If you want to plan a longer tour there’s no lack of places to visit: the ski areas of dolomiti di Sesto, San Pellegrino pass, Alpe di Siusi and more are yet to come.

Skiing down in Pordoi ski area

Comments

Your voice

Echoo
Fabrizio took our family of 6 on a ski safari for 3 days. The weather made for challenging conditions and several changes in the plan. Fabrizio was a terrific guide in these circumstances and we still had a great time. Prior to the trip he planned the route according to what we wanted and the level of the various skiers. He also booked the rifugios- one was particularly special. His communication was always prompt and helpful. He was very professional , attentive to detail and very good company. We would do another trip with him if we get the chance!
Elspeth Humphries
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