Dolomites Ski Safari

This ski safari offers the opportunity to explore the Ladin valleys of the Dolomites, as well as discover the traditions and history of this fascinating region, and all while skiing some of the finest pistes in the world. And as for you gourmets, this is a region famed for its excellent cuisine so plenty of opportunity to replace calories burnt off each day.

While there are set small group departures throughout the season, Original Travel can also arrange tailormade itineraries to include piste skiing, off-pisting or ski-touring, or a combination of all three because the region is uniquely suited to combining all these options.

One of the highlights is staying in charming and remote rifugios on certain nights. These are a far cry from the functional refuges in Switzerland and France, where it's all about dormitory accommodation and snoring. The Italian versions that we use are (as you might expect) far more charming, with private rooms and excellent quality food, yet still in wonderful mountain locations.

As for the skiing, the guides will tailor the trip according to the abilities and fitness levels of the group, and know the region intimately. All in all there are 746 miles of pistes, all accessible on one ski pass, and that's before the off-piste and touring options which make this such a perfect playground for skiers.

Depending on the exact safari you choose, most of these trips begin in San Cassiano and end at Cortina, providing an excellent contrast between a charming, understated little village and the swish 'capita' of the Dolomites, full of glamorous Milanese strutting their fur-clad stuff.

The Rosa Alpina in San Cassiano - a firm Original Travel favourite for years now - is the perfect place to start the adventure, with charming rooms and a fantastic Michelin-starred restaurant, while in Cortina, there are a number of excellent hotels to choose from.

Finally, watch out for our summer equivalent, a summer Via Ferrata safari, again staying in lovely rifugios, but getting between them along trails, ladders and metal steps fixed into the rock faces that allow the non-climbers to experience some of the thrill of mountaineers in a much safer environment.