Italian Dolomites Cross-country Skiing

Name: Italian Dolomites Cross-country Skiing
Brand: Exodus
Rating: 4.4 (79 reviews)

79 reviews

Comfort Level

Classic

Activity

Winter

Overview

Discover tranquil scenery that’s ideal for all abilities

Cross-country skiing is a fantastic way to explore the jagged limestone peaks of the Dolomites. With pre-cut tracks (known as loipes) offering a network of routes on varying terrain, there is something for everyone. Unlike downhill skiing, this is more of an aerobic workout and not all about speed. Crucially, cross-country skis can be used on flats, descents, and even ascents with the right technique.

Dobbiaco, set at 3,940ft (1,200m) above sea level in the heart of the region, is one of our most popular centres, offering weeks at Beginner to Advanced level. Our base is the welcoming hotel run by the Tschurtschenthaler family, where warm hospitality and comfortable surroundings provide the perfect balance to an active itinerary.

Key Information

Trip Code: CXD
Ways to Travel: Guided Group
Countries: Italy
Carbon Footprint: 15kg CO2e per person per day

What's Included

All breakfasts and six dinners
All accommodation
Loipe and bus pass
Tour leader throughout
Group arrival and departure transfers available
Cross-country skis, boots and poles

Highlights

Explore an extensive network of routes in the Dolomites

Relax in a family-run hotel in picturesque Dobbiaco

Enjoy expert instruction from our first-class guide

Share the experience with like-minded adventurers who have similar ski skills to you!

Itinerary

First Destination: Dobbiaco
Next Destination: Dobbiaco

Meals included:Dinner

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Meals included:Breakfast

First Destination: Dobbiaco
Next Destination: Dobbiaco

Our trip starts in the lovely village of Dobbiaco, in South Tyrol, just over the border from Austria. Settle in and take advantage of the hotel facilities, before we enjoy dinner together – a great chance to get to know each other a little more.

Meals included:Dinner

Each day our leader chooses routes according to the grade and snow conditions. Many kilometres of valley tracks offer wonderful options for beginners and improvers. Some begin from Dobbiaco itself; for others, we make use of the local transport network. For more advanced skiers, there are tougher routes, such as the track that leads south to Cortina d’Ampezzo, a memorable trail among spectacular mountains, passing under the triple rock buttresses of the imposing Tre Cime di Lavaredo.

In a typical week, the group will cover more and more ground, taking in everything this beautiful region has to offer. There are opportunities for coffee breaks and, of course, photo stops as we spend our week framed by the towering limestone peaks synonymous with the region.

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Today is usually free to relax at the hotel, stroll around town or choose an optional activity such as self-guided snowshoeing or perhaps a visit to one of the local museums.

Meals included:Breakfast

The Sexten and Prags valleys offer a choice of undulating routes in typical Dolomites scenery and the high Plaetzwiese Plateau also offers superb routes at about 6,560ft (2,000m). By this stage of the week, even beginner groups will have mastered the basics, such as how to turn and stop, ascend and descend safely. More advanced groups will have already covered some of the fantastic secluded routes and the leader will ensure the final few days are used for the simple pleasure of gliding through such a beautiful natural environment.

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Our trip ends after breakfast. We say goodbye to the Tschurtschenthaler family and begin our return journey home.

Meals included:Breakfast

Dates & Prices

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Call us on 1 844 260 1517

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Accommodation

Hotel Tschurtschenthaler, a three-star property in Dobbiaco

This fine hotel in the centre of Dobbiaco has been welcoming our groups for many years. The property has a traditional look – the décor inside reflecting the Alpine style – but with the advantages of a small swimming pool, sauna and beauty treatment room (treatments not included).

An ample buffet breakfast prepares us for the exertions of the day ahead and evening meals draw equally on Italian and Austrian traditions. After dinner, relax in the lounge or go through to the bar for a drink with the local people.

Tailor your trip: Extend your adventure by securing extra hotel nights before or after the main itinerary. Speak to your sales representative to book.
Private rooms: Like most tour operators, we room solo passengers together. If you’d prefer to have a private room, it’s possible to do this for a supplement. Single supplements are limited in availability on this trip, please speak to your sales representative to request.
Upgrades: Upgraded rooms offer more spacious accommodation and are available for a supplement, depending on departure. To guarantee availability, please inform your sales representative when booking and note this is payable before departure.

Essential Information

Cross-country skis are longer, thinner and lighter than those used for downhill with bindings that allow you to lift up your heel. Most cross-country skiing is undertaken on prepared tracks (loipes) covering flat and hillier terrain, enabling you to explore the winter landscapes away from the confines of the alpine pistes. It is a great aerobic workout and something that can be easily adapted to your skill and fitness level.

We offer cross-country skiing trips to suit a wide range of technical and physical levels. Our cross-country skiing grades reflect both the level of physical fitness required and the level of skiing experience required. They are comparable to the Activity Levels we use on our snowshoeing holidays. We believe a slightly different system is needed due to the coaching we provide. This sets our cross-country skiing trips apart, as we rarely need to teach people how to ride a bike or hike. The aim remains to create groups of similar ability and fitness. Our descriptions are below; however, feel free to call and speak to an expert if you are unsure which grade or trip type will suit you best.

At Dobbiaco, there are four grades of skiing offered, ranging from Beginner to Advanced. Availability varies. Please check the grade of skiing for each week in Dates & Prices.

Grade 1 – Beginners

For complete beginners. We start with the basics, including how to stop using the snowplough technique and how to turn. You will be on skis for at least five to six hours a day with a focus on learning, getting comfortable on skis and building towards longer tours. In some centres, there may also be some easy off-track skiing. This involves leaving the pre-cut tracks, typically across frozen lakes or snow-covered pastures.

Grade 2 – Improvers

Ideal for those who have enjoyed at least one Grade 1 trip and grasped the basics. They offer coaching to refresh and improve technique and typically will ski a little further than Grade 1 weeks, and over more varied terrain (ie more ups and downs) and therefore requiring a slightly higher level of fitness. In some cases, these weeks are acceptable for newcomers to cross-country skiing. Beginners should be very fit and proficient in sports that develop balance (ice skating, roller skating or roller skiing) and will need to pick up the basic technique quickly. Please contact us if you wish to book a Grade 2 trip but have not skied before.

Grade 3 – Intermediates

Ideal for those looking to push on, tackle slightly steeper terrain and cover more ground each day. Typical groups will have a few weeks of skiing behind them, be very comfortable with the basics and happy on longer day tours. There will still be coaching on these weeks, at the required level.

Grade 4 – Advanced

Choose this level if you can tackle ‘ups and downs’ competently, manage a controlled snowplough descent, and if you want to ski at a lively pace. You should also be able to get up swiftly and easily by yourself after a fall. The mix of track and off-track skiing varies.

Key information

Hotel: Hotel Tschurtschenthaler, Viale S. Giovanni, 22, 39034 Dobbiaco BZ
Phone: +39 0474 972477
Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today. There will be a welcome briefing in the evening, but if you miss it the leader will update you separately
Airport: Innsbruck Airport (INN)

Getting to the hotel

Hotel Tschurtschenthaler is approximately two hours’ drive from the airport. Exodus provides one group arrival transfer from Innsbruck Airport, which is timed to coincide with the arrival of a chosen flight from London, UK. You may join this transfer at no extra cost, provided you can be at the airport before the transfer leaves. Speak to your sales representative for the group arrival transfer times or to arrange a private transfer.

If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.

Catching your return flight

There’s a group departure transfer to Innsbruck Airport for customers who Exodus booked onto a chosen flight to London, UK. Please speak to your sales representative if you wish to join. If the group departure transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative transfer.

Italy

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Italy. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/italy
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/italy
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/italy/entry-requirements
• USA:  www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Italy.html

Please note: it is compulsory to carry ID with you at all times in Italy.

An ample buffet breakfast prepares us for the exertions of the day ahead. The excellent evening meals draw equally on Italian and Austrian traditions. They are usually four-courses, but it is always possible to skip a course if you want a lighter dinner. For lunch, our leaders will take us to a variety of cafes or huts serving traditional Tyrolean dishes and international classics.

Dobbiaco is 3,940ft (1,200m) above sea level; at this height, snow can lie from December to mid-March, with fresh snowfalls at any time. Average daytime temperatures in winter are around -5C (23F), though they can fall as low as -15C (5F), with approximately eight to 10 hours of daylight. In winter, you can expect periods of clear, bright weather. In February and March, it can become surprisingly warm in the sun. Equally, you need to be ready for the occasional stormy day at all times.

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.

Reviews

Add new review

Robyn Lewis

Added May 2025

An unforgettable winter adventure

The Dolomites are a beautiful region and this trip is a fun way to explore it by skii. The itinerary struck a perfect balance between physical activity and relaxation. Each day offered scenic ski routes through pristine, snow-covered landscapes—peaceful forests, frozen lakes, and charming alpine villages. Our guide Michele was...

Most Inspirational Moment

Getting to ski in the same arena as the Olympians at the Nordic Arena in Dobbiaco! There were even some teams training there whilst we were there it was very cool!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Michele was amazing, his knowledge of the area was great and he was very good at planning our days and decided what valley or track was best to go depending on the weather.

Advice for Potential Travellers

it is so worth trying if you want to learn a new activity and you don't need previous experience just a good level of fitness! you do a lot of different tracks so will get to try different things throughout the week. bring layers as it can get warm and waterproof shoes for your day off so you can go for some nice walks to the other towns!

Elspeth McLean

Hotel Tschurtschenthaler looked after our group very well with clean, comfortable rooms, excellent breakfast and dinners, and accessible, friendly bar. The staff were attentive and helpful at all times.

Kath Brady

Added February 2022

Highly Recommended

Enjoyable trip with knowledgeable and patience guides Michele & Alex. Nothing was too much trouble for them. Improved my technique with satisfying, lovely varied routes each day. Hotel Tschurtschenthaler was clean, comfortable and relaxed with great food

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