The combination of delicious food, spectacular scenery and a warm welcome make Italy the perfect destination all year round. However, it’s towering alpine peaks of the iconic Dolomites and Gran Paradiso National Park, provide exciting terrain for winter tours in Italy. From cross-country skiing and snowshoeing to downhill skiing, the diverse landscapes create a vast outdoor playground for winter activities.
Italy is only a short flight from the UK, and you can arrive in Turin or Innsbruck, just over the border in Austria, to get quick access to your winter destination. Winter temperatures can bring periods of fine settled weather and from Christmas through to the end of February average daytime temperatures range between +4º and -15º C in the shade. These temperatures can feel surprisingly comfortable, largely because the air is very dry, and you will often be on the move.
On winter tours in Italy, cross-country skiing is one of the best ways to explore the snowy scenery and you’ll find a large number of loipe (pre-cut skiing tracks) that wind through a beautiful winter wonderland. Because cross-country skis can be used on both flat ground and steep ascents, they’re great for exploring mountainous areas such as the Dolomites.
Whichever method of transport you choose on winter holidays in Italy, you’ll be greeted with idyllic alpine scenery and mountain views. After a day of exploring scented pine forests draped in snow and epic peaks, unwind in the sauna or outdoor hot tub and tuck into some traditional Italian dishes back at the hotel.
Sexten Valley: Making up Italy’s iconic Dolomites, the Sexten Dolomites is a fabulous region full of history and skiing trails that snake through the South Tyrol and north-eastern Italy. Nestled between the Sexten Dolomites and the Carnian Alps is the Sexten Valley, a wildly beautiful and nature-filled area that has become synonymous with skiing and mountain climbing. Alpine meadows and ancient pine trees create a romantic backdrop while the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, the Three Peaks of the Dolomites, are the main focal point.
Alta Badia: Arguably one of the most well know skiing regions in Italy in the heart of the South Tyrolean Dolomite Mountains, Alta Badia is a popular destination for winter holidays in Italy. Its gentler slopes of San Cassiano and Corvara are perfect for anyone that is new to skiing but still wants to explore the stunning scenery of the Dolomites. There’s a real sense of calm in the air which provides a relaxing atmosphere where you can develop your skills. But if you’re a seasoned skier, there are 130km of well-maintained slopes to explore.
Madonna di Campiglio: Affectionately known as the Pearl of the Dolomites, Madonna di Campiglio is a popular location for awinter activities in Italy. Skiing was introduced to the area in the early 20th century owing to its picturesque setting and alpine peaks that are hugged by the Dolomites and the Adamello Presanella range. With approximately 150km of slopes to explore, Campiglio is one of the largest ski areas in Italy. If you like a challenge, you can also trek along the Via Ferrate for some of the finest views in the world.
Villabassa: Enjoying a mild climate with plenty of sun and a dreamy position high up in the heart of the Dolomites, Villabassa is a much-loved destination for winter trips to Italy. This pretty spa village has become the starting point for skiing and winter walking along the Val Pusteria trail. But it’s not all about the skiing here, Villabassa also has a rich history and is home to several religious buildings such as St Anna Chapel and St Magdalene Church which houses a splendid Franz Kock organ.
San Cassiano: One of the prettiest alpine villages in the Dolomites, San Cassiano nestles at the foot of Continurines and Lavarela. In the winter months, adventure seekers travel here to ski down the famous Foram toboggan run, which stretches for over 7km from Lagazuoi. The Armentarola cross-country skiing centre also attracts the regular skiing crowd as it forms a part of the exceptional Dolomiti Nordic Ski. For some wonderful apres-ski, there’s a wide selection of restaurants and bars in the village where you can mingle with other skiers and walkers in the area.
Sri Lanka is a magical country that over-delivered against every expectation we had before embarking on our adventure. The trip itself includes a huge range of inspiring activities. Some are big, some are just the little in-between moments, but all have their own magic. I genuinely can’t think of a moment we didn’t really enjoy.
It’s a country with a fairly recent challenging history, and we learned on our holiday that some of those challenges haven’t gone away. Despite this, the country exudes happiness. Our excellent guide, Roshan, told us this was simply because the one thing Sri Lankans have is time. I don’t really buy that. I just think it’s culturally ingrained.
Essential Turkey was a great tour. Started in Istanbul, a fascinating
City. Got to see a lot of the famous ancient sites on our trip. Relaxed in a small town on the Mediterranean and experienced a balloon ride over the amazing landscape of Cappadocia . The tour is jam packed! Great group of people which totally added to the trip.
A well organised tour of this fascinating country. We visited contrasting places -cities, archaeological sites, coastal resorts and National Parks. We saw stunning scenery, and undertook routes that would be difficult to visit independently.
There’s little down-time, but that’s because there’s so much to see!
