{"id":839687,"date":"2025-04-07T18:13:18","date_gmt":"2025-04-07T23:13:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/07\/take-a-ski-safari-to-the-dolomites-before-the-2026-winter-olympics\/"},"modified":"2025-04-07T18:13:18","modified_gmt":"2025-04-07T23:13:18","slug":"take-a-ski-safari-to-the-dolomites-before-the-2026-winter-olympics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/07\/take-a-ski-safari-to-the-dolomites-before-the-2026-winter-olympics\/","title":{"rendered":"Take a ski safari to the Dolomites before the 2026 Winter Olympics"},"content":{"rendered":"
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It\u2019s the seventh day of my week-long ski safari across the Dolomites and I find I have the mountain to myself for a moment. I\u2019m skiing a five-mile run winding past dreamy icefalls against a backdrop of limestone pinnacles. Other than my guide there isn\u2019t another skier in sight.<\/p>\n

While Italy’s famed Dolomite Mountains are certainly no secret\u2014especially to Europeans\u2014more North Americans are finding that skiing in Italy\u2019s northern UNESCO-recognized Alps comes with endless and spectacular ski terrain and a unique mix of cultures. And as the home of the\u00a02026 Winter Olympics<\/a>, there\u2019s no doubt the crowds and spotlight will certainly grow in this already popular ski destination.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Cortina d’Ampezzo is the buzzy hub of the Winter Olympics and Italy\u2019s most famous ski town (think of it as the \u201cAspen of Italy\u201d). Since 1993, the annual\u00a0Women\u2019s World Cup championships<\/a>\u00a0have been held here, and they were underway when I visited last January.<\/p>\n

(Related: Discover w<\/i>hy an Italian ski trip offers the best value for money<\/i><\/a>.)<\/p>\n

Cortina became a world-famous resort synonymous with chic skiing after it hosted the 1956 Winter Olympics. And now 70 years after its Olympic debut, Cortina will co-host (along with Milan) the Winter Games again.\u00a0<\/p>\n

On my\u00a0ski safari with\u00a0<\/a>Dolomite Mountains<\/a>, an Italian-based active outdoor travel company, I found the crowds and the glitzy vibe wane as we traveled beyond Cortina. Each day as we skied fresh terrain to a new cozy mountainside\u00a0rifugio<\/i>\u00a0or hotel (while our luggage was zipped away to the next spot for us), we experienced different ski resorts and mountain valleys each with their unique culture\u2014and sometimes even language.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\"Backcountry<\/picture><\/div>
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Unlike backcountry skiing (seen here), a ski safari is usually on groomed slopes and accessible\u00a0by lifts. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Photograph by H. Mark Weidman Photography, Alamy Stock Photo<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

In Cortina, I appreciated the chance to swish down Olympic and World Cup slopes. Still, my most memorable run was the five-mile Armentarola piste in the valley of Alta Badia of South Tyrol. While more skiers joined us as we skied down this epic-long ski run, I was pleasantly surprised to see\u00a0why a small\u00a0crowd of people\u00a0formed\u00a0at the bottom. A horse-drawn carriage awaited to tow me and about 20 other skiers for three euros to the next ski area. It’s not something I have experienced\u00a0at any other ski resort\u00a0elsewhere in the world.<\/p>\n

While the fastest skiers in the world are celebrated in the Dolomites\u2014anyone can ski here. My ski safari was entirely on-piste (no backcountry ski experience necessary) with ski lifts and gondolas moving us around the area all on\u00a0one ski pass.\u00a0The\u00a0Dolomiti Superski<\/a>\u00a0is the world\u2019s largest ski area with 12 ski resorts and over 757 groomed slopes serviced by 450 lifts and gondolas. You never have to ski the same run twice here.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

(Related: <\/i>The Italian Dolomites are known for skiing. Now they can be your nature and wellness getaway<\/i><\/a>.)<\/p>\n

Three different languages and cultures<\/h2>\n

Beyond the 1200 kilometers (746 miles) of interconnected slopes, another unique aspect of the Dolomites is the medley of cultures\u2014three different cultures and languages are spoken in this region. From the signs to the dishes, you\u2019ll see and experience different cultures just a few kilometers and a ski slope away. Italian, German, and Ladin\u2014a Rhaeto-Romanic language for more than 2000 years\u2014are all spoken in the Dolomites. The region’s crossroads history is seen in the mix of Italian and Austrian flavors, too.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have the Italian, Austrian, and Ladin cultures all blended in this area. So, when you go skiing, you can see a little bit of the difference,\u201d says Agustina Lagos Marmol, founder of\u00a0Dolomite Mountains<\/a>, known for creating custom outdoor experiences. Raised in Patagonia, she\u2019s committed to preserving the region\u2019s unique mountain culture, and ensuring her company\u2019s impact remains positive for generations to come. Dolomite Mountains is a member of\u00a0The Long Run<\/a>, a collection of purpose-driven tourism businesses, and it offsets the direct impact of its activities by supporting conservation projects in\u00a0Val di Fiemme<\/a>\u00a0and mitigates the indirect impact of its guests by contributing to the\u00a0Amazon River<\/a>\u00a0conservation project in Brazil. They aim to be a\u00a0climate-positive company<\/a>\u00a0by 2030.<\/p>\n

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\"Snowy<\/picture><\/div>
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This forest of coniferous trees near Fedarola Alm is considered part of the larger Dolomite forest ecosystem, known for its beauty and UNESCO World Heritage status.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Photograph by mauritius images GmbH, Alamy Stock Photo<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Skiers<\/picture><\/div>
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Ski safaris, like this one where skiers hit the slopes in Alta Badia, have become increasingly popular. Travelers crisscross scenic towns and valleys of places like Cortina, Civetta, Val Gardena, and Arabba, sleeping at different alpine inns each night.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Photograph by Susan Wright, The New York Times\/Redux<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Diners<\/picture><\/div>
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Rifugio Averau, an alpine inn in Cortina d’Ampezzo, is one of many huts, inns, and hotels where skiers can dine and rest before heading back out on their multi-day ski safari adventure.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Photograph by Susan Wright, The New York Times\/Redux<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Alpine<\/picture><\/div>
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Rellihan advises, “With all this terrain to cover, having a local guide is paramount. This is not your ski instructor, but a guide who takes care of all the logistics and knows all the slopes.” <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Photograph by H. Mark Weidman Photography, Alamy Stock Photo<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Marmol explains, \u201cIt’s still very local if you go with the right people. We work a lot with the community, and I don’t think you see that in any other place\u2014that it’s still very family-run.\u201d The alpine inns here offer incredible views and elevated cuisines\u2014a fusion of flavors from the different Italian, Austrian, and Ladin cultures found in these valleys. In Cortina, you must try\u00a0casunziei,<\/i>\u00a0its signature dish of beetroot ravioli. In the Ladin-speaking Val Gardena valley of South Tyrol, apple strudel is king. In Alto Adige, warm up with\u00a0<\/b>canederli<\/i>, traditional bread dumplings influenced by its Austrian neighbors.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0With all this terrain to cover, having a local guide is paramount. This is not your ski instructor, but a guide who handles all the logistics and knows all the slopes. All we had to focus on was skiing\u2014 instead of being glued to a map. Beyond showing us the best runs every day, my guides Carlo and Marco shared interesting tidbits about the Dolomites’ history and culture as\u00a0we rode up the mountain in a gondola or took a break for lunch.\u00a0<\/p>\n

(Related: <\/i>How to scale the \u2018iron paths\u2019 of the Dolomites<\/i><\/a>.)<\/p>\n

Where to stay before\u2014and during\u2014the Olympics<\/h2>\n

\u201cRight now is a good time to visit because you don’t have the Olympics prices,\u201d suggests Marmol. \u201cI think after the Olympics there will be changes on the horizon, especially in the area of Cortina. It\u2019s becoming more and more popular because of the Olympics and for North Americans.\u201d Marmol foresees a rise in the number of high-end hotels opening in the area. And while I recommend you pepper your trip with some nights in a hotel with a sauna and other amenities to restore your tired muscles, the small family-run inns and refugios make skiing here unlike anywhere else in the world. Marmol is also a co-owner of the renovated and reopened\u00a0Rifugio Sponata<\/a>\u00a0in the Alta Badia Valley.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Some hotels offer a mix of high-end and local vibes.\u00a0Hotel de LEN<\/a>\u00a0is a modern and environmentally friendly nod to the Dolomites Ladin culture with its Climax Hotel-certified energy-efficient wood design. It\u2019s in the heart of Cortina, and I saw the ski slopes light up at night from the rooftop spa\u2019s open-air hut tub and overlooked Cortina\u2019s church steeple and snow-covered rooftops from the sauna.\u00a0Hotel La Perla, Corvara<\/a>\u00a0in Alta Badia balances Ladin hospitality with contemporary luxury and is home to Michelin-starred\u00a0La St\u00fca de Michil<\/a>.<\/p>\n

And while prices and hotel rooms will rise, there\u2019s still a focus on reviving the alpine spirit of the past here, too. I took the new retro \u201csnow train\u201d that was put back into service in 2024 from Rome to the Dolomites and will resume for the Winter Olympics. This vintage sleeper train route was brought back due to the popularity of night train service and to offer a sustainable way for travelers to get to the Dolomites. The slow way can still be an adventure here too.<\/p>\n

(Related: <\/i>These are the must-see sights of Italy’s Veneto region<\/i><\/a>.)<\/p>\n

How to get to the Dolomites\u00a0<\/h2>\n
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\"Lake<\/picture><\/div>
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Snow-covered Lake Misurina is the largest natural lake of the Cadore, a historical region in Italy\u2019s Veneto region. About 10 hotels surround the lake in Auronzo di Cadore with the Dolomites as its picturesque backdrop.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Photograph by Joana Kruse, Alamy Stock Photo<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

The Espresso Cadore<\/a>\u00a0will return for the 2025\/2026 ski season to coincide with the 2026 Winter Games. It leaves\u00a0Roma Termini Station on Fridays at 9:50 p.m. and arrives at Calalzo-Pieve di Cadore-Cortina D\u2019Ampezzo station at 7:57 a.m. on Saturdays. An included coach bus takes passengers directly from the train station to the center of Cortina d\u2019Ampezzo in 50 minutes. On Sundays, the Espresso Cadore returns to Rome at 9 p.m. and arrives at Roma Termini at 6:40 a.m. on Mondays. Visit\u00a0trenitalia.com<\/a> for tickets and more information.<\/p>\n

One-way tickets for the Espresso Cadore start at $183 for a bunk bed in a six-person cabin, and $422 for a single private cabin; for the exclusive use of a four-person cabin, prices go up to $655. Private cabin tickets include a three-course dinner, and all tickets include breakfast. Tickets can be purchased on\u00a0trenitalia.com<\/a>.<\/u>\u00a0For more information, visit\u00a0treni turistici.it<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Alternatively, you can take a non-overnight train from Rome to Calalzo-Pieve di Cadore-Cortina and back. It usually takes around 6.5-7.5 hours and costs between $45-$135. Or if you fly into Venice, you can take a private transfer to Cortina D\u2019Ampezzo which Dolomite Mountains can also arrange. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

A Dolomite Mountain ski safari for 7 days \/ 6 nights from Cortina d’Ampezzo to Val Badia Is around $4890 per person (based on 6 people). For a shorter getaway, they offer a\u00a0three-day ski safari<\/a>\u00a0for $2640 per person.<\/p>\n

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This trip was created with the support of Dolomite Mountains.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Kathleen Rellihan<\/b><\/a>\u00a0is a travel journalist who writes for National Geographic<\/i>,\u00a0Afar<\/i>, BBC,\u00a0Outside<\/i>, and more. She covers adventure and sustainability, and has skied all over the world from Japan to the Republic of Georgia.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Kathleen Rellihan
Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s the seventh day of my week-long ski safari across the Dolomites and I find I have the mountain to myself for a moment. I\u2019m skiing a five-mile run winding past dreamy icefalls against a backdrop of limestone pinnacles. Other than my guide there isn\u2019t another skier in sight. While Italy’s famed Dolomite Mountains are<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":839688,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[143078,26268],"tags":[143077,6545],"class_list":["post-839687","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-dolomites","category-safari","tag-dolomites","tag-safari"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/839687","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=839687"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/839687\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/839688"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=839687"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=839687"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=839687"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}