Alta Badia

Backcountry Ski Touring & Off-Piste Skills Course

Destination
Alta Badia
Dates From
01/01/2023
Duration
6 nights
7 days
Price From
Contact Us For Further Details
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SKI TOURING – MODERATE SKI LEVELS

This is a group tour itinerary with set tours dates (see below), or as a private guided itinerary which can depart on day requested (subject to availability). Groups can vary in size from 3 to 6 participants. For more information, please contact us. 

Feel the urge to escape the ski resort crowds, and properly experience the Dolomites wilderness? If you are an intermediate on- and/or off-piste skier, are not afraid of hard work, wish to take your skiing to the next level, and ready to explore the back-country, then this training course is for you! Join us and discover for yourself the remote beauty of the Dolomites!

In the Dolomite Mountains in winter, there is no greater joy than skiing the back-country, discovering hidden stashes of pristine snow, and laying claim to fresh tracks. Always wanted to do this, but weren’t sure where to start? We have the answer! Whether you are new to back-country skiing, or have some experience and are looking to improve your skills, this is the trip for you.

Our Backcountry Ski Touring & Off-Piste Skills Course offers an introduction to back-country skiing for strong resort skiers wanting to venture into the side and back country. For experienced back-country skiers wanting to improve, it provides ample opportunity for back-country skills development. And, regardless of experience level, it offers important avalanche education and rescue practice, route planning including identifying the best stashes of powder as well as hazards to avoid, and, of course, serves up fantastic skiing and touring throughout!

We’ll begin slowly, navigating lift-service off-piste terrain. Then we’ll move into the essential ski touring techniques, including skinning, inversion kick turns, steep snow climbs, more off-piste downhill descents, and avalanche awareness and rescue skills. The grand finale? Two fabulous days of touring, applying your skills and earning your turns! And, of course, our back country trips are always led by our UIAGM/IFMGA Professional Mountain Guides. They hold the highest guide credentials in the world, and will not only show you the best of this region, offering you fantastic off-piste ascents and descents in the area, but also ensure your safety and enjoyment. By the time you’re finished, you’ll be ready to join our hut-to-hut ski trips, more advanced back-country ski touring trips, and begin to back-country ski on your own!

Highlights & Inclusions

  • Trip briefing with logistics and map of the area
  • 3 nights accommodation in hotel in Alta Badia (4-Star)
  • 3 nights accommodation in charming rifugios with private/shared bathrooms
  • All breakfasts & dinners
  • Local English speaking Professional UIAGM/IFMGA Mountain Ski Guide during the entire itinerary (Guide Ratio 1:5)
  • Avalanche safety, search, and rescue equipment rental (transceiver, probe, and shovel)
  • Dolomiti Superski pass for 1 day
  • Transportation in the area as per itinerary
  • Duffel bag luggage transfer

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Alta Badia, Dolomites

Arrive in Alta Badia on your own (private transfer available on request) and check into your hotel. In the late afternoon, meet with your Local English UIAGM/IFMGA Professional Mountain Guide for a trip briefing, equipment check, and trip orientation. Located in a large valley surrounded all around by the gorgeous peaks of the Dolomites, Alta Badia is truly the “heart of the Dolomites.” Geographically in the South Tyrol (Südtirol), this area was part of Austria prior to the First World War. Here you’ll find unique mountain scenery with villages rich in natural beauty and ancient traditions. You’ll also notice the street signs are written in three languages – first in Ladino (a neo-Latin language), then in German, and lastly in Italian. The mixed culture is very well marked not only in the language, but also in the architecture and cuisine.

Day 2: Off-Piste Training & Technique

Today will be your first day skiing off-piste in the Dolomites! You’ll begin with easy off-piste descents, and move on to more challenging terrain throughout the course of the day. For this first day of skiing, you’ll leverage the incredible system of lifts that access off-piste terrain. Not only will this enable you to focus on your downhill turns, it will give your guide more opportunity to assess your ability and to coach you. Throughout the day and coming week, s/he will provide tips and techniques to help you improve your overall skiing ability and performance, and help you work on specific aspects of your technique and body posture that require adjustment. But don’t get too comfortable on the lifts today… you’ll be earning your turns the rest of your trip!

Day 3: Ski Touring in Fanes-Sennes-Braies Natural Park

After breakfast, a private transfer will take you to Pederu (~50 minutes), at the foot of the Fanes-Sennes-National Park, and continue to your rifugio by snow-cat.

For the next three days, we’ll focus on both skiing, orientation and avalanche skills. You will continue to receive coaching on your off-piste technique, but beyond what you learned on your first day skiing. Your guide will help you fine-tune your technique to cope with different snow conditions and slopes, and teach you additional skills and terrain-specific tips.

You’ll also learn ski touring skills, including route planning and choosing a line of ascent. You’ll learn how to use and care for your equipment, including how to change your boots and bindings from climbing to descending; and how to manage your climbing skins. You’ll learn tricks and techniques for efficiently skiing with climbing skins, doing kick turns (including uphill kick turns on steep snow slopes!), how to don and climb in ski crampons, and when it’s time remove your skis and start boot packing. Last but not least, and perhaps the most fun, you’ll learn how to find the best – and safest – snow for the descent. Plus, you’ll learn all of this while making unforgettable off-piste turns in the backcountry!

Most importantly, over the next three days, you’ll learn about avalanche safety and search and rescue technique, equivalent to a one-day avalanche awareness, search, and rescue foundations training course, designed to give you a solid foundation of knowledge and skills for you to build on in the future.

By the end of these three days, you should feel confident safely navigating and skiing off-piste terrain, and ready for the next two days of ski touring!

Day 4 - 5: Ski Touring in Fanes-Sennes-Braies Natural Park

Continue your adventure in the Fanes-Senes-Braies Natural Park! Your guide will select the most suitable daily excursions according to the group suitability and snow conditions.

Day 6: Ski Touring in Fanes-Sennes-Braies Natural Park

Enjoy a different ski tour in Fanes-Sennes-Braies today, again taking in the pristine beauty of the Dolomites. When you are done skiing, take a private transfer to Pederu, and on to your hotel in Alta Badia where your stored luggage will await you.

Day 7: Depart

Breakfast and departure on your own (private transfers on request).

DATES & PRICES

Starts Ends Price Status Book
01/01/202331/12/2023On RequestOn Request
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Terms and Conditions

Exclusions

Airport transfers (including heli-transfers) and ski equipment rentals available on request.

Single supplement (if required)
City Tax: some City Councils may introduce a tourist tax that has to be paid directly at the hotel
Meals and beverages other than those specified
Tips/Gratuities
Everything which is not clearly specified under inclusions

* Please note, price is subject to fluctuation and availability is subject to change until booked and confirmed *