Ski Touring Around Cortina d’Ampezzo

Day 1: Arrive in Cortina d’Ampezzo

Arrive in Cortina d’Ampezzo (1,224m / 4,016′) on your own and check into your hotel (private transfer available on request).
Cortina d’Ampezzo is a charming alpine resort town surrounded by stunning peaks, uniquely sheltered from the cold winds of the north, giving it a pleasantly mild climate that tourists can enjoy year-round. Host to the 1956 Winter Olympics, Cortina enjoys a reputation for great skiing in winter, and in the summer attracts hikers and climbers who challenge the rocky faces of the nearby mountains. This chic Venetian town also caters to the high society crowd, offering many year-round social activities, shopping, and fine dining. With plenty of comfortable accommodations and endless outdoor activities, this valley has become quite a popular destination for the adventure traveler. Cortina d’Ampezzo offers everything the adventure traveler could need, whether it’s natural beauty, outdoor activities or exciting night life. It’s the perfect location to experience everything that the Dolomites have to offer.

Day 2: Croda da Lago

In the morning, meet your local English speaking UIAGM/IFMGA ski guide in the lobby of the hotel for a trip briefing and equipment check. Before you depart, you’ll need to prepare your backpack with your personal belongings for the next three nights.

Take a private transfer to Ponte de Rucurto, and from here skin up to Rifugio Palmieri Croda da Lago (2,042m / 6,699′) where you can enjoy a rest and a light snack. Hold onto your energy levels, for the uphill is not over yet. From Lago Palmieri, ascend to Forcella Ambrizzola (2,277m/7,468’) and remove your skins for a brief descent to a lower plain. You will be immersed in the unspoiled valley at the foot of Croda da Lago, with its dramatic peaks, pinnacles and vertical rock-faces. You will need to put the skins back on and continue on a gentle uphill to Forcella Giau (2,360m/7,740’) with spectacular views over Mount Nuvolau (2,575m/8,446’). Option to summit Picco de Mondeval (2,504m/8,214’).
A final, exciting descent in powder snow from Forcella Giau will eventually lead you to the main road, where a private transfer will take you to your rifugio for the night.
(11km/6,6miles, 825m/2,706’ ascent on skins, 521m/1,710’ descent. Mondeval summit: additional 1.5 hours, 2,2km/1,30miles, 164m/540’ ascent and descent).

Day 3: Cinque Torri, Lagazuoi, and Fanes-Sennes-Braies Nature Park

Enjoy a hearty breakfast and skin up to the foot of Mount Averau (2,649/8,688’). Ski down to the bottom and skin up to Passo Falzarego, from where you will ride the cable car up to Rifugio Lagazuoi (2,752m / 9,029′), one of the highest rifugios in the Dolomites. On its patios you feel as though you’re sitting at the edge of the world – with 360° views of the surrounding mountains, including the two highest peaks of the Dolomites. Perched near the summit of Mount Lagazuoi, and set just above the Lagazuoi gondola, it is also the perfect lodging for skiing.

Set off from Rifugio Lagazuoi with an exciting descent on the famous Armentarola slope! After enjoying the ski down, test your skills on kick turns as you ascend to Forcella dal Lago (2,486m / 8,156’). The views from the top are simply stunning! Descend into the idyllic Val di Fanes and skin on flat terrain, with soft ups and downs for about 2 hours to your rifugio for tonight (15km/9miles, 656m/2153’ ascent on skins, 1,166/3,825’ descent)

Day 4: Traverse from Fanes to Sennes

One of the largest Nature Parks in the region, Fanes-Sennes-Braies extends across 25,680 hectares, and offers superb panoramic vistas of the surrounding peaks. Depart your rifugio this morning and ski down to Rifugio Pederü (1,540m / 4,313′). From Pederü begin a fairly steep uphill section to Rifugio Sennes (2,126m / 6,975’), which is also part of the Natural Park of Fanes-Sennes-Braies. From here you will have a superb view east on the Croda Rossa Massif (2,818m / 9,245′), so-called for its blood-red rock due to the presence of iron oxide. You will be spoiled with delicious Ladin dishes, served in the comfortable wooden stuben (traditionally the room in a farmhouse where the stove was located and cooking took place). The menu offers various handmade pasta dishes, as well as Tyrolean specialties such as dumplings and diverse meat dishes (10km/0,6miles, 637m/2090’ ascent on skins, 570/1,865’ descent).

Day 5: Ski Tour from Sennes to Lago di Braies

Explore a new area of the Fanes-Sennes-Braies Natural Park, one of the most popular lakes in South Tyrol, Lake Braies. In summer, its fresh, emerald green water reflects the image of surrounding mountains. In winter, the lake is completely covered in snow and ice.
Skin up to Forcella Cocodain and enjoy the off-piste descent in powder over to Lake Braies for your private transfer to Cortina D’Ampezzo (10km/0,6miles, 297m/9750’ ascent on skins, 957/3,140’ descent).

Day 6: Departure

Breakfast and departure on your own (private transfer available upon request).