The famous Dolomites are located in the Italian regions of Veneto and Trentino-Alto Adige. Here, no fewer than 12 ski areas form the world’s largest lift and piste network. It is also a true paradise for a wide range of winter activities and a sunny, beautiful region for relaxation. For winter sports enthusiasts for whom this is not reason enough for a skiing holiday in the Dolomites, SnowTrex presents 10 reasons that make the Dolomiti Superski region an absolute must for winter holidaymakers.
1. The world’s largest lift and piste network
The Dolomiti Superski region is known and loved as the world’s largest lift and piste network. Fans of the 12 ski areas in total, as well as skiers and snowboarders who want to become fans, can experience pure fun on the slopes from frosty December to sunny April on 1,200 kilometres of slopes and over 450 lifts. The slopes are divided into 360 blue, 720 red and 120 black kilometres of pistes and are located at altitudes between 860 m and 3,269 m. Freestylers can look forward to a total of 24 snow parks in the ski areas. The special and convenient thing about the ski region is that all slopes can be carved down with the Dolomiti Superski ski pass. So if you are looking for a wide and varied range of slopes, you will feel right at home in the largest piste network in the world.
One of the many special features of the ski region is the selection of official World Cup pistes. In Val Gardena/Gröden, Madonna di Campiglio, Alta Badia and Bormio, you will find the legendary slopes that are regularly conquered by the best alpine skiers. With the Dolomiti Superski ski pass, skiers and snowboarders can get a taste of professional skiing and take on the challenging slopes.
2. Families welcome!
Family friendliness is a top priority in all ski areas in the Dolomiti Superski region.
On the region’s slopes, 360 kilometres of blue pistes and the so-called “maestro de sci”, Italy’s highly trained ski instructors, ensure optimal conditions for learning to ski or snowboard. Whether children or adults want to learn to ski, brush up on their rusty technique or explore the region with a professional – everyone will find the perfect ski course and ski instructor for them in the Dolomites.
There is also no shortage of accommodation for families in the valleys of the ski region. SnowTrex has over 30 accommodations on offer, most of which offer children’s play areas, childcare, babysitting services and great discounts for children. The Hotel Pontechiesa in Cortina d’Ampezzo, for example, looks after little winter holidaymakers, the Hotel Toblacherhof in Toblach and Hotel San Giusto in Falcade have children’s play areas and the Hotel Brötz in Rasen offers great discounts for little snow fans.
And so that the little ones don’t get bored after skiing, there are ice rinks for ice skating, winter horse riding in stables and farms, dog sledding, indoor climbing in Corvara and much more in the region.
So if you want to spend relaxing winter days as a family against the backdrop of the Dolomites, you’ll find everything there to make snow lovers of all ages beat faster.
3. Guaranteed sun and snow in 12 ski areas
Every skier’s dream is to have both sunshine and perfect snow conditions on the piste. If you are looking to fulfil this dream, there is probably nowhere better than in the mountains of the southernmost Alpine country.
The unique and impressive mountain formation of the Dolomites ensures optimum piste conditions. On the one hand, their ski areas are protected from the icy north wind and on the other, the location of the pistes on the southern side of the Alps ensures that skiers and snowboarders are spoilt with sunshine for around 4 to 6 hours on 8 out of 10 winter days.
However, such sunny weather conditions do not mean that the snow melts quickly and that there are no good pistes to be found here. Quite the opposite: 90 % of the 1,200 kilometres of pistes are located between 1,500 m and 3,269 m and therefore at altitudes where plenty of snowfall is guaranteed. And even when Mother Hulda doesn’t shake out her bed, almost 5,000 snow cannons ensure that the dolomitic hills are covered in white in a particularly environmentally friendly way.
The piste network is therefore very snow and sun-safe, making it the perfect place for snow fans who are not fans of winter gloom and icy cold.
4. Unrivalled panorama
Winter sports enthusiasts who opt for a winter holiday in the southern Limestone Alps between Trentino-Alto Adige and Veneto can look forward to a unique and breathtaking panorama. There are many viewpoints to which you can go to marvel at the impressive rock formations of the Dolomites. If you’re on the piste, you’ll find yourself in the middle of the mountains between a total of 60 three-thousand metre peaks and can admire the unique mountain landscape while carving.
The highest mountain in the mountain range is the Marmolada, whose summit is at 3,343 metres. The mountain gets its name from the grey limestone that is deposited on the light-coloured rock and is thus reminiscent of marble. This natural spectacle alone shows how beautiful and unique the nature that the Italian mountains harbour is. It is therefore not surprising that parts of the Dolomites were officially declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009.
5. Ultra-modern lifts
This unique ski region was founded back in 1974 with 6 ski areas. Since then, the ski region has continued to develop. More and more ski areas, pistes, lifts and snow cannons have been added and even today progress in the ski areas of the Dolomites does not stand still. Every year, lifts and gondolas are modernised, improved, extended and newly built. In addition, new pistes are created and parts of existing pistes are modified and adapted.
This may make the Dolomites an old hand among the lift and piste associations, but at the same time this unique ski region also has ultra-modern facilities and, from time to time, the odd new piste that awaits ski and snowboard fans with open arms.
6. Versatile winter activities
The region also offers winter holidaymakers who would like to try out traditional or brand new sports in the Dolomites a wide choice.
Modern winter sports activities include snowkiting and fat biking. Both sports are still quite new and it is definitely worth giving them a try. To explain: in snowkiting, you are pulled by a power kite on skis or a snowboard for kilometres through untouched snowy landscapes and can explore the powder mountains in an action-packed way. Fat biking is actually just cycling in the snow. However, the tyres are thicker than on normal bikes so that you have more grip in the vast expanses of snow. Snowkiting and fat biking are offered in the ultra-modern ski resorts, such as Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Ice skating in particular is a traditional leisure activity in the Dolomites. In the great outdoors and in ice rinks, there are numerous ice rinks where speed skating, figure skating and ice hockey can be practised. Natural ice rinks include the Völser Weiher lake, the Pragser Wildsee lake and the Toblacher See lake, where you can also hire sticks to try out curling. What’s more, ice skates don’t have to take up space in your suitcase, but can be hired at any ice rink, ice skating rink or lake.
So if you fancy trying something new or want to be reminded of old times by a traditional sport, the Dolomiti Superski region has the best conditions for it.
7. Cross-country skiing paradise on around 1,300 kilometres of trails
The Dolomiti Superski region has made a name for itself as the world’s largest lift and piste network. But what many people don’t realise is that there is also a lot going on on the cross-country ski trails. With 1,300 kilometres of trails in 10 cross-country ski areas, the playground for cross-country skiers is even bigger and longer than that of skiers and snowboarders and, thanks to artificial snowmaking, just as snow-sure when there is not enough snow.
The largest cross-country skiing carousel in Europe impresses with many attractive and varied cross-country ski tours, all of which can be travelled on with the Dolomiti Nordicski Pass. All tours are also available as GPS downloads. The unique Dolomite landscape rounds off the perfect cross-country skiing experience. This cross-country skiing paradise in the Southern Alps can therefore be described as a holiday must for all cross-country skiing fans.
8. Snow parks at every corner of the piste
With the incredibly large selection of pistes offered by the 12 ski areas in the Dolomiti Superski region, action lovers can be sure that there is a snow park in one corner or another. But few people realise that there are no fewer than 24 perfectly shaped and groomed snow parks spread across the entire region.
This incredible number of action paradises offers a remarkable selection of rails, boxes and kickers for courageous kids, adrenaline-fuelled beginners, experts and exceptional freestylers. Everyone can test, practise and perfect their spectacular figures, grandiose jumps and acrobatic stunts in the perfect snow park for them.
9. Winter hiking in breathtaking nature
The Dolomites also offer a large selection of cross-country ski trails and pistes suitable for winter hikes for winter enthusiasts who enjoy travelling on foot. Countless snowshoe and winter hiking trails through quiet forests, across white meadows, past mirrored lakes and through unspoilt snowy landscapes await active hikers looking for relaxation. Accompanied snowshoe hikes with a guide are also on offer.
10. Charming and cosy ski huts
The ski huts in the Dolomiti Superski area are not classic ski huts and do not resemble Austrian umbrella bars. The small restaurants and bars near the slopes are usually designed to provide a quiet and relaxed atmosphere. They usually offer delicious Ladin and Italian specialities at moderate prices and often invite you to culinary events at the highest level. For example, there are sunrise breakfasts, wine ski safaris or gourmet ski tour events organised by various Dolomite ski huts.
So if you are a fan of culinary delights and fun on the slopes, you can combine two passions in the Dolomites and indulge in the Dolce Vita at the ski huts.
Fancy a skiing holiday in the Dolomites?
