Your trip

Discover the winter magic of the Dolomites!

This great ski safari through the valleys and alpine pastures in the high mountains of the Three Peaks Country is equally suitable for advanced skiers as for beginners and those returning to the sport.

How does it work?

Very simple!

The tour proposals offer you a varied program of easy to challenging routes. You can shorten almost any route. Just take the train and bus or hike a bit if it gets too steep. The Family Card makes it possible free of charge.

If you like, use the Nordic Arena in Dobbiaco as your base camp to groove in and practice technique. We are happy to arrange courses or private lessons for you.

All in all: This tour is the perfect re-entry or even new entry for ambitious winter sports enthusiasts.

Are you an experienced cross-country skiing expert? Even then, this week will inspire you!

Wide valley stretches, great downhill runs, wonderful winter forests, high alpine winter pastures. Everything perfectly tracked for classic and skating. Everything is exemplary signposted and well secured in steep places.

Take your time. Admire the imposing mountain massif of the Sesto Dolomites and the world-famous Three Peaks, UNESCO World Natural Heritage, during your cross-country skiing trip through the snowy sides of Alta Pusteria. The natural spectacle of the sundial of Sesto accompanies you on your tour in the Fiscalina Valley. You will experience the sunny Gsieser Valley, the breathtakingly beautiful Pragser Valley and the tranquility of the natural high plateau of Prato Piazza – 2,000 meters above sea level.

You usually start directly from the hotel on the cross-country ski trail and therefore do not need long transfers.

Every day you can choose between different tour variants and lengths.

Accommodation

You will stay in hotels of good 3*** and / or 4**** category, mostly with sauna and/or swimming pool
Note: Please pay tourist tax, if due, directly on site.

Catering

The price of the trip includes half board:
- Daily breakfast buffet or extended breakfast
- Dinner
Please inform us of any special meal requests (e.g. vegetarian or gluten-free) when booking.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

At the starting hotel you will receive a Familiy Card. This allows you to use trains and buses free of charge during your entire trip. Explore Alta Pusteria in the evening or treat yourself to a day off for it. Use the ticket to shorten routes by day and to travel part of the way by train and bus. A plus in flexibility!

Arrival

By train

From Innsbruck over the Brenner Pass to Franzensfeste. From here to Alta Pusteria (station Villabassa or Dobbiaco, depending on the starting hotel).
Timetables and tickets at www.trenitalia.com, www.oebb.at, www.deutschebahn.de

By car

Via the Brenner freeway (A22) to Brixen – exit Franzensfeste / Pustertal – through the Pustertal valley (state road SS49) to Villabassa or Dobbiaco, depending on the arrival hotel or
Via the Felbertauern Road to Lienz in East Tyrol and on to Italy in Alta Pusteria (Villabassa or Dobbiaco, depending on the hotel you arrive at).
Parking: Free unguarded parking in a nearby public parking lot for the duration of the trip.

By plane

Nearest airports: Treviso or Venice Marco Polo.
On request we organize transfers from the airport to the starting point of the tour.

Tops of the tour

UNESCO World Natural Heritage Three Peaks
Training and course area of the Nordic Arena in Dobbiaco
Almost continuous train or bus accompaniment for flexible daily arrangements
Ski tour in high alpine pasture terrain and along deeply snowed-in valleys through forest and field
Sauna and relaxation, good and rich food in the rustic cozy central hotel of your tour.

Arrival in Alta Pusteria :

Day 1

Arrival in Alta Pusteria

Individual arrival to the starting hotel in Alta Pusteria in Dobbiaco or Dobbiaco Villabassa. Free, unguarded public parking available near the hotel.

Dinner

Villabassa /Toblach - Sesto (approx. 15 - 45 km) :

Day 2

Villabassa / Dobbiaco – Sesto (approx. 15 – 45 km)

Across meadows, fields and through deeply snow-covered winter forests, the perfectly groomed cross-country ski trail leads from Alta Pusteria via San Candido to the mountaineering village of Sesto. Particularly diligent cross-country skiers can extend the tour with a detour across the Austrian border to Sillian in good snow conditions.

6 hours

Breakfast, Dinner

Round tour Sesto - Fiscalina Valley (approx. 10 - 20 km) :

Day 3

Round tour Sesto – Fiscalina Valley (approx. 10 – 20 km)

The trail through the Fiscalina Valley is undoubtedly one of the most scenic in the Dolomites. The rugged Dolomite peaks of the Sesto Sundial with the Zehner, Elfer, Zwölfer and Einser seem close enough to touch. Enjoy a fantastic view, a hot cappuccino and delicious South Tyrolean specialties in the Talschlusshütte.

5 hours

Breakfast, Dinner

Sesto - Braies Valley Prato Piazza (approx. 25 - 45 km) :

Day 4

Sesto – Braies Valley Prato Piazza (approx. 25 – 45 km)

Along the Sesto stream you walk through the dense spruce forest back to San Candido, the cultural center of Alta Pusteria at the foot of the Haunold. In Dobbiaco you pass the Nordic Arena cross-country skiing center and then glide over the snow fields, past the beautiful village of Villabassa, into the natural Braies Valley. The shuttle bus will finally take you to the hotel on the unique high plateau Plätzwiese. The challenging route up to the natural jewel of Braies Lake is a good option for an extension.

6 hours

Circular cross-country ski run Plätzwiese (one round approx. 6 km) and snowshoe hike to Strudelkopf :

Day 5

Circular cross-country ski run Plätzwiese (one round approx. 6 km) and snowshoe hike to Strudelkopf

Today’s cross-country skiing day is dedicated to exploring the famous high plateau. At the foot of the Hohe Gaisl and the Dürrenstein you can make your tracks in the snow on the circular trail. In addition, there is the possibility to go on a snowshoe hike to the Strudelkopf. On a clear day you can enjoy an unforgettable panoramic view of the Sesto and Ampezzo Dolomites.

Breakfast, Dinner

Gsiesertal - Villabassa/Toblach (approx. 10 - 40 km) :

Day 6

Gsiesertal – Villabassa/Toblach (approx. 10 – 40 km)

In the morning you will arrive at Welsberg/Gsies by transfer from Prato Piazza. You walk on the wide, sunny valley floor through dreamy winter landscapes and past picturesque farmhouses through the valley! Time and again, inns along the route invite you to stop for a bite to eat. Depending on your mood, you can walk back to Welsberg and across the fields to Villabassa / Dobbiaco. Otherwise, there is the possibility to shorten the stage by public transport.

Villabassa/Toblach - Cave Valley/Cortina d'Ampezzo (approx. 10 - 60 km) :

Day 7

Villabassa / Dobbiaco – Val di Cave/Cortina d’Ampezzo (approx. 10 – 60 km)

Starting from the Nordic Arena cross-country skiing center, where the world’s best cross-country skiers compete annually for important world cup points on the demanding circular trails, you walk along the railroad line of the former Dolomite Railway into the Höhlenstein Valley. Here you can decide whether to stop already at Dobbiaco Lake for apple strudel and coffee or continue to the “Three Peaks View” and take a look at the landmark of the Dolomites, or even go through several tunnels and over an old railroad bridge to visit the “Queen of the Dolomites”, Cortina d’Ampezzo. The return trip is possible by public transport.

Overnight stay as on the previous day in Villabassa / Dobbiaco.

Breakfast, Dinner

Departure or extension :

Day 8

Departure or extension

Individual departure from Dobbiaco or Dobbiaco Villabassa.

You still have a little time and want to relax lingering? Great idea. Please ask for extension nights when booking.

Expand all

Is the tour also suitable for beginners?

Yes! True, the routes of the safari are sometimes long and demanding. However, you can shorten all tours by the day and travel sections by bus and train with the Familiy Card. You will receive information about this on site. You would like to hone your technique a little bit, learn skating or get into this great sport (again) in the first place? No problem! The grounds of the Nordic Arena offer ample opportunity for training and practice. If you like, we will be happy to arrange a course or private lessons for you.

What are the demands of the tour on my skills?

The routes are attractive for less experienced cross-country skiers as well as for sporty ambitious runners, as there are several route variants to choose from.
In the introductory talk at the beginning of the tour you will be informed in detail.
The trails are suitable for classic and also for free skating technique. They are well prepared, mostly double-tracked, well signposted and secured in steep sections.
The total length of the route is about 75 – 215 km (depending on the choice of the day variant).
On request we can also offer you a cross-country skiing course to improve your technique.
The trip is not suitable for persons with reduced mobility. Please contact us for detailed information if needed.

Can I rent skis and snowshoes?

Yes. We are happy to arrange the rental of cross-country skiing equipment: you choose skis (with NNN/Rotefella bindings), poles and, if necessary, boots. Classic or skating. Check-out and return at the Nordic Arena Dobbiaco. If you take a few hours on the high plateau of Prato Piazza for a snowshoe hike to the Strudelkopf, you can rent snowshoes directly at your hotel on Prato Piazza.

Can I park on site?

Please park at the hotel. Alternatively, please use one of the unguarded and free for vacationers. public parking for the duration of the trip.
Please do not park for long periods of time at the Nordic Arena. Mostly you can start directly from the hotel on feeder trails. For this reason, this tour is also ideal to arrive by train. A free public transport ticket for the entire period is paid with the tourist tax.

What is the best way to travel?

This tour is ideal for arriving by train to Dobbiaco (or to Dobbiaco Villabassa, depending on the hotel). Locally, with your visitor’s tax, you will receive a public transport ticket for bus and train at any time during your trip in the entire region. Therefore, you do not need a car on site. If you come by car, please park directly at the hotel. If you are coming by plane and you need a transfer from Treviso or Venice, please let us know when booking.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT ?

PUBLIC TRANSPORT! With the registration and payment of your tourist tax on site you will receive a Familiy-Card. With it you travel free of charge in the entire tour area with all trains and buses incl. Ski transport.