A different kind of safari in the Italian Alps

If you enjoy storybook scenery, Christmas markets, cozy mountain chalets, gourmet dining, and playing in the snow you’ll want to put the Dolomite Mountains at the very top of your bucket list.

Though beautiful in every season, the winter season in the Dolomites – generally December to April – is a magical time of year to visit.

The Dolomite Mountains aren’t just a haven for skiers and snowboarders. This winter wonderland has something for everyone, regardless of athletic ability.

Fine dining? Check. Sledding by moonlight? Check. Horse-drawn sleigh rides through fairytale Christmas Markets? Check and check!

But if you do love to ski, then all the better!  I’m willing to bet the Dolomites are unlike anywhere you may have skied before, starting with the concept of the “ski safari.”

Tip:  Early planning for winter in the Dolomites is key.  Many Italians and Europeans return year after year, and they have long Christmas breaks.  Accommodation fills up fast so you really have to start planning months ahead.

What is a ski safari?

I first encountered the concept of the ski safari a few years ago and was utterly taken with the idea.

Skiing from one resort or quaint mountain rifugio to the other, refueling along the way with hearty polenta and alpine brewskis really grabbed my attention. 

Yet I assumed that my basic snowplow skills on skis would be useless on slopes that once hosted the 1956 Winter Olympics. Surely skiing hut to hut is something only the most advanced skier can do.

“Ma no!,” my local Tyrolean friends assured me. Ski safaris are accessible for just about every level of skiing ability. In fact, the majority of runs are suitable for those of us who love the color blue (easy) and green (intermediate).

This makes it not only ideal for novice skiers like me, but also for families or groups of friends with varying abilities to enjoy this experience equally.  

Here’s a fun fact: In Italy, blue is easy, red is medium. and black is intermediate!

A glimpse into how a ski safari in the Dolomite Mountains works

There are several places to arrange a ski safari, but the Dolomiti Superski is perhaps the best. It encompasses 12 top ski resorts, covering a total of 800 miles of slopes. You’ll traverse the mountains, skiing from valley to valley each day, exploring groomed pistes, breathtaking scenery, and refueling on the gourmet cuisine for which the Dolomites is well-known.

Each night, you’ll end in a delightful new village or town, spoiled for choice among the decadent comforts and warm hospitality of the area’s luxury resorts and quaint family-run inns.

The apres-ski scene in the Italian Alps is considered tamer than other European ski meccas in France and Austria. Nonetheless, when skiers empty the slopes, most places host live music and dancing.

Apres-ski activities range from family-friendly gatherings around roaring fireplaces, tastings of local wines and cheeses, and scenic spots from which to pull up an outdoor armchair, sip hot chocolate, and admire the views.

If you can’t get enough of the slopes, there’s also night skiing, and night tobogganing, too.

For those looking for a more lively scene, we can point you to some refurbed barns and Tyrolean huts reachable only by snowcat where you can enjoy live music and dancing until late.

And if you don’t ski?

If you don’t ski, don’t fear. The Dolomites have you covered.

Superb wellness hotels and spas cater to those of us seeking the tranquility of nature and being embraced by jaw-dropping mountain scenery.

For those times when you’re not skiing, soak in heated pools cantilevered over the valleys, snowshoe through the Tyrolean backcountry, have fun on a dog sled ride or take a dreamy horse sleigh through Tyrolean Christmas markets.

For something out of the ordinary, our friends in the area will arrange a luxurious gourmet picnic in the snow for you followed by a visit to farms where you can savor Ladin tradition and culture.

You’ll run out of time before you can soak it all in. 

I can’t get enough of the Dolomites, or the area’s magnificent ski safari concept.  

In the coming weeks, I want to share some very special itineraries in this region that will make your foodie heart sing. I mean, a gourmet ski safari? A sommelier on the slopes? Yes, please! Stay tuned for more…. 

Tip: Cortina d’Ampezzo hosts the Winter Olympics again in 2026 and already rooms are booking up!  Would you like help planning your very own ski safari or a winter vacation in the Dolomites or get set up for the Winter Olympics ‘26? Contact us now to start planning early.

Get in touch with Prima Italy to discuss your next trip!

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