It is the seventh day of my weekly ski safari across dolomite and I find myself for a moment having a mountain. I ski five miles past the dreamy ice surrender with the limestone peaks in the background. Other than my guide, I can't see another skier.
The famous Dolomite mountains in Italy are certainly not a secret, but especially for Europeans, but North Americans are known to ski in the Alps, which is recognized by UNESCO in northern Italy, with endless and spectacular ski resorts and You'll notice that it comes with a unique combination of culture. And as a home for the 2026 Winter Olympics, there's no doubt that crowds and spotlights will certainly grow at this popular ski destination.
Cortina D'Ampezzo is the talk of the Winter Olympics and Italy's most famous ski town (think it as “Italian Aspen”). The annual Women's World Cup Championship has been held here since 1993 and was ongoing when I visited last January.
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Cortina became a world-renowned resort synonymous with chic skiing after hosting the 1956 Winter Olympics. And now, 70 years after their Olympic debut, Cortina will once again co-host a winter match (with Milan).
We found the crowds and flashy atmosphere fading as we traveled across Cortina on a ski safari with Dolomite Mountain, an active outdoor travel agency based in Italy. Every day, when we skied to a new cozy mountainside Lifugio or hotel (while luggage leaves to the next location), we each have a variety of ski resorts with their own unique culture and I experienced the mountains and valleys.
Ski Mountaineering or Skimo will debut as an Olympic sport at the 2025 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina, Italy. Photos by Robertharding, alamy stock photos
At Cortina, we were grateful for the chance to blow the slopes of the Olympics and World Cups. Still, my most memorable run was the five-mile Almentalola Piste in the valley of Alta Badia in South Tyrol. This epic ski run skied and more skiers joined us, and we were delighted to see why a few people formed at the bottom. I was waiting for me and about 20 skiers to tow me and about 20 skiers for 3 euros. That's not what I've experienced at other ski resorts elsewhere in the world.
The fastest skiers in the world are celebrated with dolomite, but anyone can ski here. My ski safari was completely on Piste as the ski lifts and gondola moved us area on one ski pass (no need for a backcountry ski experience). Dolomiti Superski is the largest ski area in the world, with 12 ski resorts and over 757 well-maintained slopes served by 450 lifts and gondolas. You don't need to ski twice in the same run here.
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Three different languages and cultures
Beyond 1200 kilometers (746 miles) of interconnected slopes, another unique aspect of dolomite is the culture medley. Three different cultures and languages are spoken in the region. From the signs to the plates, just a few kilometres and ski slopes allow you to see and experience a variety of cultures. Italian, German, and Laden have been rhaeto-romanic languages for over 2000 years, all spoken in dolomite. The history of the intersections in the region is also seen in a mix of Italian and Austrian flavours.
“The area is all mixed with Italian, Austrian and Ladin cultures. So when you go skiing you can see a little bit of a difference,” he said, “The creation of the Dolomite Mountains, known for creating custom outdoor experiences. says Agustina Lagos Marmol, the person who is Growing up in Patagonia, she is committed to preserving the area's unique mountain culture and ensuring the impact of her company. The Dolomite Mountains, a collection of purpose-driven tourism, will offset the direct impact of activities by supporting the Amazonbai project in Brazil's Beirik Islands, and by 2030 it will become a climate-positive enterprise. I aim to become.
This coniferous forest near Fedirola Alm is considered part of the larger dolomite forest ecosystem known for its beauty and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Photography by Gmbh, Arami Stock Photo
Ski safaris like this, when skiers hit the slopes of Alta Badia, are becoming increasingly popular. Travelers intersect the valleys with scenic towns and the valleys of places such as Cortina, Pibetta, Bargadena and Arabba, where they sleep at various alpine inns each night. Photo by Susan Wright, New York Times/Red Deuce
Rifugio Averau, the Cortina d'Ampezzo alpine inn, is one of many sheds, accommodations and hotels where skiers can eat and rest before skiing back to a ski safari adventure for a few days. Photo by Susan Wright, New York Times/Red Deuce
Rellihan said, “To cover all this terrain, it's paramount that it's important to have a local guide. This is not your ski instructor, but takes care of all logistics, A guide who knows all the slopes.” Photos by H. Mark Weidman Photography, Arami Stock Photos
“If you go with the right people, it's still very local. We work with the community a lot, but I don't think we're seeing it anywhere else. It's still very very It's a family run.'' Alpine Inn here serves incredible views and elevated dishes, a blend of flavours from various Italian, Austrian and Ladin cultures found in these valleys. At Cortina, you should try the kasunjiray, a signature dish of Beetroot Ravioli. In the Ladin-speaking Valgadena Valley in South Tyrol, the apple Strudel is the king. At Alto Adige, we warm up with Canederli, a traditional pandumpkin influenced by our Austrian neighbors.
Having a local guide is paramount to covering all this terrain. This is not your ski instructor, but a guide who handles all logistics and knows all the slopes. All we had to focus on was skiing, not being glued to the map. Our guide showed us the best daily run, but Carlo and Marco shared interesting information about the history and culture of Dolomite, including mountain rides on the gondola and resting for lunch. I did.
(Related: How to expand the “iron path” of dolomite.
Where to stay before and during the Olympics
“We don't have Olympic prices, so this is a good time to visit,” Marmol suggests. “I think there will be a change in the horizon after the Olympics, especially in the Cortina region. It's becoming more and more popular for the Olympics and North Americans.” Marmol has seen the number of high-end hotels opening in the area. We expect it to increase. And while I would recommend you spit out your trip in a hotel with saunas and other amenities to recover tired muscles, the small family-run accommodation and Refugio are available anywhere in the world I'm not going to ski here. Marmol is also co-owner of the renovation and reopening of Rifugios Ponata in the Altabadia Valley.
Some hotels have a mix of high-end and local vibes. Hotel de Len is a modern and environmentally friendly nod to the Dolomai Tradin culture with its Climax Hotel-certified energy-efficient wood design. It was in the heart of Cortina and I had been lightening the ski slopes at night from the tub in the rooftop spa outdoor shed at night, overlooking the spires and snowy rooftops of the Cortina Church from the sauna. Corvara, Hotel La Perla, Alta Badia, is home to the Michelin star La Stüade Michil, balancing Ladin Hospitality with modern luxury.
And while prices and hotel rooms rise, it also focuses on reviving the alpine spirit of the past. I will take a new retro “Snot Rain” serviced from Rome to Dolomite in 2024 and reopen for the Winter Olympics. This vintage three-part rain route was brought back to offer a popular night train service and a sustainable way for travelers to reach dolomite. The slower way can still be an adventure here as well.
(Related: These are must-see sights in Italy's Veneto region.)
How to reach dolomite
Snowy Lake Mislina is Cadore's largest natural lake, a historic region of Italy's Veneto region. Approximately 10 hotels surround the lake at Oronzo Dikado, with dolomite as a picture-perfect background. Photos by Joana Creuset, Arami Stock Photos
Espresso Cedadore will return to the 2025/2026 ski season and coincide with the 2026 Winter Olympics. We will depart Lomatirni Station at 9:50pm on Friday and arrive at Caralzo Pieviv Di Cortina d'Ampezzo Station at 7:57am on Saturday. The included coach bus takes passengers directly to the centre of Cortina d'Ampezzo from the train station in 50 minutes. On Sunday, Espresso Cedar returns to Rome at 9pm and arrives at Rome Tirnini at 6:40am on Monday. For tickets and more information, please visit trenitalia.com.
One-way tickets for Espresso Cadore start at $183 for a six-person cabin bunk bed and $422 for one private cabin. Prices can range up to $655 for exclusive use of the four-person cabin. Private cabin tickets include a 3-course dinner, and all tickets include breakfast. Tickets can be purchased at trenitalia.com. For more information, please visit treni turistici.it.
Alternatively, you can board a non-Obanight train from Rome to Caralzo Pieb Dikado Cortina and on your back. It usually takes about 6.5-7.5 hours and costs between $45-135. Alternatively, if you're diving into Venice, you can make a private transfer to Cortina d'Ampezzo, which can also arrange for the Dolomite Mountains.
A 7-day/6-night Dolomite Mountain Ski Safari from Cortina d'Anpezzo to Valvadia costs around $4,890 per person (based on 6 people). For a short vacation, they offer a 3-day ski safari for $2640 per person.
The trip was created with the support of the Dolomite Mountains.
Kathleen Lelihan is a travel journalist who writes for the National Geographic, the Far, the BBC, the Outside, and more. She covers adventure and sustainability and skis around the world from Japan to the Republic of Georgia.
