Italy & Austria: Cross-Country Skiing the Dolomites​

Depart from the U.S. for Austria. The particulars of your arrival overseas are detailed with your flight itinerary and airline tickets.

Upon arrival at the Salzburg Airport, claim your luggage and clear customs. VBT's local representative will meet you outside the customs area in your arrival terminal and will be holding a VBT sign. Your representative will help you transfer (approximately 25 minutes) to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to settle in and explore the city. Tonight, choose a restaurant for dinner on your own. VBT provides you with City Information in your Final Travel Booklet that includes information and recommendations on what to see and do in Salzburg during your stay.

Please note: If you arrive early, your hotel room may not be available until 1 p.m. You may store your luggage with the Reception Desk. If you are traveling from the West Coast, your arrival in Salzburg may not be until late in the evening.

Please note: VBT transfer times and departure points are finalized in advance and cannot be modified for individual guests. If you fly in earlier than the scheduled program dates, transportation from the airport will be at your own expense.

Today, after breakfast and trail review, enjoy a morning ski on the Obertilliach trails. Stop along the trail for a strudel and cappuccino at a trailside restaurant.  You will end your ski before lunch, and be able to return to the hotel with the local ski bus or local taxi.  You may also choose to ski back to the hotel to arrive before lunch.

After breakfast and the morning route review, we ski from the hotel in the opposite direction from the previous day, towards Rauchenbach, a stunning alpine village set 4,449 feet above sea level. Glide along the Gail River or explore the hillier terrain.  Meet at the Obertilliach Ski Center before lunch and we’ll take the local ski bus to Rauchenbach for lunch at the Klammerwirt Restaurant.  Take in magnificent views as you look out over the mountains that separate Austria from Italy.


Our dinner at the Hotel Unterwoeger features all locally made East Tyrolean specialties. Not to worry about calories, as you'll walk off dinner with a starlight stroll, locally called the laternen waderung (lantern hike). The brisk night air, snowy paths, fragrant bratwurst grills, and warm mugs of glühwein (hot mulled wine) keep the festivities moving along till they wrap up with plenty of traditional music and beer at a local pub.

The group will take a short taxi ride back to the Hotel Auer after our hike.

After breakfast, we say goodbye to Obertilliach and transfer to Cavalese (about 112 miles, or 3 hours) in Val di Fiemme, often called the “cradle of cross-country skiing” in Italy. On the way we will wind through the Trentino wine region, noticing the gentle eastern Alps slowly fading in the distance as we begin to near the dramatic craggy peaks of the snow-covered Dolomites. Nestled among these natural spectacles are charming towns and castles. Early this afternoon we arrive at Passo Lavaze, where you will have time for lunch on your own before an afternoon ski.


The Hotel Maria, situated with a magnificent view amidst the timeless beauty of the Val di Fiemme, is owned by the Braito family who have been proudly serving their guests for over 30 years. On arrival you'll be met with a smile and welcomed into the beautiful surroundings. The warmth of the hotel is reflected in its use of traditional materials -- fir and spruce, larch and wool, stone and water, with bright light flooding in through the windows. In winter there's the warmth of the Green Stube Room with the traditional stube (decorative enclosed fireplace) and the delicious aromas from the kitchen.

This morning we depart from the hotel on the ski bus to the Cavalese tram station and enjoy the scenic tram ride to the bottom of the valley.  Choose to ski the long option to Predazzo or short option to the Lago di Tesero ski stadium, home to the 2013 Nordic Ski World Championships.

Perhaps you’ll stop for a snack along the way, at the renowned ski center at Lago di Tesero, where the Nordic World Ski Championship for both 1991 and 2003 were held and where they will again be hosted in 2013. The center offers over 11 miles of beautifully groomed trails and connects to an expanded and more challenging network of trails.


Alternate option for marginal snow conditions: Spend Thursday morning skiing in Passo Oclini with spectacular views of the Bolzano Valley below.

In the afternoon, we’ll have a strudel cooking class with award-winning hotel chef, Monica Braito.  Dinner is on your own in Cavalese, where there are a number of fine local restaurants and lively spots to dine. A shuttle will be provided back to the hotel after your evening on the town.

VBT No-Air Package guests: your tour ends at our Verona hotel today. As a group we will leave from Cavalese after breakfast and head to Verona (2 hours, or about 100 miles.)  Your tour ends at our Verona hotel. You are responsible for your own transfer to the airport for your flight home. You can take a taxi on your own to the Verona train station and continue on to the airport (or to many other Italian cities.) Taxi fare to the Verona train station is approximately 10-15 Euro and the ride takes about 10 minutes.

VBT Air Package guests: After breakfast, say goodbye to your Trip Leaders and board the coach for your transfer to Verona (2 hours or about 100 miles). You will arrive in Verona around lunch time and have time on your own to walk around the city and explore on your own with VBT's City Information included in your Final Travel Booklet as your guide. If you have chosen the independent Post-Trip extension to Verona, you remain at this hotel.

Early this morning, transfer to the Verona Airport for your flight back to the U.S. VBT recommends that you check the transfer time in your “Transfer Reminder” the night before your flight. The transfer is prearranged and prepaid by VBT.

Please note: For guests with early-morning departures, breakfast at the hotel may not be available. Please check with the Front Desk to verify the times that breakfast is served.