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Slovenia, Italy & Austria: Cross-Country Skiing the Alps
Activity Level:
Easy / Moderate |
Daily Mileage:
6 - 16 mi |
Daily Skiing:
2 - 4 hr
Pre-trip Extension:
Venice · 2 nights $195
Post-trip Extension:
Salzburg · 2 nights $245
Venice · 2 nights $195
Post-trip Extension:
Salzburg · 2 nights $245
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 - Depart US/Fly overnight to Venice
Depart from the US for Italy. The particulars of your
arrival overseas are detailed with your flight itinerary and airline tickets.
Day 2 - Arrive in Venice
You arrive at the airport in Venice, Italy. Once in the
arrival terminal, please locate the water taxi and Information desk. The staff
of ‘Venezia Taxi' – one of the 3 operators there – will take care of you,
provide a voucher and show you the way to your water taxi. From the airport
pier, you'll transfer (approximately 35 minutes) to your centrally located
hotel in Venice. The rest of the day is free to discover and dine on your own
with your VBT City Information Packet included in your Final Travel Booklet as your
guide.
Please note: If you arrive early, your hotel room may not be
available until 3 p.m. You may store your luggage with the Reception Desk.
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.
Day 3 - Meet Trip Leaders/Warm-up ski/Welcome reception
VBT Air Package and Pre-Extension guests: Meet your VBT
representative at 8:30 am in the main lobby of our Venice hotel; he or she will
be holding a VBT sign. We will then transfer by water taxi to the airport. Plan
to wear your ski clothes on the transfer or have them packed in a small day
pack that will be easily accessible upon arrival in Kranjska Gora.
VBT No-Air Package guests: The land tour begins at 9:30 am
in Venice. The meeting point is the bar
called CAFÉ' MARCO POLO DARSENA on the docks of VENICE AIRPORT (address: via
Luigi Broglio 8, Marco Polo airport).
The bar is easy to find: very close to the water transport docks of the
airport, where motor taxis park. You
will be met by our local representative, holding a VBT sign. From there you
will transfer to Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, by private motorcoach with our Air
Package guests.
If your arrival at the Marco Polo Darsena bar at 9:30 am is
delayed, please contact our hotel in Kranjska Gora to advise staff of the
delay, and they will pass your message along to your VBT Trip Leaders. The number
to call the Hotel Vitranc is: 011 386 4 5809-520.
In case of delays, also please see page 3 of “For
Travel-Related Emergencies.” VBT highly recommends flying to Italy at least one
day before the tour begins. This allows you to rest and recover from jet lag
before you begin sightseeing and skiing.
From the airport we will transfer by bus to the Ponca Ski
Shop in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia. The transfer time is approximately 2 hours and
30 minutes (153 miles, or 243 km). Lunch will be en route on your own. Plan to
arrive at the Ponca Ski Shop in Kranjska Gora around 1:30 pm. Plan to have
your ski clothes or have them packed in a small day pack that will be easily
accessible upon arrival at the Ponca Ski Shop.
Shortly after arriving at the ski shop, one VBT Trip Leader will hold a ski-fitting session, followed by a brief talk about the area trails and the afternoon schedule; while the other Leader will travel with the bus and luggage to the Hotel Vitranc.
We then set off for the trails for our afternoon warm-up ski on the Kranjska Gora Ski Trails (elev. 2,667 feet/813 m). Beginner skiers may opt for a lesson and will be accompanied by a VBT Trip Leader or a ski instructor from the center. Advanced skiers have the option of skiing on their own with trail recommendations from the Leaders. Beginners will ski with the Leader toward our first hotel, where all guests will arrive by late afternoon. Luggage will be waiting for you in your rooms.
The Hotel Vitranc is situated in the quiet hamlet of
Podkoren, just outside Kranjska Gora. Upon arrival, take some time to settle in
and relax, or enjoy the sauna or a stroll before we gather for a welcome
reception and dinner.
The hotel has a long tradition of hospitality. Vitranc was
the name of the beloved stallion of the first owners. The house maintains the
simplicity and charm of a family-run mountain guesthouse, where guests
immediately feel at home. The Pajzl area, or pub, has a separate entrance and
is still the preferred place for the locals to stop for a chat and beer after
dinner.
Day 4 - Morning ski in Valbruna, Italy/Lunch and exploration in Tarvisio/Afternoon dog sledding and skiing
After a hearty breakfast, we meet to review the day's events
and logistics. After breakfast, we will take a 40-minute, 16-mile (25 km)
transfer from our hotel to Valbruna for a morning ski in Italy.
Valbruna is a picturesque village nestled deep in the Canal Valley surrounded by the jagged peaks of the Julian Alps, which rise more than 4,000 feet from the valley floor. We set off on the trails from the Saisera Huette, which was built for the Valbruna Inn by an expert local carpenter, who worked by hand on one hundred-year-old beams to assemble the entire hut by overlapping the boards in the traditional local style.
Ski the trails through peaceful woods, alongside small
streams and vast snow-covered mountains, and enjoy a trailside snack or a
cappuccino on your own, stopping perhaps at the Agriturismo Prati Oitzinger
with stunning views of Mount Lussari, or the Bar Trattoria Jof di Montasio,
both offering typical local dishes of Friuli cuisine. Return to the Saisera
Huette after your ski for a bite to eat and some relaxation..
After lunch, we make our way towards the International Dog
Sledding School run by Ararad Khatchikian, a renowned Iditarod racer. We'll
learn how this important means of alpine transport became a sport, enjoy a dog
sled ride, and even have the chance to mush the Siberian huskies ourselves.
When it's not your turn to ride you can ski the trails here or relax in
Ararad's house. In the afternoon we return to our hotel – by taxi, or by skiing
back across the border. The rest of the day is free.
In the evening, we will provide a shuttle option for you to go into Kranjska Gora for an evening meal or drink.
Day 5 - Ski to Planica Ski Jump/Trailside Lunch/Cooking class and storytelling/Walk to dinner at Pri Martinu
Today is a full day, beginning with our morning ski to the
Planica Ski Jump -- the world's largest ski flying hill. Continue skiing up the
valley to the iconic Tamar Hut or take your time skiing the flat valley
below. At the Olympic Center, we enjoy a
snack and video, as well as the opportunity to meet 1961 Ski Jump World Record jumper
Joze Slibar. Feel free to ski or shuttle back to the hotel after our Olympic
Center visit. Stop at the Pehte Trailside Restaurant or in town for lunch on
your own.
Later this afternoon we gather for a cooking class with Chef Ales, who teaches us how to make struklji, a popular rolled dough pastry that can be savory or sweet. As we knead and roll we will be entertained by local storytellers, who share the legend of Kekec, a folk hero from a children's story.
Tonight for dinner we shuttle to Pri Martinu, a traditional
family run alpine gostilna, inn. The friendly staff dresses in period costume,
and the menu is based on hearty alpine specialties from local farms. Not to
worry about the hefty portions – after dinner we'll walk around town and
perhaps cap off the night with some après ski drinks at a local bar.
Day 6 - Transfer to Ramsau, Austria/Afternoon ski in Ramsau/short hike to dinner
After breakfast, you may take a morning walk or ski before a
breathtaking two-hour drive through the Alps to the Austrian ski village of
Ramsau (112 miles/178 km). We will stop en route for lunch on your own in
Schladming, a small mining town in the Austrian state of Styria, and home of
the upcoming 2013 Alpine World Ski Championships. After enjoying your lunch in
the old town area with many cafes, restaurants and a variety of shops, we will
continue to Ramsau (30 minutes) and meet at the local ski shop where your skis
await.
Ramsau lies at the foot of Styria's highest mountain, the
Dachstein, and is situated on a comparatively level piece of land. The plateau
is an exceptional geological feature in the rugged terrain of the Alps and is
ideal for cross-country skiing. The holiday resort extends over 10 miles in
length and 2.5 miles in width, and takes the form of a shelf 3,600 feet above
the Ennstal Valley. Several ski jumps were erected in the region in the
twentieth century, and the excellence of the Nordic venues of Ramsau am
Dachstein was recognized by FIS when it awarded the region the 1999 FIS Nordic
World Ski Championships.
After getting outfitted at the ski shop, we will ski gradually downhill for 21/2 miles (4 km) to the Hotel Almfrieden, our spectacularly-located lodging just off the ski trail. Choose your ideal pace for this afternoon, whether it is slow and steady on the flat valley trail or a vigorous jaunt to a breathtaking vista. Stop in the wellness center at the Hotel Almfrieden and relax after an afternoon on the trail.
In the evening, we will meet to walk together in the crisp
night air up to the Gruberstube for dinner, perhaps borrowing lanterns from the
Almfrieden to light our way. The hike is about a mile from the hotel, but the
restaurant is well worth the walk. The Gruberstube offers traditional Austrian
fare, including a variety of fondues and a large selection of excellent wines
from the region and beyond. Return to the hotel afterwards for bed or a
nightcap at the inviting bar.
Day 7 - Skiing on the local Ramsau trails/Lunch at a café /Visit to the Lodenwalke factory
In the morning, we enjoy a leisurely ski out the front door
of the hotel to the Ramsau trails. Stop for a snack or a warm drink at one of
the many cafés along the way. Perhaps even enjoy a sunny terrace while drinking
in the spectacular Mountain View and sipping on your cappuccino.
After lunch on your own, return to the hotel where we will
meet to catch the public bus to the Lodenwalke, a 550-year-old wool
manufacturing factory 15 minutes from town. We will take a factory tour, which
provides fascinating insight into the production of loden with explanations of
the machines and the particular stages of production. After the tour you will
have an opportunity to visit the showroom and shop for many high quality loden
products, then relax and enjoy a beer in the factory’s Styrian restaurant and
bar.
Following our tour of the factory we will return by ski bus
to the hotel, where the entire afternoon is open for more skiing, enjoying the
spa and sauna, or simply relaxing in the comfort of the hotel before dinner on
your own at any one of Ramsau’s mountain resorts. Your leaders will be happy to
give you recommendations for restaurants and transportation.
Day 8 - Explore Schladming/Farmer’s Market/Farewell dinner
Today, we take the morning off of skiing to experience
Austrian mountain life with a stroll through Schladming (30 minute bus transfer).
Originally a small silver and copper mining town as far back as 1180,
Schladming is now a renowned and popular meeting place for both cultural and
sports enthusiasts. Its reputation as a world famous winter sports resort is
based on many major events held at the Planai (Austria’s largest ski area) with
its legendary “FIS slope.” In 2013, Schladming will be hosting the Alpine World
Ski Championships. The picturesque countryside surrounding the traditional
town, along with the vibrant energy of the inhabitants and visitors makes
Schladming a charming combination of nature, culture and outdoor activities.
There are many activities available in Schladming: check out the Farmer’s Market which is open on Friday mornings; between November and January it becomes a traditional Christmas market with crafts, food, seasonal entertainment, and more. Enjoy lunch on your own at one of town’s many cafes. After lunch we will transfer back to the hotel to relax and change clothes.
This afternoon we return to Ramsau to enjoy its snowy beauty and relax before gathering in the hotel dining room for our farewell dinner of Austrian specialties.
Day 9 - Transfer to Salzburg/Free time in Salzburg/VBT No-Air package ends
VBT No-Air Package
guests: your tour ends in Salzburg.
Transfer time from Ramsau is about an hour and 30 minutes to the Hotel Altstadt in
Salzburg, where the trip concludes.
VBT Air Package
guests: After breakfast, say goodbye to your Trip Leaders and transfer to
Salzburg.
With extra time in Salzburg you will enjoy the rest of this day to discover the city independently. Visit the Mozarteum, a museum dedicated to Mozart's life, or several other artistic centers like the Carolino Augusteum or the Baroque Museum. See the Dom cathedral or St. Peter's Abbey. Salzburg's historic Old town (Altstadt) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is easily walkable, with a number of outdoor cafés and restaurants. Our luxury hotel is located in the heart of the city, making it easy to explore.
Your senses will come alive here in the magnificent city
whose landscapes were captured in the classic movie, The Sound of Music. The birthplace of Mozart, Salzburg has been a
cultural center for centuries, offering a host of museums, concert venues,
cathedrals and more to discover at your leisure.
Day 10 - Depart for U.S.
Early this morning, transfer to the Salzburg 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.
Please note: VBT transfer times and departure points are
finalized in advance and cannot be modified for individual guests. If you
extend your stay beyond the scheduled program dates, return transportation to
the airport will be at your own expense.
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