A Ski Safari Across The Dolomites
What Is a Ski Safari?
The word "safari" originates from Swahili and means "journey." That's exactly what we did—a ski journey.
As I get older and have been spoiled by skiing not only at some of the best resorts in Europe but also in the US and Canada, I find myself less keen on staying in the same resort for a week and skiing the same runs multiple times.
I've been fortunate to ski in the top resorts of the Swiss, Austrian, and French Alps, but I had never had the pleasure of skiing the famous Dolomites. For this trip, I wanted to explore a part of the Alps I had never visited before.
The appeal of this ski safari was immense—a new area, a new experience, and a journey in its truest form.
The Concept
A Dolomites ski safari can be customized for as many days as you wish, combining up to 12 different resorts into one seamless adventure.
For The Spence Connection, the challenge was to find eight friends or guests willing to join me on an adventure as skiing guinea pigs. They had to be fun, adaptable, reasonably fit, and confident strong intermediate skiers or above.
The best time for a ski safari is from December to late March. I chose March because it traditionally offers good snow coverage while avoiding public holidays and peak crowds.
The Essentials
Accommodations: A mix of charming hotels and remote rifugios (mountain huts), with food being a key part of the experience—especially lunch on the mountain. Not only do I enjoy table service at 8,000 feet, but also a needed break from skiing!
Guides: In my opinion, guides are the most important ingredient of any great journey. Since we had a group of eight, I wanted two guides so we could split up if needed based on ability, snow conditions, and weather. Their local knowledge, professionalism, and adaptability made all the difference—not to mention their ability to secure the best lunch spots in advance!
The Expert: I worked with a fantastic Spence Connection expert, Agustina, nine months in advance to help plan the perfect trip. Her advice was invaluable. I trusted her suggestions implicitly, having worked with her in my previous travel roles for many years. Her team also curates amazing hiking and foodie tours in the Dolomites, making them an excellent partner for future trips.
The Experience
Accompanied by two expert professional ski guides, our group of eight skied for six days across the Dolomites, traveling from resort to resort and staying in a variety of wonderful accommodations. While we focused on having fun and enjoying the mountains, our luggage was transported ahead via snowmobile, taxi, cat track, or cable car to our next overnight spot.
We explored the expansive Dolomiti Superski area (covered by the Ikon Pass), a massive network of 12 interconnected resorts boasting 1,200 kilometers (745 miles) of pistes. Highlights included:
The legendary Sellaronda Ski Tour
The majestic Marmolada Glacier, the highest peak in the Dolomites
Cortina’s Cinque Torri and Lagazuoi, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding peaks
Lunch was a daily highlight. The guides pre-booked incredible restaurants with jaw-dropping scenery where we enjoyed freshly prepared meals with excellent table service. Afternoons were spent skiing to our next resort, where we stayed in charming boutique hotels or cozy rifugios.
The Verdict
I had wanted to experience a Dolomites ski safari ever since I learned it was a thing 10 years ago. It's an amazing feeling when something you’ve been excited about lives up to (and exceeds) expectations.
There are always variables with a group trip—skiing ability, weather, group dynamics, logistics—but I’m happy to report that this adventure turned out even better than we could have hoped.
Since Venice is only a two-hour drive from the Dolomites, we extended our trip by adding three nights there—a perfect combination.
How to Book
Give me a call, and I’ll walk you through it! You can do a ski safari as a couple or as a group of friends or family. Every trip is customized to match your dates and preferences. You do need to be a confident intermediate skier or better.
Interested in a Summer Hiking Trip in the Dolomites?
The same Experts who planned our ski safari also organize incredible summer hiking trips in the Dolomites. In fact, hiking in this region is even more popular than skiing!
For more information, reach out, and let’s plan your next adventure!