Cogne, Italy, fabulous for cross-country
Italian Ski Break
Italian Ski Weekend
Italian Ski Breaks
Italian Ski Break
Italian Ski Breaks
Italian Ski Breaks
Italian Ski Breaks

Italian Ski Break for 'Beginners'


Cross country skiing in Italy

This is the perfect winter break! Benefit from expert cross country ski tuition on world-class tracks, combined with Italian cuisine, comfort and cappuccino.

Join us in Cogne, Italy and learn how to cross country ski on groomed trails. The picturesque valley of Cogne, known as the 'Queen of Italian Cross Country' venues offers exceptional skiing away from the crowds in the Gran Paradiso National Park, which is home to Italy's highest peak. It is a lovely village of traditional stone-houses with an eighteenth-century chapel. We have carefully chosen instructors who are truly passionate about the sport, and we keep groups small to ensure quality tuition. If you have previously done some cross country skiing then you might like to consider our 'Improvers' Italian Ski Break, details of which can be found here.

Highlights

  • Learn to ski with a BASI Approved Nordic Ski School
  • First class ski instruction from a professional 
  • Centrally located 3* Hotel & Spa
  • Ski in Italy's 'Grand Paradiso' National Park
  • Group transfer from Milan airport included
  • Ski in a remote Italian valley away from the crowds
  • True Italian hospitality with great food
  • Reduced price option for 'locals' joining on Day 2
  • and a Cross Country 'World Cup' venue!

No matter what your age you can still master this original form of skiing. The word “ski” is Norwegian and comes from the Old Norse word “skid”, which was a split length of wood. Cross country skis are slender, very lightweight and easy to use. For centuries in the Nordic countries, skis were for travelling in winter to enable hunting, and to keep contact between communities.

On this trip you will learn the basic 'classic' technique on flat or slightly undulating ground so that you can propel yourself across the snow efficiently. Once mastered we will progress to longer journeys at a pace that is right for you. Cross country skiing can be, if you want it to be, a very aerobic activity, which also makes it ideal for winter 'cross-training'. On the other hand you can relax, take your time and just enjoy being out in the mountains. Read our Blog about learning to ski in Cogne, Italy.

Try Cross Country Skiing & Snowshoeing

Combine this Italian Ski Break with our Snowshoe Long Weekend for a multi-activity winter week on our Snowshoe and Ski 'Combo' holiday.


Wonderful holiday, excellent tuition, good food!

- Helen, UK, 2024.

A wonderful holiday in a beautiful part of Italy. Our alpine hotel was just lovely and the staff were delightful, particularly enjoyed the cosy wellness spa at the end of the day. Great cross country ski instruction; definitely tempted to do another trip.

- Alison, UK, 2023

Fantastic trip! Every day was exceptional and different with lots of best moments, from the sking, the Hotel, excellent spa at the end of the day, to the food , cocktails and beautiful views. 

- Marc, UK, 2023

Excellent logistics and planning so everything went very smoothly. Beautiful hotel which met all expectations. Quality of the tuition was exceptional.

- Simon, UK - Jan 23

The three day programme was excellent. Lindsay tailored her sessions to suit the needs of everyone in the group. A lovely hotel with real charm. I enjoyed every moment of learning to ski in such a beautiful environment.

- Louise, England, 2020

Michelle was an excellent teacher, good fun, knowledgeable and took care of every aspect of our holiday.

- Claire, UK, March 2020

I loved cross country skiing in the forest and it's surroundings with the mountains and the feeling of being in a massive environment therefore feeling small. Breathtaking views!

- Veronique, UK, Jan 2020

The holiday was very enjoyable. The views and accommodation were excellent and the guide was very professional. The best moment was the circular trail from Valnontey.

- Bob, England, 2019

Everything was 10 plus from the accommodations, the food, the people in the group, the scenery, and most importantly the skiing and the guide.   The skiing was perfect and the guide was great. She knew how to manage a diverse group of skiing level in our group.

- Sarah, England, 2019

It was my first cross country ski holiday and I loved it. The weather was perfect. The instruction was excellent. Views of Mont Blanc and Gran Paradiso were amazing! No one single highlight.. all days excellent; varied and challenging. Hotel cosy, breakfast and supper excellent ! Lunchtime restaurants very good too! Enjoyed the company of the other guests in our group.

- Louise, England, 2019

We had a fantastic time! Lindsay's experience showed and she provided great instruction. The accommodation was fabulous, as was the food. The weather turned out good as well, so all in all, splendid.

- Paul, England, 2019

The trip was amazing, the location in the Italian Alps fabulous and the guide was motivating even when I found some of the technique hard to master. We deserved a dip in the spa, the gourmet 4-course dinner and lots of wine after our exertions.

- Diane, England, 2019

I just wanted to say a big THANK YOU for an absolutely brilliant holiday, we had such a wonderful time. I was really looking forward to the holiday with high expectations, but it surpassed all my hopes. Thank you. I am so thrilled to have found a winter sport that ticks all “my boxes”: getting out into the beauty of the mountains away from the crowds with hard physical exercise – I love it!

- Clare, England, 2019

We both thoroughly enjoyed our trip, you are an excellent guide and teacher, and made it feel more like a bespoke trip rather than a group package. We intend to come back to do more, both skiing and possibly snow shoeing, we'll be back in touch when we do. 

- Jo, England

What a wonderful time we had. The sun shone and the trails were excellent. The enjoyment was really down to the absolutely excellent tuition from Tania. Her style of tuition was one of the best that I have experienced. At 61 years old I have experienced different tuition in ski resorts around the world and can honestly say that Tania is probably the best I have come across.

- Helen, England 2017

Itinerary

  • Today you will arrive in the beautiful Italian village of Cogne. A remote mountain community set in the magnificent Gran Paradiso National Park. Your ski instructor will meet you at your hotel this evening, at approximately 1830 hrs, and brief you on the days ahead. Your ski hire will also be organised for you. For full details please consult the 'Arrival & Departure' section of the Trip Information. 

    If you live locally and do not require accommodation there is the option of a reduced price. Please ask for details.

  • Our hotel is located a very short walk from the ski tracks which makes it very convenient. After fitting our skis and boots, and finding our 'ski-legs,' your instructor will take you through various exercises to introduce you to the techniques for 'classic style' cross country skiing, and what we call 'diagonal stride'. Cogne has an excellent stadium offering beautifully groomed tracks in a large flat area which makes it the perfect arena for learning. There is also a large network of trails through the valleys and forest which we will progress to during the weekend.

    Mid-morning we normally take a break for coffee and cappuccino, after all it is a holiday. Lunch will be at a local restaurant or cafe. In the afternoon we return to our skis for further practice, consolidating our learning and with the option to make some short journeys on your skis.

    However, it is not all about the skiing! After a day on the ski trails there will still be time to explore the shops, bars for a pre-dinner apéro or relax in the hotel wellness 'Spa La Baita'. Post ski massages can be booked directly with the hotel.

  • This morning we head back to the stadium for our warm up exercises, and to reacquaint you with your skis. One of the reasons we love Cogne is that it is so well provided as a cross country ski resort. With 55km (35 miles) of ski trails, many regional and national cross country ski competitions like the Marcia Gran Paradiso take place in the Cogne valley. The main trails are flat or gently undulating, and are the perfect training ground for beginners and racers alike. The stadium area also has 'snow canons' and if the real stuff is in short supply they will create perfect tracks from the snow they produce themselves. This so-called 'artificial snow' is without doubt as good as, or frequently better than, the real thing - white velvet.

    The free ski bus means we can explore the neighbouring villages such as Epinel, or Lillaz which, like Valnontey,  is a famous ice-climbing venue, attracting climbers from around the world. Our aim will be to do a short journey to our lunch-stop, then our afternoon will be spent adapting our basic diagonal stride for different types of terrain. There will be plenty of opportunities for learning new skills or practising along the way. Our instructors aim to ensure that you progress each day at 'your' level while maximising your enjoyment of the activity.

  • Today we plan to put all our skills into practice and make a longer tour that can be adapted to suit everyone's level. Our aim is to ski to the beautiful upper valley of Valnontey. This snow filled valley is famous for ice climbing, and it's possible to see ice climbers tackling the spectacular frozen waterfalls that line the valley on both sides. We will stop for lunch at the characterful family run Albergo of La Barme. Think heavy stone tiles on the roof, ancient woodwork, and a tiny hamlet of old wooden houses.

    After lunch we tour further on undulating trails by the rivers edge to the head of the valley. It's often possible to watch ibex and chamois on the valley slopes and in the woods close to the trails. Our return journey includes some enjoyable downhill sections which can be avoided if necessary by simply taking the ski bus back to Cogne.

    A final Italian meal concludes this Italian Ski Break, where we hope you have enjoyed learning about cross country skiing and experienced the charm of the Italian Alps.

  • Today is departure day and your private minibus transfer will collect you after an early breakfast from your hotel. For full details consult the 'Arrival & Departure' section under Trip Information. 

It is always our aim to complete the proposed itinerary outlined above, however, it may be necessary for our guides/instructors to adjust the daily itinerary based on the weather conditions, group safety and enjoyment. 

Accommodation

We always aim to accommodate our guests in well-situated, clean, characterful, family run accommodation. All of our trips are based on two people sharing a bedroom, what we call a 'twin' meaning two single beds in one bedroom. If you are booking as a single traveller you will share with someone of the same gender. In many cases a single room is available for a supplementary fee, but these can be in short supply and require early booking. Note that it is very rare to have air conditioning in European mountain areas, and most bedrooms do not have this facility. If you have any questions about the accommodation please contact us.

Cogne is a small town equipped with all the facilities you might need for this trip including; a pharmacy, banks/ATMs, small supermarket, sports shops, tourist office, local produce, souvenirs, bars and cafes. Situated in the heart of the old town our accommodation is perfectly situated to easily access the ski trails, free bus to neighbouring villages, shops and bars.

Hotel du Grand Paradis, Cogne

Hotel

You will be guests of Filippo Gérard, our host whose family owns and runs our gorgeous 3* hotel. Built in the19th century the Hotel du Gran Paradis, is Cogne's oldest hotel. It boasts traditional architecture, local Italian cuisine all in a relaxed alpine setting. Make yourself at home with access to their living room with fireplace, little bibliothèque, bar, heated ski room plus it has a small private wellness Spa La Baita.

Dinner is delicious, typical food from the Aosta valley region of Italy, eaten at our hotel's other restaurant at the Hotel Sant'Orso. The Hotel Sant Orso has a reputation with 'foodies' as being an excellent example of local tastes and dishes from this wonderful part of the Italian Alps. You may feel that on this trip you spend a lot of time contemplating the local tastes!  Breakfast is taken in our own hotel dining room and is buffet style. 

Massages and single room requests are possible, but do incur an additional fee. 


  • Flying to Milan

    For convenience we have included a transfer from Milan Malpensa airport, Italy to Cogne. Our departure/pick up time from Milan Malpensa airport is scheduled for 16h30 however, once we have all the guest arrival times we may bring this forward if it suits all the other members of the group. If your flight arrives earlier in the day you can use the time to explore the city of Milan. The journey from Milan Malpensa to Cogne is approximately 2.5 hours. 

    Previously we asked that you arrived into Geneva, Switzerland, but due to Covid-19 we are, for now, avoiding travelling through Switzerland and France to reach Italy in a bid to reduce the risk of disruption to travel.

    If required the journey time to travel to Cogne from Milan Malpensa airport by public transport is about 5.5-6 hours. Timetables can be sourced on www.rome2rio.com The route taken is from Milan Malpensa airport, to Milan Central station, to Turin Porta Susa, to Aosta where you can either go by bus or by taxi to Cogne. A public bus runs from Milan Malpensa Airport to Aosta 1 to 3 times per day except on a Tuesday and a Wednesday taking about 2 hours. A single is 25 Euros. It would then be necessary to either take another bus a taxi to/from Cogne timetables on how to reach Cogne can be found here on the Cogne Tourism office website.

    Early arrivals - time in Milan

    If you arrive early take time to explore this cosmopolitan city known as the fashion capital of Europe. Details of how to travel into central Milan can be found here. The journey takes around 60 minutes. OR the shuttle bus takes 40 mins duration leaving every 30 mins snd is about 16 Euros return (2024).

    If you wish to leave luggage while exploring you can find 'left luggage' facilities at various locations in the city for approximately 5€ per bag per day. Left luggage facilities at Milan Malpensa airport are open from 0600hrs - 2200hrs and are located on the Arrival Level, or Terminal 1. 

    Flying to Turin or Geneva

    You can also choose to fly to Turin, Italy or to Geneva in Switzerland, and make your own way to Cogne by bus/train. If you choose to do so the cost of travelling to Cogne is not included in your trip fee, and no reduction will be made from the trip fee. You can find details of public transport from Turin to Cogne here. The route generally will be Turin to the ancient Roman town of Aosta, and then the local bus to Cogne. The easy option is to hire a car for the weekend and drive from Turin, to Cogne, in only 1h45. 

    Departure

    On your departure day there will be a private minibus transfer which will collect you after an early breakfast and take you to Milan Malpensa airport. The return transfer will leave Cogne at approximately 07h30 in order to arrive at the airport between 10h30-11h00. Your flights from Milan Malpensa airport should be booked to depart no earlier than 12-midday. The departure time may be changed if all the group flights are departing later in the day.

    It is important that you inform us of your travel times as soon as possible after booking.  

  • When booking a trip we ask you to acquire insurance to cover you for the following:

    Mountain Rescue Insurance

    It is a condition of booking that you are insured against medical expenses, injury, illness, death, mountain rescue, cost of repatriation and personal accident risks. Please ensure that your insurance covers you to the maximum altitude given on your trip itinerary. The maximum altitude for any trip can be checked on the 'At A Glance' box on each trip page. Most of our trips have a maximum altitude of 3,000 metres. If you are unsure or are joining a bespoke trip, then please ask us for specific details.

    Trip Cancellation/Curtailment Insurance

    You should also have insurance to cover trip cancellation and curtailment. Please note that your deposit and balance payments are non-refundable, unless it is Tracks and Trails who cancel the trip due to a failure to reach the required minimum numbers. In this case we will offer you a refund or the option of transferring to another trip if one is available. We also advise that you should have insurance which covers baggage loss/equipment damage as Tracks and Trails will not be held responsible for loss/damage to baggage/equipment.

    COVID-19 Insurance

    As well as medical cover, we recommend that you have appropriate travel insurance so that if you fall ill and test positive for COVID-19 prior to (or during) your trip, you will be financially covered for cancelling your trip. You should also consider booking a policy that covers you if you have to cancel or curtail your holiday because you have to self-isolate. If you choose to cancel, cancellation charges will be payable, but if the reason for your cancellation is covered under the terms of your insurance policy, you may be able to reclaim these charges. Please read the clauses below detailing trip cancellation and curtailment.

    Travel Insurance covering COVID-19 is now available from a number of suppliers, Campbell Irvine, Trailfinders and Staysure. Please check their websites for the latest information on what is and isn't covered. It is likely that more companies will offer COVID related cover in the future.

    All of the above insurances are detailed in our Terms and Conditions

    If you are joining a trip in the UK helicopter/mountain rescue insurance is not required as this is a free service.

    For further details, please read the Insurance section on our website.

  • Winter mountain weather in the European Alps can vary considerably, and in this respect it is no different to any mountain environment where the terrain influences the weather and it can change from valley to valley. 

    In winter the weather can deliver everything from clear blue skies, and glorious sunshine, to heavy snowfall and strong winds. Essentially, as with all mountain journeys, you should be prepared for any eventuality.

    Temperatures vary depending on the month, generally December, January, and February are colder, but by March and April the temperatures are warming up and spring is on the way. 

    In December and January they can range from -10°Celsius (14°F) to 3°Celsius (37.4F), in February from -5°Celsius (23°F) to 7°Celsius (44.6°F), and in March from 0°Celsius (32°F) to 13°Celsius (55.4°F). 

    The above figures are a general indication only as the weather can vary considerably year on year for any given month.

  • The cross country skiing equipment we will use features lightweight track classic skis with skins (not skate skis or waxables), NNN (or similar) boots, bindings and poles. The total ski hire for the weekend is approximately 45 Euros per person. We ask that you pay this sum directly to the ski shop. Ski equipment hire is arranged in advance.

    Please make note of your equipment hire on our Booking Form. We will need to know your height, weight, normal shoe size (you must give us your everyday shoe size and not your personal adjustment for wearing boots) and the measurement of your height up to your armpits (for ski pole hire).

    Ski passes can be purchased once you arrive and are expected to cost approximately 27 Euros in total for the 3 days. 

  • Your safety while skiing is our top priority. All skiers are requested to adhere to the Code of Conduct published by the International Ski Federation, or FIS. The aim is to make you, the skier, aware of how to avoid risks, take responsibility and act thoughtfully while on the cross-country ski tracks. 

    • Respect for others
      A cross-country skier must ski in such a manner that he/she does not endanger or
      prejudice others.
    • Respect for signs, direction and running style
      Trail marking signs must be respected on any trail marked with an indicated
      direction. A skier shall proceed only in that indicated direction and ski in the
      indicated running style.
    • Choice of trails and tracks
      On cross-country trails with more than one packed track, a skier should choose
      the right-hand track. Skiers in groups must keep in the right track behind each other. With free
      running style, skiers shall keep to their right-hand-side of the trail.
    • Overtaking
      A skier is permitted to overtake and pass another skier to the left or right. A skier ahead is not obliged to give way to an overtaking skier, but should allow a faster skier to pass whenever this is possible.
    • Encounter
      Cross-country skiers meeting while skiing opposite directions shall keep to their
      right. A descending skier has priority.
    • Poles
      A cross-country skier shall make the utmost effort to keep his poles close to his/her
      body when near another skier.
    • Control of speed
      A cross-country skier, and especially going downhill, shall always adapt his/her
      speed to personal ability and to the prevailing terrain and visibility and to the
      traffic on the course. Every skier should keep a safe distance from the skiers ahead. As a last resort, an intentional fall should be used to avoid collision.
    • Keeping trails and tracks clear
      A skier who stops must leave the trail. In the case of a fall, he/she shall clear the trail
      without delay.
    • Accident
      In case of an accident, everyone should render assistance.
    • Identification
      Everybody at an accident, whether witnesses, responsible parties or not, must
      establish their identity. 
  • When packing for a trip in the mountains it is important to have appropriate equipment and clothing. This kit list features items we believe are necessary for the weather you will encounter and accommodation you will be staying in. 

    You require clothing that allows freedom of movement, and mobility. Warm leggings or trousers that are made of a stretch fabric are best. Layers are ideal for your upper body as they allow you to adjust your temperature. Alpine ski clothing is not appropriate as it is too bulky, too warm, and restricts movement.

    Equipment

    We use 'classic' style cross country track skis for this trip either ‘fishscales’ or ‘skintec’. You can choose to bring your own 'classic' track skis, however, do check with us first to ensure they are suitable. 

    Skis, boots, and poles - can be hired at the start of the trip. The cost of hire is indicated in 'Trip Information'. If you are intending to hire you must inform us as soon as possible as equipment must be booked in advance. The type of ski supplied by the hire shop is provided in the 'Ski Rental' section of the Trip Information page. If in doubt about the suitability of your own skis please contact us.

    • Rucksack - 20 to 25 litres with waist and chest strap
    • Rucksack waterproof cover or liner to keep contents dry
    • Water container - 1 litre, drink tubes and bottles stowed on the outside of your rucksack usually freeze in winter

    Clothing 

    • Waterproof jacket - essential, this must keep you dry during a day of continuous snowfall or at least as dry as any waterproof jacket ever keeps you!
    • Waterproof trousers - in case of heavy snowfall
    • Trousers - lightweight, windproof and warm 
    • Thermal top - long sleeves
    • Thin fleece - long sleeves
    • Waistcoat - fleece/wind stopper 
    • Gloves x 2 (one thick and one thin)
    • Warm hat
    • Sun hat
    • Head/ear band 
    • Duvet jacket (or second warm layer)
    • Scarf or 'Buff' for neck
    • Socks - 2 or 3 pairs

    Comfort

    • Lip salve
    • Sunscreen - essential
    • Sunglasses - essential
    • Snack bars/chocolate
    • Tissues - we recommend biodegradable bags to dispose of rubbish
    • Anti-bacterial hand wash

    Personal First Aid

    • Personal medication 
    • Blister plasters (e.g. Compeed)
    • Painkillers/anti-inflammatory
    • Glucose tablets/Energy gel
    • 2 x Rehydration sachets - eg Dioralyte
    • Throat lozenges
    • Antiseptic cream/spray

    Documentation 

    • Mountain Rescue/Ski Insurance documents - compulsory
    • Passport
    • Credit card
    • Cash - Euros
    • GHIC - if travelling from UK for medical cover

    Additional Items

    • Slippers for use at accommodation
    • Clothing for use at accommodation
    • Travel Kettle if required 
    • Swimwear for spa
    • Camera/ Book/Music
    • Toiletries – soap/shower gel; not all accommodation supplies these
    • Ear plugs - if room sharing

    **Supplementary snacks if you follow a gluten free or coeliac diet**

    Leaders are all first aid trained and carry their own first aid kit

  • For each of our trips a minimum number of guests is required before we can confirm that your trip will go-ahead. The minimum and maximum number of guests on your trip is displayed in the 'At a Glance' box on the righthand side of the trip page. 

    We strongly advise you do not book travel until we have confirmed your trip is 'guaranteed' to run. If you book travel before we have confirmed it is 'guaranteed' we cannot be held responsible for any financial loss if the trip does not go ahead.

  • When booking a holiday as a solo traveller a twin bedded room comprising of two single beds, is booked as standard. This will be with someone of the same gender unless you request to pay extra for your own room. Single rooms are often limited in supply so if you would like to pay a supplement for a single room we urge you to get in touch as soon as possible. This trip has a single supplement of £160. 

  • For this trip where you are centre-based, in other words where you are staying in the same accommodation all weekend, you are welcome to bring whatever luggage you require. However, please note that not all the hotels we use have elevators. This means you may need to carry your luggage to your bedroom and this might involve climbing several flights of stairs. We would suggest that luggage with wheels is generally a good idea.

  • On our Italian Ski Breaks the lunches are definitely one of the highlights. We do not include the cost of lunches in your trip fee as we find that our guests prefer to make their own choice at lunchtime. In Cogne there are various options for cosy and characterful cafes serving excellent local dishes at a very reasonable cost. We would normally stop at one of these and take a leisurely lunch break or we may eat at one of the local villages. It really depends on how far we have skied!

  • On your itinerary you will find an indication of the amount of ascent and descent you can expect each day. This offers a guideline to how much effort might be expended each day and allows you to decide, based on previous experience, if your fitness and stamina are correct for the trip. 

    We make every attempt to ensure these statistics are as accurate as possible, but ask you to note that the most modern of technology used to record these details can show considerable variations in terms of ascent, descent, and in particular distance. In other words no two people using GPS devices on the same route will have exactly the same details recorded at the end of the day. 

    The statistics given should be used as a 'general' indication of the effort required. 

  • It is useful to arrive at your destination with some cash in the local currency, however, on most occasions it is relatively easy to visit a 'cash machine' after arrival and withdraw money on a credit or debit card. Some of our locations are an exception to this in particular Norway, where the accommodation will often have no facilities for withdrawing cash, but they will take a credit card. 

    On many of our trips we will visit remote cafes/farms where it is wonderful to enjoy a drink and a cake, at places such as these they will often only accept payment in the local currency in cash.

  • Food

    We encourage you to experience local tastes and dishes and for this reason many of our accommodation options will be family run with a reputation for traditional food. 

    If you have a 'special' diet because of an allergy or intolerance which will make you ill then the accommodation will cater for this as best they can, eg gluten free, nut free, lactose free. Gluten-free diets will be possible with regard to the evening meals, but we would advise that you bring along some gluten-free snacks for your breakfasts and lunches.

    If you are vegetarian his is not a problem as the hotels/refuges are used to being asked for vegetarian meals. Our accommodation will try to cater for those with vegan diets but in remote refuges in the mountains this is more difficult. If you would like to discuss the suitability of a trip for a vegan diet contact us

    If you have a 'special' diet which is NOT because of an allergy or intolerance, and is not 'veggie' then we apologise, but we cannot cater for this. The accommodation on the popular routes will be catering for many people each evening, in some cases up to 70/80 meals per night, 7 days a week, and realistically they cannot produce many different meal options unless the food will result in illness.

    We request that you do not CHANGE your dietary requirements during the trip as we will have pre-ordered your meals.

    Water

    The countries we visit all have tap water which is drinkable. If for any reason a particular hotel or mountain hut is having a problem with a remote mountain water supply they will normally post a sign over the tap indicating that you must not drink the water.

    Due to rising temperatures in the summer months some mountain huts are having to restrict water usage. Which may mean that you are unable to shower in some mountain refuges.

    At all times you are welcome to ask your guide/instructor if the water can be drunk. We would ask, for environmental reasons, that you avoid using single-use plastic bottles, and bring a water bottle that can be used repeatedly.

  • A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the end of your stay is generally required. Please check the relevant embassy or consulate for the country you are visiting, paying attention to your citizenship. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents and visas for your holiday. Visa requirements and charges are subject to change without notice.  

    We ask that you carry a paper copy of your passport with you on your trip. We suggest keeping your passport in your rucksack, and a paper copy of your passport in any luggage you might have. If your trip is without luggage transfers then keep a paper copy somewhere in your rucksack, separate from your original document. 

  • We recommend you check if you require an adaptor for your electrical items at:

    Plug, Socket & Voltage by Country

    Note that if your trip involves staying in a mountain refuge/rifugio/hut that electric sockets may be in short supply and for that night you may not be able to charge any items. Although the accommodation will have electricity this will often be supplied by solar panels or a generator and limited to use by the staff. For this reason we advise that carrying a small slimline and lightweight 'battery pack' can be very useful for recharging phones which many of you will also use as your camera. 

  • Before booking consider whether you expect to be in the appropriate physical condition on the date of your  departure to allow you to fully participate in and enjoy your holiday. If you have any doubts because of an illness or injury it would be advisable to check with your doctor.

    For UK residents travelling to an EU country you should obtain and bring with you a free Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). This entitles you to state provided medical treatment in certain European countries, but is not a substitute for medical travel insurance.

    If you have a UK European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) it will be valid until the expiry date on the card. Once it expires, you’ll need to apply for a GHIC to replace it. The UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) lets you get state healthcare in Europe at a reduced cost or sometimes for free. Please check this before departing. We advise that you always carry your insurance documents with details of the Emergency Medical telephone number for your insurance provider, and your policy number. 

  • We feel strongly about protecting the environment and do not encourage the use of single-use plastic items. We would ask that you arrive with a ‘water bottle’ or ‘hydration system’ that can be used repeatedly. We would point out that we operate a ‘zero tolerance’ for rubbish, and would ask you to remove all your rubbish items from the mountain even those you consider to be bio-degradable. In particular we ask that you remove any toilet tissue.

    You can read our full policy here.

  • Working across international boundaries, and with various currencies means that the price of our trips can change overnight. We have, however, undertaken to guarantee that once you have paid your deposit the price of your trip is fixed. In this respect we urge you to book early to ensure that you receive the price advertised on our website. The website price may increase due to currency fluctuations, but we guarantee that the price advertised on the date of your booking will be maintained in your individual case. 

  • We believe in team work, and enjoy working with other small high quality companies. In this respect due to the specialised nature of our holidays, we co-sell a number of trips with 'partner' companies. All the trips being sold by Tracks and Trails are organised by Tracks and Trails, but you may find guests from other companies on your trip. Partners are carefully selected to ensure they reflect our ethos and standards. By encouraging other companies to sell our trips it means your chosen holiday may reach its 'minimum' number earlier, allowing us to guarantee the trip and to give you the go-ahead to book your travel arrangements. We guarantee that companies with whom we work will offer the same price package. If you have any questions about this policy contact us and we will be happy to discuss it with you. 


What's Included

  • Half-board accommodation for 4 nights, based on two people sharing in a 3* hotel
  • Use of the hotel Spa la Baita (jacuzzi, steam bath, sauna, relax area etc) with bathrobe, towels and slippers 
  • Three full days of 'classic' style cross country instruction by a qualified BASI Nordic Instructor or equivalent
  • Four course evening meal with a selection of typical Italian dishes at the Hotel Sant’Orso
  • A card for discounts in shops, ski rental and restaurants
  • Transport between the ski venues
  • Transfers to/from your hotel to Milan Malpensa airport, Italy

What's Not Included

  • Insurance
  • Flights
  • Lunches and drinks
  • Massages
  • Ski hire 
  • Ski passes
Return to Search Print Trip Notes

Grade: Beginners

READ GRADE DESCRIPTION

At a Glance

From Price £1095
Holiday Type Low Impact
Duration 5 Days
Group Size 4-8
Minimum Age 18
Maximum Altitude 1682m (5516ft)
Countries Visited Italy
Meet In Milan Malpensa Airport, Italy
View all Low Impact Holidays

Cross country skiing in Cogne

Skiing in Cogne

Italian Ski Break

Why book with T&T?

  • Highly professional guides
  • Personal service guaranteed 
  • Attention to detail throughout
  • Explore off the beaten track
  • Single rooms on request
  • No surcharge guaranteed
Read More