Our base for this holiday is Val di Fiemme which offers easy access to many of the Trentino region's ski areas. This holiday could suit many types of skier, including those who might wish to take part in the area's ski events. Our main aim however is to enjoy improving our ski style (and no doubt our fitness!) whilst exploring nature and soaking up the wonderful ambiance of the this scenic destination.

Day 1 Arrival to Val di Fiemme

Our meeting point will be in the village of Ziano di Fiemme, close to one of the valley's principal towns of Predazzo. Here we are ideally situated to access many ski locations. Your guide will meet you at your hotel in the evening to go over the week ahead. The ski style used for the week will be the 'classic' style using the pressed tracks/loipe. During our week we will use 'fish scale skis' with the chance to try 'waxable' and 'skate' skis too.

Day 2 Paso di Lavaze

Paso di Lavaze is a high plataeu offering reliable and varied ski terrain with superb views. Enjoy up to 80km of tracks and a wide variety of routes to suit all skiing abilities. We will work on how to be most efficient and effortless on our skis. You can rent skis from here which are of excellent quality - choose from either classic fish scale skis or waxable skis - with your instructor demonstrating the steps and art of ski waxing.

Day 3 San Pellegrino Pass & Ski Technique

The 'Paso Pelegrino' offers reliable conditions and has a variety of ski trails on offer for all abilities at the Alochet Ski Centre. You'll choose the distance based on your skiing level and technique. Today will be spent in smaller groups looking at ways to improve and develop our personal skill levels. These lessons will be taken on an instructor/client ratio of 1:3, including a special video ski analysis. We will then use the footage of our own skiing alongside expert professional footage to conduct a review of technique - this helps with refining and understanding our own skiing and guides where we can make improvements.

Day 4 Val di Fassa & the Marcialonga Trail

We make use of the local buses this morning to take us to the neighbouring valley of Val di Fassa. Here we'll have superb views of the towering limestone cliffs. We start our ski from the highest point of the Marcialonga Trail at Canazei. The Marcialonga is a world class annual cross country ski race which takes place in the Val di Fassa and Val di Fiemme valleys. Today we plan to ski a section of the course down to Moena and then Predazzo - practicing and refining our ski style from our previous days. We can almost ski to the door of our hotel on this route. We can shorten our day at various points as we travel through many villages with bus access back to our hotel. This is an ideal 'scouting' day for those thinking they'd like to challenge themselves with this event. See further race details here.

Day 5 Explorer Day

Our base in Val di Fiemme is ideal for a complete rest and relaxation day or for exploring slightly further a field both on skis or by bus. On skis you could perhaps complete more of the Marcialonga race route and ski onto Molina or perhaps just enjoy a lie-in and rest at the hotel! You can combine this with visiting one of the local villages or if you'd like to have a full day out then take a bus and explore the capital of the South Tyrol, Bolzano. Bolzano is a city steeped in history; from Roman times on to its Austrian-Hungarian era prior to WW2 (when it was primarily a German speaking city). Its medieval city centre houses both Gothic and Romanesque churches and its bilingual signage offers a unique flavour of a city at the crossroads of Italian and Austrian cultures. Its unique heritage along with its natural and cultural attractions make it a popular tourist destination. Enjoy strolling along the Lauben, the mile-long medieval arcade, visit the famous Ötzi the Iceman exhibition at the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology or explore one of the city's many stunning castles.

Days 6 Skate Ski at Paso di Lavaze

At Paso di Lavaze we have the opportunity to change our skis over to shorter 'skate' skis and try the art of 'patinato' or 'skate skiing'. The terrain here is ideal for an introduction to the grace and art of skating. Our low ratio group sizes will ensure that we will get you moving with style! On our return to our hotel we have time to visit the charming town of Cavalese.

Day 7 Oclini Plateau

Our final day is a ski tour over the Oclini plateau out to a traditional Italian farm skiing to a slightly higher altitude. The tracks lead through magnificent woodlands on to plateaus to view the Latemar chain of the Dolomites. There's no wonder that many national and international ski events are held in the region. Enjoy a final day exploring this fabulous area before returning our skis and heading back to our accommodation for a final evening meal together.

Day 8 Departure Day

Today is departure day and the trip finishes after breakfast..

Accommodation

Our accommodation for this trip will be at Hotel Zanon. The hotel is run by the Family Gabrielli and is ideally situated at nearly 1,000m for early season snow and for exploring the area. The ski trails are just 300 metres from the front door and the free ski bus runs close by to access other areas.

Hotel Zanon offers excellent home style cuisine, local wines and a friendly service. The bedrooms are spacious and bright all with private bathrooms, telephone, internet connection, satellite TV, hairdryer, safe and balcony. After your days out skiing enjoy relaxing in the hotel spa which offers various treatments such as their Finnish sauna and whirlpool.

If you would like to arrange for a single room or for extra nights of accommodation – please specify this on your booking form and we will try to accommodate your preferences. Do contact us if we can help with any questions.

Directions to Hotel Zanon

Price

Included: The price includes 7 night's half-board accommodation in a 3 star hotel (based on two people sharing), 5 day's ski instruction by a BASI instructor and transport to the ski locations. One afternoon will be allocated to having low ratio ski lessons (typically 1:2/1:3) based on skier's ability, split with video analysis sessions.

Not included: Ski hire is approximately 15 Euros per day depending on the type of ski you choose. The ski quality is first class and you can even upgrade to race level skis. The 'Supernordic' ski pass is approximately 35 Euros (2013 prices) for the week and covers all areas. Your holiday insurance, flights, transfers, drinks, lunches and any ski lifts that could be used in a bad weather alternative itinerary are not included. Explorer Day activities and transport are not included in the trip price.

Minimum numbers

This trip requires a minimum of 4 clients to run. We will take a maximum of 8 clients.

Insurance

Please note that you must have the appropriate insurance for your chosen activity. You must be covered for helicopter rescue, repatriation and medical costs. With regard to this please be sure you have read the insurance section in our Terms and Conditions.

Travel Information

The Fiemme Valley can reached by the following methods:

By plane: Milan (300 km), Villafranca-Verona (160km), Marco Polo-Venice (220 km), Innsbruck Austria (200 km) Bolzano (50km). Depending on whether you would like to travel on a Sunday or Monday Easyjet, Ryan Air or British Airways will fly to these locations.

The easiest airport transfers are with a 'flyskishuttle' which runs from Milan,Venice and Verona airports costing approximately 32 Euros return/ 19 Euros one way (2013 prices). Timetables are updated in season. Private transfers are also available.

Bolzano is the local Dolomiti airport only serviced from Rome: Bolzano Airport

By car: exit Ora-Egna from Highway 22 (Brennero), follow SS48 Dolomiti road.

By train: The closest train stations are Ora, Bolzano or Trento. Direct connections into the valley from Trento can be made with the bus company Trentino Trasporti and from Bolzano and Ora with the company SAD. The Ora-Egna rail station is on the Verona-Munich line.

Bolzano office: +39 0471.973668 - e-mail: direzione.altoadige@trenitalia.it

By bus: daily connections from Ora-Egna, Trento and Bolzano rail stations.

To connect to many Italian major cities you can contact the Fiemme travel agency: +39.0462.341463 or Fiemme Reservations:+390462.341463

If you would like further information on how to book any travel method then please contact us for more information or visit the Val di Fiemme tourism website: Val di Fiemme Tourist Office

Race Information for the Marcialonga

To find details on the route and race: Marcialonga Official Website

*Set up in 1978, the Worldloppet Ski Federation is the international sports federation of cross country skiing marathons. Their aim is to promote the sport of cross country skiing through the various ski races around the world. There are currently 15 countries involved. Only the best race from each member country can become an official event of the Worldloppet!

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Italy Cross Country Ski Holidays