 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi - my wife and I will finally be going to the Dolomites for a ski vacation and we are very excited! I know there is a lot of Dolomite experience here and was hoping for some advice.
We are planning to go for 5 days of skiing and are considering two options - stay somewhere around Alta Badia for all five days and have a guide take us out on trips each day, or book a tour that takes us to multiple towns (e.g. Alta Badia, Val di Fassa and a Rifugio...something like that) and takes care of transporting our things each day.
Would we be able to cover enough ground staying in one place and just spending full days with a guide for 5 days from the same starting location? Will our experience be meaningfully better if we move around a bit with a tour?
And does anyone have advice about good tour companies to use to book our trip if we go that route?
Thanks!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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First thing I'd suggest is to forget the guide. You won't need one if you can read piste maps, the area is well sign posted and it's fairly easy to find your way around.
I wouldn't bother with the complication of moving around either. It will just reduce your skiing time. It's easy for intermediate skiers to get to any part of the areas linked to the Sella Ronda and home in a day, and Alta Badia is a good base.
There have been a number of threads regarding the area. You can find the latest here:
https://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=169798#5316719
You can also ask questions on the Birthday bash thread, where there are experts on all the best Rifugios in the area, and also advice on the various Hotels to stay in.
https://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=168373
If dates coincided, then the Birthday Bash would be a good social introduction, with plenty of people who guide groups around during the week. although all the double rooms are probably full.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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If sticking to pistes from one base you don't really need a guide, though the distances covered are large.
Colletts specialise in the dolomites and do tours from place to place that are meant to be good though I think they are for a week rather than 5 days.
https://www.colletts.co.uk/holidays/private-hut-to-hut-skiing-holiday/
You can also do them as part of a group which is probably a lot cheaper.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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+1 for Colletts, excellent company
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@lirong, As has been said before, if sticking to the pistes you don't really need a guide for navigation purposes as the signposting is quite good. However, a good ski instructor or off piste guide can add significantly to the overall experience if you are prepared to pay for it. They will know which are the best slopes for the conditions of the day, where is currently less or more busy and will probably know which restaurants are worth visiting and be able to get you a table there.
I was part of a group in Corvara last year and we had a young ski instructor from La Villa lead us round the mountain doing just that. It was well worth it. I could probably find his name and pm you if you wish
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Stay in one place and do your moving around on skis, that's kind of the point. You won't need a guide unless you go off-piste. Pick a village based on your preferences; I like quiet and don't need nightlife, so San Cassiano is perfect for me. Do your homework but don't sweat this; you have five days in a place with 400 lifts.....you'll have fun no matter what.
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Thanks for this feedback
If we end up deciding to go with a guide, do people have any idea what we should expect to pay for that?
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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No point in a guide if you only want to ski pistes and don't want instruction. However if you are interested in off piste of course you need a guide and wouldn't find much of it without one (and it is mostly more difficult or very tough off-piste in that area). Mountain guide training takes many years and qualification is very demanding. They are the only people allowed to guide on glaciers. Expect to pay around €500 per day. Otherwise the "guide" would probably be a junior ski teacher.
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| lirong wrote: |
Thanks for this feedback
If we end up deciding to go with a guide, do people have any idea what we should expect to pay for that? |
IIRC it was about 350 Euro pd for a guide last time I saw it quoted somewhere
some of the ski schools do quite exclusive day tours with a helicopter either picking you up or dropping you off e.g. ski for the day, meal at rifugio, helicopter back. Obviously these are a different cost level...
But as others have said you don't need a guide if staying on piste. However as your new to the area - if time is short, money isn't an issue, you want to really cover some distance and make sure you make it back before the lifts close one might be useful.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Thanks all helpful advice. I cannot wait.
I know we dont need a guide and we are experienced skiers but I feel like its great to keep options open (off piste depending on snow), be the most efficient, see the best runs, give instruction tips along the way, etc. I have especially found that when conditions arent great, guides often can help us get to the best terrain.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@richb67, I would be very surprised if you can get someone as cheap as that.
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@lirong, as @brianatab suggested earlier if you went on the snowHeads Birthday Bash to Arabba you'll find loads of people who know the Sella Ronda area well. Each morning people meet up in front of the Portavescovo hotel and different groups decide to go off to different places each day. I don't know if there is still double room availability for you and your wife in the Portavescovo or Bellavista (I'm not going on the Bash this time due to other commitments) but if you can't get on the formal bash then you still have the option of arranging your own accommodation in Arabba and meeting up with sHs each morning who can guide you round the area.
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You know it makes sense.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Two years ago we stayed a week at hotel Diamant in Santa Cristina and the ski guide was provided free of charge by the hotel for their guests.
cannot recommend the guide and the hotel enough, check trip advisors we all rave about guy and he is really charming.
Tours are
Discover v Gardena
Sella ronda green route
Sella ronda red route
Discover Alta badia
Marmolada
Ski away to cortina travelling by small airplane, far too expensive for us 
We did two outing and really enjoyed ourselves
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Garfield, have a wonderful time, the spa is first class
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@lirong, I think if off piste is that important to you, you may have chosen the wrong place??
However, the Dolomites and pistes available have so much to offer, that I think you’ve actually made a brilliant choice.
Another +1 for joining a snowHeads Bash there some time. The 2025 one already so heavily subscribed now that there’s not much accommodation left.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@PeakyB, the Dolomites are a fantastic area for off piste, but it is generally tough off piste and you need a guide to find it.
This is the most Famous (and thus well skied) route, Val Mesdi, with sheer rocks on both sides, bisecting the Sella Ronda.
Last edited by You need to Login to know who's really who. on Sat 27-07-24 17:09; edited 1 time in total
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@snowball, thanks, I’m aware there’s very good off piste possibilities in the Dolomites. My impression is that it’s quite rare to get enough natural snowfall to make that off piste reliably open and safe to ski.
Fair to say, I think, that keen and competent off piste fans would likely choose elsewhere in the Alps.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@PeakyB, Well it failed for us one time out of five - 2023 (and we are a group of very good off-piste only skiers - with a guide).
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@snowball, sounds great and more reliable than I thought.
I lounge corrected then. Perhaps the OP is onto something good.
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@snowball, The thing is with Peaky B, he visited the area once, read a bunch of threads on Snowheads and then began dishing out advice like a Dolomiti tour guide. It's the nature of the beast, ever forum has one or two. 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| snowball wrote: |
@PeakyB, the Dolomites are a fantastic area for off piste, but it is generally tough off piste and you need a guide to find it.
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By “tough” you mean it tough to find without a guide, or technically challenging even for average off-piste skiers?
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@Mollerski, since you asked, 7 weeks in the Dolomites. Still only scratched the surface.
Simply trying to help someone who hasn’t been to the area before who asked for information.
Have I upset you? Any need to be rude, personal and presumptuous? Have a nice day.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@PeakyB, I'm sorry if that came across as harsh. It was somewhat pointed I admit.
I've been a member of a few leisure activity based forums over the years and this is the only one that I'm just hanging in there with. IMV, forums attract particular personality types whom tend to hang around for too long, or over comment where they may not be the best placed to do so on a specific topic. I'm afraid that I self identified as being guilty of both. Since then, I self moderate heavily and try to only chirp in when I feel that I have something to add that may be in addition to what has already been said. Rather than self-aggrandizing with my self perceived superior knowledge and vast travel experience.
In short, I'm a bit forum'd out. Anyway, apologies again and you too have a nice day. 
Last edited by snowHeads are a friendly bunch. on Mon 29-07-24 9:10; edited 3 times in total
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@Mollerski, noted and none taken 
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You know it makes sense.
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@snowball, that picture reminds me of one summer we were decending after climbing the Kleine Zinne (the smallest of the Drei Zinnen). We entered the gully expecting to be able walk down it afer a few rock abseils. It was jammed full of hard packed snow and the prospect of walking down it in rock boots did not look appealing. Fortunately, one of the party had a fair bit of snow experience and hacked out a suitable bollard to enable us to abseil down. The snow stays in some of these higher gullies all year.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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@snowball, thank you, although it was @abc, who asked about the characteristics of why the off piste was ‘tough’.
Your response should be useful to them, the OP and others.
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Poster: A snowHead
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If you want a guide, by all means, hire a guide. You'll be sure of maximizing your experience. They will find the good snow (piste or off piste), know places to avoid, lift bottlenecks overcrowded slopes etc., and the best lunch spots (though it's hard to go wrong). I'd check with your hotel and see if they have a guide that they recommend. Or check with the local tourist office. Often, they'll have links to local guides on their websites. You'll have a great time if you don't hire a guide; you'll have an amazing time if you do. Here's a line from the Alta Badia web site that gives contact info for guides: https://www.altabadia.org/en/summer-holidays/trekking-hiking/alpine-guides.html. It's for Summer but there's a Winter page as well. Here's the Alta Badia Guides Office page in English: https://www.altabadiaguides.com/en/index.html. While the Dolomites is not an off-piste Mecca, with a guide a little bit of luck, you can find some amazing skiing and most likely not be fighting off hordes of skiers to get to the goods. Places like the Val di Mezdi get tons of traffic, but there are lots of other options that don't see a lot of tracks.
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FAQ
