Winter Tours in Italy

The combination of delicious food, spectacular scenery and a warm welcome make Italy the perfect destination all year round. However, it’s towering alpine peaks of the iconic Dolomites and Gran Paradiso National Park, provide exciting terrain for winter tours in Italy. From cross-country skiing and snowshoeing to downhill skiing, the diverse landscapes create a vast outdoor playground for winter activities.

Italy is only a short flight from the UK, and you can arrive in Turin or Innsbruck, just over the border in Austria, to get quick access to your winter destination. Winter temperatures can bring periods of fine settled weather and from Christmas through to the end of February average daytime temperatures range between +4º and -15º C in the shade. These temperatures can feel surprisingly comfortable, largely because the air is very dry, and you will often be on the move.

On winter tours in Italy, cross-country skiing is one of the best ways to explore the snowy scenery and you’ll find a large number of loipe (pre-cut skiing tracks) that wind through a beautiful winter wonderland. Because cross-country skis can be used on both flat ground and steep ascents, they’re great for exploring mountainous areas such as the Dolomites.

Whichever method of transport you choose on winter holidays in Italy, you’ll be greeted with idyllic alpine scenery and mountain views. After a day of exploring scented pine forests draped in snow and epic peaks, unwind in the sauna or outdoor hot tub and tuck into some traditional Italian dishes back at the hotel.

Italy Winter Tours

8 Days from £ 1699

Guided Group (Excl. Flights)

PREMIUM: Walk in Italy's most spectacular mountain range

Winter

8 Days from £ 1599

Guided Group (Excl. Flights)

Ski surrounded by the Italian Dolomites' jagged peaks

Winter

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Best 5 Places for Skiing in the Dolomites

Sexten Valley: Making up Italy’s iconic Dolomites, the Sexten Dolomites is a fabulous region full of history and skiing trails that snake through the South Tyrol and north-eastern Italy. Nestled between the Sexten Dolomites and the Carnian Alps is the Sexten Valley, a wildly beautiful and nature-filled area that has become synonymous with skiing and mountain climbing. Alpine meadows and ancient pine trees create a romantic backdrop while the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, the Three Peaks of the Dolomites, are the main focal point.

Alta Badia: Arguably one of the most well know skiing regions in Italy in the heart of the South Tyrolean Dolomite Mountains, Alta Badia is a popular destination for winter holidays in Italy. Its gentler slopes of San Cassiano and Corvara are perfect for anyone that is new to skiing but still wants to explore the stunning scenery of the Dolomites. There’s a real sense of calm in the air which provides a relaxing atmosphere where you can develop your skills. But if you’re a seasoned skier, there are 130km of well-maintained slopes to explore.

Madonna di Campiglio: Affectionately known as the Pearl of the Dolomites, Madonna di Campiglio is a popular location for awinter activities in Italy. Skiing was introduced to the area in the early 20^th century owing to its picturesque setting and alpine peaks that are hugged by the Dolomites and the Adamello Presanella range. With approximately 150km of slopes to explore, Campiglio is one of the largest ski areas in Italy. If you like a challenge, you can also trek along the Via Ferrate for some of the finest views in the world.

Villabassa: Enjoying a mild climate with plenty of sun and a dreamy position high up in the heart of the Dolomites, Villabassa is a much-loved destination for winter trips to Italy. This pretty spa village has become the starting point for skiing and winter walking along the Val Pusteria trail. But it’s not all about the skiing here, Villabassa also has a rich history and is home to several religious buildings such as St Anna Chapel and St Magdalene Church which houses a splendid Franz Kock organ.

San Cassiano: One of the prettiest alpine villages in the Dolomites, San Cassiano nestles at the foot of Continurines and Lavarela. In the winter months, adventure seekers travel here to ski down the famous Foram toboggan run, which stretches for over 7km from Lagazuoi. The Armentarola cross-country skiing centre also attracts the regular skiing crowd as it forms a part of the exceptional Dolomiti Nordic Ski. For some wonderful apres-ski, there’s a wide selection of restaurants and bars in the village where you can mingle with other skiers and walkers in the area.

My thoughts on this trip are a bit mixed.

Pros:
Our tour guide, Veriano, was fantastic—funny, thoughtful, and incredibly knowledgeable. He was truly one of the best parts of the trip. He took great care of us and paced the itinerary well, allowing us to see and experience a lot without feeling rushed. Having him handle all the logistics in advance was a huge benefit—it allowed us to maximize our time and fully enjoy each location. One highlight was the convertible bus ride from Amalfi, which he arranged as a surprise—absolutely unforgettable! I also really enjoyed the group of fellow travelers—such kind, interesting people who added so much to the experience.

Cons:
Working with Exodus was more challenging than expected. Their process seems geared primarily toward travelers from the UK, especially when it comes to flights and logistics, so coming from elsewhere was more complicated and less cost-effective. The trip also got off to a rocky start—the initial tour leader who was supposed to meet us at the airport was 40 minutes late, and no one from Exodus or the local team contacted us. It left several of us wandering the airport, unsure of what to do. Thankfully, things improved significantly once we connected with Veriano.

I had mixed feelings about the hotel (Hotel Due Torri). There was rarely anyone at reception, which made it difficult to get assistance when needed. Meals were served in a large, hot, noisy dining room where the hotel owner’s dog frequently barked, and the breakfast staff came across as unhappy and even dismissive—at one point, a breakfast staff member made fun of one of us in Italian saying, “I guess she can’t read”. That said, there were bright spots—Salvatore and a few other team members were warm and welcoming, and the cooking demonstrations were enjoyable. Unfortunately, the food itself didn’t measure up to other meals I’ve had in Italy.

Like many travel experiences, this trip had both highlights and lowlights. Overall, I’m grateful for the opportunity and the wonderful people I met, but I’d likely consider a different travel company in the future.

Julia Lamb Highlights of the Amalfi Coast

A lot to see on this whirlwind tour,stunning scenery in Kyrgyzstan, busy Almaty in Kazakhstan and a lot of mosques,minarets and mausoleums.
The included lunches and dinners were very good apart from the dinner and breakfast at the yurt which was very basic and tasteless,room for improvement.
The eagle hunting demonstration is excellent something I won’t forget. The yurt stay was basic but acceptable,a bit chilly at night in June,the next morning there’s a 6km walk down to the red rocks,a very easy walk and very beautiful.
The border crossing on foot into Kazakhstan was straightforward as it’s so quiet unlike the border crossing into Uzbekistan which was pretty chaotic.
The Charyn Canyon was amazing,easy walk down to the picnic spot,you can either walk back or buy a ticket for a ride back up in a soviet truck.
Both sleeper trains were 4 berth quite tight on space for luggage,first sleeper does have food and drink available.
Uzbekistan was stunning but overwhelming with the amount of mosques,minarets and mausoleum’s visited in 4 regions,personally I wouldn’t have been bothered if Khiva had been missed off the itinerary a bit of a tourist trap.

Susan Watson The Silk Road

This trip exceeded my expectations in many ways! There is so much to see and enjoy on this tour. It is a tale of two halves: the first half, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, focus more on the stunning scenery and nature. The beauty of Kyrgyzstan was a revelation to me. And the Eagle-hunting workshop was an absolute highlight for everyone in the group. I did also enjoy the ‘brutalist beauty’ of Bishkek (expect your first day to be a long day, as you land in the morning and do a city tour in the afternoon – I basically skipped a night’s sleep, but it was worth it!). A personal highlight for me was the walk from the yurt camp (most of the group cited the overnight stay in a yurt as their highlight) to the red rocks – absolutely stunning. The Grand Canyon in Kazakhstan was also a great experience. The second half of the trip, Uzbekistan, is more cultural: you will see many impressive mausoleums, madrasas and mosques. Samarkand especially blew me away! Khiva is also very beautiful but seems a bit more geared towards tourists – it was definitely more expensive than other parts of Uzbekistan, although still cheap. In Tashkent we also visited a market and some metro stations, which was a little different and a very interesting interlude. There is just so much to see and do. Some might find the many mausoleums a bit repetitive towards the end, but I found they all had something different to offer and it truly is a unique opportunity to visit these beautiful places before it gets to overcrowded with tourists (especially Uzbekistan is geared towards receiving more tourists and is getting more coverage in the international press as an up and coming tourist destination!).

Yves Hoekman The Silk Road

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