Seven breakfasts, five lunches and six dinners are included, one of which will be an authentic Tyrolean gourmet dinner

Dinners are usually taken in the hotel restaurant, where we enjoy a lovely set menu. Please note, the meal on the evening of Day 1 may be a cold buffet instead of a hot meal.

Dinner is not included on the free day, which may be an excellent opportunity to try the à la carte menu on offer at the hotel or a local pizzeria recommended by your leader. Vegetarians are catered for; however, as this area is renowned for its meats, please be aware there may not be as much variety.

Five pack lunches are provided by the hotel. Each morning there is a buffet with items to make your own lunch (eg cured meat/ham, cheeses, boiled eggs, tomato, cakes, fruit etc). To reduce the use of plastic and single-use items, the hotel provides reusable cutlery and a paper bag, though we recommend bringing a reusable container.

On day 6, the hotel restaurant presents an authentic Tyrolean gourmet dinner. Settle in for courses that showcase South Tyrol’s alpine pantry: perhaps speck, Schlutzkrapfen (spinach-filled ravioli) or fluffy canederli, followed by mountain cheeses and a delicate dessert.

South Tyrol’s cuisine blends Austrian heartiness with Italian finesse. Your hosts highlight producers and seasonal traditions, while the wine list features local varieties such as Lagrein and Gewurztraminer. It’s a convivial evening to share stories from the trail and toast the peaks that ring Villabassa.

On day 5, enjoy a free day to rest or explore at your own pace. Unwind in the Adler’s wellness area with a gentle swim before alternating between sauna and steam room, or simply settle by the fireplace with a book as snow drifts outside.

Step out to the village square for coffee and cake, admire the snowy rooftops and soak in the lakeside atmosphere of the Puster Valley. Your leader can suggest gentle strolls or arrange optional activities; the afternoon is yours to restore energy for the final summit days.

Prefer to swap snowshoes for skis on day 5? Head to Plan de Corones (Kronplatz) or the 3 Zinnen Dolomites area for groomed pistes, fast gondolas and sweeping red runs framed by dramatic Dolomite spires. Your leader can help with logistics and recommendations for the day.

This is an optional experience at additional cost, with lift passes and equipment rental payable locally. Enjoy pause-for-views terraces, mountain huts serving hearty plates and the thrill of carving beneath serrated ridgelines. Bookable on tour, subject to conditions and availability.

On day 5, glide along the tracks of the Dobbiaco (Toblach) Nordic Arena, a world-class venue with loops for classic and skate styles. Follow prepared trails through snowy meadows and forest fringes, with the Dolomites rising like watchtowers around you.

This optional activity is at additional cost and bookable on tour; track passes and equipment rental are paid locally, and coaching can be arranged. Routes range from gentle circuits to longer valley links toward Cortina, letting you find your rhythm and soak in the winter silence at your own pace.

For a special evening on day 5, consider dining at Atelier Moessmer Norbert Niederkofler (three Michelin stars), where the chef’s “Cook the Mountain” philosophy celebrates Alpine ingredients with precision and grace. Expect a finely paced tasting menu that reflects South Tyrol’s seasons and producers.

This is an optional experience at additional cost and bookable on tour subject to availability; advance reservations are recommended. Transfers can be arranged locally. Thoughtful pairings and attentive service elevate the night—an elegant counterpoint to the week’s snowy adventures.

When conditions allow on days 2–4, follow your leader to Lago di Braies, the Dolomites’ most photogenic lake. Snowshoe the shoreline beneath the cliffs of Croda del Becco, passing the wooden boathouse and stands of larch dusted with frost, while winter light pools across the frozen basin.

Formed by an ancient landslide dam, the lake shifts from emerald to silver with the seasons. Your guide shares stories of local wildlife and mountain life as you pause for photos and reflection, breathing cold, resin-scented air. With the crowd-free calm of winter, this iconic scene becomes intimate—footsteps muffled, snow creaking gently under your shoes.

On one of days 2–4, weather permitting, snowshoe beneath the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, three colossal battlements that define Dolomite grandeur. Follow your leader across rolling snowfields with views to the Cadini di Misurina as the Tre Cime’s pale walls shift from ivory to rose in the low sun.

An icon of alpinism, the area also bears traces of the Great War, when opposing forces fought among these cliffs and tunnels. Your guide weaves in the human stories behind the stone, helping you appreciate the geology and culture that make the Dolomites unique, and ensuring time to pause for photos and reflection in this amphitheatre of rock and light.

During days 6–7, trace old military tracks through forest and open slopes to panoramic viewpoints: Durrakopf (2,275m) and Strudelkopf (2,307m). Your leader sets a steady rhythm to the crests, where vast horizons take in the Tre Cime and the Ampezzo peaks. Warm up over lunch at picturesque rifugi before continuing along gentle ridgelines.

These routes once linked Austro-Hungarian positions; remnants and place names echo a turbulent past. As you walk, you’ll hear how the First World War reshaped the region and its paths. The reward is pure Dolomites: misty mountain passes, crystalline air and the satisfying crunch of snow beneath your shoes as the landscape opens in every direction.

On days 2–4 (weather-dependent), join a guided snowshoe into the Parco Naturale Fanes–Senes–Braies. Trace silent trails through larch and spruce, cross broad limestone plateaus and listen to the hush of winter as peaks glow with alpenglow. Your leader sets a relaxed pace, with time to pause for photos and reflection and enjoy your picnic lunch.

This UNESCO-listed Dolomite landscape was formed in ancient tropical seas, its pale cliffs now rising above valleys where the Ladin language still lingers. Learn how traditional rifugi serve as lifelines in winter, and pick out summits like Croda del Becco on the skyline as you soak in the winter silence of one of the Alps’ most storied parks.

Arrive in Villabassa and meet your tour leader and fellow travellers over a warm Tyrolean welcome at the Hotel Adler. On day 1, settle into this heritage property on the village square and share a welcome dinner featuring regional flavours as the week’s plans are outlined.

Hear how the itinerary adapts to snow and weather, what to expect from the guided snowshoe walks, and tips for comfort at altitude. The Adler’s 400-year story and South Tyrol’s blend of Italian and Austrian cultures set the scene, before you enjoy a free evening by the fireplace bar, looking forward to the pristine winter landscapes beyond the door.