Spend 13 days road-tripping with us from Milan to Innsbruck, ticking off Europe’s powder hotspots. You’ll get to explore historic mountain towns, ride deep powder, steep terrain and clock up some incredible vert. The resorts we visit receive heavy snowfall from November until early May and their high altitude keeps the snow in pristine condition. Some of the resorts we can ride include Livigno, Mayrhofen, Nauders, Hintertux, Hochoetz, Kaunertal, Sölden, Ischgl, Axamer Lizum and Kappl.
This tour starts in Italy and finishes in Austria. Meet your guides in Milan and we’ll make our way to Livigno, Italy’s high altitude freeride capital. This remote village is nicknamed Little Tibet and you’ll see why once you arrive. This resort hosts a Four Star Freeride World Qualifier event, just one of the 9 super-select events worldwide. You’ll spend 5 full days riding at this high altitude freeride paradise. Livigno stretches a good 10km along the Spöl valley with mountains on either side and bordering Switzerland’s famous St Moritz, this is a place you’ll find authentic alpine charm in every nook and cranny with a friendly, atmosphere. This region receives heavy snowfall from November until early May. The high altitude and heavy snowfall ensures that the ski area retains perfect conditions.
From Livigno we head across the Swiss border, followed by the Austrian border and arrive in Innsbruck. We spend the next 7 days based in this vibrant city which is the best place in the Tirol for the ‘powder chase’. There is no other city in Europe where you can stay in the city and have so many world-class resorts within a short drive. When in Innsbruck, we keep the itinerary flexible so we can chase the snow and ride at the best resort on the day. We have the option of riding at Kitzbühel, Mayrhofen, Nauders, Hintertux, Hochoetz, Kaunertal, Sölden, Ischgl, Nordkette, Seegrube, Axamer Lizum, Glungezer, Patscherkofel, Stubaier Gletscher, Schlick 2000, Kühtai, Rangger Köpfl & Muttereralm.
Our tour concludes on March 19 in Innsbruck. For anyone wanting to extend their trip join us on our Arctic Circle Roadtrip which starts on March 20 in Finland. Details HERE
7 DAYS IN ITALY
ITALY – TAX FREE IN LIVIGNO
It’s not just the high slopes and attractive village that make Livigno so hugely popular – its tax free status is a massive draw. The après ski is some of the most affordable you’ll find – a fraction of what you’d pay over in St Moritz with a pint costing as little as 3€ in some bars. The town is home to a hearty amount of restaurants, serving nonna’s favourite recipes and terrific cheese fondues thanks to the local Swiss influence.
ITALY – LIVIGNO TERRAIN
The resort caters to all ability levels, with everything from wide open rolling pistes, tree runs, one of the most famous terrain parks in Europe to high alpine freeride terrain. The resort has over 125km of marked trails and many more off-piste areas. All this is served by a modern lift system that includes 6 gondolas & cable cars, 13 chairlifts and 11 surface lifts spread across the two mountain ranges. This remote village also hosts a Four Star Freeride World Qualifier event. The Four star event is the maximum category for the Freeride World Qualifier series, assigned just to 9 super-selected events worldwide. It’s not surprising that it’s nicknamed Little Tibet.
ITALY – FOOD & WINE
No trip to Italy is complete without enjoying the local food and wine. Livigno has a tempting choice of more than fifty restaurants in addition to the dozens of bars. Many of the restaurants are family owned, and have been for generations. So, where to dine? For a start, you can’t go wrong with pizza anywhere in Italy, and Livigno is no exception. Paired with local wines from the vineyards of Valtellina and cheese’s from the local dairy farms. If you are the kind of person who likes to try regional cuisine – then Livigno has some very tasty mountain dishes and most of the restaurants will serve up their own local specialities. The best known of these is pizzocheri – pasta ribbons with potatoes, cabbage, garlic, butter and local cheese (one plate is never enough).
ITALY ACCOMMODATION – 4 STAR SKI-IN / SKI-OUT
Throughout the tour we stay at a brand new ski-in ski-out B&B located near the Carosello 3000 gondola. All rooms are large with amazing views. Among the amenities is a rooftop spa and sauna with a spectacular view. If you are travelling solo, you will be paired with another guest to room with. We aim to pair solo travellers according to gender, however this cannot be guaranteed. We suggest you book a single share room if this arrangement is unsuitable. Our twin share rooms are equipped with 2 beds and everything you need for a comfortable stay including linen and towels. Every morning you’ve got a hot buffet breakfast to enjoy in the restaurant.
7 DAYS IN AUSTRIA
For a genuine experience, our local Austrian snowboard guide shows us the best of the Tyrol culture, with après-ski, night sledding, hot pools and Tyrolean beer. Every day, we will decide where to ride depending on weather and snow conditions. With so many options, we always find the perfect resort for each day!
RIDE THE BEST RESORTS IN AUSTRIA
We keep the itinerary flexible so you can ride at the best resort on the day. Our base for this tour is the city of Innsbruck, which gives us easy access to resorts in the region such as St Anton, Kitzbühel, Mayrhofen, Nauders, Hintertux, Hochoetz, Kaunertal, Sölden, Ischgl, Nordkette, Seegrube, Axamer Lizum, Glungezer, Patscherkofel, Stubaier Gletscher, Schlick 2000, Kühtai, Rangger Köpfl & Muttereralm.
AUSTRIA – FLEXIBLE ITINERARY
We keep the itinerary flexible so your local Mint Tours guide can hunt down the best conditions all day, every day. Each day your guide will assess the conditions and decide which is the best place to ride based on weather and snowfall. Each day we’ll load up the van’s and drive to our chosen area. This flexibility ensures that we will find you the best snow and conditions all day, every day!
AUSTRIA – SNOW & CONDITIONS
March is the best time to ride in the Tyrol. The resorts are quiet and in great condition, with all pistes open and top to bottom riding. You can expect anything from perfect bluebird days through to riding powder. Even if we don’t get fresh snow overnight, the altitude and our local knowledge will ensure you’ll be able to ride light dry snow days after a storm.
AUSTRIA – LUXURY ACCOMMODATION
We make sure all our guests stay in quality accommodation that’s in the best location. Throughout the tour you’ll stay at a 4 star boutique hotel, Grauer Bär. Our comfortable twin share rooms are equipped with 2 single beds and each room has a great heating, private ensuite bathroom, TV, and free WiFi. Every morning you’ve got a hot buffet breakfast to enjoy in the restaurant. The hotel is also equipped with a heated panorama swimming pool, sauna and steam bath that overlooks the historic Old Town.