Live la dolce vita on our road trip through northern Italy
You can’t escape the magic of Italy. Yes, it has scenery to make you weak at the knees, a fierce obsession with food, and an unrivaled richness of cultural heritage, but Italy’s true seductive powers are in the detail of day-to-day life – the sound of church bells in the morning, a friendly ‘ci vediamo’ as you walk to the chair-lift, the smell of fresh baked pastries or a lazy afternoon sipping aperitifs. Whatever your definition of la dolce vita is, we’ve got an unforgettable Italian tour in store.
Arrive in Milan and be transported to Livigno – a remote village deep in the mountains of the Alta Valtellina and bordering St Moritz in Switzerland. Here you’ll find authentic alpine charm in every nook and cranny with a friendly local feel. Our next stop is Selva di Val Gardena – picturesquely situated amidst the Dolomites – the most beautiful and awe inspiring alpine region in the world. Massive spires and towering cliffs stand majestically above quiet snow covered valleys and tiny villages. To finish, we drive north across the Italian-Austrian border where our tour finishes in the picture-perfect mountain town of Innsbruck.
The ski areas we visit are some of the largest in the world, which is why we have a local mountain guide leading the way. All lift tickets and guiding are included and your guide will take you on an adventure each day. You’ll cruise the uncrowded, perfectly groomed or powder-filled slopes, stopping along the way at cozy mountain huts where you can enjoy incredible culinary experiences. Perfetto!
For comfort, you’ll stay in cozy 3-star, slope-side hotels with incredible snowy views. Every room has either twin or single beds and ensuite. Breakfasts are included. Each evening, head out with your host into the quaint villages to experience great food and vino.
Dates
3 - 10 March, 2024
Note - bookings close 8 September unless sold out prior.
Tour Type
Road-trip
Price
Twin Room EUR 3,150
Single Room EUR 3,490
Ability Level
Intermediate
Why Travel With Mint
In a rapidly changing travel industry it’s important to know that your travel provider is accredited, accountable and responsible. We are a registered member of AFTA and IATA and conduct business in accordance with the ATAS Charter and Code of Conduct. When you travel with Mint you can have peace of mind that you are booking with a qualified and established travel operator with over 20 years of expertise. And as a full-service travel agent, we are able to take care of your flights, insurance, stopovers and pre or post tour arrangements.
OVERVIEW
Get in touch for a detailed tour itinerary and more info
LIVIGNO
Livigno is the highest permanently inhabited town in Europe. The geographical position, together with its high altitudes, makes Livigno a winter paradise with heavy snowfalls from late November until early May. An extensive network of snow making facilities, covering up to 70% of the terrain, ensures that the ski areas always has perfect conditions. The village has been carefully modernised without compromising the pristine surroundings and maintaining its traditions and architecture, while developing a growing reputation as one of the best ski resorts in Europe. So much so that Livigno is one of a handful of Italian ski areas to be chosen to host the 2026 Winter Olympics. Livigno will host all the snowboard and freestyle events. We spend 4 nights and 3 days riding in Livigno.
SELVA VAL GARDENA, THE DOLOMITES
We stay in the highest village in Dolomites, Selva Val Gardena. The Dolomites are widely acclaimed as one of the most beautiful and awe inspiring Alpine regions in the world. Towering cliffs stand above quiet snow covered valleys with ancient villages and traditional wooden farm houses. Among all this, lies Dolomiti Superski, the biggest ski area in the world. From our base in Val Gardena we will snowboard The Sellaronda - a lift system that links the four valleys of Alta Badia, Val Gardena, Val di Fassa and Arabba. We'll ride from village to village, stopping along the way for a good coffee or a gourmet meal. We spend 3 nights and 2 days riding in Selva Val Gardena.
FOOD & WINE
No trip to Italy is complete without enjoying the local food and wine. Livigno and Selva have a tempting choice of restaurants in addition to the dozens of bars. Many of the restaurants are family owned, and have been for generations. In each of the restaurants, the chefs embrace local and seasonal products. There are various modern interpretations of traditional flavours, from beetroots to lamb and winter strawberries. The creative minds in the kitchen look for ways to make the food tell a story of the regions history, its unique location, and the people who live there today.
ACCOMMODATION & TRANSPORT
Throughout the tour you will stay in cozy slope-side accommodation that we've selected due to it's great location and amazing views. For a comfortable trip, all guest will stay in either single or twin rooms. The cosy rooms are equipped with heavenly soft beds and ensuite bathrooms. Every morning you’ve got a hot buffet breakfast to enjoy in the hotel restaurant. All transport between destinations is included and you will travel in comfortable large vans with extra room for luggage.
AFTER HOURS
After a long day on the mountain there is plenty to do. Wander through the village and take in the sights and some shopping, indulge in some wellness at one of the nearby spa's, relax in your room and enjoy the mountain views or join the girls at one of the many aperitivo bars before dinner. Each night we'll regroup for dinner where we'll enjoy some incredible meals at one of the many locally owned restaurants.
LOCAL GUIDES
You could visit a resort with your friends and try to figure out where to go, but why not get all the answers from day one? Answers that can make or break your snowboarding holiday. You will have a local guide show you their secret powder stashes, exploring parts of the mountain you didn't know existed, avoiding lift lines, showing you the best spots for a banging lunch or an epic photo spot for the 'gram. Your guide will give you a locals perspective from day one.
ESSENTIAL INFO
Here’s what you can roughly look forward to each day:
MORNINGS
We encourage you to enjoy breakfast at your leisure. Your staying at a ski-in/ski-out hotel, so you’ve got plenty of ‘me’ time before we the slopes at 9:30am.
AT THE RESORT
Walk out of the hotel and head to the chairlift where you’ll meet your local guide each day. Your guide is on hand from 9:30 am until we break for lunch at 12:30 pm, and then from 2:00 – 4:00 pm so you can really max out your time on-snow. After all, the focus of this tour is snowboarding! Throughout the day you’ll be guided through the endless wide-open trails and if the conditions are right, there will be options to ride off-piste and in the powder. While there isn’t any ‘coaching’ on this tour, you’ll naturally progress your snowboarding by riding more vertical, more terrain and more powder snow. As always, good vibes and fun times are had when you’re riding with the girls. There will be plenty of hoots and high fives. The priority is to find you the best snow and terrain, in a fun, safe and supportive environment.
EVENINGS
After a big day on the mountain it’s up to you! Live like a local and enjoy aperitivo with the girls to catch up on all the happenings of the day, get a massage, visit the spa, go shopping, or just relax back in your room. We want to make sure you have enough ‘me-time’ to enjoy your holiday. Each night is different and we’ll change the plan to suit the groups interest and energy levels. Evenings are a great time to catch up with everyone over some delicious food and a few drinks. Each night we enjoy a group dinner together at one of the many restaurants in the village.
The terrain in Livigno and Selva is ideal for intermediate and above ability snowboarders. Wide-open slopes, long-rolling runs, uncrowded and perfectly groomed. There’s even plenty of off-piste and powder riding options for the more adventurous. Perfetto!
INTERMEDIATE SNOWBOARDERS
The La dolce vita tour is perfect for intermediate an above ability snowboarders. If you can answer ‘Yes!’ to the questions below, you are ready to book this tour.
CAN YOU ANSWER ‘YES!’ TO THESE QUESTIONS?
✔ I can comfortably link turns with rhythm and flow on all blue runs
✔ I can load and unload from a chairlift
✔ I’m can ride for multiple days in a row
✔ I’m comfortable riding in a variety of snow and weather conditions.
If you’re not quite up to the ability level for this tour, don’t dismiss the possibility of experiencing this tour with us. Talk with our team and they will be able to make recommendations for other suitable tours or how to work towards joining this tour.
INCLUSIONS
- 4 nights accommodation in Livigno
- 3 nights accommodation in Selva Val Gardena
- 3 day lift pass, Livigno Resorts (Carosello 3000 and Mottolino)
- 2 day lift pass, Dolomiti Superski (all 12 resorts)
- 3 days of on-snow guiding, Livigno Resorts (includes snowboarding tips)
- 2 days of on-snow guiding, Sellaronda / Dolomiti Superski
- 7 breakfasts
- Private group transfer from Milan Malpensa Airport to Livigno hotel (arrival day)
- Inter-resort private group transfer from Livigno hotel to Selva Val Gardena hotel
- Private group transfer from Selva Val Gardena hotel to Innsbruck Airport (departure day)
- Fully-escorted tour, Mint Women host on hand throughout the tour
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
- Flights
- Travel insurance
- Third Party liability cover for snowboarding in Italy – 3 EUR per day
- All lunches – expect to pay EUR 10 – 15 per meal
- All dinners – expect to pay EUR 30 – 40 per meal
- Any meals, drinks, snacks not listed
WHY TRAVEL WITH MINT?
In a rapidly changing travel industry it’s important to know that your travel provider is accredited, accountable and responsible. Mint is a registered member of AFTA and IATA and conducts business in accordance with the ATAS Charter and Code of Conduct. When you travel with Mint you can have peace of mind that you are booking with a qualified and established travel operator with over 20 years of expertise. And as a full-service travel agent, we can take care of your flights, insurance, stopovers and pre-or post tour arrangements.
WHAT IS A ROAD-TRIP TOUR?
This is a guided tour with no coaching or instruction. Join this European adventure for a mixture of snowboarding and culture. Your local mountain guide has an in-depth knowledge of each resort we visit. We will snowboard for 5 days on this tour.
ABILITY LEVEL
To join the on-snow guided sessions, guests need to be at a minimum intermediate ability. An intermediate snowboarder can link turns on most runs both consistently and confidently, although sometimes coming into difficulty on steep black runs or in challenging snow conditions. If you’re not sure if this tour is suited to your ability just give us a call. We’re always happy to match you to a suitable tour or recommend a progression tour.
WHAT HAPPENS ON ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE DAY?
Once you’ve signed up for the tour we will send you through a comprehensive guide with details about the tour including the arrival and departure day process, a map of where we meet, recommended arrival and departure times, flight options, Visa requirements and transportation information.
WHAT IF I’M TRAVELLING SOLO?
About 99% of our guests are travelling solo, so you’ll be in good company. The accommodation for this tour is twin share i.e. 2 guests per room. Your group will be made up mostly of solo travellers. Our groups generally mix well due to a shared interest in snowsports and an eagerness to explore all that Europe has to offer.
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ON THIS TOUR?
Each tour is different, but we know that by offering one of the smallest client to guide ratio in the industry allows you to ski or snowboard at your preferred pace, and ultimately leads to a better experience for everyone. We have a maximum of 7 guests on this tour. This ensures you get the most out of your time with us, and keeping the groups small means less time waiting and more time snowboarding!
WHICH RESORTS WILL WE VISIT?
We will ride at Carosello and Mottolino in Livigno and we can ride at any of the Dolomiti Superski resorts.
CAN I ARRIVE EARLY OR STAY ON AFTER THE TOUR?
For most tours you can arrive earlier or stay later. We can tailor the trip to suit your travel plans. Speak with one of our tour specialists when you are booking and they will be more than happy to assist.
WHO ARE THE GUIDES?
All of our tours are guided by friendly, knowledgeable and expertly trained guides who are passionate about the mountains. You will have a local mountain guide every day on-snow throughout the tour and a Mint host for the entire trip.
ARE FLIGHTS INCLUDED?
No, flights are not included. If you need assistance booking flights, we can recommend the best flight options for the tour, with no booking fees.
DO I NEED TRAVEL INSURANCE?
Yes. All guests on tour need to be covered be comprehensive snow travel insurance. In addition to this, Italy requires that you have Third Party Liability insurance when you are on-mountain. You must carry proof of this insurance with you when you are in the resort. This can be purchased online, 60 days out from arrival. The cost is EUR 3 per day.
WHAT HAPPENS ONCE I’VE BOOKED?
Once you’ve booked your spot on tour, we will send you through a booking confirmation and provide updates about the tour including the arrival and departure day process, a map of where we meet, recommended arrival and departure times, flight options, Visa requirements and transportation information. We will send out a Pre Departure Guide 30 days prior to departure. Prior to the tour commencing we will invite you to a group chat which is managed by your tour host.
HOW CAN I CHECK MY ABILITY LEVEL?
The best way to check if a tour is suited to your ability is by speaking with one of our tour specialists. They will be able to determine if the tour you have selected is a good fit for your ability, as well as suggesting other tour options.
HOW DO I GET TO ITALY?
We’ll provide you with a guide with details on how to get to our meeting point in Italy. If it’s your fist time to Europe or if you’re unsure about travel arrangements, often we can link you up with other tour guests to travel with.
HOW DO I CHECK AVAILABILITY?
Speak with one of our tour specialists. As this is a small group tour with limited availability, it’s best to get in touch early to avoid disappointment. Note – bookings close 8 September, 2023 unless sold out prior.
ARE LIFT TICKETS INCLUDED?
Yes, all lift tickets are included.
CAN I RENT EQUIPMENT?
The rental selection is very limited so you will need to bring all your own equipment for this tour. If you are looking at buying new gear before your join us and don’t know what to bring, just ask. We are always more than happy to help you find the right gear for your level.
WHAT IS THE ITINERARY?
For further information, including a tour itinerary send us an enquiry.
AM I TOO YOUNG / TOO OLD FOR THIS TOUR?
We are strong believers that age is just a number. What’s important to us is that guests come with the right intention: to focus on improving their snowboarding and to have a great time while doing it. Most of our guests are either in their 30’s, 40’s or 50’s. However, we’ve also had guests older or younger, and they had a blast! The minimum age is 18 years old.
WHAT EQUIPMENT SHOULD I BRING?
We will provide you with a packing list for this tour. We recommend that guests have a good quality waterproof jacket and pants, insulated layer(s), merino base layers, merino glove liners and good quality insulated and waterproof gloves, quality goggles with low light & high light lenses, balaclava, beanie, and helmet.
Guests need to bring their own snowboarding equipment for this tour (board, boots, bindings and outerwear). If you are not sure which board or equipment bring just ask. We are always happy to make recommendations or to connect you with your local snowboard shop.
If you could bring any snowboard for this tour we would recommend the following:
- All-mountain snowboard that will perform well on all terrain, including groomers, park, and powder.
WHO WILL BE ON MY TOUR?
Your group will be made up of travellers from diverse backgrounds and will be varied in age. Our groups generally mix well due to a shared interest in snowsports and an eagerness to explore all that Europe has to offer.
All our Europe Tours run during peak snow season and are designed to run back-to-back. If Italy isn’t enough, then join us on our Austria Tour starting on the 10 March, details HERE. Ask us about our multi-tour discount.
DATES
- 3 – 10 March, 2024
Note – bookings close 8 September, 2023 unless sold out prior.
PRO-TIP – GO PRIVATE!
If you have your own group of snowboarding friends, pick your own dates and book a private departure – with your own coach and all the benefits of a Mint group tour. Get in touch to discuss.
PRICE, DEPOSIT AND PAYMENTS
Twin Room EUR 3,150 (2 people / 2 single beds per room)
Single Room EUR 3,490 (1 person per room / 1 double bed per room)
Please note that we have a limited number of single rooms available. We recommend that you book early to secure a single room.
A 50% deposit is payable to secure your booking. The balance is due 90 days prior to departure.
MULTI-TOUR BOOKING DISCOUNT
We offer a multi-tour booking discount if you book more than one tour. Extend your trip and join us for another fun week, in a different destination.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
View our terms and conditions HERE
QUESTIONS?
Send us an email or give us a call.
Email info@minttours.com
Phone (03) 5296 0314 (within Australia)