A week of friendly freeriding in Italy's high-altitude powder paradise.
This is going to be a week filled with snowboarding, powder, great food & vino! Arrive into Milan and be transported to a remote freeride paradise tucked away deep in the mountains of the Alta Valtellina and bordering Switzerland. Livigno is our home base for the tour and you’ll find authentic alpine charm in every nook and cranny with a friendly local feel. Spend your days floating surfy turns through the deep powder and your afternoons and evenings visiting the regions most authentic après bars and our favourite locally owned restaurants.
Our Italian destination of choice is Livigno – a high-altitude powder paradise. The trails here are dwarfed by the extent of the off-piste & backcountry terrain which is why having a local guide in Livigno is key. Our local guide Martina has years of experience riding the Livigno resorts and surrounding backcountry and she knows every secret spot on the mountain and in the town. You’ll get a unique locals perspective while riding wide-open pistes, powder bowls, fun tree runs, gullies and if the conditions are right you’ll have the option to ride some mellow back-country runs which feed back into the resort. And of course you’ll get tips and feedback along the way to improve your snowboarding.
This is a small group tour with a maximum of 6 riders. Our small groups allow greater manoeuvrability and ease of access to the best experiences a destination can offer. To enhance the experience, you’ll stay in a cool slope-side hotel that’s near all the shopping, dining & drinking spots.
Dates
26 February - 4 March, 2023
Group size
Maximum 6 guests
Price
EUR 2,440 per person
Tour Type
Roadtrip - adventure, snowboarding & culture
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.
RESORTS & INFO
Get in touch for a detailed tour itinerary and more info
THE RESORTS
Livigno resorts are split in half by a long valley. Each side of the valley has its own ski resort and both resorts are connected by ski-bus that loops around the village. The trails at these resorts are dwarfed by the extent of the off-piste & backcountry terrain. The majority of the resort's slopes are well above 2,000m elevation & north-east to north-west aspected, ensuring premium snow conditions. The off-piste terrain is wide-open and undulating and perfect for anyone wanting to have a fun freeride experience.
THE TOWN
Livigno has it all. Shopping, dining, bars and culture. The architecture of the town is beautiful, everything is built chalet-style and rustic wooden barns and traditional old houses sit side by side the small hotels and apartments which gives the place an attractive alpine charm. In the evenings Livigno comes into its own, with over 100 restaurants and bars, there's something to suit every budget and appetite from pizzas to Michelin starred restaurants. The locals are a laidback and friendly bunch, which helps to create the great atmosphere of the town.
PREMIUM ACCOMMODATION
You'll stay slope-side at one of the newest hotels in Livigno, Montivas Lodge. Your room has floor-to-ceiling windows and balcony with mountain views, heavenly soft beds for a deep restful sleep, enough space to store all of your belongings and a large bathroom to freshen up. So, you don't lose contact with the outside world, you can share your adventures with your friends and family at home and use the free Wi-Fi. Mod con's come standard, like a flat screen TV and USB connections so you can charge your gear.
PRE-TOUR SUPPORT
After you sign up for a tour, you will receive pre-trip emails with specific information about your tour, the arrival and departure day process, information about the destination, packing suggestions, and other relevant information to help you prepare for your trip. In addition to this, you have access to our customer care team who are just a phone-call away. And as a full-service travel agent, we are able to take care of your flights, insurance, stopovers and pre or post tour arrangements.
SMALL GROUPS
We offer one of the smallest client to guide ratio’s in the industry which ultimately leads to a better experience for everyone. Our small groups allow greater manoeuvrability and ease of access to the best areas a destination can offer. When we are on mountain, our guest to guide ratio is maximum 7 people per guide. This also makes for a more personal experience between our guests and guides.
EXTEND YOUR TOUR
Our Italy Freeride tour is 7 days long. You’ll ride the Livigno resorts mid-week to maximise your time on-snow and avoid the weekend day-trippers. If 7 days on tour isn’t enough, join us on our next tours in Slovenia or Austria. These tours run after the Italy tour. Our Slovenia Roadtrip runs from 5 - 12 March and our Austria Freeride Tour runs right after that.
TOUR DETAILS
YOUR TOUR INCLUDES
- 6 nights twin share accommodation, Montivas Lodge (ensuite room)
- Breakfast daily at Montivas Lodge
- 5 day lift pass valid at all Livigno resorts
- 5 days of on-snow guiding with local and professional snowboard guide
- Tips and feedback to improve your snowboarding
- Scheduled airport transfers, Milan Malpensa Airport to Livigno
- Off snow cultural visits to restaurants & local attractions
- Fully-escorted tour, guides on hand throughout the tour
All our Europe tours are 6 nights and run from Sunday to Saturday. You’ll ride every resort mid-week to maximise your time on-snow and avoid the weekend day-trippers. If 6 nights isn’t enough, then book one of our multi-tour combo’s. Join us in Italy, then start a new tour in a different destination the following day.
DATES 26 February – 4 March, 2023
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 HAPPENS IF BORDERS ARE CLOSED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)?
The global health crisis has impacted everyone enormously, so we want to make sure your future travel plans are safe and reassure you that we are committed to supporting our customers in the best way that we can. You can view our latest Coronavirus (COVID-19) updates HERE
WHAT IS A FREERIDE TOUR?
Our Freeride Tours offer you the best chance to ride off-piste and in powder. Our experienced guides have an in-depth knowledge of the resorts we visit, which gives you the ultimate advantage when your chasing deep, un-tracked snow. We’ll aim to ride pistes, powder, glades and trees. Of course weather and conditions are impossible to predict so guests must be prepared to ride anything.
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. Our groups generally mix well due to a shared interest in snowsports and an eagerness to explore all that Europe has to offer. We have single share and twin share rooms available for this tour. If you are travelling solo and are happy to share a room, we’ll match you up with another guest to share a room with.
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 6 people 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 riding powder.
IS THIS TOUR RIGHT FOR ME?
This tour is best suited to intermediate and above snowboarders who can link turns in powder snow, can make a variety of turn shapes and can traverse and hold speed. If you’re not sure, give us a call. Weather and conditions are impossible to predict so guests must be prepared to ride anything.
WHICH RESORTS WILL WE VISIT?
We keep the tour itinerary flexible so you can ride at the best resort on the day. Each day your guide will make the decision on which resort to ride based on a number of factors including weather, snowfall, group ability and interest. We have 2 resorts we can access within easy reach of our centrally located hotel.
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. Most of our guides work for us season after season. Our lead guide for this tour is local guide Martina who has years of guiding and coaching experience in the Livigno, so it’s fair to say she knows a few of the secret spots.
ARE FLIGHTS INCLUDED?
No, flights are not included. If you need assistance booking flights, we can book you 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 travel insurance. Once you have booked on the tour, we strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance.
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 manager and guides.
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 LIVIGNO?
We’ll provide you with a guide with details on how to get to Livigno. 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.
ARE LIFT TICKETS INCLUDED?
Yes, all lift tickets are included.
CAN I RENT EQUIPMENT?
We can arrange rental equipment for most destinations, however we do recommend bringing your own equipment as selection can be limiting. We do recommend bringing a freeride specific board for this tour.
WHAT EQUIPMENT SHOULD I BRING?
Livigno can be a cold place in winter, with temperatures typically ranging from -5 to -15 degrees Celsius. We strongly recommend that guests dress in clothing specific for traveling in backcountry areas. We recommend that guests have a good quality waterproof jacket and pants, lightweight insulated layer, merino base layers, merino gloves and waterproof gloves, goggles with low light & high light lenses, sunglasses, balaclava, beanie, and helmet. We recommend that all guests bring their own snowboarding equipment for the tour (board, boots, bindings & outerwear). Freeride specific boards are recommended.
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.
PRICE PER PERSON
Twin share room – EUR 2,440
Single share supplement – EUR 405
RESERVATION AND DEPOSIT
To secure your spot on tour, a 50% deposit is payable to secure your booking. The balance is due 90 days prior to tour departure.
If you would like some more information or a quote for the tour you can contact us by:
ONLINE
Enquire below. Once we receive your request one of our tour specialists will be in touch with a with a quote, availability and further details about the tour.
OVER THE PHONE
Call us and follow the prompts to speak to one of our tour specialists.
Within Australia (03) 5296 0314