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 and vino! Arrive in Milan and be transported to a remote region tucked away deep in the mountains of the Alta Valtellina and bordering Switzerland. Our Italian destination of choice is Livigno – a high-altitude powder paradise. Here you’ll find authentic alpine charm in every nook and cranny with a friendly local feel. Spend your days floating surfy turns through the powder and your afternoons and evenings visiting the regions most authentic après bars and our favourite locally owned restaurants.
The ski areas you’ll visit are huge, which is why you’ll have a local snowboard guide leading the way. Each day your guide will take you on an adventure while you cruise the uncrowded, perfectly groomed or powder-filled slopes. Your guide is also a qualified snowboard coach, so if you’re looking to level-up, you can always get a few tips along the way to improve your riding. All lift tickets and guiding is included throughout the tour.
For comfort, you’ll stay in a cozy 3-star, slope-side hotel with incredible snowy views. Every room has twin beds and ensuite. Breakfasts are included. Each evening, head out with your Mint Women host where you will enjoy incredible Italian culinary experiences. Perfetto!
Dates
25 February - 2 March, 2024
Note - bookings close 8 September unless sold out prior.
Group size
Maximum 7 riders
Price
Early Booking Special
EUR 2,250 per person
Book before 30 AUG, 2023
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.
OVERVIEW
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.
FOOD & WINE
No trip to Italy is complete without enjoying the local food and wine. Livigno has 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 a twin room. The cosy rooms are equipped with two heavenly soft single 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!
TOUR DETAILS
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 slope-side 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 formal ‘coaching’ on this tour, you’ll naturally progress your snowboarding by riding more vertical, more terrain and more powder snow. Your guide is a qualified coach, and can always give you a few pointers along the way. 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 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!
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
- 6 nights twin share accommodation in Livigno (2 guests / 2 beds per room)
- 5 day lift pass, Livigno Resorts (Carosello 3000 and Mottolino)
- Third Party liability cover for snowboarding in Italy
- 5 days of on-snow guiding, Livigno Resorts (includes snowboarding tips)
- 6 breakfasts
- Private group transfers from/to Milan Malpensa Airport to Livigno hotel (arrival & departure day)
- Fully-escorted tour, Mint Women host on hand throughout the tour
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
- Flights
- Travel insurance
- All lunches – expect to pay EUR 10 – 15 per meal
- All dinners – expect to pay EUR 20 – 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.
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.
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.
DO I NEED TRAVEL INSURANCE?
Yes. All guests on tour need to be covered be comprehensive snow 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 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 an all-mountain snowboard that will perform well on all terrain.
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
25 February – 2 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
Early Booking Special – EUR 2,250 per person
(Book and pay your deposit before 30 AUG, 2023)
A 50% deposit is payable to secure your booking. The balance is due 90 days prior to departure.
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)