COMBINE SKIING WITH GOURMET EXPERIENCES AND SPA TIME AT HIGH-ALTITUDE MOUNTAIN HUTS

In the ski areas of the Italian region of Trentino, ‘five-star quality’ not only describes the hundreds of kilometres of pistes and ski lifts, but also the world-class culinary offering that can be found in the mountain huts scattered along the ski slopes.

Surrounded by the enchanting landscapes of the Dolomites, skiers can accompany their day on the mountain with the best local flavours at a welcoming mountain hut, where they can refuel and warm up with a local speciality. Many of these places are also open in the evening, when they can be reached by snowmobile or snowcat for a unique dinner experience.

In Val di Fassa, you can spend the whole day skiing between the most beautiful ski areas of the upper valley. Starting from Pozza di Fassa, go up to the Buffaure ski area for breakfast with a view of the Catinaccio mountain range at the Baita Cuz Hut. Then, walk along the slopes of the Panorama Skitour to Conca del Ciampàc, and dive down the black slope to Alba di Canazei. From there, a modern and panoramic cable car takes you directly up to the heart of the Belvedere di Canazei ski area, where there is a 360° panorama of the Dolomite peaks: Marmolada, Pordoi, Sella and Sassolungo. Glide across the wide slopes in the sun and for a quick stop, try the Ciampolìn mountain hut before reaching the Col Rodella area, at the foot of Sassolungo mountain. The exclusive Fienile Monte mountain hut overlooks the Val di Fassa Dolomites and can be reached from the slopes on the path of the famous Sellaronda. This mountain chalet, with its under-stated glamour and intimate and relaxed atmosphere, houses a restaurant with less than thirty seats serving gourmet dishes at an altitude of 2,260 metres. The view of the Dolomites groups from here is priceless, particularly at sunset for the spectacle of the enrosadira (alpenglow). The Hut can also be reached in the evening for dinner by snowmobile service.

In nearby Val di Fiemme, the Latemar Ski Centre ski area, straddling Trentino and Alto Adige, offers an ideal tour combining skiing and five-star flavours at the numerous huts along the slopes of both sides of the valley. On the Trentino side, Chalet Caserina overlooks the Agnello slope, which is much more than a slope: it is an open-air art gallery, dotted with works created by internationally renowned artists who give life to the RespirArt Art Park, one of the highest in the world.

The Alpe Lusia ski area is accessed from two distinct sides. From the Moena - Ronchi side, take the cable car directly to the Chalet Valbona restaurant with its panoramic terrace. Climb up to Le Cune to descend along the slopes to the Lusia mountain hut, which is the arrival point of the lifts that go up from the Bellamonte - Castelir side. In the heart of this part of the ski area is the Chalet 44 Alpine Lounge, with its sleek decor and large windows that, together with its 600 square metre terrace, offer spectacular views of the Pale di San Martino and the Lagorai Chain. Its cuisine reflects mountain tradition thanks to the skilful combination of the best local products.

A few kilometres further east, above Passo San Pellegrino, next to the arrival station of the cable car on the Col Margherita, is the In Alto Restaurant. The restaurant is worth a stop for its panoramic terrace alone, which overlooks the Dolomites of Trentino and Veneto. After the pit-stop, the LaVolata slope, the stage of World Cup competitions, will thrill the very best of skiers. In the nearby ski area of San Martino di Castrozza - Passo Rolle, the ski tour of the mountain lodges is in itself an invitation to alternate descents with delicious stops in the lodges along the slopes. For a more refined cuisine, for over 70 years Malga Ces has been a place where excellent cuisine, friendliness and tradition meet, prepared exclusively with local products.

On Alpe Cimbra, on the border with the Veneto region, the Skitour dei Forti, which passes some of the most visible memories of the Great War, is dotted with many high-altitude mountain huts: the Stella d'Italia mountain hut, above Fondo Grande, and the Baita Tonda above Serrada, are just two of them. Above Passo Vezzena and a few kilometres from Luserna, in the heart of the Cimbra Forest, Baita Neff is a typical log cabin located on the slopes that connect Lavarone with Alpe di Vezzena; it can also be reached on foot from the small Monte Cucco Austro-Hungarian cemetery.

Moving to western Trentino, in the Madonna di Campiglio - Brenta Dolomites ski area, a carousel of 150 km of slopes connecting Pinzolo, Madonna di Campiglio, Folgarida - Marilleva, together with not-to-miss slopes, such as Tulòt in Pinzolo, Canalone Miramonti in Madonna di Campiglio and Mastellissima in Folgarida-Marilleva, there are plenty of places to indulge in a unique culinary experience.

Right above Pinzolo, before the Brenta peaks and the glaciers of the Adamello Group, is the Doss Sabiòn Restaurant Hut. Once you reach the Campiglio ski area, Chalet Fiat, located atop Monte Spinale, reflects the glamour of the area with its refined and decidedly Alpine style. The Hut also organises dinners at high altitude, by reservation, every Thursday and Saturday. In March, this location organises the Slow Food event in the Dolomites, offering diners four dinners at high altitude to taste local Slow Food products, every Saturday in March. Once you reach the Grostè area and after a long descent to Passo Campo Carlo Magno, you now go up on the Pradalago side of the Campigliana ski area and then move to the Marilleva - Folgarida ski area, where the Orso Bruno mountain hut and the Solander mountain hut are located: the best places to taste the specialties of the Solandra cuisine and Casolèt cheese.

From atop the Paganella mountain, you can enjoy an exceptional view of the Brenta Group, the Trentino mountains and the valley of the lakes, as far as Lake Garda. You can admire the spectacular view from the La Roda mountain hut, located at the highest point of this ski area. The Hut proposes typical Trentino dishes, but for dinner, after admiring the breath-taking sunset, you can also choose fish-based dishes. From up here, you have the choice to descend along the Andalo or Fai side of the ski area to reach other panoramic huts along the slope. At the end of the first two sections of the legendary Olympics slope, we find the Sirio Dossòn mountain hut where you can stop for a snack while admiring the panoramic view of the Brenta Dolomites. Going down the slopes on the Santel - Fai della Paganella side, you reach the Meriz Alpine Lounge mountain hut, where you can relax in the warmth of the wood widely used in this modern structure.

Trentino Ski Sunrise
There is nothing more tranquil than sliding down perfectly pisted slopes in the silence of the first hours of the new day that envelops the mountain, punctuated only by the sound of blades cutting through hard snow.

This winter, between December and March, this experience will be offered in a number of  locations by Trentino Ski Sunrise. The sunrise skiing will be accompanied by a rich and tasty breakfast in one of the huts in the ski area, prepared with local ingredients according to traditional recipes.

There are further experiences to enjoy at the end of a day on the snow too.  You can ski “under the stars” on various slopes around the ski area that are illuminated by flood lights. Meanwhile, in Madonna di Campiglio you can try the “Sunset Ski” experience, where you will ski, with a torch in hand, in the sunset light on the Brenta Dolomites, on certain dates: 10 and 24 February, and 3 and 10 March.
Information: www.campigliodolomiti.it/topexperience

Sunsets in Spa

Imagine being immersed in a warm whirlpool in the middle of the mountains, while admiring the last sun rays that illuminate the peaks and colour the sky with red, purple and indigo shades. In Trentino, this can be a reality at some of the mountain huts located directly on the slopes, where it is possible to stay overnight, as well as indulge in this exclusive moment of regeneration after a day on skis. At 2,225 metres above sea level, on the famous Sellaronda slope, in the Col Rodella ski area in Val di Fassa, the Salei mountain hut offers a large wellness area overlooking the slopes and the Trentino Dolomites. It is a small paradise with saunas and heated pools and a relaxation area on its large private terrace. Inside, rooms and suites are even more comfortable and welcoming thanks to the extensive use of wood and a variety of internal and external lounge corners. The hut can be reached on skis, but also by the hut’s snowmobile from Passo Sella. www.rifugiosalei.it

In the upper Val di Sole, above Passo Tonale, at the foot of the Presena glacier, the Capanna Presena mountain hut has a few but welcoming and well-kept rooms and a sauna with Jacuzzi overlooking the glacier. https://www.rifugipassotonale.it/it/capanna-presena.html.

From the spa of the Solander mountain hut, in the heart of the Folgarida-Marilleva ski area, guests can admire the spectacle of the Brenta Dolomites that light up with bright colours at sunset: https://www.rifugiosolander.com/it/brentaspa

Further info: visittrentino.info/en/taste/food-wine