Winter emotions in Dolomites...beyond ski

A winter holiday in Hotel Relais Orsingher is ideal for those who do not ski too. A rich weekly programme allows you to experience a different and exciting winter athmosphere in mountain villages and amidst the beauty of the Natural Park Paneveggio - Pale di San Martino in the quiet of the winter season. Guided walks, hiking with snowshoes, tasting of typical local products, historical and artistic visits, fascinating excursions and outdoor adventures: this, and more awaits you in winter at Fiera di Primiero - San Martino di Castrozza.

Hiking with snowshoes ("Ciaspole")

Alpine Guides escort you in easy and fascinating excursions along snow-covered routes to explore the mountains in winter.

Alpine Guides'excursions program:

• Monday - "On the tracks of Mazaròl" in the woods of San Martino (half day,  9 -13).
• Tuesday - "In the footsteps of chamois" to "Piani Cavallazza" (full day, 9.30-16).
• Wednesday - "In a sea of white dunes" on "Plateau of the Pale" (full day, 9-16).
• Thursday - "Once upon a time there were hunters and soldiers..." at Colbricon Lakes (full day, 9.30-16).
• “Romantic walk” at sunset (17-19 hours). In Valle del Vanoi "Discovering the Ethnographic path", from Caoria to "Pont de Stel","Pradi de Tognola"...(full day, 10-16.30)
• Friday - "Tasty hike" in Val Venegia, lunch with typical local products at Malga Venegia (full day; free bus to return to Passo Rolle). "Romantic walk" with cheese and salami snack at the refuge "Colverde Quota 2000" (ascent with cablecar and descent down the ski slopes; 16.30-19).
• Saturday - "A terrace on Pale" to "Prati Dismoni", with typical lunch at Dismoni Refuge. "Forests and pastures" from Refavaie Refuge to Fossernica Hut, Laghetti Hut or the Val Cia (full day, 10-16.30)
• Hiking in the snow-covered woods of Val Canali, one of the most beautiful corners of Parco Naturale Paneveggio, a few miles from Fiera di Primiero. The tour is offered in the morning (Wednesday and Saturday) or every day in the late afternoon with torchlights.

Walking in the "Foresta dei Violini" (Violins Forest)

Short and easy guided walk of about an hour and a half in the majestic "Forest of Violins" at Paneveggio: a vast forest of spruce firs, with century-old trees that reach a height of 40 meters. Along the path, is a large deer enclosure and a daring bridge suspended over the Travignolo gorge.

Guided tours of Fiera di Primiero

Every Friday at 15.20, there is a guided walk through Fiera di Primiero, the lively commercial and administrative centre of the valley, with interesting ideas to understand the history of these places: the "Mines Palace", the great, gothic parish church, the Romanesque church of San Martino, the Welsperg Palace, the Contrada , the village of Pieve...

Under the snow ...cheese

Wednesday at 14.45 at " Villa Welsperg". Snow and wintry cold prepare the ground to produce excellent hay, tasty milk and cheeses in summer. Easily reached by free shuttle bus, at Villa Welsperg (headquarters and Visitors Center of Natural Park Paneveggio-Pale di San Martino), in Val Canali, it relives the alpine pasture season with short walk, tasting cheeses of "Caseificio di Primiero" (Dairy of Primiero), screening of a movie about hills and visit the Villa.

Visit Villa Welsperg

From Monday to Friday (9.30-12.30/ 14-17) the Headquarters of the Natural Park Paneveggio-Pale di San Martino is situated among the meadows of "Val Canali"(5 km from Fiera di Primiero). The villa houses a modern Visitor Centre with a large model of the Park, video room, historical room of Counts Welsperg dynasty, acquarium and natural collections room.

Through the snow with avalanche dogs

On Thursday, at Passo Rolle, morning with the dog unit of the Alpine School of Finance Police for exciting rescue drills in case of avalanches and snowslides.

Guided tours in "Ecomuseo del Vanoi"

Easy guided walks with tasting of typical products through the villages of "Valle del Vanoi" to discover, even in winter, the close links between history, community, nature, places of everyday life and typical food.