Winter emotions in Dolomites...beyond ski

A winter holiday in Hotel Relais Orsingher and Garni Hotel Astoria is ideal for those who do not ski too. A rich weekly proposals can live an unusual and exciting winter atmosphere of mountain villages and the beauty of 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 explorations and adventures outdoors: this and then some waits for 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 routes to explore the snow-covered mountains.

Alpine Guides'excursions program:

• Monday - "On the tracks of Mazaròl" in the woods of San Martino (half day, at 9 -13).
• Tuesday - "In the footsteps of chamois" to "Piani Cavallazza" (full day, at 9.30-16).
• Wednesday - "In a sea of white dunes" on "Altipiano delle Pale" (full day, at 9-16).
• Thursday - "Once upon a time there were hunters and soldiers..." at Colbricon Lakes (full day, at 9.30-16). “Romantic walking” at sunset (17-19 hours). In Valle del Vanoi "Discovering the Ethnographic path", from Caoria to "Pont de Stel","Pradi de Tognola"...(full day, at 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 walking" with cheese and salami snack at the refuge "Colverde Quota 2000" (ascent with cablecar and descent along the slopes; at 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, at 10-16.30)
• Hiking in the snow-covered woods of Val Canali, one of the most beautiful corner 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 way of about an hour and a half in the majestic "Foresta dei Violini" to Paneveggio: a vast spruce fir's forest, with secular trees of 40 meters in height. Along the path we encounter a large enclosure with deers and a daring and mid air jumper on Travignolo.

Guided tours of Fiera di Primiero

Every Friday at 15.20, you can walking through Fiera di Primiero, a dynamic commercial and administrative center of the valley, with interesting ideas to understand the history of these places: the "Palazzo delle Miniere", the great arciprètal gothic, the romanesque church of S. Martino, Welsperg Palace, the Contrada , the village of Pieve...

Under the snow ...cheese

Wednesday and Sunday 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). Center of 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, articulated Visitors Center with great plastic model of Park, video room, historical room of Counts Welsperg's dynasty, aquariums and natural collections' rooms.

Through the snow with avalanche dogs

On Thursday, at Passo Rolle, morning with dog unit of Alpina School of Financial Police to a exciting rescue drills in case of avalanches and snowslides.

Guided tours in "Ecomuseo del Vanoi"

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