Dsleep in silence, forget the car and dedicate yourself to outdoor winter activities. And enjoy relaxation in the hotels of the Alps that combine charm and atmosphere, away from residential areas: at the end of the roads, on the slopes or at the edge of the forest. Hotels in close relationship with nature, which reserve the guest a warm mountain atmosphere and offer the possibility of practicing all snow sports: skiing, cross-country, sledging and snowshoeing, without ever moving the car from the garage.
In Valle d’Aosta, along the slopes of Mount Cervinoabout a kilometer and a half from Breuil-Cervinia, reopens on 6 DecemberHotel Cervino VRetreats, eco-friendly deluxe structure, with a 615 square meter wellness area, two swimming pools, a gym. Large windows and terraces overlook the larch woods, the highest 18-hole golf course in Italy (golfcervino.itopen in summer) and the majestic crest of the Gran Becca, as the inhabitants of Valtournenche call the Matterhorn.
In Cervinia, from heliskiing to ski mountaineering
Aosta Valley, Breuil-Cervinia, Aosta Valley, Cervinia. (Getty Images)
Mountain famous for its verticality and its severityis part of the Breuil-Cervinia Valtournenche Zermatt ski area, one of the largest in the Alps and among the few where you can ski all year round: 350 kilometers of slopes in three valleys and two countries, Italy and Switzerland, and a ring for the fund, suitable for everyone.
And then ski mountaineering, snowshoeing, snowpark for freestyle and the electrifying helisky (heliskicervinia.com), a few minutes of flight and then drawing serpentines with skis on in the fresh, powdery snow. More, the new Matterhorn Alpine Crossing cable car (closed for maintenance until 12/22), between Breuil-Cervinia and Zermatt, 90 minute suspension and then rises to four thousand metres, amidst exceptional panoramas and views. Other mountains, other scenarios.
Snow and relaxation in South Tyrol
In South Tyrolon the slopes of Obereggen, in Val d’Ega ( valdega.com ), kissed by the sun and dotted with the peaks of the Catinaccio, the Corno Nero and Bianco and the Latemar massif, lies the Hotel Cristal Obereggen, the starting point for skiing even at night from November 24th (and then every Tuesday and Friday from 7pm to 10pm), cross-country skiing or sledding. The Latemar Ski Center is connected to the two Trentino areas of Pampeago and Predazzo. A single ski pass for 50 kilometers of slopes of all levels, reachable with 18 ski lifts.
The chapel of San Sebastiano, in Nova Levante, Val d’Ega, Alto Adige
To introduce children to skiing, there are playgrounds such as the Yeti Mini club (from 4 years), and for older children Brunoland, with a flat slope next to the valley station, where a snack is also offered in the afternoon. If the weather is bad, for the little ones there is the Casa della Neve, always managed by ski instructors. Below the Latemar there is the Oberholz refuge (from 25 November, oberholz.com) of Obereggen, architectural pearl of the Dolomites with large panoramic windows that enhance the beauty of the Alpine scenery.
You can see the ridge, from Adamello-Brenta, in Trentino, up to Stubai, in Austriaand the view extends for about 80 kilometers to the border with Switzerland and Austria. At Plan de Corones in the Braies Dolomites, between Brunico, San Vigilio and Valdaora, stands out Falkensteiner Hotel Kronplatzfive stars five minutes drive from Brunico, part of the chain The Leading Hotels of the World designed by architect Matteo Thun, with the Acquapura Mountain Spa wellness center and an internal climbing wall. The perfect base for a totally relaxing stay in the 1400 square meters of Spafor ski lovers or to discover the area thanks to the advice of the Experience Concierge.
Falkensteiner Hotel Kronplatz
Among these, it is worth trying the böckl: downhill toolonce used by children to go to school, which zips like a monoski and requires the sled position. To drive it you move your body weight, to brake you use your feet. The Plan de Corones Snowpark (2,230 m) is dedicated to snowboarding and freestyle enthusiasts and the Lumen Museum is dedicated to those who love art (lumenmuseum.it), a focus on mountain photography, with historical images, exhibitions and spectacular productions.
Longing for the city? In Brunico on November 24th, in via Bastioni and in Ragen di Sopra, the lights of the Christmas Market will be turned on.
What to do
Charbonnier Hot Air Balloons
The Aosta Valley is one of the best places to try hot air balloon flight, discovering the highest peaks in Europe: Mont Blanc, Gran Paradiso, Grandes Jourasses, Grand Conbin, Monte Rosa massif and the Matterhorn. The flight lasts about an hour but from check in to the end of the activity (which includes inflation of the hot air balloon, briefing, transport to the take-off point, deflation, return to base and refreshments) it takes about three hours . Flights from 240 euros
per person. mongolfiere.it
Riding school Angerle Alm
via Bellavista 2 Carezza/ Nova Levante (Bolzano). Winter or moonlight rides near Lake Carezza: you go at a pace on paths in the woods for an hour, led by an expert jockey. Rates from 40 euros. angerlealm.com
Kronfly Weather permitting, try tandem paragliding from Plan de Corones. With the Kronplatz 2000 cable car you go up to 2,275 metres. Then, with a short run you hover in the void tied to the instructor. Cost 140 euros, with films and photos of the flight that you receive on your mobile phone. kronfly.it
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