Strap on snowshoes and access trails most winter tourists never reach

Trek beneath jagged limestone spires away from the ski resort crowds

Climb for panoramas that stretch across glacier peaks and alpine ridges

Traditional mountain dairy lunches with ingredients from right here

Cosy base with wellness facilities for evening recovery

The Ortler-Cevedale group sit within Stelvio National Park, which means wild terrain and zero crowds. Snow-covered slopes catching morning light, glaciers gleaming at midday, shadows carving ridgelines by afternoon. You won't summit these on snowshoes, but they're why every photo looks like you've gone way deeper into the mountains than most people ever will. 

Stelvio National Park is one of the largest protected areas in the Alps, and you'll be snowshoeing right through the heart of it. Its protected status means zero development, minimal crowds, and landscapes that look exactly like they did centuries ago. You're not here for interpretive signs or visitor centers; you're here because the valleys stay raw and the trails stay empty.

Snowshoeing is winter hiking with wider feet. The broad frame distributes your weight so you float on top of the snow instead of sinking thigh-deep. No technical skills needed, no previous experience required — if you can hike, you can snowshoe. It's what gets you into remote, snow-covered terrain that would otherwise be completely inaccessible.

Arrive in Val di Sole, meet your guide, and get the full brief on the week ahead. Equipment check, questions answered, anticipation building.

Kick off from Ortisé village at 1,487m and push through snow-laden larch and spruce forests to the wide alpine pastures of Alpe Pozze. Traditional mountain dairies stand silent under their winter blankets while you're treated to massive views — the glaciated Presanella massif and those razor-sharp Brenta Dolomite spires that'll make you stop mid-stride. Sunlit, crowd-free, and exactly why you're here.

Trek from Malga Dimaro through quiet forests and open pastures to Malga Vigo's panoramic terrace at 1,800m. The vista stretches from the Brenta peaks across to the Adamello-Presanella range. This is phone-down, just-look territory.

Then the serious bit: a hands-on avalanche safety workshop. Get familiar with transceivers, shovels, and probes. Practice search and recovery in the snow. These are actual backcountry skills, not theoretical chat — the kind you hope you'll never need but absolutely should have.

Head deep into Val di Rabbi, one of the most unspoiled valleys inside Stelvio National Park. Snowshoe past centuries-old stone farmhouses to Malga Stablasolo, where lunch is waiting — aged mountain cheese, cured meats, canederli, homemade desserts. Alpine fuel.

After lunch, ditch the snowshoes and grab a wooden sledge. Speed down the mountain on descent that's half adrenaline, half laughter, completely unforgettable.

Longest trek of the week starts now. Head up Val de la Mare through Marassina pastures on forest paths leading to Rifugio Scoiattolo for a well-earned break. Then traverse the Covel Plateau where waterfalls freeze mid-cascade and the landscape feels untouched. Descend through silent alpine forest, legs properly tested.

Final push begins at Madonna di Campiglio — the upmarket ski resort with luxury shops and fancy hotels. Leave the scene behind and climb through dense woodland that opens onto snow-covered plateau around Malga Fevri. From there, it's up to Monte Spinale for arguably the best viewpoint of the entire week. Glacier peaks, dramatic ridgelines, the works.

Back at the hotel you'll have time to explore the village before your final group dinner. The kind of evening where you realize how much you've actually done.

Head home with snowshoeing skills, incredible stories and legs that'll remind you about daily ascents for at least a week. Worth every step.