This is a self-guided tour** organized by OK Cycle, an Ottawa-based tour operator in business since 1995.  OK Cycle operates through partnerships with local tour operators who are familiar with local conditions.  A number of our Ottawa-based CCCTS members have had positive experiences with OK Cycle.  The partner organization for this tour is based in Italy and has experience with hiking, cycling and cross-country ski tours in the Dolomites.

Our tour will begin in Dobbiaco and we then spend 2 nights in each location, ending in Cortina 8 days later.  Our luggage will be shuttled each day, and there will also be shuttles provided as outlined in the day to day itinerary.

**This is a self-guided tour, meaning there is minimal support during the actual tour.  The tour company simply packages everything e.g. books the hotels and meals, arranges a luggage shuttle, provides transportation where specified in the itinerary, provides the routes and ski passes and is available for emergencies.  Participants are responsible for getting from one hotel to the next by ski or by public transportation, except where a shuttle is specifically included.  This area is known for its network of free public transportation serving the ski centres, so if the weather is bad or a participant is unable to ski the required distance, they can take public transportation.  For this CCCTS tour, we will organize small groups for skiing so that nobody is skiing alone.

Accommodation will be in 3*** and/or 4*** category hotels, mostly with sauna and/or indoor pool.  Participants will be expected to share two-twin-bed rooms; a limited number of single rooms may be available with payment of a single supplement.  Specific hotel names and locations will be available once the tour is confirmed, and the tour operator will attempt to place the group all in the same hotel but this cannot be guaranteed.  Examples of hotels used by this operator include:

TOBLACH: hotel Germania, hotel Nocker, hotel Santer
SEXTEN: hotel Strobl, hotel Waldheim
PLÄTZWIESE/PRAGS: hotel Hohe Gaisl, hotel Asterbel

Ski Conditions:   Skiing will be on groomed trails, groomed for both classic and skate skiing.  We expect the group skiing together will be doing classic skiing.  The skiing is considered intermediate as there is some elevation gain each day, but the amounts are moderate, and we will mostly enjoy skiing in broad valleys with the mountains as our backdrop.

 Weather:  The Dolomites are known for pleasant winter temperatures and ample snowfall.  The sun shines an unparalleled 8 days out of 10 in the Dolomites – more than any other range in the Alps!.

Registration fee of $100 payable to CCCTS.  Fees will be used for shared expenses, with any balance being returned to participants.  Fee is refundable if you are not selected.

Tour fee is Cdn. $1753 per person double occupancy or Cdn. $1907 single occupancy.   Tour fee is payable directly to OK Cycle

Option:

Additional for rental equipment (skies,poles,shoes) $124

Additional for rental equipment (skies,poles) $102

Tour Fee includes:

• 8 nights accommodation in hotels – 3*** and 4**** category (mostly with sauna and/or indoor pool). Prices are based on 2 people sharing rooms with twin beds
• 8 breakfasts
• 7 dinners (every night except Day 7)
• Personal tour information
• Ticket fees for the use of the cross-country tracks
• Transfer to Prato Piazza/Plätzwiese and Valle di Casies
• Luggage transfer from hotel to hotel
• Well planned routes
• Detailed documents (maps, route description, places to visit, important telephone numbers)
• Telephone service hotline for the entire tour

Terms of payment:

20% deposit payable within 2 weeks of acceptance for the tour

80% balance is due 60 days before traveling (i.e. Nov. 25, 2023).

Payment is due in Canadian dollars and may be paid by e-transfer or cheque.

Credit card payments will cost 3.5% credit card surcharge.

Cancellation penalties are as follows:

1. a) Withdrawal from the moment of booking confirmation and up to 28 days before the start of the trip: 20% of the total travel price;
2. b) Withdrawal from 27 to 14 days. before the start of the trip: 30% of the total travel price;
3. c) Withdrawal from 13 to 8 days. before the start of the trip: 50% of the total travel price;
4. d) Withdrawal from 7 to 4 days. before the start of the trip: 70% of the total travel price;
5. e) Withdrawal from the 3rd day before the start of the trip or “No-Show”: 95% of the total travel price;
6. f) Interruption of the journey undertaken: 100% of the total travel price.

• All air tickets and airport taxes
• Arrival to the starting point of the tour
• Departure at the end of the tour
• Lunches
• Alcoholic beverages
• Tips for guide, driver, & hotels porters
• Medical or travel insurance
• Any services non-mentioned in the itinerary
• Tour Coordinator fee (waived, as coordinator may get discounted rate depending on size of group)

Itinerary:  (as provided by OK Cycle).  Note:  the minimum distances for each day represent the distance you will be required to ski to reach the next destination; these distances may be shortened by taking public transportation.  Longer distances are optional.

DAY 1: Arrival in Alta Pusteria (Villabassa/Dobbiaco)

Individual arrival at the hotel in Dobbiaco/Villabassa. Free, unguarded public car park near the hotel.

DAY 2: Villabassa/Dobbiaco – Sesto (approx. 15 – 45 km)

The perfectly groomed trail leads across meadows, fields and through snow-covered winter forests, starting from the Alta Pusteria via San Candido to the mountaineering village of Sesto. Particularly well trained cross-country skiers can extend the tour by taking a detour across the Austrian border to Sillian, if the snow conditions are good.

DAY 3: Roundtrip Sesto – Val Fiscalina (approx. 10 – 20 km)

The trail through the idyllic Fischlein valley in Sesto is undoubtedly one of the most scenic in the Dolomites. The rugged Dolomite peaks of the „Sundial“ of sesto. Enjoy a fantastic view, a hot cappuccino and delicious South Tyrolean specialties in the Talschlusshut.

DAY 4: Sesto – Braies/Prato Piazza (approx. 25 – 45 km)

Along the river of sesto you ski through the thick spruce forest back to San Candido, the cultural center of the Alta Pusteria at the foot of the Haunold. In Dobbiaco you will pass the Nordic Arena cross-country skiing center and then glide across vast fields of snow, past the beautiful village of Villabassa, into the natural Braies Valley. The shuttle bus will finally take you to the hotel on the unique high plateau Prato Piazza

DAY 5: Circular trail Prato Piazza (one lap approx. 6 km) and snow shoe or hiking to Monte Specie

Today‘s cross-country day is dedicated to the exploration of the well-known high pateau. At the foot of the Croda Rossa and the Picco Vallandro, you can trace your tracks in the snow on the circular trail. There is also the option of taking a snowshoe or hike to the Monte Specie. If the air is clear, you can enjoy an unforgettable panoramic view of the Dolomites of Sesto and Ampezzo from there.

DAY 6: Val Casies – Villabassa/Dobbiaco (approx. 20 – 40 km)

In the morning you will be shuttled from Prato Piazza to Val Casies. From Val Casies you ski on the wide, sunny valley floor through dreamy winter landscapes and past picturesque farmhouses. Several restaurants along the route invite you to stop for a refreshment. There are several options for your ski route, and it can be shortened by taking public transportation.

DAY 7:  Dobbiaco rest or ski day

This is a day for relaxation in the pretty town of Dobbiaco, or to explore some of the 120 km of groomed trails in the region.  Dinner and ski pass NOT included for this day.

DAY 8: Villabassa/Dobbiaco – Valle di Landro/Cortina d’Ampezzo (approx. 25-30 km)

Starting from the cross-country skiing center Nordic Arena, where the world‘s best cross-country skiers every year compete for important World Cup points on the challenging circular trails, you can glide on the line of the former Dolomites railway into the Landro Valley. You can decide whether you like to stop for apple strudel and coffee already at the lake of Dobbiaco, continue to the “Three Peaks View” and take a look at the symbol of the Dolomites, or even go on through several tunnels and over an old railway bridge to the “Queen the Dolomites”,Cortina d‘Ampezzo.  Public transportation can be used at either end of this ski to shorten the distance

DAY 9: Departure

Registration will be on the CCCTS website on the date shown. A computerized lottery system and waitlist will be utilized in the event that the ride is over-subscribed. A $100 payment is required at the time of registration. The registration fee will not be refundable for any reason unless you are not selected for the tour, in which case it will be refunded.

The selection process will consider the following criteria in evaluating candidates:

• Fitness and cross-country ski experience required for the tour,
• Acceptable social behavior.
• The Tour Coordinator may interview other club members or others who know them to verify their suitability for the tour.
• The Tour Coordinator will notify registrants of their selection status. If the tour is not filled to capacity, registration will continue until the closing dates shown.
• Tour member selection is done primarily by lottery results but the leader will have the final decision on who is accepted or not accepted for the tour.
• After you have been notified you are selected for the tour, the Tour Contractor OK Cycle’s payment and cancellation policies will apply.

Communicable Illnesses Plan The CCCTS Communicable Illness Plan takes into consideration regulations and recommendations from Public Health Agency of Canada, BC Centre for Disease Control and Public Health Ontario. See the CCCTS website for policy information

Air Travel Emissions to this tour:  A return flight from Toronto to the start of this tour (Venice) is 13,700 km or more and will produce about 2.7 tonnes of total emissions per person.  A return flight from Vancouver to Venice is 17,300 km or more and will produce about 3.4 tonnes of total emissions per person.  Compare to one year of driving a gasoline powered car which produces 2.0T.    See https://cccts.org/club-document/air-travel-emissions-from-cccts-tours for detailed information.