Winter hiking, tobogganing, ice skating – winter sport away from the piste

In addition to skiing and snow-shoe hikes the high plateau of Schlern also offers other sports and leisure time activities – a jamboree in the snow

Winter is a magical time! Especially if you can spend a few wintery days in the Dolomites, in probably the most romantic setting of the whole alpine area. Glistening snow plunges the landscape into a dream-like fairy tale world. The blue sky and South Tyrol’s winter sun are shining above it. A scene that inspires one to take part in winter sports.

Did you know that the Seiser Alm in winter registers the most hours of sun south of the Alps? This is because Europe’s largest alpine meadow of 56km² is located at 1,800 to 2,200 metres above sea level. As the name already suggests, it is a meadow and not a deep, steep valley, but much more a kind of platform at a considerable height. Here the sun also shines in winter from early morning to late evening and offers ideal preconditions for your unique and relaxing winter holiday in South Tyrol.

In the dark season, more and more people suffer from winter depressions. Medical research has discovered long ago that lack of light is one of the causes of winter blues. The reduced intensity of light in winter caused by the low level of sun and the shorter days is considered to be the trigger. A tried and tested remedy for such temporary depressions is therefore a daily walk in the daylight. And precisely for this reason winter holidays have the same recreational value for many holidaymakers as almost a three-week summer holiday. Therefore you should come to the sun on the Seiser Alm in the cold and snow!

You do not even need to be able to ski, here over 30 kilometres of tracked winter hiking trails are waiting for you in a wonder world of glitter and snow. On the Seiser Alm and in the surrounding villages nature lovers can get to know the scenic beauty of the alpine meadow, breathe in the clear mountain air and stock up on sufficient light and sun.

Horse-drawn sleigh rides through the snow-covered winter countryside are waiting for families and true romantics. You sit in the sleigh well wrapped up in warm blankets and enjoy the winter paradise slowly gliding by. You can hardly feel more contented than in such moments of happiness. And that is the formula for success of every successful holiday.

You can get into the valley more quickly with the toboggan. An adventure for children and adults in our family-friendly winter wonderland. Trudge high up the mountain in the snow or go up very comfortably in the lift, enjoy a breath-taking view, romp about in the snow and then with childlike joy rush down the mountain - only toboganning can give you so much fun. We have seven different toboggan runs that guarantee you unforgettable winter adventures!

If the ice on the mountain lakes is thick enough, the Alps offer a stunning setting for iceskating and curling. Iceskating in the open air is as much part of winter as is the snow and the pleasure of gliding along on natural ice is a good deal better. It is a traditional and fascinating winter sport that suits the whole family and fits in perfectly with a winter holiday in the Residence Park. Depending on the temperature you can practise this type of winter sport on the pond at Völs when frozen over or on any of the natural ice rinks. Iceskating or curling, you will not find it boring here!