Mail Online

Carving out fun in the mighty Dolomites

Neil English

SPRING may be upon us but snow is still available at Easter at a variety of European locations. Head for luxury in the Dolomites, enjoy the charm of Austria… or bag an Alpine bargain at Tignes in France.

ORTISEI, in the beautiful Val Gardena region of the Dolomites, presents endless activities for the whole family.

These include evening snowshoe tours complete with a traditional dinner in a mountain hut, abundant downhill ski slopes, wooded crosscountry trails in the stunning Alpe di Siusi and even a wood-carving course.

The five-star Gardena Grodnerhof Hotel & Spa offers a seven-night stay for the price of six. Its Dolomiti Family Special package, starting on April 1, also offers a six-day ski pass and equipment rental for the price of five days, plus ten per cent off weekly group ski lessons for children aged up to 12. A comfort double room with seating area and balcony is £190pp per night (gardena.it).

Flights to the closest airport, Innsbruck, cost extra, and a one-way private family transfer costs £128 (suedtirolbus.de).

Ischgl in Austria boasts a good snow record, with 90 per cent of its pistes above 6,500ft, but in case bad luck hits, it has an excellent artificial snow-making system.

On April 9, the free Top Of The Mountain Easter Concert takes place on the region’s Idalp plateau, with the Silvretta peaks as the backdrop. If Sido, the German rap star, is not your musical cup of tea, the bonus is that the 150 miles of pistes will be largely empty during the daytime show.

Seven nights’ B&B in three-star Hotel Val Sinestra, departing April 8, costs £699pp for two sharing, including flights and transfers (skiline.co.uk).

Esprit is perhaps the UK’s bestknown family ski specialist, with revered child care and ski lessons for children up to 12, and has just released some enticing Easter discounts.

Tignes in France possesses snowsure ski slopes on its glacier, but it is also a panoramic destination for a paragliding flight, husky-drawn sleigh tours or visits to the Aqua Centre, where Esprit guests enjoy free access.

Seven nights from April 8 at Chalet Corniche, just yards from the piste, for two adults and two children costs a total of £3,550. Price includes a saving of £830pp plus flights from Birmingham (espritski.com).

Holidays

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