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Ortler Ski Traverse, Italy
Six days of big glacier skiing in the Eastern Alps, touring hut to hut across the Ortler–Cevedale range in Italy’s Stelvio National Park. Under the Ortler (3,905 m), the highest peak in the Eastern Alps, you’ll climb summits like Monte Cevedale and ski long glacier descents of 1,500 m or more.
- Location
- Italy
- Duration
- 6 days
- Difficulty
- Intermediate / Expert
- Guest Ratio
- 6 to 1
$4,475 per person
Book now
The Ortler Ski Traverse
The Ortler Ski Traverse is a six-day guided hut-to-hut ski tour across the Ortler–Cevedale range in Italy’s Stelvio National Park, led by an IFMGA mountain guide. It starts and ends in Santa Caterina Valfurva, with five nights in mountain huts, and runs March 17–22 and March 24–29, 2027 for $4,475 per person.
Ask anyone who has skied it and they’ll tell you the Ortler is a skier’s traverse first and a touring route second. The range is full of wide glaciers and long, rewarding descents, and its north-facing slopes often hold cold, quality snow well into spring. You spend less time grinding uphill and more time making turns.
The traverse is named for the Ortler (3,905 m / 12,812 ft), which towers over the village of Sulden (Solda) and one of the most heavily glaciated corners of the Eastern Alps. It’s also far quieter than the Haute Route.
The cols and passes sit at moderate altitude, so most people don’t need extra days to acclimatize. You can arrive and start skiing. The highest summits on the trip are over 3,700 m, so it’s still true high-alpine skiing.
Huts that spoil you
Italian huts are famous for their food, and this range is among the best. Expect Tyrolean and Italian cooking, cozy two- and four-bed rooms, and showers in most huts. The Pizzini Hut even has a sauna.
Custom trips available. Want a private Ortler traverse built around your group? Get in touch and we’ll design a trip that fits.
Is this for you?
This trip suits you if you have:
- Ski touring experience, including skinning, kick turns and transitions
- Strong off-piste skiing: confident on black diamond runs and in variable snow
- Fitness for back-to-back days with 1,000–1,500 m of climbing and 5–7 hours on the move
- An appetite for Génépi after dinner and a good plate of rösti
More Than a Ski Trip
This range sits on the line between German-speaking South Tyrol and Italian-speaking Lombardy. You’ll eat Tyrolean dumplings one night and pasta the next, and say “Servus” in one hut and “buongiorno” in the next.
The ridges also carry a lot of history. During the First World War the front line between Austria-Hungary and Italy ran right along the summits and glaciers you’ll be skiing, and old trenches and gun positions are still visible today.
Trip Planning Made Easy
Once you book, we send you a full prep package covering flights, hotels, getting to Santa Caterina, a packing list and fitness tips. Your IFMGA guide meets you in Santa Caterina Valfurva on the evening of Day 0 to go over the plan, the weather and the current snowpack.
All participants are required to read and sign a release of liability waiver before their trip.
Itinerary
Routes change with conditions and group strength. Your guide picks the best line each day.
- Day 0: Arrival
- Fly into Milan and travel to Santa Caterina Valfurva (about 4 hours; we can arrange a shuttle on request). Overnight at a hotel (not included).
- Day 1: Pizzini Hut (2,700 m)
- After breakfast in Santa Caterina, we drive to the trailhead and skin to the Pizzini Hut for lunch. In the afternoon we ski from the hut, with options including Passo Zebrù, Cima del Forno (3,240 m) and Monte Pasquale (3,553 m). Sauna and showers at the hut.
- Day 2: Marteller Hut (2,610 m)
- We climb past the old Casati Hut and WWI trenches to the ridge above the Sulden valley, then ski down to the Marteller Hut. In good weather we can ski down to Sulden instead, take the lifts to about 3,100 m, and ski Hintere Schöntaufspitze before touring back to the Marteller.
- Day 3: Marteller Hut
- A full day of touring from the hut. Options include Cima Venezia and Cima Marmotta.
- Day 4: Branca Hut (2,493 m)
- We climb Monte Cevedale (3,769 m), passing WWI gun positions near the summit, then ski the Cedec Glacier. A short climb to the Monte Pasquale col leads to the descent to the Branca Hut, our home for the last two nights.
- Day 5: Branca Hut
- The Branca sits at the mouth of a huge glaciated cirque with endless ski options. We tour from the hut, with Palon de la Mare as a possible summit.
- Day 6: Final ski day
- One last morning tour, then we ski out to the parking lot and drive to Santa Caterina for a celebration dinner. Overnight at a hotel (not included).
- Day 7: Departure
- Breakfast at the hotel before heading home.
Explore the route and the most common ski lines on our map.
2027 Dates
Includes
- 6 days of guided ski touring with an IFMGA mountain guide
- Pre-trip logistics and Altus concierge support
- Transportation between Santa Caterina Valfurva and the trailhead
- 5 nights in mountain huts, half board (breakfast and dinner)
- Lift tickets where used
Does Not Include
- Flights and airport transfers
- Hotel accommodation before and after the trip
- Alcohol, drinks and snacks
- Showers and other hut extras paid locally
- Travel insurance
- Mountain rescue insurance (required)
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the Ortler Ski Traverse cost?
$4,475 per person plus GST. That includes six days of guiding with an IFMGA guide, five nights in mountain huts with breakfast and dinner, transport between Santa Caterina and the trailhead, and lift tickets where we use them.
When does the Ortler Ski Traverse run in 2027?
Scheduled trips run March 17–22 and March 24–29, 2027. Custom dates are available for private groups.
What experience do I need?
You should already ski tour, including skinning, kick turns and transitions, and be a strong off-piste skier who is confident on black diamond runs and in variable snow. You need the fitness for back-to-back days of 1,000 to 1,500 m of climbing and 5 to 7 hours on the move.
How do I get to Santa Caterina Valfurva?
Fly into Milan. Santa Caterina is about 4 hours away, and we can arrange a shuttle on request. Plan to arrive on Day 0 and stay at a hotel in town. Your guide meets the group that evening to go over the plan.
What are the huts like?
Staffed mountain huts with two- and four-bed rooms, Tyrolean and Italian cooking, and showers in most of them. The Pizzini Hut has a sauna. Breakfast and dinner are included. Drinks, showers and other extras are paid locally, so bring euros.
Do I need to acclimatize first?
Most people don’t. The cols and passes sit at moderate altitude, so you can arrive and start skiing, though the highest summits on the trip are over 3,700 m.
Do I need rescue insurance?
Yes. Mountain rescue insurance is required for ski touring in Italy, and we strongly recommend travel and trip cancellation insurance too. Send us your policy details before the trip.
Can I splitboard the Ortler?
Yes. Splitboarders are welcome on the Ortler traverse.
What gear do I need?
Touring skis or a splitboard with skins, boots, poles, ski crampons, a transceiver, shovel and probe, a daypack, layers for cold and sun, glacier sunglasses and goggles, and a headlamp. We send a full packing list once you book.
