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A few weeks ago, the UNESCO added 13 properties to its World Heritage list. Among these is the site of the Dolomites, in Italy. The now protected area covers 141,903 hectares and comprises parts of the provinces of South Tyrol, Trento, Belluno, Udine and Pordenone. The Dolomites were mostly chosen because of their unique geological history, having been formed around 250 million years ago as a giant coral reef in the ancient Tethys Ocean. Its nomination was also based on the Dolomites diverse ecosystem, rich in botanical variety and rare species of fauna, which is also well worth protecting, and not to forget that it is considered by many as offering the most beautiful mountainous landscapes of the world.

To visit the Dolomites, head for any of the following Italian mountain or ski resorts: Alta Badia, Alta Pusteria/Hochpustertal, Arabba Marmolada, Civetta, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Kronplatz/Plan de Corones, San Martino di Castrozza, Tre Valli, Val di Fassa, Val di Fiemme or Val Gardena.

The Dolomites are an excellent destination both for summer vacations and for ski holidays. In summer, numerous hiking, climbing and mountain biking routes are offered to the public to explore the mountain range. Also, the Dolomites are home to the world’s most fascinating secured climbing routes (or Vie Ferrate).These provide safe access to some of the most scenic points high up among the barren rocks by means of ladders, iron steps and fixed ropes.
All above-mentioned holiday destinations are part of the Dolomiti Superski association, the world’s largest area of interconnected winter sport resorts. In winter, skiers and snowboarders can choose from close to 1200 km of downhill ski runs and parks to enjoy their sport. Countless cross-country ski trails also lead holidaymakers deep into the Dolomites.

If you are still wondering if the Dolomites are worth the trip, this video will certainly convince you!

The Jungfrau region, in Switzerland, is also on the World Heritage list. Do you think any other European mountain range should be on the list?

Already missing snow? Already planning your next winter’s snowboard or ski holidays? Want to try something new? Then plan on trying the Spanish slopes!

If classic European ski destinations in France, Austria and Switzerland have nothing to envy to the Spanish resorts, the latter steadily grow in popularity, and for a reason! Spanish destinations are slowly imposing themselves because offering quality slopes and trails, facilities, snowmaking equipment, ski schools, winter sports activities, accommodation and of course excellent food, all at a fair price.

Here are my favourite Spanish resorts:

The Baquiera Beret Ski Resort

The Baquiera Beret resort is located in the Lleida Pyrenees in a beautiful valley. It is, in my opinion, the most complete Spanish resort. In offers installations suited for all, families, groups, boarders, etc. and the accommodation offer is diversified. It is divided in 3 areas: Beret, Baqueira, and Bonaiqua, all with their respective characteristics and a network of modern installations and carefully maintained pistes. If you plan to discover the fine Spanish cuisine, or Basque, or Catalan for that matter, you also find what you are looking for here, but expect to pay a bit more than in other smaller and less busy resorts. The apres-ski activity offer is endless: ice palaces, thermal baths, museums, cultural visits, cinema, golf, horse rides, bars and discos, etc. Oh, and it’s a great place to go celebrity spotting!
- Total skiable area : 111 kms
- Resort altitude : Min: 1500 m / Max: 2510 m
- Green runs : 4
- Blue runs : 36
- Red runs : 26
- Black runs : 6

The Formigal Ski Resort

Formigal is an ultra-modern and stylishly purpose-built ski resort in the Pyrenees. Ideal for the beginner and the expert skier alike, the immaculately groomed pistes, with unsurpassable levels of safety and comfort, are equipped with a high-capacity lift system and a comfortable hands-free lift passes system. Snowboarders have a newly built bordercross area and a snowpark all to themselves. From the adrenalin-charged experience of driving a dog-sled or skidoo to enjoying a drink on the panoramic sun-deck, there is something for everyone in Formigal.
- Total skiable area : 105 kms
- Resort altitude : Min: 1510 m / Max: 2200 m
- Green runs : 6
- Blue runs : 17
- Red runs : 29
- Black runs : 28

The Panticosa Ski Resort

A hidden gem of the Pyrenees, Panticosa presents the unspoilt harmony of the traditional mountain architecture of the village itself, which gives an air of grandeur and history to the valley. A five-minute cable car ride from the heart of this peaceful setting at 1,160 metres to an altitude of 1,900 metres reveals a jealously guarded secret: a modern ski-station equipped with the latest technological advances. Panticosa is proud of its facilities and to avoid saturation of the ski-station there is a limit of 3,500 visitors per day. The on-piste facilities include a nursery and a pizza restaurant with panoramic views of the slopes, bar, cafeteria, ski-hire shop and a boutique with the latest in skiwear design.
- Total skiable area : 34 kms
- Resort altitude : Min: 1500 m / Max: 2200 m
- Green runs : 4
- Blue runs : 14
- Red runs : 16
- Black runs : 4

The Sierra Nevada Ski Resort

Right by the Mediterranean sea is one of Europe’s highest resorts: Sierra Nevada. It has a typically long season, traditionally opening at the end of November running through to the end of April or even into the first week of May. The ski terrain is majestically overlooked by the Veleta glacier, Spain’s third highest. The ski resort of Sierra Nevada offers its visitors a wide and ever expanding range of facilities as well as a ski terrain to suit skiers and boarders of all standards. Child facilities comprise activities such as ski biking, inner tubing, ice skating and the new “Roller-Sled”.
- Total skiable area : 91 kms
- Resort Altitude : Min: 2100 m / Max: 3300 m
- Green runs : 11
- Blue runs : 35
- Red runs : 36
- Black runs : 5

This year again athletes, amateurs and hikers, men and women, are invited to the SKY-RACE delle Dolomiti Friulane. This non-competitive mountain race (fell race) is a 20km run through the Parco Naturale delle Dolomiti Friulane, at an altitude ranging from 880m to almost 2,200m.

The event takes place on August 30, 2009 and starts at 9AM. The participants are expected to complete the distance in:

• About 7 hours for the hikers
• From 4 to 5 hours for trained hikers
• From 3 to 4 hours for regular athletes
• From 2 to 3 hours for Sky-runners
• Less than 2 hours for Top Sky-runners

Registration is made August 29th (28€) or 30th (33€)  in Forni di Sopra and the price includes:

• A running long-sleeve t-shirt in breathable fabric.
• Assistance on the course
• Hot pasta at the end of the race
• Showers

See you in Forni di Sopra!

For those of you who, like me, are already really looking forward to see snow falling and are talking to their board every day

It’s time to hit the Jungfrau region the 21st and 22nd of August to cheer for the participants of the Inferno triathlon. The maximum number of participant (250) has already been reached, but it’s infernal enough that most people, even confirmed athletes, not to dare taking part to the event.

Here are some numbers about the 4 disciplines of the triathlon (sic), to make you feel better not to participate:

Inferno Triathlon

Swimming in Thun – Oberhofen
Distance: 3.1 km
Road bike through Oberhofen, Interlaken, Meiringen, Grosse Scheidegg, Grindelwald, etc.
Distance: 97 km, slope: 2145 m.
Mountain bike through Grindelwald, Kleine Scheidegg, Wengen, Lauterbrunnen and Stechelberg.
Distance: 30 km, slope: 1180 m.
Fell Running through Stechelberg, Lauterbrunnen, Mürren and Schilthorn.
Distance: 25 km, slope: 2175 m.

Registrations are still open though for the half-marathon and the relay race. Also, our athletic kids and teenagers, and also less well trained triathletes and beginners, can still enter the Mürren Fun Triathlon. Here’s how this one goes:

Mürren Fun Triathlon

Swimming in the indoor swimming pool Mürren
Kids: 100 m
Others: 200 m
Mountain bike through Mürren and Winteregg
Slope 150 m
Kids: 4,7 km
Others: 5,5 km
Running through the village of Mürren
Circuit not completely flat
Kids: 1,3 km
Others: 2,6 km

Looks like a great active family vacation opportunity in Switzerland!

Since here, at MountVacation, we have an incredible quantity of information about more than 400 European ski resorts, I decided to share it on this blog. From now on, once a month, I will post a short text about a resort, with relevant links, and our regional specialists will be available to answer any questions you may have about that destination. You are also invited to share your personal travel and skiing experience with other readers.

So here we go with our first Destination of the month: Courmayeur.

Very centrally located in Europe, Courmayeur is right at the border of France and Switzerland, on the Italian side of the Mont Blanc (or Monte Bianco). See map

In summer, activities are countless and include everything for every taste. Rafting and paragliding will suit the adrenalin freaks, while hikes and strolls will please others. Swimming is possible in one of the three swimming pools of the resort, indoor or outdoor. Of course, mountain biking, canyoning and tennis are also all classics here. If climbing is your thing, then Europe’s highest mountain will certainly satisfy you, whether you are an experienced climber or a beginner. And if you prefer to keep your feet on the green, Courmayeur has its nine-hole course set in a breathtaking location.

In winter, skiing and snowboarding are possible to an altitude of 2,700m (the village of Courmayeur lies at 1,200m) and the real action begins on Plan Checrouit at 2,200m. If plenty of green slopes for skiers are available, the majority of the slopes are best suited for intermediate skiers. Expert skiers will also find their share of challenging slopes in selected areas, and some off piste ski going on around the resort, Courmayeur having a couple of cable cars serving high mountain ski areas.

So, tempted? You should know that the price of apartments and hotels in Courmayeur can be reduced up to 50% during lower seasons so, to save money and avoid crowds, you might want to plan ahead to avoid taking your next mountain or ski vacation during the high season.

You want to go canyoneering in the Alps this summer? This video, shot in on the Canyon des Oules de Freissinière right by Puy Saint Vincent should convince you that the resort is the place to go for a great experience. Here is a link to Puy Saint Vincent canyoneering webpage. Moreover, accommodation in Puy Saint Vincent is always affordable, regardless of the season.

Some experts are saying the global warming is threatening the ski industry in the Alps, as you could read in the British newspaper The Independent on the 16th of June 2009. In very very short, this article says that the effects of global warming are already visible on the European ski slopes and it should not get any better any time soon. I suggest you take a look at the article, but also read the comments left by readers at the end of the article. Some of them are calling the article alarmist, some are supporting it but mostly, some readers are advancing interesting arguments to support their views, whether they agree with the article or not.

I think that, no matter how much we believe in the threat of global warming, it’s better to play it safe.  In response to the climate change warnings, and to make sure I would still get to go on ski vacations in the future, I have adopted in the past few years a few eco-friendly habits (mostly in the recycling and green transport areas) and I think I’m not the only one.

Any of you mountain sport lovers has adopted in your everyday life behaviours that are more respectful of the environment?

In reaction to my previous post about summer skiing, some of you brought to my attention that  no Austrian resort was mentioned. My excuse (a bad one) is that it’s been years since I went to ski in Austria during the warmer season but you are right, Austria has the most ski areas to choose from in the northern atmosphere from May to October. Also, most glaciers are located close to very interesting and pleasant spots so you can ski in the morning, swim in the afternoon and have a taste of the city nightlife in the evening.

Here are the six resorts that first come to mind when thinking of summer skiing:

Möltaller glacier

The Möltaller glacier just opened for its summer season. This resort, close to the town of Villach, offers year-round pretty good skiing conditions.

Tux glacier

The Tux glacier is part of the Hintertux resort, that usually has the largest open ski area of the country. In fact, the high-altitude skiing (up to 3,250m) allows the snow guarantee to be in effect year-round. The charming city of Innsbruck is right by.

Dachstein glacier

The Dachstein glacier is near Salzburg, one of the most beautiful cities in Austria. It offers a snow guarantee that covers way more than the regular winter ski season. It is great for beginners and intermediate skiers.

Kaprun glacier

Also close to Salzburg is the Kaprun glacier, which is accessible through the village-resort of Zell am See. For family members or friends who are just not that much into skiing, Zell am See is a great golfing and hiking venue.

Pitztal glacier

The Pitztal Glacier offers the highest skiing in Austria, and the slopes are well suited for intermediate and beginners. Innsbruck is also close by.

Stubai Glacier

Still in the Innsbruck region, the Stubai glacier is ideal for families and spring skiing.

If you got tempted by a summer ski outing, think about booking your accommodation ahead. The above-mentioned resorts all hold events during the summer season and you could have trouble finding any available accommodation if you go while a popular one is ongoing. Oh, and don’t forget sunscreen!