If you're tired of crowded ski runs,...
If you're tired of crowded ski runs, long queues for ski lifts and noisy self-service restaurants then Val di Funes offers an alternative winter wonderland. Located in the Dolomites UNESCO world heritage area the valley is dedicated to the eco-friendly sport of tobogganing. The malgas in the valley are connected by a series of toboggan runs (malgas are the traditional houses used for the transhumance of dairy cows in the summer). Here you can enjoy the peace and tranquillity of nature and the thrills of a high speed, gravity assisted descent.
We stayed in Santa Magdalena in the Hotel Tyrol, there are many comfortable hotels in the village but this one features an outdoor hot tub. From the village we caught the hourly shuttle bus to Malga Zannes. We followed the toboggan run up past Malga Kaserill to Worndle loch. Here we put on snow shoes and followed the ski tracks up to the top of the valley arriving at the cross on Col di Poma 2422m. This summit offers stunning views down the valley and across to the Italian alps. The last 200m of ascent are strenuous and it is important to check the avalanche conditions before starting out. From here we descended via Rifugio Genova to Gampenalm.
