Ikon pass ski itinerary recommendations requested

A Eurail pass definitely will not work out well for you.
The train is probably the most comfortable option, but you could rent a car for the Dolomites week if you want to tour more easily between the various resorts. A few notes:

• Zürich airport to Chamonix takes 5 hours by train vs. 4 by car, but such a drive would be too long to attempt just after landing from the US.
• Zermatt is car free
• Zermatt to St Moritz to the Dolomites is long and complicated... you might want to skip the Glacier Express. It is much faster to go through Milan and Verona

1) Train

2) No

3) Probably not, I'd guess single tickets will be better for you.

Follow up questions:

We have built in days to sight-see so not on time constraints.

1) why is eurail pass not a good idea?
2) why would point to point tickets be better?
3) glacier express is to sight-see as we’ve heard it’s breathtaking

With a Eurail pass you pay a fixed sum and get unlimited train travel for as long as the pass is valid. Great if you want to travel a lot, or want the flexibility that comes with it. But for your trip I have the feeling that single tickets will be cheaper than a pass. But, I have not done maths and I might be wrong.

How many is "we"? I will assume 2.
You can get a train from Zurich airport to Chamonix. It is a 5 hour journey with at least 3 train changes.
You can get a train from Chamonix to Zermatt. It is a 3 3/4 hour journey with at least 3 train changes.

From Zermatt, if you want to get to the Dolomites with the Glacier Express, only go as far as Chur, then a train to Buchs, then a train to Innsbruck, then a train to Bolzano (or maybe a stop before, then a bus to Val Gardena location, suggest Selva. Since going this way will take at least 14 hours, suggest an overnight in Innsbruck. The fastest way to get to the Dolomites from Zermatt is to go via Milan in about 8 Hours

To get to Kitzbuehel, back track same way to Innsbruck, then a train to Kitzbuehel.

I have skied all of these places, but not all in one shot like you are planning.

psyphd29 hi

I'm an Ikon Pass person too, avid skier and traveler. I've thought about the subject of skiing overseas a lot since I'll retire at the end of this academic year. Japan is the first stop new winter.

My opinion, and it's just my opinion, is if you are travelling halfway around the world to ski, don't necessarily be restricted by where your Ikon Pass pays for the lift ticket. Lift tickets in Europe, Japan, etc are relatively cheap, and you've come a long way and spent a lot of money. If the snow is a lot better elsewhere, or if there is a stop that is more desirable/easier on your itinerary, definitely skip the Ikon destination for the more optimal choice.

Regarding Japan, next winter's trip was originally pitched as a "go to Ikon" trip, but very quickly it changed into a go where you really want to go trip.

The good news in Europe though, as I'm sure you already know, is that Ikon somehow managed to wrangle deals with FANTASTIC places to ski in the Alps. I think you can be well satisfied if you stay on the Ikon trail. Chamonix is a Whistler-level pilgrimage (or maybe that's the other way around). I'd ski Zermatt on bullet-proof manmade snow for the views of the Matterhorn. Kitzbuhel is an absolute old-school classic. And Dolomiti Superski is massive, varied, and insanely scenic.

It sounds AMAZING having 7 days at each.

Regarding transportation, You really don't need a car. It would sit in a garage for nearly the entire week at each place. In fact, at most of the destinations you'll visit, the rail system integrates directly into the lift system. It's not always right there but usually a short walk. In some places you get off the train, walk across the platform directly into a gondola loading zone. It's great.

When you are at your destinations, the lift systems on which you'll have free use for the week also serve as public transit. You can often take a lift up, and then right back down to a different village. And then there are efficient systems of public busses, also often free if you have a ski pass.

I think you are smart to go late January until mid February - most likely time of year to encounter good snow. Snow's always a crap shoot, but I hope you get great conditions at every place you go! What a great trip ....

re Glacier Express, I've cycled some long stretches of that route. It's very pretty, but you are going to see as much or more of the beautiful Alps from day after day on top of the mountains than you would on the Glacier Express. You don't need to ride that train if you are doing so to eyeball pretty alpine scenery - nothing particularly new will present itself.

If you want a pricey fancy pretty train ride to experience a pricey fancy pretty train ride, then it's a good call.

Also, a Eurail Pass probably won't pencil out. But you could always literally pencil it out - which train trips will you take, how many people, ages, etc - to see if you save a little with an X days in Y timeframe type pass. Maybe it will be worth it ...

Also OP, routing from Zermatt to the Dolomites, don't be shy about routings that include a "Swiss Post Bus" leg or two. Super nice busses that run as efficiently as Swiss trains. Should be about 8-10 hours total, 2 or 3 connections.

If the Glacier Express is a must-do for you, then stay around St Moritz for a few days to ski Corvatsch, Piz Nair and Diavolezza/Lagalb if you can. They're really beautiful ski areas.
The best routing from St Moritz to the Dolomites involves a bus from Zernez (short train ride from St Moritz) to Mals-Venosta. There have been works on the Italian railway from Mals to Merano and Bolzano for a long time now; not sure about reopening dates but there are replacement buses if need be.

Thanks for all of the recommendations!

Currently knee deep in planning as we’re (2 of us) leaving Boise on 1/21/2024 and returning on 3/2/2024.

Eurail passes are about $429 for 10 travel days, and $528 for 15 travel days, all first class and all within 2 months. It seems like a good deal and then all we need to do is to reserve seats for the most popular routes and peak times.

To me, buying PTP train tickets might be less expensive but requires more time here in the USA to plan and buy in advance — with little option for changes. Your thoughts?

We’re booking apartments with kitchens through booking.com and getting good prices.

OK then. Looks like you will have about a week of extra time beyond ski and travel days.
Assume you apartments will be right in Chamonix, Zermatt, and Kitzbuehel, but what town(s) are you looking at in the Dolomites?

Note that you easily could split Dolomites into two different places, 4 nights and 4 nights or such. The pass covers a massive area and 12 resort areas. I only know the summer in the Dolomites, but maybe Val Gardena or Cortina and then elsewhere? Note sure where the best skiing is :)

Best location in the Dolomites is somewhere on the Sella Ronda circuit, Selva, Corvara, Canazei, and Arabba. Arabba and Canazei are not easily accessible, but Selva and Corvara by frequent bus service from rail lines.

Cortina is 2nd rate as far as skiing goes. 3 ski areas not interconnected, whereas The Sella circuit has amazing interconnectivity.

Definitely do not recommend Cortina for skiing, it is indeed disjointed (although recently improved with a new link to 5 Torri).
I assume you are fairly advanced skiers: Selva di Val Gardena / S. Christina is probably the best base on Sella Ronda for you. Arabba works as well, but is harder to reach coming from the west.
If you want to split your time in the region, you could try Kronplatz for a few days.

Good to know Cortina is not the spot, thanks!

One advantage of the Glacier Express ( maybe the only one) is that there are no train changes on the way.

In addition to leaving the train at Chur to shorten your journey to the Dolomites, consider going to Kitzbühl first, as it is not far from Innsbruck.

Here is a map of the Swiss rail system, with the names scenic routes highlighted, so you can see why changing trains at Chur makes sense. The Glacier Express is in turquoise blue.

https://cdn-doc.myswissalps.com/docs/default-source/rail-network-maps/swisstravelpass.pdf?sfvrsn=7788603a_62

Here is my tip on skiing in the Dolomites. You will already have gotten your off-piste jones satisfied in Chamonix. The Dolomites is not that challenging from that stand point. It is all about skiing village to village with spectacular scenery all around. Here is a secret run (OK, its not that secret) called the Lagazuoi Valley.

In the eastern most end of the Sella Ronda circuit, at a hotel in Armenterola, for 10 EUR (now I am guessing) you get a ride in a taxi or bus up to the top of the pass. There you will find the Lagazuoi Cable Car. Take that up and you ski down an isolated valley with frozen waterfalls all around for about 5 miles. There are a couple of rifugios along the way for a coffee and a strudel (or something stronger). When you arrive back in civilization, you come to a long flat stretch. To make it easier, there are horse-drawn sleighs with ropes behind. Pay the driver (5 EUR I am guessing nowadays) and when the spots are all filled, “Giddy UP!” and you get pulled back to Armenterola where you started.

Here is a description: https://www.altabadia.org/en/winter-holidays/italian-alps/lagazuoi-circuit.html

Piste Map with the location on the far right side: https://www.altabadia.org/media/skitour-lagazuoi.pdf

Facebook video with skiers on the sleigh-pull: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1256500324489192

Very good recommendations, thank you everybody.

So the reason to have Kitzbuhel as being the lysed is because we already pre-booked our flights, and we are flying back from Munich to the USA.

I am not sure about getting to the Munich airport from the Dolomites, so I will take this into consideration, and then take a look at the ground transportation options as I would prefer not to take a plane.

People in the Dolomites often use Munich airport for flights to the US. From Bolzano it is about 5 hours to Munich airport vs 4 1/4 hours to Malpensa, the 2 closest airports with direct flights to the US, and Munich has more cities with direct flights. Kitzbuehel is 2 1/2 hours from Munich airport, so your order of travel is just fine.

BTW, if you do do the Glacier Express route via Chur, Buchs, and Innsbruck, the rail line passes thru St Anton am Arlberg. With daily lift tickets only 75 EUR, definitely worth a stop.

https://www.skiarlberg.at/en/Ski-Arlberg/Ski-tickets/Skipass-prices

Yeah, Munich is a surprisingly quick and easy shot from the Dolmites area by train, an express train high speed rail corridor between the two.