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Home / Type of trip / Active / Snowmobiling in Italy

Snowmobiling in Italy

December 27, 2013 by Gretta Schifano 10 Comments

Snowmobiling in Madesimo. Copyright Gretta Schifano

Snowmobiling in Madesimo. Copyright Gretta Schifano

I’m thrilled as I accelerate the snowmobile up the mountainside in the dark. I’ve never been on a snowmobile before and I feel like I’m in a James Bond movie. I’m on a press trip in Madesimo, a friendly little Italian ski resort in Lombardy near the Swiss border.

In the garage area before we start Marco, our guide, shows us how to work the simple controls: squeeze the right handlebar to accelerate, the left to brake. He tells us that when we go around a bend we have to lean into it as if we’re riding a motorbike. It looks easy and I can’t wait to get going. As we move outside onto the Alpine snow the crisp air bites at my face, the only part of my skin showing between the layers of padded clothes and the helmet I’m wearing. We’ve already been skiing and ice-driving today and I’m pretty tired but I feel alert and ready for this evening challenge.

We’re driving 500cc Yamaha snowmobiles provided by Extreme Team Madesimo. Marco tells us that Extreme Team Madesimo is the largest snowmobile dealer in Europe and offers around 70 km of signposted snowmobile trails to explore in the mountains around the resort.

We whizz up and down the winding mountain tracks for about an hour and it’s exhilarating. It feels to me like we’re going quite fast but our top speed on this excursion is only 30 kilometres an hour. Apparently, the snowmobiles we’re driving can reach speeds of up to 100 kilometres an hour. (Obviously that’s never going to happen with me driving. I’m slow and steady behind the wheel and my children are always telling me to speed up). At one point we stop and look down at Madesimo twinkling prettily with lights in the valley below. Without the sound of the snowmobiles the silence of the mountains makes me feel small.

Madesimo, Lombardy. Copyright Gretta Schifano

Madesimo, Lombardy. Copyright Gretta Schifano

Driving the snowmobile is pure fun and I love it but it’s much tougher on the arms than I’d expected. If I went again I’d like to share a snowmobile with someone and take it in turns to drive to give my arm muscles a rest. Although it feels very adventurous snowmobiling in the dark I’d prefer to go in day light in order to appreciate the beautiful views.

If you have a driving licence you can hire one of these snowmobiles. Children can sit behind the driver and I think this would be great fun to do as a family.

Family travel lowdown: Snowmobile hire from Extreme Team Madesimo costs from 85 euros. They provide tours for all levels of experience led by qualified instructors. Momentum Ski offer tailor-made packages to Madesimo with prices starting from £719 per person for a family of four including 4* half-board hotel accommodation, scheduled return flights from London to Milan and private transfers. I was a guest of the Madesimo tourist board on a press trip.

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Related

Categories: Active, Italy, Winter sports

About Gretta Schifano

I'm a freelance journalist and blogger specialising in family travel with teenagers, trips when parents manage to travel without their kids, and 50+ travel. I also write about vegetarian travel, parenting teenagers, adoption, SEN, ADHD and anxiety. My work's been published by the Financial Times, Guardian, Independent, National Geographic Traveller, Lonely Planet and others. I've lived and worked in Italy and Spain and am now based in rural south-east England with my husband, adoptive and birth kids and our dog. I previously worked as a social action radio producer for the BBC.

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Comments

  1. chrisciel ramos andersen says

    November 22, 2014 at 6:11 pm

    Hi Gretta! We are also travelling to Madesimo in January for our annual ski trip. My husband and i would like to try snowmobiling. How many hours can you rent the snowmobile for 85 euros?

    Regards from Denmark.

    Chrisciel

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      November 22, 2014 at 6:40 pm

      Hi Chrisciel, it’s a lovely place, I’m sure you’ll enjoy it there. My understanding is that the price for renting the snowmobile is for a set tour that you go on with a guide. I’m not sure how long each tour takes as it doesn’t say on the website. It’s probably best if you contact Extreme Team directly and ask them. Have fun!

      Reply
  2. Trish - Mum's Gone To says

    January 6, 2014 at 6:44 pm

    I spotted this post over Christmas and must make a note of it for the next BritMums travel round-up. It fits the theme perfectly.
    Trish – Mum’s Gone To recently posted…BufferingMy Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      January 6, 2014 at 8:40 pm

      That’s great, thanks Trish. You do such a good job of the round-ups, they must take you ages.

      Reply
      • Trish - Mum's Gone to says

        January 29, 2014 at 2:01 pm

        Ha! Yes they do! Just writing out the next one, to be published Monday, so came over here for the details.
        If you come across any good posts from other bloggers that aren’t on my radar let me know. I could do with another pair of eyes.
        Trish – Mum’s Gone to recently posted…The best hotel in the UK?My Profile

        Reply
        • Gretta Schifano says

          January 29, 2014 at 2:16 pm

          Will do!

          Reply
  3. Globalmouse says

    December 30, 2013 at 2:53 pm

    This looks and sounds like so much fun! I agree, it would be great to do as a family! Thank you for sharing 🙂
    Globalmouse recently posted…Trip Review – Lapland with ‘Santa’s Lapland’My Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      December 30, 2013 at 9:08 pm

      You’d definitely all have to wrap up warm though!

      Reply
  4. William Scott says

    December 28, 2013 at 7:32 am

    Awesome post Gretta!, i enjoyed reading your blog i love your story as you ride a snow mobile and as you tell your story about your wonderful vacation.

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      December 29, 2013 at 10:19 pm

      Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed it.

      Reply

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This is a personal blog written and edited by me, Gretta Schifano. Sometimes I’m given products or sent on trips to review, but I always make this clear and give my honest opinion. See my About page for full details.

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