For those who have never seen these extraordinarily beautiful mountains before – prepare to be utterly enchanted. The Dolomites may be part of the Alps, but these towering, rugged, largely limestone monoliths that dominate the upper reaches of Trentino, Südtirol, Belluno and Veneto have the appearance of a completely different mountain range. The extraordinary thing about them is that much of the rocky terrain that soars skywards, sometimes almost vertically (don’t worry, you normally ski round their bases, not down their sheer walls!) was, eons ago, under the sea: hence the limestone. And thanks to the reddish-purple rock of large feldspar crystals embedded in them, reflected sunlight at both first light and dusk produces a variety of shades of pink and flaming red. In Ladin – the Latin-Romansch language still very much used in some Dolomite valleys - the word for this magical effect is enrosadira. Fundamentally the great resorts of the Dolomites – served by a vast array of lifts dominated by the Dolomiti Superski lift company – provide delightful skiing, plenty of sunshine and food that combines the best of Italian, South Tyrolean and Ladin cultures. There’s steep skiing if you want it (Arabba has plenty - as does Selva Gardena and Cortina), but by and large the runs are ideal for intermediates and families. If you’ve not done it before and like the idea of getting some ski miles under your belt, you’ll be keen to try the celebrated Sellaronda circular tour. You can start anywhere on the circuit and ski it in either direction. At the centre are the gigantic, craggy peaks of the Gruppo Sella. The 25 mile tour (16 miles of actual skiing) can be achieved fairly easily in a day. The tour negotiates four mountain passes: Pordoi, Sella, Gardena and Campolongo as you cruise through the picturesque towns and villages of Colfosco, Corvara and San Cassiano, and the wooded slopes of Canazei.
The Dolomites Ski Area
World-class skiing in Europe's most striking mountain range
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from£739pp
- Area: 63km
- Altitude: up to 3342m
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from£849pp
- Area: 140km
- Altitude: up to 2939m
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from£799pp
- Area: 1200km
- Altitude: up to 2750m
Corvara and Colfosco are delightful villages nestled in the Alta Badia region of the Dolomites and have been enjoyed by British skiers for many years. Ideally located on the Sellaronda circuit, they have easy access to the main slopes including connections to Arabba, Selva, Val di Fassa and the exhilarating Marmolada glacier.
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from£799pp
- Area: 116km
- Altitude: up to 2275m
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from£689pp
- Area: 175km
- Altitude: up to 3342m
Set in the Südtirol’s charming Gardena valley, Selva is a gateway to the famous Sellaronda skiing circuit, where you can ski around the gigantic limestone monoliths of the Gruppo Sella. The Sellaronda: is a delightful and not particularly challenging tour which can be easily achieved in a day by intermediate skiers.
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from£839pp
- Area: 175km
- Altitude: up to 3342m
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from£949pp
- Area: 130km
- Altitude: up to 2950m
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from£769pp
- Area: 120km
- Altitude: up to 3342m
The Val di Fassa sits within the Dolomiti Superski area, directly on the famous Sellaronda circuit, and enjoys some spectacular views of the surrounding mountains.
Skiing levels | |
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Beginner | |
Intermediates | |
Advanced | |
Snowboard | |
Cross country |
Mountain facts | |
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Area | 1220 km |
Length of blue runs | 366 Km |
Length of red runs | 732 Km |
Length of black runs | 122 Km |
Whole Area Pass Lifts | 465 |
Cable Cars | 24 |
Chairlifts | 199 |
Draglifts | 194 |
Gondolas | 47 |
Snowpark Info | 20 Snowparks |
Flights To Innsbruck
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Transfer 2hrs
Supplements apply on some flights.