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Alta Badia

Foto © Enrica Pallaver Photography

Alta Badia

Exclusivity. That’s what we’d like to tell you immediately to give you an idea of Alta Badia. From sports events, to the 6 Michelin stars (of which only three are held by a single chef), passing through the Ladin culture, we are 100% sure that this valley will enchant you.

The first tourist experiments were born here: in 1938 the first ski lift was built in Corvara, thus making the area a “pioneer” of winter tourism.

Queen of skiing in winter, it is also popular in summer for its breathtaking views: Sassongher, the Pralongià plateau and the Sella Group frame this piece of exciting South Tyrol.

Just to know: 80% of the inhabitants here are native Ladin speakers, because Val Badia is one of the 4 valleys where Ladin is spoken and you will find many information in this language.

TOP 5 NOT TO BE MISSED

Challenging the Gran Risa

Taste a Michelin-starred dish

Immerse yourself in the Ladin atmosphere

Fill up with adrenaline with the Tridentine ferrata

Enjoy the high ropes course in Colfosco

KURFAR / CORVARA

The largest settlement in the Hochabtai (as it is called in German) is Corvara. Its name comes from the symbol of the country, a crow precisely.

In the shadow of the Sassongher, Corvara has a privileged position on the Sellaronda, the most spectacular tour of the Dolomites with skis on.

The hotel and gastronomic offer is varied, for all types of tastes and pockets. Corvara is the birthplace of tourism, the first resort in the Dolomites to conceive its territory as a tourist destination. The first ski lift, the Col Alto, was born here in 1938, when the first mountain tours began to discover these wonderful landscapes, which have become famous throughout the world, thus helping to consecrate Corvara as a tourist destination of excellence.

But don’t think that Corvara is just skiing: the ice arena hosts exciting hockey games or elegant choreographic skating shows. In summer you can also enjoy playing golf at the Alta Badia club, climbing indoors or on the numerous marked trails, immersing yourself in nature with trekking or via ferrata.

Foto © Enrica Pallaver Photography

Foto © Anna Brusati

CALFOSCH / KOLFUSCHG / COLFOSCO

The small village of Colfosco, which winds its way from Corvara to the Gardena Pass, is characterized by the Sella massif, which towers majestically over the entire village.

Colfosco is located right along the Sellaronda, so it is a privileged destination for skiers. But evem in summer it is perfect for those who want to walk to the Passo Gardena and from there start for other hiking adventures. Do not miss the high ropes course in the adventure park of Colfosco, where everyone, including children, can start to get familiar with carabiners, ropes and helmets.

And if after this first experience you already want to test yourself with something harder, well, know that in Colfosco starts one of the most beautiful vie ferrate of all the Dolomites: the Tridentina. We’re on the difficult side, we warn you! It’s one of the most exposed and difficult via ferratas, but it certainly offers breathtaking views and adrenaline-pumping passages to the “Cliffhanger”, like the suspension bridge between the tower and the final part. Enjoy!

LA ILA / STERN / LA VILLA

Between the plateau of Gardenaccia and the homonymous Piz La Ila you will find La Villa, a locality in the municipality of Badia, on the road that connects Alta Badia to Val Pusteria.

If you’ve never heard of it, you’d better recover quickly: La Villa is the sporting “capital” of Val Badia, because here every year there is the Ski World Cup on the “Gran Risa”, a slope that has seen the best athletes in the world of this discipline so loved by all of us. In summer, La Villa hosts the start of the Maratona delle Dolomiti, a cycle race that runs through the most beautiful areas of the area.

Foto © Naturhotel Miraval

Foto © Farmhouse Plang

SAN CIASCIAN / SANKT KASSIAN / SAN CASSIANO

The famous village can be reached from Corvara through the road that leads to the Valparola pass, after which you enter the Veneto region. San Cassiano is set between the Fanes-Senes-Braies park and the Pralongià plateau, which has paths that are more or less challenging for trekking lovers. We recommend the Armentarola and Störes excursions, such as the larch or meditation paths.

Also in San Cassiano you can of course ski: from the centre there is the Piz Sorega cable car, which connects to the rest of the Alta Badia lifts.

And we would especially point out that here you can delight your palate at the restaurant of the Michelin-starred chef Norbert Niederkofler, a real institution in the whole of South Tyrol.

VIGIL IN ENNEBERG / SAN VIGILIO DI MAREBBE

Beyond the Furcia Pass in Valdaora, there is this little jewel surrounded by the natural park of Fanes, Sennes and Braies that gives birth to two of the greatest skiers of the current panorama: Manuela and Manfred Moelgg.

San Vigilio is located in the region called Ladinia, an area where Ladin is spoken, an ancient language preserved in several valleys of the Dolomites. In fact, in addition to the Italian and German toponymy, the village also shows the Ladin toponymy, Plan de Mareo.

The natural park is the ideal place for trekking in summer, or cross-country skiing or snowshoeing in winter.

The village of Piculin/Piccolino connects Alta Badia with Plan the Corones, passing through the lifts of San Vigilio.

Foto © Enrica Pallaver Photography

curiosities

Looking for Ladinism? In San Martino in Badia you can visit the Museum of Ladin culture and language, which is located in the Ciastel de Tor, a castle dating from the 13th century.

In San Cassiano there is the Ladin Ursus Ladinicus Museum, where the remains of an ancestor of today’s bear, found in the caves of the Conturines, are kept.

THE HOTELS SELECTED BY PASSIONE DOLOMITI
Alta Badia

Hotel Cappella
Alta Badia

Farmhouse Plang
Alta Badia

Naturhotel Miraval
Alta Badia

Hotel Ciurnadù

WINTER ACTIVITIES

Reaching Alta Badia and not skiing would be a shame: now, we do not tell you to do the best time ever on the Gran Risa in La Villa, but do not take advantage of your stay in one of the most popular and exclusive destinations in Europe to make even just a snowplow, it would be a pity!

In addition, the location of Corvara and Colfosco directly on the Sellaronda, will allow you to enjoy one of the most beautiful tours of the Dolomites.

Every year, in mid-December, you can attend the Ski World Cup in La Villa: book your place in advance, it’s a much desired event!

Remember also to recover the liquids lost during the physical activity: the several refuges and trendy bars are the right places for you Après-Ski!

But if you want to try something alternative then we recommend a snowshoe hike in the park of Fanes-Senes-Braies with access from San Cassiano, or some trekking in the area of Armentarola, towards the Valparola pass.

The ice stadium and cross-country skiing circuits complete the offer for a super active winter holiday.

Foto © IDM Alto Adige -Alex Moling

Foto ©  Enrica Pallaver Photography

SUMMER ACTIVITIES

Of course, those who choose Alta Badia in summer, do so to recharge their batteries by immersing themselves in the greenery of its forests and parks and challenging the heights of the surrounding peaks.

We recommend the Movemënt, a real outdoor gym for adults and children: Kneipp, bike or fitness trails are designed specifically to make you train at 2000 meters above sea level, with a guaranteed result! The Movemënt park is located on the plateau between Corvara, La Villa and San Cassiano, and can therefore be reached by the lifts that lead to Piz La Ila and Piz Sorega.

Mountain bike circuits are practicable at Piz Sorega, whose mountain station has an e-bike rental point that you can return later to the most convenient point. Interesting, isn’t it?

Trekking routes among the most beautiful ever, from the Armentarola meadows, to Gardenaccia, to the suggestive Pisciadù Falls. For those who love adrenaline, the via ferrata Tridentina and Sas della Crusc are a must!

For the real climbing experts we mention the 4PEAKS, a fresh and original initiative: conquering the 4 peaks of Sasso Santa Croce (Sas dla Crusc 2,907 m), Cima Dieci (Piza dales Diesc 3,026 m), Lavarella (3,055 m) and Conturines (3,064 m). Anyone who manages to complete the feat in one day will receive a diploma and a trophy.

EXCURSIONISTIC AND SCIISTIC AREAS

SELLARONDA

Green or orange? Clockwise or counterclockwise? Choose a little bit what you want, but just allow yourself a few hours to enjoy the most spectacular “ski-to-foot” tour in the world! Surrounded by the beauty of the Dolomites, set out to discover the Sellaronda that connects Alta Badia with Val Gardena, Val di Fassa and Livinallongo. To access the Sellaronda the ski pass to buy is necessarily the Dolomiti SuperSki.

The summer version of the Sellaronda can be enjoyed by bike, passing through Passo Gardena, Sella, Pordoi and Campolongo. There is also a race for the most audacious: the Sellaronda Bike Day, which every year hosts amateur cyclists from all over the world and falls at the end of June.

ALTA BADIA

If the Sellaronda is difficult for you, however, stay in Alta Badia: San Cassiano, Corvara, Colfosco and La Villa are all connected. In this case, the Alta Badia ski pass is sufficient.

In winter the Movemënt turns into a fun park and funslope to test your skills on skis or snowboards! In summer, the plateau turns into a real outdoor gym with Kneipp trails, for two wheels or for free body training.

Foto © IDM Alto Adige Alex Filz

Foto © Enrica Pallaver Photography

LA CRUSC-SANTA CROCE

La Crusc is the right place for you if you don’t like the crowds on the ski slopes. At an altitude of about 2000 metres, this little pearl is located between the Fanes-Senes-Braies Nature Park and the Puez-Odle Nature Park and despite its size is equipped with a Freeride Cross slope and a Fun Line for children.

The summer trails are very attractive, not to be missed is the one suitable for the whole family, which takes you to the highest church in Europe, the Sanctuary of Santa Croce. From here there are many other routes suitable for all types of training. And in case your training is good enough you can’t miss the path that leads from the Sanctuary to Sas dla Crusc, at 2907 meters. A via ferrata that takes you to the top, where you can enjoy a 360° view of mountains of Alta Badia, Cortina, Val Pusteria and Val Gardena.

ADVICE

In addition to physical activity, both in summer and winter, we strongly recommend that you take some time to enjoy the Ladin hospitality: from the spa to the kitchen, give yourself small moments of pleasure!

Tip number two: from the Valparola pass, turn your eyes and take a picture of Alta Badia. Then let us know if you have a tear in your eyes from the beauty of the landscape.

NATURAL PARKS

Naturpark Puez-Geisler/Puez-Odle Nature Park

The Puez-Odle natural park is a protected area that you can access from Alta Badia, from San Martino, but also from Val Gardena and Valle Isarco.

It includes some of the highest and most impressive peaks of the Dolomites: Plose, Monte Gabler, Sass de Putia, Gruppo delle Odle with Furchetta and Sass Rigais (over three thousand meters) and the Gruppo del Puez with the Piz de Puez and the famous Sassonger.

The park is the favourite destination for alpinists, thanks to the numerous via ferratas, some of which are part of the Alta via n. 2. Not only challenging routes, but also suitable for all types of physical training. In case the hike is beautiful only if at the end you arrive at a refuge, here are some: Refuge Puez, Refuge Firenze, Refuge Genova, Refuge Gardenaccia.

Fanes-Sennes-Braies Nature Park

This park is often associated with bears: it is not by chance that it can be accessed from San Cassiano, where there is the Ladin Ursus Ladinicus.

In more than twenty-five thousand hectares you can also admire the beauty of the flora and fauna, the imposing peaks such as the Lavarella (3,055 m) and Conturines (3,064 m).

For beginner speleologists, but also for those who love the theme, the park offers the opportunity to visit its caves of karst origin with specialized guides.

The Fanes-Senes-Braies Park has been a protected area since 1980 and extends over the municipalities of Badia, Braies, Dobbiaco, La Valle, Marebbe and Valdaora.