The Sellaronda is definitely one of the most beautiful ski circuits in the Dolomites and the entire Alps. No matter which piste you descend from along the way or which lift you are currently on, the views are always spectacular. The Sella Ronda is on the bucket list for many skiers and snowboarders, and rightly so. It covers 40 kilometres across four different valleys and three provinces in the impressive Sella massief. There are two variants of the route, and depending on your speed and how often you stop for a break, it will take you from half to a full ski day. In this article, we tell you all about it.
The Dolomites have been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2009 - for a good reason. Part of the southern limestone Alps, this world-famous mountain range is known for its steep, pointed rock faces. Each mountain is different, and all are worth seeing. The Sellaronda takes you through four valleys around the imposing Sella massif. The highest point is the 3,151-metre-high Piz Boè - also the precise point where the three provinces of Bolzano, Trente and Belluno meet. In the past, the Ladins, an ethnic group from northern Italy, used to walk the Sellaronda to keep in touch with each other, trade and exchange things. They did this in summer and winter, in times when there were no ski lifts. So the Sellaronda owes its name to the Ladins. In the valleys, three different languages are spoken: German, Italian and Ladin. All these details and the stunning views along the way make this circuit just a bit more special than other ski tours in the Alps.
Land:
Italy
Difficulty:
Intermediate skier
Last lift:
between 16.00 and 17.00
Starting points:
Val Gardena, Alta Badia, Arabba and Val di Fassa
Length:
40 km (26 km of skiing)
Duration:
Half-day to full day of skiing
The Sellaronda takes you through four different valleys and their own ski areas. You can start the circuit in Val Gardena, Alta Badia, Arabba-Marmolada or Val di Fassa-Carezza. Including ski lifts, the ski tour is 40 km long, but if you don't count those, you come to a total of 26 piste kilometres. It used to take at least a whole day to complete the circuit, but many lifts have been replaced recently, so now it's possible to complete the route in a few hours or half a ski day. It all depends on how crowded the ski areas are and how fast you can ski. But there's no need to rush through it; rather, enjoy and have a nice day trip. Along the way, you'll pass lovely mountain huts and relish wonderful views! The Sellaronda comes in two different variants: the orange route, which goes clockwise, and the green route, which goes anti-clockwise. Start early and check the time from time to time, so you surely catch the last lift and save yourself an expensive taxi ride. The ski circuit is doable for an average skier.
A winter holiday in Italy is always a great choice, not only because of the wonderful views and the well-groomed slopes but also because of the amazing cuisine. On the Sellaronda circuit, there is no shortage of good mountain huts. Because of its southern location, the sun shines very often, so there's a good chance you can enjoy your lunch on a sunny terrace. The menus offer a variety of dishes. You'll find typical Italian specialities like pasta and pizza, but also peasant dishes from the South Tyrolean cuisine. Will it be lunch with Kaiserschmarrn, a trio of Knödels or a richly filled pizza? Plenty of choice! And if you return to your destination in time, you can treat yourself to a drink with a delicious plate of antipasti.
As mentioned above, you can enjoy the most beautiful views while skiing the Sellaronda. Stop occasionally - in a safe place - to enjoy them. Don't forget to take your camera or put your phone at the bottom of your rucksack! Do you want a glimpse of what to expect? Below is a small impression of this amazing ski circuit in the Dolomites.
The ski resorts you pass while skiing the Sellaronda are all part of the Dolomiti Superski. With 1,200 kilometres of pistes spread across 12 different ski areas, this is the largest ski region in Italy as well as Europe. With the Dolomiti Superski ski pass, you can access them all and discover several ski areas during your skiing holiday. A useful fact for parents: the ski pass is free for children under 8 years (born after 27-11-2013), accompanied by a paying parent. Below, we briefly explain the ski areas you pass on the way:
Val Gardena is a 25 km long valley in South Tyrol with lifts and slopes on both sides. It features three main villages - Ortisei (St Ulrich/Urtijëi), Santa Christina and Selva (Wolkenstein). The Val Gardena ski area boasts 175 km of slopes, but with all the other connections and the Dolomiti Superski ski pass, you can easily reach many additional slopes. In Val Gardena, you can try out the famous La Longia World Cup run, and next to the Sellaronda, you can also ski the Val Gardena round ski tour.
Arabba-Marmolada is all about the Dolomites' highest peak, the 3,342-metre-high Marmolada. Do not miss a trip to the highest point and the descent to the bottom station. With just over 60 kilometres of pistes, this ski area is not very big, but thanks to all the connections, you won't notice that much. You can also ski a nice circuit here, the over 80 km long Giro della Grande Guerra.
Alta Badia is called the 'culinary capital of the Alps', so it's a perfect destination for lovers of good food. Nowhere else will you discover so many Michelin stars in just 15 (!) square metres. You will find accommodation possibilities in several villages, of which Corvara and Colfosco are the most lively. The ski area has around 130 km of slopes, but this can easily be extended to over 500 km. There is no shortage of good mountain huts, and you can even go on a culinary ski safari. Culinary events regularly take place in Alta Badia.
Views of the imposing Dolomite peaks are guaranteed during a winter holiday in Val di Fassa-Carezza. You can spot some famous mountains here, such as Col Rodella (2,485 m), Rosengarten (2,981 m), Latemar (2,842 m) and Langkofel (3,181 m). In the valley, you will find several villages and different ski areas, not all of which are interconnected. Would you like to discover all the beauty this ski area has to offer? Then put the Panorama Tour on your list too!
I grew up in Slovenia, close to the Julian Alps. Early on, my parents put me on skis and skates, and the winter sports enthusiasm hasn't left me since. I also enjoy cross-country skiing and have been a keen snowboarder for the past 20 years.
