Skigebiete in den Dolomiten

From the valley floor below, the jagged peaks of the Sella massif, the towers of the Sassolungo and Fermeda peaks and the Odle mountains all seem within easy reach. With 175 km of slopes, Val Gardena is not only the largest but also one of the most famous ski areas in South Tyrol. It became famous for the Ski World Championships held there in 1970. Today, cable cars and lifts bring visitors directly from the village centre up to the mountains where they can tackle slopes of all difficulty levels and with connections to the Dolomiti Superski carousel. From the huts, guests can enjoy culinary delicacies and panoramic views of the Dolomites. The famous 'Sellaronda ski circuit' can be started from all Val Gardena villages. So too can the less well-known but equally diverse 'Gherdeina Skiring' from the Alpe di Seceda mountain hut to Dantercepies. Only bold skiers dare to descend the steep 'Saslong' slope on the Ciampinoi, while the 10.5 km 'La Longia' route from Seceda to Urtijëi/Ortisei requires good fitness.

The Seiser Alm high plateau is a cosy place and the wide slopes are ideal for families and beginners. You can hike over the rolling hills of this vast Alpine pasture and listen to the crunch of snow beneath your feet. Gourmets will want to stop in to the "Schwoage," a rustic Alpine hut with great food. From the chairlift already, the landscape of the Schlern Nature Park can be readily admired. The cross-country skiing trails that stretch across the high plateau demand endurance. Those interested in high jumps should head to the snow park, which is considered to be one of Italy’s best. A particularly romantic way to discover the winter landscape is by horse-drawn carriage. Those with a need for speed, on the other hand, can measure their quickness on the "Goldknopf" ski run. Featuring a direct lift connection to the neighbouring Val Gardena valley, guests can also take advantage of the countless slopes of the Dolomiti Superski skiing network.

The Carezza Dolomites ski area is one of the most traditional in the Alpine region. The first ski resort was opened back in 1950 at the foot of the Rosengarten massif. Today, a modern cable car facility leads up the erstwhile "Paolina" route and an additional 11 lifts connect the 40 km of slopes. The ski area is accessible from Bolzano/Bozen in about 20 minutes and is considered a true insider tip for families. At the "King Laurin Children's World," little ones can immerse themselves in the enchanting, legendary world of the Rosengarten and learn to ski in a playful way. Meanwhile, more practiced winter-sports enthusiasts can carve down the sun-kissed slopes, speed down the toboggan run, or follow the track of the cross-country skiing trail with stunning views of the Dolomites. Apropos, there is no other place in South Tyrol where you can ski more sustainably. The Carezza Dolomites climatic ski area, for instance, only uses water from its own reservoir to produce snow. Snow groomers use snow depth measurements to ensure that they only groom the slopes to the extent necessary.

Families in particular will feel at home on the gentle slopes of the Speikboden ski area in the Tauferer Ahrntal valley, where about half of the wide pistes are classified as easy. The Family fun park offers fun for young and old and the snow park gives freestylers the chance to practice their latest tricks. Long carving turns are best enjoyed next to the Sonnklar lift. The ski area’s cable cars will take you up to 2,400 m above sea level, where you can enjoy the scenery of the surrounding three thousand metre peaks either from the viewing tower or on one of the many marked snowshoe hiking trails. An overnight stay in an igloo is one of the romantic highlights of the snow-secure Speikboden ski area. Family fun is not in short supply thanks to the two toboggan runs. At ten and eight km, they are the longest toboggan runs in South Tyrol.

Around the most famous rock towers in the UNESCO World Heritage Dolomites, the Three Peaks, and near the Austrian border, modern cable cars and lifts lead to over 100 kilometres of diversity-rich slopes. The "Giro delle Cime”, a sporty round trip to the ski mountains Helm, Stiergarten, Rotwand, Kreuzberg and the Val Comelico ski area (Belluno province), offers the best views of the jagged peaks. In the realm of the sleeping giant Riese Haunold, oversized snowmen, a toboggan run and the only free roaming reindeer herd in the Alps provide family fun. The brave plunge down Italy's steepest daily-groomed slope, the "Holzriese”, which has a gradient of 72%. For even more km of slopes you don't even need to take off your ski boots - the Ski Pustertal Express connects the 3 Zinnen Dolomites and Kronplatz ski areas.

The Kronplatz mountain is especially popular with demanding skiers and snowboarders. While the young practice new tricks in the two snow parks, the brave plunge down the notorious 'Silvester' or 'Hernegg' black slopes to Riscone/Reischach, where the après-ski bars fill up in the evenings. In the kids’ parks and ski schools, guests learn to parallel turn on the flatter slopes. Thanks to modern lifts, Bruneck’s local mountain with over 100 km of slopes is accessible from three sides. The 'Piculin' lift even offers access to the 'Sellaronda ski circuit', and the Ski Pustertal Express transports excited skiers to the Three Peaks Dolomites ski resort in Hochpustertal. The Plan de Corones area is an especially spacious, sunny plateau with a 360° panorama of the surrounding mountain landscape. Here, a true architectural highlight awaits discovery: at the Messner Mountain Museum 'MMM Corones”, designed by star architect Zaha Hadid, mountaineering legend Reinhold Messner puts guests into dialogue with the world’s north faces, the supreme discipline of mountaineering.

Alta Badia delights gourmets with events themed around 'A taste for Skiing', while cosy mountain huts offer refined regional dishes. Naturally, the skiing conditions at South Tyrol's most tradition-rich ski area are also first-class. Demanding slopes on the Sella massif such as the 'Vallon' ski run or the 'Gran Risa' World Cup giant slalom track in La Villa are for daredevils only. Otherwise, more than half of the pistes in Alta Badia are classified as easy so that even beginners and novices can easily explore the entire ski area with views of the Sasso di Santa Croce, Sassongher and Lavarella mountains. In addition to the famous 'Sellaronda' ski circuit, the 'Peace Tour' around the Col di Lana mountain is a real experience. For it was here that Austrian Gebirgsjäger, as the light-infantry was called, fought against the Italian Alpini during World War I. Cross-country skiers can cross the Armentarola valley diagonally, whilst deep-snow fans can glide from Sass Pordoi through the picturesque Val Mezdì valley to Colfosco.

From the bishop's bishop's seat of Brixen with its medieval alleyways, it’s less than ten minutes to the Plose ski area, which stretches over two of the three peaks of the Plose mountain area. Once you’ve arrived at an altitude of over 2,000 m above sea level, a magnificent panorama opens up in all directions. As you ski the southern slopes of the Plose and the Pfannspitze mountains, you’ll have a clear view of the Dolomites’ distinctive rock pinnacles. To the north, the main chain of the Alps towers in the distance. Will you have the courage to venture down the 9-km legendary "Trametsch" valley ski run? Ways to explore the snow-covered landscape are limitless: Hike along the numerous hiking trails and ski tourers will discover untouched powder snow on the slopes of the Gabler in the Puez Geisler Nature Park. On the "RudiRun," one of the longest toboggan runs in South Tyrol, fun is guaranteed for the entire family. From the mountain station to the valley, speed down nearly 10 km and descend 1,000 metres in altitude.

In wintertime, the Latemar Dolomites massif (Latemar translates in English to “Sea of Milk”) is transformed into a paradise for winter sports enthusiasts. Several times in the past, the Obereggen ski area was named one of the best ski resorts in the Alps, above all because of its perfectly groomed slopes, the cosy huts with regional specialities and the snow parks, which inspire both snowboarders and freestylers alike. This is a great destination for families. Parents can practice parallel turns along the sunny slopes (all difficulty levels) to the adjoining Val di Fiemme. Meanwhile, children from age three can frolic in the mini club or learn to ski in the 'snow house' and the 'Yeti Kinderpark'. Qualified ski instructors will teach children how to control their speed on two skis. There is also a tubing track in addition to snow waves in 'Brunoland' at the valley station. Should you find a day of action to be too short, you can head night skiing several times a week by floodlight, rush over the toboggan run, or practice tricks in the night snowpark. At the 'Obereggen Night Show' you can even watch the snow groomers dance through the night.