Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
WINTER WONDERLAND
The jagged peaks of the Dolomites, or Dolomiti, span the provinces of Trentino and Alto Adige, jut-
ting into neighbouring Veneto. Europeans flock here in winter for highly hospitable resorts, sublime
natural settings and extensive, well-coordinated ski networks. Come for downhill, cross-country and
snowboarding or get ready for
sci alpinismo
, an adrenalin-spiking mix of skiing and mountaineering,
freeride and a range of other winter adventure sports.
The
Sella Ronda
, a 40km circumnavigation of the Gruppo di Sella range (3151m, at Piz Boé) -
linked by various cable cars and chairlifts - is one of the Alps' iconic ski routes. The tour takes in four
passes and their surrounding valleys; Alto Adige's Val Gardena, Val Badia, Arabba (in the Veneto)
and Trentino's Val di Fassa. Experienced skiers can complete the clockwise (orange) or anticlockwise
(green) route in a day.
The region's two flexible passes are
Dolomiti Superski
(
www.dolomitisuperski.com
; high season
3-/6-day pass €144/254) , covering the east, with access to 450 lifts and some 1200km of ski runs,
spread over 12 resorts, and Superskirama (
Click here
), covering the western Brenta Dolomites, with
150 lifts, 380km of slopes and eight resorts.
Val di Rabbi
Narrow, deep green Val di Rabbi is a refreshingly tranquil and picturesquely rustic Alpine
valley that provides the best southern entry into Parco Nazionale dello Stelvio. Europeans
come here for the supposedly curative Antica Fonte spring waters; the
Terme di Rabbi
(
0463 98 30 00;
www.termedirabbi.it
; Località Fonti di Rabbi 162; 8.30am-noon & 4-8pm Mon-Sat,
5-7pm Sun Jul & Aug)
offers a wide range of traditional treatments and is administered by the
suitably grand
Grand Hotel Rabbi
( 0463 98 30 50;
www.grandhotelrabbi.it
; Fonti di Rabbi 153;
half-board d €90-140; May-Sep; )
. Next door is a small
visitors' centre
( 0463 98 51
90; 8.30am-1pm & 3-7pm Thu-Tue Jun-Sep, 9am-noon & 2-5pm Oct-May)
and the starting point
for a network of paths into Stelvio, some of which connect to Val Martello in Alto Adige.
Regular buses head up the valley from outside Malè train station.
Getting There & Around
The Folgarida-Marilleva and Daolasa-Commezzadura
cable cars
ferry skiers and walkers
up the mountainside from the train stations, and provide lockers.
Free ski buses loop around the area in winter; tourist offices have the schedules.
