Resort Information
The Val Gardena valley in the Dolomites plays host to four linked ski resorts, the largest of which is Selva (which is also known as Wolkenstein). The other ski resorts are Santa Cristina, the town of Ortisei and the small ski village of Siusi. The ski area around Selva is also on the huge Sella Ronda ski circuit which links several other ski resorts, and is famous for its beautiful scenery.
The picturesque Selva/Wolkenstein is located near the head of the valley at 1555m, tucked in beneath the Sassolungo peak. Slightly lower down at 1430m, and almost joined to Selva, you will find the smaller resort of Santa Cristina (St Christina). Not only does St Christina link into the ski area it shares with Selva (called Ciampinoi), it also offers access to another ski area, called Seceda, which links it to the small market town of Ortisei further down the valley at 1235m. Ortisei, as well as linking to St Christina, has another ski area, called Alpe de Siusi, which it shares with Siusi (Seis) a small village at 1060m.
As well as the quaint and unpopulated local ski areas in the valley, the main reason people head to Val Gardena, and Selva in particular, is the the Sella Ronda ski circuit. The Sella Ronda is a series of lifts (14km of them) and pistes (28km of them) which enable skiers to circulate in both directions around a huge limestone massif called the Gruppo del Sella, linking Selva to other ski resorts on its edges, such as Arabba, Corvara, Colfosco and Canazei (each resort having their own back areas which you can explore along the way.)
The skiing throughout this massive linked area, comprises mainly blue and gentle red runs with epic scenery in every direction. Whilst Selva ski area has a few steeper reds and blacks, skiers who relish a real challenge will be left somewhat crestfallen. Despite some off-piste itineraries like the Val Medzi but again, the jagged nature of the mountains means that there are not a lot of off piste on offer.
Nearly all runs have superb snow-making capabilities, meaning that the valley runs can usually be skied from the first until the last day of the season.
Val Gardena and the surrounding areas are also home to some of the most wonderful mountain hut restaurants, most of which offer table-service and a very high-quality of food. The highest concentration of mountain huts can be found on the Seceda, the sunny pleasure-seekers’ mountain above St. Cristina.
Key Facts
Ski Area
175km (1000km in Dolomiti Superski)
Ski Range
1816m – 2798m
Blue Runs
30%
Red Runs
60%
Black Runs
10%
Season
December – April
Accommodation
Hotel Gran Baita Dolomites, Selva, Val Gardena
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Hotel Gran Baita Dolomites, Selva, Val GardenaFacilitiesSleep...
Hotel Aaritz, Selva, Val Gardena
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Hotel Aaritz, Selva, Val GardenaFacilitiesSleep...
Hotel Somont, Selva, Val Gardena
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Hotel Somont, Selva, Val GardenaFacilitiesSleep...
Hotel Alaska, Selva, Val Gardena
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Hotel Alaska, Selva, Val GardenaFacilitiesSleep...
Mountain Design Hotel, Selva, Val Gardena
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Mountain Design Hotel, Selva, Val GardenaFacilitiesSleep...
Chalet Soldanella, Selva, Val Gardena
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Chalet Soldanella, Selva, Val GardenaFacilitiesSleep...
Useful Information
Beginners
In Selva, St Christin and Ortisei, there is very easy access to beginner skiing as well as the range of blue and easy red pistes making it a really excellent place for beginners.
In Selva, there is an extensive nursery slope area very close to town. In Santa Cristina the group of slopes at Monte Pana are super for early starters, as well as a true nursery slope in town. In Ortisei, there are some great nursery slopes on the edge of town as well.
Intermediates
The 26km Sella Rona circuit is great for intermediates. It is a big day out, and tired legs are almost inevitable towards the end of the day.
The ski area in and around Selva is an excellent ski area in its own right and with some of the best vertical in these parts. The two sides of the valley are quite different however, with the south side in particular providing the most difficult terrain.
In and around Santa Cristina, the skiing is expansive, with a wonderful rolling descent between forest and back to town. Heading dramatically below the massive cliffs of Seceda, the route to Ortisei is a thrilling single long red run.
The small area of Alpe di Siusi area is a very gentle area and perfect for intermediates as well as beginners. There are several tree-lined runs taking in a mix of open, wide piste.
Advanced
Bring candid, there are few challenges throughout the area and there is limited off piste. With only 10% of pistes are designated as advanced, experts really do need to search for challenges.
The Ciampinoi/Saslong area between Selva and Santa Cristina has the toughest on-piste skiing, including the men’s downhill run with its famous camel humps which gives 800 vertical metres of descent down to Saslong.
Skiing the Sella Ronda route is easy, however if you head for the black and red runs at Porta Vescovo above Arabba, you should find some more interesting skiing.
Snowboarders
Snowboarders on the whole find Val Gardena a lovely place to ride, with a good mixture of terrain features from trees to banks and wind lips. Despite having 24 parks dotted across the Dolomites, few of them are particularly memorable other that the park at Alpe di Siusi. This 2km long park is packed with features, and the area can be accessed from Ortisei. Regarding the on piste experience, there is something for everyone, and unlike a lot of linked areas, you won’t find too many narrow cat-tracks linking up the areas.
There is a host of different things to do in Selva Val Gardena:
Shopping
The village has plenty of shops where you can buy the local wood carvings that this area is famed for.
Activities
There is also a sports centre and museum to visit, along with bowling, sleigh rides, ice skating and climbing, snow shoeing, a toboggan and of course heli skiing.
Relaxing
There is also a hot spring pool in Ortisei and a number of wellness hotels in the region.
View the live snow report for Val Gardena (Dolomites) here
Children’s areas and ski kindergartens are available in all three villages (St. Christina/S. Cristina, St. Ulrich/Ortisei, Wolkenstein/Selva Gardena) and on Monte Pana.
There are also practice lifts next to the children’s areas.
Children’s menus are available in the mountain restaurants.
The ski schools in Val Gardena cater particularly well to children, as recognised by an award from the state government of South Tyrol.
The Mini Club offers childcare for children aged 2 years or older.
There are also special family hotels in Val Gardena reserved exclusively for families with children. These hotels have tailored entertainment programmes for children and their own ski instructors.
Attractive packages are also available, including accommodation, ski pass, ski hire and ski school.
Area Map
Hotel Gran Baita
Hotel Aaritz
Hotel Somont
Hotel Alaska
Mountain Design Hotel
Chalet Soldanella
Getting There
Val Gardena can be reached using the Brenner Motorway (A 22).
Coming from north, follow the route Innsbruck – Brennero – Chiusa. Coming from south, follow Verona – Trento – Bolzano. Take the Chiusa/Val Gardena exit. Following the well-marked roads, you should reach Ortisei in about 20 minutes, then S. Cristina and Selva Gardena. At the end of the valley, you come to the Dolomite pass ways.
But you do not need a car to get around in Val Gardena. The lifts depart directly from the individual towns and there is also a very convenient bus service. Many guests arrive in the valley by train, plane or coach.
By Plane
The nearest airports are in Bolzano, Innsbruck, Verona, Munich and Milan.
By Road
Val Gardena can be reached using the Brenner Motorway (A 22).
Coming from north, follow the route Innsbruck – Brennero – Chiusa. Coming from south, follow Verona – Trento – Bolzano. Take the Chiusa/Val Gardena exit. Following the well-marked roads, you should reach Ortisei in about 20 minutes, then S. Cristina and Selva Gardena. At the end of the valley, you come to the Dolomite pass ways.
By Train
From Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and Belgium, there are good IC and EC connections, coming from Munich, Innsbruck, Brennero to Bressanone or Bolzano. Some trains stop in Chiusa, too.
Transfer Stations – Valgardena: A bus service transports you from Bressanone and Bolzano almost every hour to Val Gardena. Some hotels arrange a pick-up service for you.