Val Gardena is in the heart of the Sella mountain range, in the Italian Dolomites, near the city of Bolzano. With the distinction of being the largest resort on the Sella Ronda circuit, Val Gardena – Selva – San Cristina resort is also linked with the massive Dolomiti Super ski pass area. Skiing and snowboarding is on wide open slopes and over a variety of terrain.
The Val Gardena resort is actually served by three villages: Ortisei, San Cristina and Selva Gardena. There are a total of 5,000 residents, of which 90 per cent are predominantly of the Ladin culture (derived from Latin). This cultural mix, together with breathtaking scenery and excellent facilities, makes for a wonderful ski destination.
There is a huge range of accommodation to choose from, with 17,000 beds available in modern four-star hotels, traditional lodgings and apartments. Ice-skating, paragliding and swimming are part of the numerous non-ski activities. Dozens of restaurants serve traditional German, Italian and international cuisine; while folklore evenings, cafés, bars and discos make up the vibrant après-ski.
Val Gardena – Selva - San Cristina ski resort has a plethora of runs over 175kms of pisted terrain, mainly suited to beginners and intermediates, and challenging off-piste options for the more advanced. Six gondolas, two cable cars, 38 chairlifts and 35 surface lifts can move up to 103,000 people per hour over all pistes, the longest of which is eight kilometres.
For alternative skiing and snowboarding, other resorts in the area are interlinked with Val Gardena – Selva - San Cristina, including Cortina d'Ampezzo, Val di Fassa and the upmarket San Martino di Castrozza and Passo Rolle. These resorts are part of the gigantic Dolomiti Super ski region, with its 1,200kms of pistes. Typically Tyrolean, Bolzano offers an interesting break from the slopes.
The ski season at Val Gardena – Selva - San Cristina runs from December to April, with good conditions throughout, and special deals in mid-December and towards the end of the season. The most convenient means of reaching Val Gardena is to fly to Bolzano and hire a car, or transfer by Skibus.
