Val di Fassa. Sella Ronda ski area

For any city this event is like the Olympics for Sochi. Moreover, for such a place favored by tourists as Ortisei. In which the number of visitors is many times greater than the local population. This was not the last sporting event in the city that we attended, but more on that later

In the morning, stretching, we went out onto our balcony and saw the pink Sasalunga mountain in the rays rising sun. Yesterday's roofs and church spiers looked just as beautiful in daylight as they did when illuminated at night. We were glad that we didn’t dream it and went to the kitchen to drink coffee.

We made a small upgrade to the Italian tradition of finishing coffee with one sip. That is, they extended the event over time. Not because they were going to drink a bucket of coffee and eat all the supplies in the house. I just wanted to prolong the pleasure of being in warmth and comfort with a stunning view of the mountains.

Our small but cozy kitchen was equipped with all the latest design ideas. It’s immediately obvious that this is the main place in the house for Italians. It was just right for the three of us. Along one wall there was kitchen furniture, including a refrigerator.

In the middle there is a table with two comfortable sofas. The second wall was occupied by a flat-screen TV, which continuously broadcast the temperature and thickness of the snow to ski stations in District. Our favorite channel, only music and mountains.

No matter how much you stretch out the pleasure, no matter how much you enjoy the view of the pink Sasalunga, but the coffee is drunk, the cookies are eaten, you have to stomp open it ski season. Otherwise, in comfortable conditions you will relax and lose your fitness.

Only many years of practice and muscle memory prevent it from finally turning into an interior design. We need to develop the need for daily physical activity. At first we drag this habit on ourselves, and after some time, it will drag us down. All that remains is to crack the whip.

Go ahead, put on your knight's armor. Such boots and helmets would have suited our medieval ancestors on horses with swords and spears. Those who switched from skis to snowboards feel incredible relief in terms of walking with equipment.

Firstly, light and soft boots, in which you can not only walk, but also dance. Secondly, there is no need for sticks, which always tend to slip out when carried. And finally, instead of two separate skis, there is only one, wide one. Envy snowboarders, they get the same pleasure with fewer resources.

1

It's not a long walk, but in full gear, even a hundred meters is a challenge. Having reached the lift, we find that the ticket office only has single tickets. To get a subscription you need to go to the city center. And the organizers took care of this. We have forgotten what it means to care about people. A tunnel was built right into the city center, and there is a moving walkway in it.

Thousands of people before us came to the ski lift in the morning, saw the red arrow and walked dejectedly along it. They were ready for the fact that pleasure had to be suffered. And maybe the right decision would be not to make life easier for athletes. This way you won’t become an Olympic medalist. On the other hand, for most it is not a sport, but outdoor fitness. That is, improving the overall physical fitness of the body.

2

We went into the office that sold ski passes, and a line immediately formed behind us. You must always arrive on time. And this is only possible if you are not in a hurry. We decided not to deny ourselves anything and bought each of us a weekly super ski pass. It affected the entire Val Gardena region, including Sella Ronda. It was expensive, but in the end, it was worth it.

In fact, only one of us was able to use the full power of the ski pass. The rest turned on the economy mode. To roll it out to the fullest, we need to have more time than we had with us

1

The first day was dedicated to the local hill Secheda. We climbed to the very top a couple of times on two lifts, one to the middle of the mountain, then the next. For many, half a mountain was enough. From the top began a ten-kilometer descent to our Ortisei. Somewhere in the middle of the descent there was a cafe. We arrived there already quite tired. We rested and drove further down.

At the very top there are bare rocks covered with a thick layer of snow. Started from the middle beautiful forest. In one place there was a frozen waterfall where everyone was taking pictures. Some posed for so long that many photo albums were replenished with the same unknown skier against the backdrop of frozen water.

3

We had enough until evening. It's still the first day. And before that there was a break of a year. We must take this into account. Therefore, the early evening was devoted to a walk around the town. The streets were filled with vacationers as soon as the city's lights came on.

Then tired skiers hung their equipment on a nail and went out to look at the shop windows, at the ice sculptures, at the chicly dressed public. Soft music sounded from open cafes, and snowflakes swirled in the air.

1

Beautifully decorated shop windows, colorful lighting, and ice sculptures created a festive mood. The holiday atmosphere was everywhere. Every house glowed with a joyful light. Hotels and restaurants twinkled their lights invitingly. Cavalino Bianco (White Horse) especially stood out. Located in the very center, all pink, it resembled a birthday cake decorated with cherries.

We had bonus ticket to the water park. More precisely, from our friends who lived in another hotel, a little further from the center, and received a compensation bonus for this. They shared with us. We enjoyed devoting the evening to saunas, slides and lying in hot water under the night sky. Here for the first time we enjoyed the heartbreaking screams of children on native language. As the classic said, we only dream of peace.

3

The next morning one of us went on reconnaissance to Sella Ronda. This is such a ski paradise. Equipped luxury trails encircled the perimeter of the mountain range. A square with a side of ten kilometers, where the towns of Selva, Alta Badia, Arabba and Canazei are located in the corners. Familiar names for those who regularly watch Eurosport.

You can go around in a circle in any direction. The signs are orange and green. If you stick to one color all the time, then after forty kilometers you will finish at your starting point. The most convenient thing in terms of diversity. It’s a completely different feeling than methodically ironing one line. This is not even a sports training, but an adventure.

Before this, we studied the features of circular routes on the Internet. The place turned out to be a little different. I was worried about whether I would have time. The point is that everyone is sharing their experiences. Everyone's level of preparation is different. In theory, you can’t guess how long it will take to complete a circle.

When darkness falls, the lifts stop working. Then there is a risk of being left alone at night in an unfamiliar area. With a lot of questions about transport and overnight accommodation. This didn't happen.

4

Everything turned out to be simpler. The whole circle one way took about two and a half hours. First you climb the mountain and look for the green sign. Having gone down, you look for the lift along the green arrow. And thus, going up and down in one direction, you arrive back where you started.

Therefore, before the evening we managed to drive around Sella Ronda twice, in one direction and the other. Moreover, the routes there and back were not repeated. These were different slopes, although of the same mountain. Accordingly, different lifts.

2

It is impossible to know everything. Only on the last day of skiing did we find out that it was possible to get to Sella Ronda directly from our town without taking off our skis. There was a tunnel for this. And we went twice by bus, which did not run that often. True, our ski pass covered the bus service between the towns of the Val Gardena valley. In the meantime, there were enough ski lifts nearby our villa.

All the towns of Val Gardena and other valleys have approximately the same structure. Among the mountain peaks there is usually a flat area the size of the Principality of Monaco. It's easy to spot a town or village at the bottom of the valley. The surrounding slopes in close proximity used for riding. All famous ski resorts are designed this way.

Sella Ronda from A to Z: map of hotels and ski areas, slopes and pistes, lifts and ski passes. Vivid photos and videos. Reviews of ski tourists about Sella Ronda.

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Every year during the ski season in the Dolomites, listed world heritage UNESCO, millions of tourists come. The developed infrastructure of the resorts, the stunning beauty of the mountains, excellent snow cover - praise to the local climate - and the richest choice of ski routes make this region irresistible for beginners and experienced skiers and snowboarders. But no matter what mountain valley tourists choose for activities skiing, few of them will not allocate time in their schedule to visit the real pearl of the Dolomites - the world famous “round the world” Sella Ronda.

How to get to Sella Ronda

This ski area covers four valleys in the Dolomites: Val di Fassa, Val Gardena, Alta Badia and Arabba. That is why all skiers staying in any town in these valleys will not have any difficulty using ski buses and lifts to get to one of the starting points of the route.

From Val di Fassa, the most convenient way to climb to Sella Ronda (and faster, which is important) is from Canazei and Campitello, from Val Gardena the most advantageous starting points will be Selva and Santa Cristina, from Alta Badia - Corvara and Colfosco, from Arabba - Arabba and Livinallongo. You can get to the ski lifts and from one town to another by ski buses, but they run until closing cable cars. So, if you stay in Sella Ronda after 15:30, you will have to get to your overnight stay on foot or by taxi, which will cost a considerable amount of money. You should also not set out late to climb the route; arriving after 10:00 no longer guarantees you smooth snowy slopes throughout the entire ski area.

Please note that the rules for using ski buses vary from valley to valley. For example, in Val di Fassa ski buses are free for ski pass holders, but in Val Gardena they are paid. You will have to buy a day pass for 3 EUR or a seven-day pass for 10.

Prices on the page are as of September 2018.

Sella Ronda, summer

Cuisine and restaurants

Tourists spend the whole day in Sella Ronda, so they will inevitably be faced with the question of where to eat. Don't worry: Italians wouldn't be Italians if there weren't a café or bar in the area. Here are just a few names of places where you can satisfy your hunger in the immediate vicinity of the ski routes: Salei, Piz Setëur, Maria al Sass Pordoi, Panorama, Comici, Passo Sella, Chalet Margherita, Saltria, Williams. All listed establishments are open both in summer and winter. So you can stop for a cup of cappuccino or a portion of pizza (lasagna, polenta, spaghetti - they serve plenty of food, don’t overeat!) in any cafe of your choice, without particularly paying attention to the jurisdiction of which valley it is located under.

Trails in Sella Ronda

This unusual route is often called a “carousel”, “circle” or even “around the world”. And all the definitions are, in fact, correct: planned descents and ascents with elevation differences from 1433 m to 3343 m allow you to go around the Sella mountain range in a circle, eventually returning to the starting point. Even new skiers can conquer the Sella Ronda circuit; moreover, some professionals even grumble that the route is simple and attracts mainly due to its scenery. They also complain that some areas look more like cross-country ski trails. Be that as it may, Sella Ronda is very popular among many skiers and snowboarders, so it makes sense to form your own opinion.

Sella Ronda, winter

For a detailed description of the routes and instructions on which lifts to use, you need to know where the tourist will ascend to the ring track from. So the only recommendation that can be given to everyone going to the Sella Ronda is the following: the route around the Sella mountain peaks is marked with two types of markings, green and orange. Experienced skiers advise beginners to first go around it counterclockwise, following the green markings. It is clearly and clearly marked. Orange markings, applied clockwise, are more complex and confusing; the signs are at a great distance from each other and, if you are not used to it, you can feel insecure, although it is impossible to get lost on 40 km of local routes.

In total, the “green line” is 38.655 km of descents and ascents, of which 15.705 km are of various lifts (there are 15 of them and they have quite dense traffic) and 22.95 km of ski slopes. This route is considered more suitable for beginner skiers due to its spectacular nature and low level of difficulty. It is believed that you can walk it in 3-3.5 hours, adding another 1.5-2 hours for the lifts.

Snowboarders and skiers with an average level of skill prefer the track with orange markings. It is more difficult, it has a total of 37 km, of which you will have to ride 13,518 km on lifts (11 in number), but the remaining 23,100 km you will have to do on your own. The orange route takes about 3 hours, with an hour and a half allocated for the lifts.

Sella Ronda

Popular hotels in Sella Ronda

Ski pass

To ski along the Sella Ronda ring, you will need a ski pass covering all 4 valleys included in the “circumnavigation”. So the tourist will have to purchase a Dolomiti Superski ski pass. The price varies depending on the time of skiing and the age of the skier. A day ski pass for an adult tourist will cost 49 EUR if you ski at the beginning of the season, from the end of November to the end of December. 61 EUR will have to be paid during Christmas and New Year's holidays, as well as from the beginning of February to the end of March. During the remaining winter and spring (until mid-April) time, you will need to pay 55 EUR per day. For a teenager under 16 years old, a ski lift ticket will cost 34-43-39 EUR depending on the season, and for an elderly person over 65 years old - 44-55-50.

A seasonal Dolomiti Superski costs 870 EUR per adult if you buy it after the start of the ski season and 810 EUR if you buy it before this date. You can order your ski pass on time on this website.

When purchasing a season pass for a family, a ski pass for a child under 8 years old costs 260 EUR, for a teenager under 16 - 575 EUR, one of the parents receives a discount.

In addition, for adults you can order a “12 days per season” ski pass for 420 EUR, which will be valid for 12 non-consecutive days of the ski season. Also popular are the “10 days in 2 weeks” ski passes, which cost the same as the 11-day Dolomiti.

• Where to stay: at one of the resorts of Val Gardena (Ortisei is suitable family tourists and beginner skiers, Selva - lovers of night parties), in Kronplatz - this is one of the most convenient and well-thought-out ski areas, or in Cortina d'Ampezzo - an aristocratic town, where people mainly go not to ski, but to “waste” their lives. Snowy Alta Badia and

The plane offers breathtaking views of the Alps. This mountain system is divided into a huge number of regions, about 20. One of these regions is the Dolomites.

But these are the Dolomites, but low, without snow. These mountains are characterized by a light color, because they are composed of limestones and dolomites

Mount Colac in Alba di Canazei

A cable car called Belvedere goes up from the center of Canazei. This is the only way up to the pistes. There is another ski lift in the neighboring town of Campitello, but it is less popular. There is even a separate ski area in Alba and Penia, but we went to Canazei on ski buses - there is a huge scope for choice.

View of La Crepa Neigra

We bought a Dolomiti Super-Ski ski pass, which allows us to ski in all the resorts of Val di Fassa. And the territory there is truly huge, covering four valleys. The most famous route is the Sella Ronda - a circle encircling the Sella mountain range. You can drive it either clockwise (red route) or counterclockwise (green). The tracks are blue and red. It took us about 4 hours of leisurely driving around the circle.

The most high point frame - Sass Pordoi peak (2950 m), part of the Sella massif. You can get to the top by lift, directly to the house called “Shelter “Maria”” (cafe, bar, souvenirs, Observation deck). The steepest and scariest route leads down from the peak. This route is spontaneous, as it is written on the sign - rescuers will not come for you if something happens.

He's bigger

Sella Ronda - an alternation of many kilometers of ski slopes with lifts. I was truly surprised by some sections of this path: in some places you need to take off your skis and walk across car roads! In one place we actually came across a turnstile, in front of which skiers and boarders who had arrived from the circuit were gathering. Through certain time the turnstile opens, releasing the mob onto the highway. It’s logical, otherwise the cars simply wouldn’t be able to get through the constant flow of skiers :)

This is what it looks like.

I liked the “red” circle more than the “green” one: it has fewer long, flat sections.

Piz Boe (3151 m)

Chair lifts or fun "eggs". Next to the short blue trails you can also climb on a rope tow.

In summer, you can go trekking in these mountains.

The trails are great for spending every night, but around 2-15 p.m., snow mounds form in the busiest areas - they really ruined my life.

We were very lucky with the weather: almost all days were sunny, with temperatures around zero or slightly above.
Of course, this is not always the case. In case of heavy snowfalls, “traps” have been built to protect against avalanches.

There were a lot of people, but they practically did not interfere anywhere. Except, perhaps, for the “bumpy” places mentioned above.
A place close to ski lifts, cafes and toilets.

Standard route.

In some places the Sella Ronda runs right through the narrow streets of towns. In every city you can stop to have a snack, buy souvenirs and just take a walk. But real skiers don't need this! It's important for them to go :)

Mount Sassongher (2665 m) and the city of Corvara at its foot.

And this is Sella Gruppen on the opposite side from Canazei. Right in the center is the val Mezdi gap.

In addition, café houses are often built at the boarding/departing points of the ski lifts, where you can have a meal or soak up the sun on a sun lounger.

At first I was terribly jealous of these vacationing men, but a little later we found a cafe with a whole battery of folding chairs and settled on them, drinking mulled wine...

And contemplating the mountains, the Sella massif.

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Every more or less prepared skier in Selva or S. Cristina (), Canazei or Campitello (), Corvara, Colfosco () or, having become acquainted with the slopes located directly above these resorts, certainly goes on a trip along the Sella Ronda route. Many do this even before they master their “home” slopes.

Dolomiti Superski Russia: Sellaronda is far from the most difficult route. A more or less experienced skier is unlikely to be interested in skiing it from start to finish. Is it just for warming up... Its main purpose is the opportunity to move from one resort located around mountain range Sella, to the other and back. Thereby significantly diversifying the skating experience. After all, in total there are about 500 km in a single bundle. ski slopes, part of Val Di Fassa, Val Gardena, Alta Badia and Arabba! To ski here you only need one universal ski pass, the Dolomiti Super Skipass.

The description of the route is taken from the guidebook “BugelSki Guide: Italy” by Yuri Bugelsky, into which, with the permission of the author, some changes have been made that have become relevant in accordance with the update of the ski infrastructure.

Sella is a powerful, almost monolithic rock group similar to impregnable fortress with sheer rock walls 600-800 m high. In its northern part there are Piz Miara (2912), Meisules (2994), Cima Pissadu (2985), in the east - Piz da Lec (2911), on the southern side - Sass Pordoi (2950 ) and the main peak, the cone-shaped Piz Boe (3151). Ronda literally means "patrol". And Sella Ronda is a closed circular route, which can be passed in both directions, both clockwise and counterclockwise, by a chain of interconnected cable cars and trails. The possibility of such “patrol” appeared in the mid-80s of the last century: it was by this time that lifts were installed on all four passes around the Sella mountain group: Passo Gardena (2137), Passo Campolongo (1875), Passo Pordoi (2239) and Passo Sella (2244).

The length of the route, taking into account ascents and descents, if you move “in a straight line”, without any deviations, is about 40 km. Different guidebooks indicate different times required for Sella Ronda, usually 4-5 hours. In fact, a more or less trained skier copes with the route faster, and an experienced skier can, if desired, turn around Sella twice in a day. Professional athletes, participants in the annual Sella Ronda Skimarafon, run around the mountain group in 3.5-4 hours on flat skis.

Without setting any records, the Sella Ronda is a pleasant, not too strenuous walk. Skiers with average skiing experience like this ski safari because of the constant change of amazing landscapes, the nature of the slopes, and the very opportunity to move forward and forward without repeating the descents. It's difficult to lose your way: there are plenty of clockwise and counterclockwise direction signs at junctions and cable car stations. An absolute advantage is that along the entire route in both directions there are no drag lifts - only chairlifts and gondolas. You can rest there and have a quick snack if you don’t want to waste time on a serious lunch in one of the mountain restaurants, of which there are dozens along the road.

The main disadvantage of Sella Ronda is that most of the routes are not interesting as tracks. There are plenty of gentle and boring descents in both directions; some sections are traversed with virtually no turns. Not full-fledged skating, but moving from point A to point B, and you also have to push off with poles in order to gain at least a little speed...

As with any ski safari, when traveling along the Sella Ronda route you need to carefully monitor the time: it is better to be at the last pass before the valley in which you live no later than 16.00. Do not ignore warnings that appear periodically on electronic displays: Sella Ronda closed. This means that the circling movement is stopped due to weather conditions, accident on a lift or for some other reason. In this case, having arrived, for example, from route, don’t worry too much. Car traffic around the Sella massif is open all year, taxis have not yet been canceled; returning home will cost 70-100 euros.

You can start your trip from any resort located in close proximity to the Sella mountain group. To reach the route on skis from Ortisei (), it takes about an hour, from La Villa and San Cassiano () - 30-40 minutes; The road from the resorts of Pozza and Vigo di Fassa will take the same amount of time (bus + funicular ride). We describe the Sella Ronda route, starting from Selva Gardena.

Clockwise

This option is indicated in orange on maps and highway signs. It involves 12 ascents and 11 descents.

From Selva in 6-seater gondolas we go up to Dantercepies (2300) and go down to the village of Colfosco (1645). The length of the route is about 5 km with a height difference of only 650 m. Except for the uppermost, sometimes bumpy section near Passo Gardena, you can drive practically without turns. Between Colfosco and Corvara (1568) there is a 4-chair changeover over a too flat section of more than a kilometer long: skiing is not possible in either direction. In the middle and especially at the end of the day there are often queues for about 20 minutes.

A 12-seater gondola lift takes Boe up to the slopes from Corvara. From an altitude of 2200 m, a moderately difficult descent (1.4 km) leads to the Campolongo pass, from which you will have to climb to Bec de Roces (2160) in a 4-chair chair. From here start two nice “red” slopes with a southern orientation: the snow on them is usually very soft. Having met at the 4-chair Pale, they turn into a rather narrow “blue” passage, ending at (1600).

Here you will have to take off your skis and go to the Portados ski lift (the journey should not take more than 3-5 minutes), after rising on which you should take a left and after a very short descent transfer to the Carpazza chairlift. Another longer and not at all difficult descent will lead to the border point between the ski areas of Arabba and Val di Fassa - Pont de Vauz.

The old version of the “orange” Sella Ronda - from the village of Arabba to Pont de Vauz, passed through a more complex section that still exists today. To get there you need to go to the ski lifts at Porta Vescovo (2478). You can take the funicular or the 25-seater gondola, which has an intermediate station at Pescoi (2158); There are quite long queues for both lifts; the cabins go up to the top and are jam-packed. From the top there is a magnificent view of the Marmolada glacier (3342). The northern 3.5 km descent from Porta Vescovo, officially marked red, is the most difficult of the entire Sella Ronda route. In the steep, shady upper area, large mounds quickly form; in the middle part there are several high-speed sections. Be careful and soberly assess your strengths. Don’t stop in the middle of the route: if you decide to admire Piz Boe and the panorama of the valley, it’s better to go to the side.

From Pont de Vauz (1851) a 10-chair lift takes you to the Pordoi pass. An easy 700-meter descent into reverse direction, to the same chair, which will take you to the ridge on the other side of the Sass Bece rock (2583). From an altitude of 2418 m there is a long, 4.5 km descent to Pian Frataces (1715). At first - spacious and bright “red” Belvedere rollouts; towards the end there is a rather cramped, lumpy passageway crowded with people with several sharp turns. At the fork 300 meters before the finish, keep to the right - otherwise you will find yourself on the road leading to Canazei (1460), and will be separated from Sella Ronda for a long time.

8-seater gondolas take you to the opposite eastern slope of Col Rodella (2485). A short drive to the 4-chair Cavazes-Grohmann and another ascent, to 2323 m. From here there is an easy “red” descent, and after Passo Sella there is a completely elementary “blue” descent in the direction of Plan de Gralba (1800). On the right hand are the beautiful walls of Miara, on the left is the Sassolungo fang (3181). From halfway, using the 4-chair Sole, you can pull yourself up to Piz Seteur (2063), from where a pleasant forest trail leads to Plan de Gralba. A simple “red” descent (2.3 km) to the Plan area, a short switchback chair - and after 250 m the finish line is on the outskirts of Selva (1563).

To close the route and find yourself at the point from which we began its description - the lower station of the Dantercepies lift, all you have to do is use the short Costabella chairlift and then go down along the small “red” track.

Counterclock-wise

This version of the Sella Ronda circular route, marked in green on maps and signs, involves 16 ascents and 15 descents.

In 12-seater gondolas we go up from Selva to Ciampinoi (2254) and along any of the “red” routes (both 2.5 km, the left one is easier) we go down to Plan de Gralba. The roll-out - be prepared for this - is always quite crowded.

A 10-seater cabin lift on Piz Seteur, followed by another, will lead to an altitude of 2235 m. A long, 800-meter, very gentle traverse among the boulders that once collapsed from Sassolungo leads to the Sasso Levante chairlift, which extends to a height of 2428 m. From here, keeping to the right, we cross several pistes with Col Rodella (look carefully on both sides to avoid collisions!), and we come out on a quality 3-kilometer “red” slope of medium width with several high-speed sections leading to Pian Frataces; the total elevation difference will be about 700 m. Closer to the finish, keep to the left so as not to “fall” into Canazei.

8-seater gondolas take you to the Belvedere slope; higher up, on the Sass Bece ridge, at 2418 m, there is a powerful 6-chair, which, however, often attracts a long queue. A very good “red” track rushes down, which leads to the border point between the ski areas of Val di Fassa and Arabba - Pont de Vauz. The Alpenrose chairlift will take you to the top of Portados (2157), from where we will ride along the wide “red” track, which then turns into a gentle traverse, to the outskirts. Here we need to transfer to the Arabba Fly lift, which, true to its name, will carry us over the center of the village and drop us off on the other side.

Further on from Burz (1940) there is a 4-chair cable car. A short rollout into the Plan Boe hollow (1800), after which another 4-chair ride to Bec de Roces and a calm “blue” path (1.1 km) to the Campolongo pass. From here we take exactly the same cable car up the eastern slope. From an altitude of 2055 m, the wide at the top, picturesque forest “red” route 2.6 km long begins; bumps are encountered only in the final stretch before the finish in Corvara. The plateau remains on the right; right before your eyes is the impressive rocky peak of Sassongher (2665), business card of this region.

You can get from Corvara to Colfosco quite quickly using the Borest lift. Then you immediately need to go to the Sodlisia chairlift, where there is often a crush during peak hours. Next - two sections of 8-seater gondolas to the slope of Grand Cir, to the level of 2222 m. An unremarkable 300-meter descent of average difficulty leaves from the upper station. Having passed it, you can pull yourself up again using the 4-chair Val Setus, but it is better to save time by immediately moving forward to the 4-chair that takes you from the Gardena pass to Dantercepies.

A counter-clockwise Sella Ronda ski safari will be completed with dignity by either of the two equally interesting “red” runs leading directly to Selva: both are 4.5 km long, with an elevation difference of 730 m. Both then merge into a fairly flat ski route passing along the outskirts of the village and ending near the lower station of the Ciampinoi ski lift. To get to it, you need to take off your skis, cross the street and turn right. In about three minutes you will find yourself at the starting point of this route.

Sella Rondu it is customary to praise, especially among those who have a financial interest in sending you to the Dolomites. The main advantage of Sella Ronda is that it has a huge combined route through several valleys.

In practice, the transition from valley to valley is carried out on foot and by lifts. It is not enough for you to move down one valley and immediately rise. In some areas, you will first have to ride a lift from valley to valley, and then also use separate lifts to go up the mountain. And it's quite tedious. It may even feel like you're on lifts for most of the ride.

Sella Ronda route You can drive either clockwise or counterclockwise. Route clockwise indicated in orange and considered more difficult. Counterclockwise route has a green color and is lighter.

It is worth considering that a difficult-easy route does not mean that one is suitable for beginners and the other for professionals. Both routes have very difficult red sections where any beginner (or intermediate skier) can get stuck for a long time and not have time to go around the entire route. In this case, you will have to get from someone else’s valley to your own by taxi.

Despite its shortcomings, Sella Ronda in the Dolomites is the most interesting place, because allows without moving to public transport ride throughout the area. As for ease of access to all valleys, it wins in this regard.

Stay in the valley of the Sella Ronda route in which you want to ride or between them. It takes a long time to get to the opposite valley and it can take half a day.

Map and skiing diagram of Arabba

Photos

Along the Sella Ronda route. One way is a green route, the other is an orange route.

Key crossings along the Sella Ronda and queues for the lifts