The best ski resort in Italy?
Alta Badia is the northeast ski area of the united Sella Ronda area, the most famous ski circle in the ski world, and part of the dolomitisuperski.
It is also a part of the Dolomites world heritage site. It is located in Sud Tirol, a German-speaking state in Italy.
The ski area of Alta Badia is the most suited for beginners in all of the Sella Ronda area, as the majority of the slopes here are blue.
Alta Badia is considered by many the best ski resort in Italy, and Corvara is the most expensive ski town in Italy.
Considered by many the best ski resort in Italy. Corvara
This review will show you the essential things you need to know before heading to Alta Badia. We will share clever tips to help you make better decisions, save time and money, show you the most recommended ski runs in the Alta Badia area, the best apres ski place in Corvara, and reveal hidden valleys, unique attractions and new developments in the area.
Where to stay at the Villages of Alta Badia and important lifts
West of alta badia is val gardena and gardena pass. The most western lift on the Alta Badia ski pass is chairlift Val Setus (4 lift, 42 run).
The most western village in Alta Badia is Colfosco. It is located on the north side of the Sella Ronda Carosella. It is a small village, with mostly ski- in- ski-out accommodation, with a cosy beginners area in the middle of the village.
Colfosco. The most western village in Alta Badia
.The next village is the most famous in Alta Badia and the best located, Corvara.
Corvara sits on the northeast corner of the Sella Ronda carousel.
If Alta Badia is the cream of Italian ski, Corvara is the cherry.
If Alta Badia is the cream of Italian ski, Corvara is the cherry.
Unlike Colfosco, which is in a shadow all December and January, Corvara is sunny. Three major gondola systems surround Corvara:
- Col Alto gondola (1) on the east connects Corvara to Col alt peak and the heart of Alta Badia, a plateau with many gentle hills with mostly blue runs. Beginners paradise.
Col Alto gondola
If you want to sleep next to this lift, a good value for money is Berghotel Ladinia***. A ski-in hotel, 50 meters from the lift. And opposite the best apres ski bar
In Alta Badia, L’Murin. Here are the best deals on Berghotel Ladinia*** Compared on Trip Advisor. - Boe gondola(19) on the west, connects Corvara south to Boe Pitz and part of the Sella Ronda orange circuit, south to Arabba and the Marmolada glacier, at the highest peak in the Dolomites, as well as the world war one circle we will talk about later.
- Borset gondola(34), located next to the boe gondola, connect Corvara to Colfosco. It is the only way also to get back from Colfosco. The only 2-way gondola in the Sella Ronda area and part of the green and orange circuits.
Boe gondola. Borset gondola in the bkgd
The closest hotel to the Boe and Borset lifts is Arkadia Hotel**** It is a ski-in Hotel with an indoor-outdoor pool. The outer part is an infinity pool. The hotel is for adults only.
Click here for the best deals on Arkadia Hotel **** on Tripadvisor.
Northeast of Corvara is the village of La Villa. 2 lifts serve it:
Piz la Ila gondola (5) on the south, to Piz la ila which is the top of the famous gran risa black FIS Worldcup run, and to the heart of the Alta Badia ski area.
Gran Risa FIS World Cup run
On the other side of the road, in the middle of the village, stand the Gardenaccia chair lift (56) which is the way to Badia.
This small chairlift connects between Piz la Ila gondola and Gardenaccia chair lift (56 on the ski map)
The Best-located hotel in La Villa is Hotel Gran Risa***S. This hotel is right on the Piz La Ila gondola. It is a Family-run Hotel that deserves more than its star rate. You better book early if you want to find vacant rooms here.
Click here for the best deals on Hotel Gran Risa***S on Tripadvisor.
Badia is the most northern village in all of the huge Sella Ronda-connected area. It is a cheaper option to stay compared to Corvara and is 15 minutes drive from the Kronplatz ski area, which is included in the Dolomitisuperski pass.
Badia
The best hotel in Badia is Hotel Melodia del Bosko****. It is located in a quiet place but has free shuttles to the lifts or ski bus stations. It has free parking and even an airport shuttle at extra cost.
Click here for the best deals on Hotel Melodia del Bosko****
For a cheaper option, Pensione la Müda. It is ski-in and adjacent to the ski lifts. It also has free parking.
Click here for the best deals on Pensione La Müda.
The longest runs in Alta Badia are around San Cassiano. The most eastern village in the Sella Ronda area. Sorega gondola
The most eastern village in Alta Badia and the whole Sella Ronda area is San Cassiano. San Cassiano’s location is also secluded but better than Badia’s.
The only gondola in the village, Sorega, will take you, with run 28, to the best snow park in the whole Sella Ronda area. Also, the longest runs in Alta Badia are around San Cassiano.
the best snow park in the whole Sella Ronda area. Alta Badia snowpark
The best snow park in the whole Sella Ronda area.If you want to ski in Cortina d’ Ampezzo, San Cassiano is the place to stay. It is also the closest place to the legendary Hidden Valley, which we will show you in more detail later.
The best hotel to stay if you want to explore both Alta Badia and Sella ronda, as well as Cortina D’Ampezzo is Hotel Armentarola****.
It is perfectly located at the end of the Armentarola run, Aka the Hidden Valley or the Lagazoui tour. The hotel is also the exit point of the shuttles to Lagazuoi Cable car, The Armanterola T-bar and the end of run 9 blue in Alta Badia.
Click here for the best deals for Hotel Armanterola****.
Ski Area Review and Recommended Runs:
Alta Badia offers 130 km of ski runs, mainly for beginners and intermediates.
6 days ski pass in high season(25.12-7.1, 29.1-18.3) cost 343€ for adult.
We recommend that non-beginners add 30€ and extend the ski pass to the Dolomitisuperski pass, with more than 500km of contiguous runs, 1220km of total ski slopes and 450 ski lifts.
Adults group lessons for all levels cost high season 240€ for 16 hours course from Monday to Friday.
Dolomitisuperski pass. the best value deal ski pass. north side of Gruppo Sella Massif
Here are the most recommended ski runs in the Alta Badia ski pass:
Forcelles (50)- nice red with unique views, perfect for carving.
Vallon (1) – one of the three black runs in Alta Badia. Uncrowded easy black slope with the best views of Alta Badia
Uncrowded easy black slope with the best views of Alta Badia
Pralongia to San Cassiano (9a)- the longest blue run in Alta Badia. 5 km of relaxing cruise. Stop for a break at the magical Malga Soreghes restaurant.
the longest blue run in Alta Badia
Stop for a break at the magical Malga Soreghes restaurant
After about 1 minute of skiing after the restaurant, you will see a split to the right to blue 9 towards Armentarola and the hidden valley. If you continue with the left side of the fork, the run will take you all the way to San Cassiano.
If you continue with the left side of the fork, the run will take you all the way to San Cassiano.
The most famous run here is Gran Risa, around La Villa. This Audi world cup tour run is 2.5 km and is recommended for advanced skiers.
The most famous run here is Gran Risa,
We recommend for non-beginners extend their ski pass to the dolomitisuperski pass and do the green and orange Sella Ronda circles, the most famous ski circles.
Do the green and orange Sella Ronda circles, the most famous ski circles.
Do the green and orange Sella Ronda circles, the most famous ski circles. Canazei, Val di Fassa.
The runs in the Sella Ronda circuits are short and have many lifts. Still, you can see many different views and, most importantly, explore the other connected ski areas like the Marmolada, Val di Fassa and Val Gardena. You should try to do also the Val Gardena circle. For more info on that, check out our Val Gardena ski resort review.
The runs in the Sella Ronda circuits are short and have many lifts.
Another recommended tour, if you love history, is the world war one tour. You have a museum in the Marmolada, and you will see old bonkers and guns and learn about the battles that took place here at the Italien- Austro-Hungarian front. Take note that you will need to take two different ski buses in one direction or even three in the other. It is around an 80km circle!
you will see old bonkers and guns
80km circle! but you can just sample parts of it.
Last but not least, is our most recommended adventure: the hidden valley, aka Lagazoui tour:
The first part of the journey is to take a taxi van from Hotel Armentarola to Falzarego Pass. The ride costs 7€ per person, and taxis come all the time. The ride takes around 20 minutes.
Hotel Armentarola. taken from the Van taxi
Then you will take the Lagazuoi cable car. The waiting time is around half an hour to climb to the peak. The 7.5 km run from the Lagazuoi peak at 2778 meters to the horses takes around 30 minutes.
the Lagazuoi cable car.
The time takes around half an hour total to wait and climb to the peak
The first part is the hardest; right away, you will get to a fork. Take left here. We will talk about the right turn later. The first 5-10 minute are above the tree line.
The 7.5 km run from the Lagazuoi peak at 2778 meters
The first part is the hardest; right away, you will get to a fork. Take left here.
The 2nd part is the best part and one of the most beautiful in the world. The trail curves through beautiful trees, deep within the majestic cliffs around. You can see blue frozen waterfalls. After the scotoni restaurant on your left, you will pass very close to white frozen waterfalls. The slope continues down in spectacular views. The last part is 10 minutes of flat run. You can save it and take a taxi for 3€ to the Armentarola hotel and t-bar. Your lift back to civilization.
The first 5-10 minute are above the tree line.
The 2nd part is the best part and one of the most beautiful in the world.
The Scotoni restaurant
white frozen waterfalls.
The last part is 10 minutes of flat run.
If you are not tired, or you just waxed your skis, you can earn your way to the horses. The group horse lift is a fun and unique experience you will remember for a long time. Take note that you have another 5 minutes of flat after the horses stop so take a note here. The next time we will do the Lagazuoi tour. We will skip the long flat with the horses in the middle and take a cab for 3€. The horses lift cost 5€. The horses are an endemic breed called Noriker horses and are built for the job.
The group horse lift is a fun and unique experience you will remember for a long time.
The horses are an endemic breed called Noriker horses and are built for the job.
Apres ski.
There is only one good apres-ski bar to party in Corvara: L’Murin. It is located on the right branch of run 8 blue towards col alto gondola, exactly after the stop sign when entering the village.
L’Murin. Best apres ski bar in Alta badia
There are other bars like L’got, which are more for fine wines and have hi quality drinks.
L’Got
How to get to Corvara?
Venice airport: 2h:34 minutes
Verona airport: 2h:50 minutes
Bolzano airport : 1h 36 m
Innsbruck apt : 2h 8 m
Here’s a link to the best online flight engine.
Here’s a link to the best online car rental website.
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Sadly the area is Too far from major airports and Hard to get to with public transportation.
Lagazuoi peak
Here are our pros and cons for Alta Badia:
Pros:
Corvara is in the Best location in the whole Sella Ronda area, together with Selva.
Corvara is one of the best ski resorts in Italy (BTW, which ski resort is the best in Italy in your opinion?)
One of the world’s best ski resorts for mixed levels groups of beginners and advanced skiers.
Beautiful Scenery.
Best snowpark in Sella Ronda area.
Huge continuous ski area.
The Lagazuoi ski tour is one of the best ski adventures for common skiers.
Cons:
Expensive.
No nightlife.
Snow’s reliability is not the best.
Not for freeriders
Hard to get to with public transportation
The village of Badia is a bit secluded from the rest of the Sella Ronda.
Here are our rates for Alta Badia, based on staying in Corvara with Dolomitisuperallowsass, which allows you to ski in more than 500km of continuous ski runs and 1220km of ski runs in total, including Cortina d’Ampezzo and Kronplatz, which are close by.
So here are Ski resorts Video ratings:
Beginners: 9.5
Intermediate: 9.5
Advanced: 9
Snowboarders: 8
Freestylers: 8.5
Free riders: 7
Apres Ski: 7.5
Nightlife: 6.5
Resort Charm: 7.5
Value for Money: 7.5
So, the ski resorts video Total score for Corvara is 8.8
And here are our insider tips for you:
- At the Lagazoui tour, take your time on the top, and enjoy the amazing views. Begin to ski after everyone leaves, so the slope will be vacant just for you, at least for the first part, which is the hardest.
- Don’t do the Sella Ronda Circles on the first 2 days of your holiday because on Sundays and Mondays, they are the most Packed.
don’t do the Sella Ronda circuit on Sunday
- Our second tip will be a bit confusing but worth a lot. Do you remember, the first fork in the hidden valley, where you need to take the left turn? so, if you take another day the right turn at this fork, you will do the Lagazuoi run. Yes, we know it is a bit confusing, but the slope of the Lagazoui tour is actually named Armenentarola run. Lagazuoi run is a wonderful 2.4 km red run curving its way to the south side of the Lagazuoi mountain. It continues back to the Lagazuoi cable car, but a few hundred meters before the bottom station, you will see a split to the left. Take this left, and it will lead you to explore the amazing Cinque Torri area of Cortina D’Ampezzo.
Cinque Torri area in Cortina
Not only that, you will discover that in the 2022 season, the Cinque Torri area was connected to the legendary Tofana area of Cortina, by the panoramic state-of-the-art skyline gondola system, so you can actually have a ”Cortina D’Ampezzo tour” and even have time for shopping in the pedestrian area of the glamorous Cortina d’Ampezzo. If you want to learn more about this option and about Cortina, you must see our review on Cortina D’Ampezzo, or check out our Val Gardena thorough review.
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- Gardenaccia chair lift (56 on the ski map)
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- Alta Badia snowpark (aka Corvara snow park). closer to San Cassiano actually.
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- Dolomitisuperski pass. the best value deal ski pass. north side of Gruppo Sella Massif
