Alta Badia ski – 80 miles (130 km) of pistes, six villages, UNESCO world heritage status, and a gourmet food festival in the mountains. A ski holiday in Alta Badia in Italy means miles and miles of well-groomed runs, an altitude that ensures good snow conditions, and a variety of terrain to give you those thrills.
Luckily, it’s also on the sunny side of the Alps with access to 310 miles (500 kilometres) of connected slopes in the Dolomites.
You’ll find excellent food, world-class local wines and endless views of the Italian Dolomites. There’s also a large offering of Ladin culture and the best of hospitality. A stay in any of Alta Badia’s villages will put you in pole position to explore the area.
Alta Badia Ski
Alta Badia resort, in Italy’s South Tyrol, is one of 12 ski areas that make up Dolomiti Superski, the world’s largest ski network. It’s one of the best places to visit in the Dolomites for skiing.
Alta Badia’s slopes are between 4,600 to 9,100 feet (1,400 to 2,778 meters) above sea level, ensuring good snow coverage. If the snowfall fails, an army of nearly 400 snow cannons keeps 80% of the slopes in pristine condition.
There’s a variety of runs for beginners to experts and plenty of other activities for non-skiers making it an ideal ski resort for beginner and family ski holidays. The slopes aren’t packed and there’s rarely a queue for the lifts.
The Dolomites are also a great place for summer adventures. The Alta Via 1 is one of the best hikes in the Dolomites.
Food in Alta Badia
The resort’s food is so good and reasonably priced that at lunchtime, the slopes magically empty as skiers head to the mountain huts. If you like good food, you’ll love the “A Taste for Skiing” food festival, which runs throughout the ski season. Just remember to pack ski pants with a little give!
The Dolomites were awarded UNESCO World Heritage status due to the majestic limestone crags that encircle the area. Cruise the area and take in infinite mountain views. Mountain huts offer excellent food and wine, and the six villages that make up the region mean there’s an Alta Badia hotel for every kind of skier.
Alta Badia – Skiing for Beginners
There’s a good mix of terrain to suit all skiers and it’s the perfect destination for your first family ski holiday. Beginners can cruise the 43 miles (70 km) of easy blues with plenty of space to learn, practice turns and gain confidence.
54% of the runs are long, wide slopes and the entire resort can be accessed from easy slopes. There’s a beginners area, practice lifts, and a separate lift ticket for beginners.
Alta Badia – Skiing for Intermediates
There are 32 miles (52 km) of red or medium runs in Alta Badia. I’d have happily skied the reds all day although some were more challenging than others.
It was also good to relax and cruise the blues to take in the stunning mountain views. That moment when you just need to stop, breathe deep the mountain air, and take in the majesty of the almighty Dolomiti. That happened a lot in Alta Badia.
The Sellaronda
The Sellaronda, one of the most impressive ski circuits in Europe, is suitable for intermediate skiers and is accessible from the village of Corvara, Alta Badia. The famous ski circuit is a Dolomites skiing highlight. It leads around the Sella-Massif and offers downhill trails past craggy peaks and through wooded runs.
The total route can be completed in a day with modern lifts, which are included in the Dolomiti Superski pass. Plan the trip properly as you’ll need to finish before the lift closes at 5 p.m. The circuit takes around six hours so it’s advisable to start by 10 a.m. at the latest.
Skiing the Sellaronda twice — once clockwise and once anti-clockwise — gives you a different perspective. Sellaronda maps can be picked up at the tourist offices.
Alta Badia – Skiing for Experts
Alta Badia has 5 miles (8 km) of black/difficult runs. Seasoned skiers might want to ski the Sellaronda, adding on the Porta Vescovo run from Arabba for a few more challenging runs.
Then there’s the Gran Risa Piste where the annual World Cup Race takes place. This run ends in the village of La Villa, Alta Badia. It’s a run that will take the breath away from the most experienced of skiers.
The run is 53% at its steepest gradient and passes through pine forests along a narrow track, meaning it’s usually covered in thick ice. This makes it one of the most difficult stretches in world cup skiing. Are you brave enough to tackle i?
Alta Badia Ski Park
There’s a stack of shredding to be had for boarders at Alta Badia Ski Park. Set on the Piz Sorega plateau between the slopes “La Frëina” and “Ciampai”, the park is made up of three areas offering something for all levels from experienced to newbies with a range of obstacles including boxes, rails, moguls, jumps and jibs.
Alta Badia for Non-Skiers
There’s plenty to do in Alta Badia without putting your toes anywhere near a ski boot. Over 50 miles of signposted paths are ideal for Nordic walking and snowshoeing. Guided hikes introduce local wildlife like fox, roe deer, and rabbit. There are toboggan trail runs near Piz Sorega along with sledding, horse sleigh rides, ice skating and an indoor swimming pool.
Alta Badia Villages
Alta Badia is made up of six villages: Badia, La Val, San Cassiano, La Villa, Colfosco, and Corvara. You can easily ski between all the Alta Badia villages with the Alta Badia ski pass. We stayed in San Cassiano, which has a gondola up to the main central ski area nearby. Most hotels provide a shuttle service to the lift.
Our Hotel, Alta Badia
Our hotel in San Cassiano with Inghams was Hotel Diamant, a 4-star, family-run hotel with recently renovated rooms. My room was spacious and contemporary, with cool green tones and natural wood furnishings.
The lounge area in the room had a sofa and coffee table, a flat-screen TV, a mini-bar, and a desk. Tea and coffee-making facilities were available, which was great as I like to have a cup before going for breakfast.
The bathroom was roomy with separate areas for the loo, basin and shower. A large rainfall shower with seating area was good, but I would have liked to have seen a bathtub. There was plenty of space for one, and after a day on the slopes, sometimes only a hot bath would do.
Wardrobe and drawer space was plentiful for all my ski gear along with an electronic safe big enough for my Mac, camera and other techie things. A large balcony overlooking the town and the tree-lined hills beyond completed the space nicely.
Dining
The food in the hotel was very good and the restaurant served a good breakfast to set you up for a day on the slopes. Dinner was from a small a la carte menu with an excellent selection of wines.
A traditional Alpine-style bar leads through to a casual contemporary lounge area. Downstairs, a wellness centre offering spa treatments, a gym and indoor pool and Jacuzzi.
The hotel is two minutes’ walk from the town’s main street, which is lined with a few bars, restaurants, and shops. There was a small Christmas Village (we were there in December) with the aroma of mulled wine and roasting chestnuts wafting on the air. San Cassiano ski lift is 550 yards from the village centre.
Ski Schools and Ski Rental
There are ski schools in all the villages offering skiing, snowboarding, and cross-country lessons. Lessons are available for adults and children from 3 years old, and some kindergartens offer full-day care for toddlers.
If you’re looking to hire equipment, I can recommend La Villa, which has shops in San Cassiano and La Villa. We rented boots,(which were very comfortable), skis, and poles. In Italy, it’s compulsory for children under 14 years old to wear a ski helmet.
Alta Badia Ski Pass
Alta Badia is suitable for beginners and intermediate skiers. The Dolomiti Superski ski pass is a must for experienced skiers. Alta Badia is just one of 12 ski regions all covered by the Dolomiti ski pass – the Sella Ronda ski pass is included in the Dolomiti ski pass. Prices vary and you can check them out at Skipass.
Alta Badia Weather
The area has a good record of snow due to its high altitude (the clue’s in the name). We had enough on our early December trip with some overnight snowfall and the snow cannons making up the difference.
Being south-facing there’s a good amount of sunshine and shelter from chilly northerly winds. Check here for the current Alta Badia weather forecast and for the Alta Badia Webcams.
Alta Badia Map
Alta Badia is easily accessible with flights to Innsbruck or Venice. Transfer time from Innsbruck is two hours and three hours from Venice.
Alta Badia resort is the perfect destination for family and beginner skiers. There are excellent ski schools, good outlets for ski hire and good beginner slopes. There are a range of pistes to advance to a variety of skiing for more experienced skiers.
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