Val Gardena

Val Gardena has not simply written the history of skiing thanks to its winter sports champions, but every year it proves to be an inevitable meeting point for the world's skiing elite.
The connection with Dolomiti Superski (the largest ski carousel in the world) and the nearby Alpe di Siusi is an Eldorado for winter sports.

Snow activities in Val Gardena

Sledge

From the arrival point of the Rasciesa chairlift in Ortisei, an impeccably prepared 6 km long toboggan run takes you down to the valley. Also on the Alpe di Siusi there is certainly no shortage of opportunities to glide fast on the slopes…

SKI SAFARI

Cross the Dolomites with skis on your feet in 4 or 7 days on the most beautiful slopes of the Dolomiti Superski, the largest ski carousel in the world: from Val Gardena, Val di Fassa, Arabba, Marmolada, Civetta up to Cortina d'Ampezzo and back through theAlta Badia. Including organized transport of luggage from hut to hut.
Registration with the Val Gardena mountain guides and ski schools.

Excursions with snowshoes

Hearing the crunch of snow in the silence of an uncontaminated landscape, letting yourself be seduced by the magic of a winter sunset over the Dolomites and a romantic walk by torchlight, all of this is possible with an excursion with snowshoes (proposed by the Alpine Guides and at the Selva Tourist Office).

Chalet in the Dolomites

Discover the best offers to spend a snow vacation the best Alpine Chalets and Huts of the Dolomites, the best immersed structures in the heart of the Dolomites in typical Alpine style

Discover better offers

Advantageous offers in Val Gardena

Discover the best holiday offers at the foot of the Dolomites in Val Gardena, holiday packages at advantageous prices in hotels and apartments in Ortisei, Santa Cristina and Selva di Val Gardena

Discover better offers

adv

Ice climbing for beginners and advanced

The courses are suitable both for those who, for the first time, want to experience the thrill of climbing an ice waterfall, and for those who want to perfect their technique and try their hand at ever new challenges! Individual climbing tours lasting a whole day are offered.
(proposed by the Val Gardena Alpine Guides Association and the Catores mountaineering school)

Off-piste and Freeriding, Val di Mesdi

The Grand Canyon of the Dolomites. Val Mesdì is one of the most famous and impressive off-piste slopes in the Dolomites. On the snowy slopes it seems to be sailing in a sea of ​​clouds: in few other places skiers have such a profound feeling of freedom. Other wonderful off-piste trails: Val Lasties, Forcella Pordoi and variants, Marmolada etc.
The trips are carried out in groups or for single people of experienced skiers.
(proposed by the Val Gardena Alpine Guides Association and the Catores mountaineering school)

Ski touring trips

Ski tour for beginners on the Alpe di Siusi. A short and comfortable ascent and the subsequent descent on gentle slopes of fresh snow will lead us to the Tirler Hut for a well-deserved rest, or go up the legendary Forcella del Sassolungo, a
Ski-mountaineering excursion for advanced riders with a short but steep climb on the east side. The descent takes place in the west on one of the most beautiful and longest fresh snow slopes in the valley.
For enthusiasts there are multi-day trips:
Ski-mountaineering and off-piste week always organized by the Alpine guides.
With the help of the ski lifts, but also with the use of climbing skins, you will discover the most beautiful uncontaminated environments of the Dolomites away from the crowded slopes. The most important peaks: Forcella del Sassolungo, Sassopiatto (2.960 m), Catinaccio, Marmolada (3.250 m), the Sella group and others.

Geography, history and craftsmanship in Val Gardena

Val Gardena extends over a length of approx. 25 km in the northwestern part of the South Tyrolean Dolomites. The valley rises from Ponte Gardena (471 m) up to the Sella Group, with the Sella and Gardena Passes, which mark the border with other Ladin valleys. The tourist area begins in Pontives, where there is also the linguistic border between German and Ladin. From here the Ladin valley opens up with the municipalities of Ortisei (Ladin Urtijëi), S. Cristina and Selva Gardena (Sëlva). The hamlets Bulla and Roncadizza are part of the municipality of Castelrotto, but geographically and linguistically they belong to Val Gardena.
Very little is known about the history of the Dolomite territories. Finds found in Val Gardena years ago at "Plans de Frea" at the foot of the Sella testify to the presence of life around the year 6000 BC. These are arrowheads, needles and other tools that suggest hunters who in the summer months were looking for a temporary accommodation in our area. Subsequent finds on the "Col de Flam" near Ortisei (bronze buckles, jewels, iron axes, Gallic sabers and primitive rural tools) date back to around 400 BC.

Customs and customs

The Ladin valleys of the Dolomites have been rich in traditions since ancient times. Family events, celebrations and feasts throughout the year were accompanied by customs with a profound and symbolic content. Today many of these uses have been lost or have lost their deepest and most original meaning. Therefore, a research work in ancient writings is necessary to rediscover the uses and customs of times gone by. For the more passionate we recommend the book "Das Grödner Thal" (Val Gardena) by Franz Moroder-Lenert. Even the passing of the seasons gave various accents to the old Gardena traditions. It is noted that the most suitable period for the emergence of new uses and customs was the winter, when work in the fields was paused and people had more time available. Characteristic for Val Gardena are also the typical Val Gardena costumes. The richness and originality of these customs is due to the fact that the ancestors had the possibility, traveling around the world, to learn about new things and to buy silks, ribbons, fabrics, lace and jewels.

Craftmanship

Feeling, imagination and will take shape… Val Gardena sculptures have a long tradition. They originated in the 17th century, when the peasants in the long winter period, spent most of them in their stuben, began to carve wood and produce simple tools as a pastime, which were then sold on the spring markets. Real sculptures soon followed, initially mainly depicting religious figures. In addition to religious sculptures, a large wooden toy industry was born. Dolls of all types and sizes, rocking horses, animals and various toys were in demand throughout Europe and even on the American market.
. The Christmas market in S. Cristina and the crib exhibitions in the pre-Christmas period are an important expression of local craftsmanship. Snow and ice sculpture competitions are organized every year, another appointment during which you can admire the great artistic talent of the Val Gardena sculptors.