Arguably the moust beautiful skiing tour in the whole Alps, Sella Ronda, the famous ski tour around the Sella mountain range, is the good test of skills and endurance of every alpine ski lover.
The massif of Sella Mountain range is cut somewhere in the middle by the wide summit plateau resembling from a long distance the shape of the horse saddle ( thus the name Sella) .
peaks of Sella seen from Campitello di Fassa
The highest rising Piz Boe ( 3 151 m) is also the originating point of four valleys, Gardena, Fassa, Livinallongo (Arabba) and Badia all rich in their Ladin culture and tradition.
The slopes of each valley are maintained by the crew of one of the Dolomites ski areas that belong to the big carousel Dolomiti Superski. The four areas are located one to each other forming the long circle of dowhill runs and lifts enabling skiers to join the ring in any chosen point and to return to the same place several years after. The total length of ski runs is approximately 26 km with a difference in height of altogether 4 500 m, which make a big challenge for a ski lover, even if any single run is not very demanding one, all together need the good condition and also the time.
Depending on the skills you should count at least 2 – 2,5 hours, plus some extra time for waiting in the lines to the ski lifts, and some time for the regenerating lunch in one of the mountain restaurants located conveniently near the slopes.The last ski lifts operate till 4.30 PM and the runs are closed by 5 PM.
As Sella Ronda ski tour is spread on relatively long distance it is also necessary to check the weather condition before the start to avoid closed runs due to snow or wind issues.
The tour can be followed clockwise or anticlockwise, below are the altitude points of four Passes connecting ski areas of four valleys:
Corvara (1536 m ) Alta Badia
- Passo Campolongo ( 1875 m )
Arabba ( 1610 m )
– Passo Pordoi ( 2239 m)
Canazei ( above 1460 m ) Val di Fassa
- Passo Sella (2244m) -
Selva Gardena (1563 m) Val Gardena
- Passo Gardena 2194 m
Corvara (1536 m ) Alta Badia
More informations about Sella Ronda ski areas
Alta Badia
Arabba
Val di Fassa
Val Gardena
More general information about Dolomites
[photo courtesy of ReverendMungo]
Tags: alta badia, arabba, dolomites, val di fassa, val gardena
