Selva summer holidays

Holidays in Selva

Being the highest village in the Dolomites makes Selva quite the vantage point. Wake up to some of the greatest peaks on earth, spend your days cycling, hiking or climbing around them, then get back in time to see the cliffs change colour as the sun sets. History buffs have charming churches and a ruined castle to explore, while foodies can devour South Tyrol’s delicious produce.

Highlights: • UNESCO protected landscape

Selva Walking

With some of earth’s greatest landscape on your doorstep, even the most hesitant hikers go gaga for the footpaths here. We love the hike from Daunei up to the Stevia Hütte – stop off for apple strudel on their sun terrace then continue down to the Rifugio Firenze via the awesomely scenic Forcella Piza at 2489m. The route back passes some lovely little lakes which give you a good excuse to stop, soak up the surroundings and send your Instagram into overload.

Another good ‘un (usually taking 5 or so hours) is the route through the pastures and forests of the Vallunga valley, then up to the Rifugio Puez (where the Costa family serve cold beers and cappuccinos) and back along the Hunter’s path.

With the help of the Ciampinoi Cable Car, you can hike around the Sasso Piatto and Sassolungo mountains in 5-6 hours – on a clear day you get an amazing look at Marmolada, the tallest peak in the Dolomites and you might see marmots darting about too. We find the clockwise route a tad easier and more scenic but both ways are a blast.

A shorter and more family-suitable walk is the Naturonda trail to the Città dei sassi – a photogenic gaggle of rocks (that kids LOVE clambering over) just before the north face of the Sallolungo. It’s a super area for spotting wildlife and there are information signs dotted along the route telling you what to look out for.

Selva Cycling

Whether you’re wobbly on the wheels or just won the Giro Italia, the Gardena Valley brims with every kind of bike route. Since this is one of the larger resorts in the Dolomites, you’ll find a number of bike rental shops in the town (with everything from E-bikes to pro standard road bikes) and there are guides to lead the way if needed.

For mountain bikers, the Ciampioni freeride trail is a corker, covering 3km in distance and 568m in altitude. We love the singletrack from the ridge above the Seceda lift too. GoPro’s at the ready: setting off from 2518m it’s thought to be one of the most scenic rides in Italy.

If you want more miles under your belt, the Sellaronda route’s an absolute must. Luckily, Selva happens to be one of the starting points and both roadies and mountain bikers can pedal the tour through the Gardena, Campolongo, Pordoi and Sella mountain passes, covering around 50-60km. All the mountain lifts are bike friendly and it’s perfectly doable on E-bikes if you want that extra push (there are 20 charging points along the way). If you’re planning a visit in June, look out for the Sellaronda bike day where they close the roads, giving cyclists of every level and age free reign. Another event around this time of year is the HERO Sudtirol Dolomites race, one of the trickiest competitions in mountain biking with 60 and 86km races around the Passo Sella and Sassolungo.

More Selva resources