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Alta Badia Ski Region
Alta Badia - a valley of rolling hills and craggy peaks - occupies 16km of the spectacular Dolomites, and the villages of Corvara, Colfosco, Badia, San Cassiano, La Villa and La Val. This is UNESCO listed territory, and rightly so – the Puez Odle and Fanes-Senes-Braies natural parks that spill into the valley have ancient and majestic landscapes.
Raetians were settled here before the Romans took over 2000 years ago, pressing Latin on the Rhaetian language which eventually became the Ladin tongue still spoken in this region today.
As for tourism, it wasn’t until the latter half of the 18th century that visitors started showing interest in the mountains, asking locals to lead them on climbs of the Dolomites. Some trained as mountain guides with the German-Austrian Alpine Club, returning home to take over hotels in villages like Corvara. After a hiatus over WW1, tourism steadily grew. Corvara was the first village to have a ski school in 1938, and Italy’s first chair lift in 1947. Slowly but surely, Alta Badia became one of the best tourist destinations in the Dolomites.
These days, the name Alta Badia refers to a ski area as well as the valley it lies in. It belongs to the wider Dolomiti Superski area, and with a central position, makes for an excellent base to explore from.
Stats & FAQ
Location: Dolomites, Italy
Open: November – April
Downhill: 130km
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| Highest Altitude: | 2778m |
| Lowest Altitude: | 1300m |
| No. lifts: | 53 |
| Longest run: | 8.5km |
| Slope Orientation: | N, S, E, W |
| Vertical Drop: | 1435m |
| Night Skiing: | Yes – La Villa |
| Glacier: | No |
| Downhill Runs: | 130km |
| Beginner slopes: | 54% |
| Intermediate: | 40% |
| Advanced slopes: | 6% |
| Lift Pass Price: | €247 (adult 6 day) |
| Resorts: Corvara, San Cassiano, La Villa | |
Skiing/BoardingSkiing in Alta Badia
Corvara’s beautiful blue runs make it one of Italy’s best resorts for beginners and include a wonderful descent into San Cassiano. Further up the valley, Colfosco’s ski area takes you towards the neighbouring valley of Val Gardena.
La Villa and Badia have a smaller selection of their own pistes – a couple of blues and reds, a black and some beginner slopes – but the Piz La Ila cableway opens up more terrain. One of the most challenging runs in the area is Gran Risa, which leads back to La Villa with 448m of vertical and a gradient of up to 53%. It hosts one of the Men’s FIS Alpine World Cup races every year, starting with a steep slope, then a sharp turn and a steep channel.
Anyone of intermediate level and above simply has to take on the Sella Ronda, which you can start from Corvara and Colfosco. This famous circuit covers the three other Ladin valleys - Val Gardena, Arabba and Val di Fassa - besides Alta Badia.
Something the area’s become well known for is its themed ski tours, combining gourmet stop-offs or talks on WWI events to enrichen your journey. Guides often run trips to Lagazuoi (AKA the Hidden Valley) too, which always comes highly recommended for its insane scenery and secluded feel.
The Alta Badia snowpark can be found at the Ciampai chairlift with a boardercross, jumps and rails – trickier ones at the top level and gentler ones lower down.
Alta Badia Apres Ski
Corvara has the liveliest après in the area, with L Murin – a refurbed old barn – hosting the biggest parties. For something a little more refined, head to the Altrove bar in Colfosco. Wood, stone, cow hides and fireplaces come together to provide a perfectly rustic place to relax, listen to live music and drink vino. For views, we like Col Pradat which serves awesome hot chocolates and cakes on outdoor armchairs. Club Moritzino on the mountain above La Villa has DJ’s and entertainment, as does San Cassiano’s Las Vegas Lodge on Wednesday evenings.
Food wise, this neck of the woods has some of the best restaurants in the Dolomites. San Cassiano is practically glittering with Michelin stars – La Siriola has one for its imaginative Italian cuisine while St Hubertus earned two for Chef Norbert’s other-worldly Alpine creations. That’s not your lot, with La Stüa de Michil in Corvara having a well-deserved star for its Alpine-Italian nosh served in cosy Stube-style rooms.
For something a little different, head to the Tana dell'Orso in Badia – last time we were here a horse drawn sleigh would meet you from the pistes to bring you to the chalet, which is quirkily decorated with witches and bears.
Of course you can’t ski Italy without feasting on a pizza or two – try Fornella in Corvara, La Villa’s La Tor or Luianta in Colfosco.
For outdoor activities, choose between winter walking, snow-shoeing or spa-time in San Cassiano’s Natura Wellness Sass Dlacia.
Best time to go
Best time to ski Alta Badia
When is the best time to ski Alta Badia?
Currents from the south bring the snow to Alta Badia, where the weather stays cool throughout the winter, but still with an average of 100 days of sun from December to March. The snowmaking here is famously good, seeing a number of slopes opening even in times of little-to-no natural snowfall. For an extra layer of excitement, visit during World Cup season in December or come for the closing party in April, when the Ski Caurosel Vintage Party usually sees people dressed in old-school ski gear and getting involved in events.
Peak Dates
Corvara and San Cassiano usually host festive markets and Santa often pays a visit to Colfosco on the lead up to Christmas in Alta Badia.
Torchlight descents traditionally take place in San Cassiano, Colfosco, Badia and La Villa to mark the end of the year, with a big party in Corvara and music events to celebrate the New Year in Alta Badia.
The pistes, restaurants and activities here are wonderfully family friendly, and usually nice and quiet over Half Term in Alta Badia.
Look out for end of season events over Easter in Badia, when the views of the Dolomite peaks are jaw-dropping.
More Alta Badia Holiday Resources
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