The Skiers' Guide to Alta Badia

A ski resort in the Italian Dolomites, Alta Badia sits up high in South Tyrol’s Val Badia. It is in the heart of the Ladin Dolomites, where the ancient Ladin culture (with pre-Roman Empire origins in the area) thrives to this day. Steeped in history, culture and seriously stunning scenery, Alta Badia is known for its wide open spaces, lush forests, clean air, and above all, unrivalled local hospitality.

The Alta Badia ski resort is based over the six villages of Corvara, Badia, Colfosco, La Val, San Cassiano and La Villa - each of them offers something different, but you can find out about the best places to stay in the ‘accommodation’ section below. Part of the Dolomiti Superski network, you’ll enjoy a huge area lift pass which includes the Sella Ronda circuit, Hidden Valley run, Marmolada glacier, and other linked resorts like Cortina d'Ampezzo. Locally though, the ski area’s 53 ski lifts and 130 km of perfectly groomed slopes are more than enough to keep beginners and learners happy. The area is also covered by the IKON pass and is much cheaper in terms of food and accommodation when compared to resorts across the pond.

Ultimately, Alta Badia has the three S’s of any great ski resort - sun, spritz and snow.

Ranging from 1324m to 2778m, Alta Badia boasts some of the most consistent snow in Europe and beautiful scenery to accompany it. Slopes can get busy at peak times but the colossal ski area means crowds disperse pretty quickly after the first-lift rush. The area is one of the biggest in Europe when you get the Dolomiti Superski pass, which covers 12 interconnected ski resorts in the Dolomites, spanning across 1,200 km of slopes and 450 ski lifts - it’s safe to say you won’t need to ski the same slope twice if you don’t want to. Highlights include the Sellaronda, a 42km / 22-mile round tour with insane panoramic views. The tour has different route options with friendly enough slopes that a confident intermediate can tick it off their list, and plenty of places to stop for food and drinks.

Described by the Snomad community as an ‘intermediate paradise,’ there’s a nice balance of both steeper reds and cruisey blues in the Alta Badia area. A particular highlight is the almost endless amount of blue runs above Corvara, including the 9A run which drops down from Pralongia at 2157m to the base station of the Piz Sorega cable car. For those that didn’t already know, you don’t tend to find green slopes in Italy, so the blue pistes are where beginners will feel most comfortable. There are family fun zones littered all over the area and a snowpark beneath the Ciampai lift.

On the whole, the vertical may not be huge but there are so many runs to explore and if you ski all the way back down to the valley (like the 9A piste down to San Cassiano mentioned above) you’ll clock up more mileage - not to mention taking advantage of the Dolomiti Superski pass.

For advanced riding and freeride, the abrupt geology of the Dolomites limits off-piste somewhat. However, there are numerous terrain parks and Alta Badia’s World Cup run (piste 17) is tough.

The Alta Badia Valley has a reputation for truly exceptional food, with no fewer than six Michelin-starred restaurants - that’s more than all of Malaysia. Thanks to the rich Ladin culture and proximity to Austria, there is a great variety of cuisine. You’ll find pork schnitzel sitting alongside homemade ravioli on menus that promise an unforgettable experience.

If you’re here to sample some mind-blowing chef Savoir-faire, the Michelin-starred restaurants include St Hubertus in the Rosa Alpina Hotel in San Cassiano, La Stau de Michil at the La Perla Hotel in Corvara and La Siriola in Armentarola (San Cassiano). It goes without saying that the price tags are reflective of the cuisine, but you really do get what you pay for. Other fine dining options without the intimidating Michelin status include the Sporthotel Panorama near the Arlara lift at the top of Corvara, which is loved by the Snomad community for its afternoon cakes, extensive wine list and six-course evening meals.

If you’re visiting on a budget, you can rely on the staple Italian classics - all villages have pizzerias serving reasonably-priced pizza and pasta dishes.

The vibe throughout Alta Badia is very much understated family fun, but there are some decent après spots both on and off the mountain for those who want to sip on sundowners to thumping Europop. On the slopes, Club Moritzino at the top of the Bamby and Piz La Ila lifts has sun-soaked views and occasional dancing on tables from lunchtime onwards. In the event that you après up here until after the lifts have closed, you can ski down to La Villa (preferably not on the seriously steep black run) and then take a bus to the other villages.

Elsewhere, Edelweiss mountain hut above Colfosco (top of the Pradat cable car) has a similar but more chilled-out vibe should you want to simply sit back and soak in the views. At resort level, Corvara is the liveliest village and so L’Murin is where you’ll find the returning après crowd, despite it being part of a luxury hotel.

The villages of Alta Badia retain their traditional charm, which means there isn’t heaps to do off the slopes other than the usual selection of ice skating and tobogganing.

Corvara is home to a handful of hotels with luxury spas that often open their doors to non-residents along with indoor tennis courts, a climbing wall and an ice rink. San Cassiano has arguably the best foodie scene in Italy outside of Bologna, and there’s a fantastic toboggan run which comes down into the village from Piz Sorrega.

For non-skiers who want to hone their fitness without any time on the slopes, winter walking is popular here, and when you see the scenery, you’ll understand why.

Each of the six villages offers something different, but for maximum convenience and the best access to the ski area, we’d suggest either Corvara or La Villa.

Corvara (1568m) is bigger, busier and has a lively après scene. Known for luxury stays, nightlife and complete convenience, it is the most developed of all the Alta Badia villages It is also a favourite of the Snomad community, with frequent mentions of ski-in ski-out hotels in Corvara including Hotel La Perla, Sporthotel Panorama and Berghotel Ladinia. La Villa (1433m) is slightly smaller and quieter and is the place to go if you’re serious about getting those miles in. Not only is it home to the famous World Cup run, Gran Risa, but it’s also well connected to the Superski area. There is a decent choice of accommodation and prices are very reasonable.

Colfosco (1645m) is the best choice for families wanting a scenic break. It’s a beginner-friendly area in itself, but is also only two lifts away from the mass of blue slopes above Corvara. San Cassiano (1537m) is where you’ll find the high-end foodie and spa scene; The St. Hubertus hotel is one of only ten three-Michelin-starred restaurants in Italy. Keep in mind though that San Cassiano is a sprawling village along the bottom of the valley (you’ll see many non-skiers here just for the Michelin-starred restaurants) which means you will need to take a short bus to the main lift area. Hotel Fanes provides a shuttle service which takes you from door to ski lift in two minutes.

The final two other villages of Badia (1324m) and La Val (1348m) both also require shuttles to the main lift area, but the trade-off is peace, quiet and breathtaking scenery immersed in traditional Ladin culture. Badia is the best base for those not hitting the slopes, as it’s the starting point for things like snowshoeing and cultural excursions.

Various sites across the Dolomites are on the UNESCO World Heritage list and the entire area is a recognized National Park, so environmental and sustainability practices are underway. Sustainability rangers can be found in all 12 Dolomiti Superski/ Supersummer resorts. Their task is to guard and spread the culture of ecological, social and economic sustainability.

The "DS Responsibility" project, established in 2018, is continuously seeking to develop strategies to reduce the carbon footprint of the destination, and there is a focus on reducing the impact of in-resort services, some of which are:

• Sustainable snowmaking with no added chemicals
• Use of GTL Fuel Alpin for their piste grooming fleet - GTL Fuel Alpin is an alternative fuel derived from natural gas, which burns cleaner than conventional diesel.
• Rechargeable ‘My Dolomiti’ lift pass card
• The ‘A Taste for Skiing’ initiative across selected mountain huts, where chefs create innovative cuisine that reduces food waste.

Pros

• Huge area lift pass
• Access to the Sella Ronda
• Excellent lift infrastructure
• Can avoid the crowds - there's enough space for everyone

Cons

• Some mention that the piste signage is confusing
• Expensive to eat and drink
• Not so lively on the apres front