Travel to Val Gardena-Selva-San Cristina with travel insurance from Essential Travel

The Gardena Valley winds up from the Brenner Pass linking Italy and Austria, to the resplendent peaks of the majestic Dolomites which are visible from any point in the valley. It is the largest resort on the 23-kilometre Sella Ronda circuit, connected to the gargantuan Dolomiti Super Ski pass area with 1,200kms of ski slopes, and offers incomparable runs, unequalled vistas and unique cultural encounters.

Val Gardena-Selva-San Cristina sits at between 1,236m and 2,584m, and is inhabited year round by about 5,000 residents. The resort is mainly Ladin in culture, with 90 per cent of inhabitants speaking this exclusive language derived from Latin. A smaller six per cent speak German, with the rest of the population speaking Italian. This mix of cultures affords a unique and interesting experience conveniently set among some of the most awe-inspiring scenery in the world.

The resort of Val Gardena-Selva-San Cristina boasts some extensive ski runs suitable for beginners and intermediates, with challenging off-piste options for the more advanced. There are 175kms of well maintained slopes split between 52.5kms blue, 105kms red and 17.5kms of black runs. Eighty-one lifts service the resort, with a total uplift capacity of 103,000 skiers per hour. The longest run here is eight kilometres and there are an additional 98kms of challenging cross-country runs with some real testers for the experts.

The season runs from December to April, with excellent conditions throughout the region. Val Gardena-Selva-San Cristina can be reached by flying to Bolzano Airport just 40kms from the resort, and hiring a car or connecting with a regular train and bus service to your destination

Skiing in Val Gardena-Selva-San Cristina

With a unique and absorbing culture, some of the most remarkable views in the world and a link to the mammoth area which makes up the Dolomiti Super Ski pass domain, Val Gardena-Selva-San Cristina really is an experience that simply shouldn’t be missed.

There are 175kms of well groomed ski slopes at the resort of Val Gardena-Selva-San Cristina, with 30 per cent of runs suitable for the beginner, 60 per cent for the intermediate and 10 per cent for the expert. There are some fantastic off-piste runs plus an extra 98kms of cross-country trails for the more adventurous. Eighty-one lifts with an uplift capacity of 103,000 skiers per hour service an area that has a top elevation of 2,454m and a bottom elevation of 1,565m.The longest run at the resort is eight kilometres in total, with facilities also available for snowboarders.

The season begins in December and runs until April with stunning conditions throughout the region and season.

The resort of Val Gardena-Selva-San Cristina is just 40kms from the nearest airport at Bolzano in Italy, which can be easily reached from the UK. Bolzano offers regular bus and train services to the resort, plus car hire provisions.

Apres-ski in Val Gardena-Selva-San Cristina

There is huge array of après-ski and non-ski alternatives to enjoy at the resort. Some of the many non-ski activities on offer include: curling; horseback riding; shooting; free-climbing; ice-skating; swimming; paragliding; ice-climbing and snowshoeing. Folklore evenings, fine cafés, bars and restaurants, all offer a taste of the local culture with dining available on and off the mountains. Year round cultural events plus appealing shopping opportunities add to the ambience and flair of the resort.

At the resort, you can expect around 17,000 beds in four-star modern hotels or traditional lodgings and apartments. There are numerous restaurants serving typical German, Italian and international cuisine. The resort’s unique cultural mix can be seen and felt at its folklore evenings, cafés, bars and discos, while non-ski activities such as curling; horseback riding; shooting; free-climbing; ice-skating; swimming; paragliding; ice-climbing and snowshoeing are sure to please.

A distinct Ladin culture and language are strongly present at the resort, with the majority of the 5,000 locals speaking the ancient language. Val Gardena-Selva-San Cristina resort provides some 17,000 beds along with exquisite restaurants, lively bars and discotheques and some great non-ski facilities. Expect a mix of customs as Ladin, German and Italian traditions feature at the resort.

Because of Val Gardena-Selva-San Cristina’s unbeatable location, daytrips to any of the resorts within the Dolomiti Super Ski pass domain can be easily achieved, as almost all the resorts are interlinked. These include resorts such as Cortina dAmpezzo, Val di Fassa and the upmarket San Martino di Castrozza and Passo Rolle, for those looking for a little more chic.

Transportation to Val Gardena-Selva-San Cristina

Val Gardena-Selva-San Cristina is located in the northern part of Italy close to the Austrian border, 40kms from Bolzano and 190kms from Verona. The most convenient way to get here is to catch a flight to Bolzano Airport, then take a regular bus or train service and a taxi or hire a car to the resort. You can also travel from the UK aboard the Eurostar to Paris, change to the overnight train to Verona, catch a train to Chiusa and board a regular bus service from there to the resort.

By car, Val Gardena-Selva-San Cristina is a long 1,155kms from Calais; the journey time 11 hours, 15 minutes. Toll roads will cost about €50 in total, with the route travelling through France, Germany and Austria. From Bolzano Airport, you can hire a car and travel to the resort by taking the A22 motorway and following the signs. The journey by road from Verona is three hours, while Milan is four hours away.

By train, board the Eurostar from London Waterloo or Ashford in Kent and travel to Paris in under three hours, before connecting with the Paris to Verona overnight service. From Verona, catch a local train service to the station at Chiusa before being transported to the resort by regular bus service. Trains to the same station are also available from Verona.

The nearest airports to Val Gardena-Selva-San Cristina are in Bolzano (40kms) and Verona (190kms). Bolzano is the most convenient choice, with hire vehicles and train service, along with taxis and bus services, available from here.

For more information visit the official website for Val Gardena Tourist Office