Planning your summer in the mountains of Alta Badia

Alta Badia. Sas dla Crusc Lavarela. Photo: Ffreddy Planinschek. Alta Badia Tourism Office. Planning your summer in the mountains of Alta Badia.

Planning your summer in the mountains of Alta Badia

Alta Badia is in the province of Sudtirol . It is composed of five villages: Badia, La Villa, San Casiano, Corvara and Colfosco. Alta Badia is a great starting point if you want to go around the Sella Ronda. The Sella Ronda is a circuit that goes around the Sella massif. Now is the time to start planning your summer in the mountains of Alta Badia.

This article may contain affiliate/compensated links. For full information, please see our disclaimer here.

The Sassongher. Photo by Paola Finali. Alta Badia Tourism Board. Planning your summer in the mountains of Alta Badia.
The Sassongher. Photo by Paola Finali. Alta Badia Tourism Board. Planning your summer in the mountains of Alta Badia.

How to get to Alta Badia- Planning your summer in the mountains of Alta Badia.

By Plane

Arrive in Innsbruck, Verona, Venice, Bergamo, or if not Milano Linate or Malpensa. Then drive to the route del Brennero north and get off. From Innsbruck drive south to the Brenner Pass. Soon after passing it, you’ll find directions to Alta Badia on the east of the route del Brennero.

By Car

From Austria: Drive south to the Brenner Pass. When you pass it, follow the route del Brennero, and you’ll find the exit to Alta Badia which will lie to your left.
From Verona, drive north to the Route del Brennero. Before arriving into the crossing with Austria, you’ll be able to turn right to Alta Badia.
4 Peaks by Alex Moling. Alta Badia Tourism Board. Alta Badia offers you lots of hiking trails amidst pastures at altitude. Planning your summer in the mountains of Alta Badia.
4 Peaks by Alex Moling. Alta Badia Tourism Board. Alta Badia offers you lots of hiking trails amidst pastures at altitude. Planning your summer in the mountains of Alta Badia.

Summer season in Alta Badia. Planning your summer in the mountains of Alta Badia.

Alta Badia will open lifts on the 27th June and close on 27th September. The Gardenaccia lift will close one week later, on 4th October.
Hiking in Alta Badia. Photo by Alex Moling. Alta Badia Tourism Board. Planning your summer in the mountains of Alta Badia.
Hiking in Alta Badia. Photo by Alex Moling. Alta Badia Tourism Board. Planning your summer in the mountains of Alta Badia.

The Alta Badia Summer Card. Planning your summer in the mountains of Alta Badia.

The Alta Badia Summer Card includes use of all the lifts in the region. The price starts at EUR 54 per adult and EUR 28 per child (8-18 years old). Under 8ts go free. A three out of four days start at EUR 68 per adult and EUR 48 per child for a five out of seven days.

E-Biking excursions at 2,000 metres. Planning your summer in the mountains of Alta Badia.

If using a push bike is not your thing, you can ride the lifts up and enjoy lots of adrenaline coming down. More on this later. But also, you can hire an e-bike on the Piz Sorega, Piz La Ila or Col Alto plateau, and enjoy an easier ride. Or rent any bike in town and take them up on the lifts! Those not wanting to do much exercise, might enjoy this option. They will be able to ride with amazing views of the Dolomites.
Road biking in Alta Badia. Photo from Melodia del Bosque Biker Hotel. Planning your summer in the mountains of Alta Badia.
Road biking in Alta Badia. Photo from Melodia del Bosque Biker Hotel. Planning your summer in the mountains of Alta Badia.

Continue reading “Planning your summer in the mountains of Alta Badia”

A Must-Read Guide to Summer in South Tyrol

Copyright: IDM South Tyrol / Valentin Pardeller. The Dolomites are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The rose garden glows impressively in the evening glow on the horizon of the regional capital of Bozen.A Must-Read Guide to Summer in South Tyrol.

A Must-Read Guide to Summer in South Tyrol – Sudtirol.

South Tyrol (or Sudtirol) is open for visitors this summer. On June 3rd, borders will start opening for regional tourism within the EU and Schengen countries (all depending on Covid-19 cases keep on being down), so, I’ve thought I could put together a Must-Read Guide to Summer in South Tyrol.

A classic South Tyrolean village with the impressive Dolomites in its backdrop. Photo: © IDM Südtirol. A Must-Read Guide to Summer in South Tyrol.
A classic South Tyrolean village with the impressive Dolomites in its backdrop. Photo: © IDM Südtirol. A Must-Read Guide to Summer in South Tyrol.

This article may contain affiliate/compensated links. For full information, please see our disclaimer here.

South Tyrol is the northernmost province in Italy, bordering the Tirol and Östirol regions in Austria. Actually, it used to be part of the Austrian-Hungarian empire as part of the Tirol region (it was actually called Mittletirol). It changed hands to Italy after the defeat of the central powers on WWI in 1918.

How to get to South Tyrol

Fly to Innsbruck in Austria or Verona in Italy. If not, you have the options of Bozen/Bolzano airport, that is a smaller regional airport, or Bergamo, Venezia, Milano Linate, Milano Malpensa or Munich.

Copyright: IDM South Tyrol / Harald Wisthaler. Rowing boats at the Lago di Braies Nature Park, one of the most beautiful lakes I've seen in my life, worth a visit and a walk around the lake, which is easy for anybody! A Must-Read Guide to Summer in South Tyrol.
.Copyright: IDM South Tyrol / Harald Wisthaler. Rowing boats at the Lago di Braies Nature Park, one of the most beautiful lakes I’ve seen in my life, worth a visit and a walk around the lake, which is easy for anybody! A Must-Read Guide to Summer in South Tyrol.

Driving to South Tyrol

 

Coming from Austria, just pass Innsbruck and take the Brenner Pass, and you’ll be there. From Verona, go up the Brenner Motorway (A22 Autostrada del Brennero) and drive north. South Tyrol is part of the Trentino Alto Adige province, located in the northern side (the Alto Adige side).

Copyright: IDM South Tyrol / Clemens Zahn. From St. Zyprian in Eggental there is an impressive view of the rose garden, here against a clear blue sky. A Must-Read Guide to Summer in South Tyrol.
Copyright: IDM South Tyrol / Clemens Zahn. From St. Zyprian in Eggental there is an impressive view of the rose garden, here against a clear blue sky. A Must-Read Guide to Summer in South Tyrol.

Languages in South Tyrol

70% German, 25% Italian and 5% Ladin. The Ladin is a mountain language, what is considered a Romansh language spoken in the Dolomite valleys of Val Gardena and Alta Badia.

Photo: IDM South Tyrol / Clemens Zahn. Autumn is colorful in the Meraner Land, like here at Lebenberg Castle above Tscherms, where thanksgiving is celebrated. A Must-Read Guide to Summer in South Tyrol.
Photo: IDM South Tyrol / Clemens Zahn. Autumn is colorful in the Meraner Land, like here at Lebenberg Castle above Tscherms, where thanksgiving is celebrated. A Must-Read Guide to Summer in South Tyrol.

What to do in South Tyrol in the Summer.

Go to the area of Kronplatz and Brunico.

 

Kronplatz is a mountain in the border of what is Dolomites and Alps. The mountain itself has a shape of a Panettone with a punch in the middle. It is a very interesting mountain, which is connected with four villages around and lifts to each one on each sides.

Kronplatz in the summer. Photo: Kronplatz. A Must-Read Guide to Summer in South Tyrol.
Kronplatz in the summer. Photo: Kronplatz. A Must-Read Guide to Summer in South Tyrol.

Kronplatz is not only interesting for skiing in winter or hiking and mountain biking in the summerr. There is a good reason to go to the top of the mountain all year round, even if you don’t ski, ride, hike or bike! It is the only mountain, that I know of, with two really grand museums on its peak! These museums are Lumen Museum and MMM Corones.

Continue reading “A Must-Read Guide to Summer in South Tyrol”

South Tyrolean passes with 12 meters of snow

Passo del Rombo, Timmelsjoch, Sudtirol. South Tyrolean passes with 12 meters of snow.

South Tyrolean passes with 12 meters of snow

The clearing work is continuing ahead of the summer opening

From AltoAdige.it

The exceptional snowfall, even out of season, forced us to postpone the opening of the main passes in Alto Adige, after a particularly rainy winter. These days the clearing crew is working on the Rombo Pass, on the border with Austria, on the Stelvio Pass, Passo Stalle and Passo Pennes. The snow is able to form walls of 10-12 meters. On the Rombo pass, at an altitude of 2,500 meters, the snow mass accumulated by wind and landslides reached a height of 21 meters.

Timmelsjoch- Passo del Rombo, Sudtirol. South Tyrolean passes with 12 meters of snow.
Timmelsjoch- Passo del Rombo, Sudtirol. South Tyrolean passes with 12 meters of snow.

“Every year mountains of snow are removed. Our road service does its utmost to prepare our mountain roads for the summer season. It is a difficult job but also dangerous because of the risk of avalanches,” stresses councillor Daniel Alfreider . The experts are however confident of opening the passage to transit by the end of May, at the latest in the first days of June.

Continue reading “South Tyrolean passes with 12 meters of snow”

Review of Hotel Petrus in Kronplatz.

Photo: Hotel Petrus. Review of Hotel Petrus in Kronplatz.

Review of Hotel Petrus in Kronplatz.

This article may contain affiliate/compensated links. For full information, please see our disclaimer here.

The Hotel Petrus is located in Riscone, in one of the bases for Kronplatz ski resort, just outside of Brunico in Val Pusteria It is a lovely family hotel run by three sisters (Brigitte, Christina and Daniela Aichner) and their parents (Hans and Gerti). They are very much involved in making you feel welcome. From taking you hiking or playing golf, to skiing and making you feel at home away from home.

Photo: Hotel Petrus. Outside pool. Review of Hotel Petrus in Kronplatz.
Photo: Hotel Petrus. Outside pool. Review of Hotel Petrus in Kronplatz.

I had the chance to go and visit it last week and I was very impressed, definitely somewhere I’ll suggest people to go.

Kronplatz is a very interesting mountain, looks like a Panetone punched in the middle. It is famous for its good snow and long runs to the four resort villages. Also it is a great viewing point of all the Dolomites, you see what is Dolomites and what is Alps from the top. And is renown also for its two museums – the Messner Mountain Museum Corones, which design was created by the late Zaha Hadid, and the new LUMEN Museum of photography, created on a disused tram top station.

The Hotel Petrus is 5’ by transfer from the base of Riscone, and if you can ski down a black run, it is ski in as well. A transfer offers rides every 15 minutes in the morning and afternoon to go to the base area.

Continue reading “Review of Hotel Petrus in Kronplatz.”

Spot on White Deer – San Lorenzo Mountain Lodge

The entrance to the San Lorenzo Lodge - White Deer- Photo: The-Ski-Guru. Spot on White Deer – San Lorenzo Mountain Lodge.

Spot on White Deer – San Lorenzo Mountain Lodge

This past long weekend I was lucky enough to visit Sudtirol and four of its resorts: Kronplatz, Alta Badia, Val Gardena and Alpe di Siusi. It was a bit like a marathon, or a ski-safari, with a chance to see a bit of all the things Sudtirol has to offer.

The first night we were there, we went out of town of Brunico, into the mountains, to visit the San Lorenzo Mountain Lodge.

 The entrance to the San Lorenzo Lodge - White Deer- Photo: San Lorenzo Lodges. Spot on White Deer – San Lorenzo Mountain Lodge.
The entrance to the San Lorenzo Lodge – White Deer- Photo: San Lorenzo Lodges. Spot on White Deer – San Lorenzo Mountain Lodge.

This specific lodge of the  San Lorenzo Mountain Lodges, called White Deer, is one of the three properties of Stefano and Georgia Barbini. It is located high up the mountain, in the Val Pusteria, over the towns of Brunico and S. Lorenzo di Sebato and near the big mountain that looks like a Panetone punched in the middle that is Kronplatz ski resort (or Plan de Corones, as is called in Italian).

The house is an old lodge that has been refurbished in an authentic way, with four bedrooms, three doubles and one bunk bed rooms for 4 – all lovingly decorated with lots of beautiful details. The front of the house is as it used to be when it was built in the 1600.

Continue reading “Spot on White Deer – San Lorenzo Mountain Lodge”

THE-SKI-GURU TRAVEL takes you to a long Ski Safari in the Dolomites

The-Ski-Guru Travel takes you to a Long Ski Safari in the Dolomites. Photo: Giuseppe Ghedina.

 The-Ski-Guru Travel takes you to a long Ski Safari in the Dolomites. If you are one of those that likes variety, and want to know lots of places in one go, and perhaps, gets bored to ski in one area all week long, then you should come and do a ski safari with us. The place, the mighty Dolomites, with their sun drenched pink mountaintops – caused by the Enrosadira effect. This Ski-Safari takes you from hut-to-hut in the Dolomites, using the lift-serviced pistes and having your small luggage delivered for you every day so you can concentrate in your skiing.

The-Ski-Guru Travel takes you to a Long Ski Safari in the Dolomites. Photo: Giuseppe Ghedina.
The-Ski-Guru Travel takes you to a Long Ski Safari in the Dolomites. Photo: Giuseppe Ghedina.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Experience the Dolomiti Superski – a “carousel” of 12 inter-connected resorts with 1,200 kilometers (746 miles) of prepared pistes!
  • Ski “hut-to-hut” staying in family-run mountain rifugios and charming hotels – the perfect combination of mountain accommodations
  • Savour the delicious, hearty cuisine the Dolomites are known for as you taste your way from valley to valley…
  • Enjoy superb skiing with our world-class, certified ski mountain guides, who will show you the best of the Dolomites on skis!

Continue reading “THE-SKI-GURU TRAVEL takes you to a long Ski Safari in the Dolomites”

Season Opening’s at the different ski resorts of Sudtirol and Christmas Markets

These unique Dolomite vistas encompass the extensive Alta Badia ski area, with magnificent views of the Sasso Lungo Peak and the Sella Mountain Range. Season Opening’s at the different ski resorts of Sudtirol and Christmas Markets. Photo: IDM Sudtirol.

Season Opening’s at the different ski resorts of Sudtirol and Christmas Markets

When you think of Sudtirol you think of the Dolomites in Northern Italy. The province of South Tyrol, or Sudtirol is bordering in the north with the Tirol in Austria and to the south with Trentino. The scenery is to die for, in reality, I have never seen more impressive and beautiful terrain in the world, the mountains are impressive and very rocky sculptured peaks, and at dawn or dusk, they turn into pink, thanks to the Enrosadira effect.

Cross-country skiing through the calm winter idyll with a view on Mount Sciliar/Schlern: the snow-capped wooden fences of the high plateau are the sole witness to the pastoral activities of summer. Season Opening’s at the different ski resorts of Sudtirol and Christmas Markets.
Cross-country skiing through the calm winter idyll with a view on Mount Sciliar/Schlern: the snow-capped wooden fences of the high plateau are the sole witness to the pastoral activities of summer. Season Opening’s at the different ski resorts of Sudtirol and Christmas Markets.

Enrosadira is the term given to the phenomenon whereas the peaks of the Dolomites turn into a pink/reddish colour, and then gradually turning into a violet. The reason of these changing colours is because the calcium carbonate and mangnesium carbonate of the dolomite, the mineral found in large quantities in the rocky walls of the Dolomites. Enrosadira is a Ladin term meaning ‘turning pink’. Ladin is an ancient language of the inhabitants of the Dolomites.

There are more than 30 ski areas located across all of South Tyrol. Most of these are part of the two larger ski associations.

Continue reading “Season Opening’s at the different ski resorts of Sudtirol and Christmas Markets”

The roof of the Rifugio Comici in Selva Val Gardena was restored in record time.

The Alpine huts along the ski slopes of the Gardena Valley serve local fare mixing traditional Italian with South Tyrolean dishes; against the magnificent background of the snow-capped peaks of the Sella Mountain Group in the Dolomites. Photo: IDM Sudtirol - The roof of the Rifugio Comici in Selva Val Gardena was restored in record time. Photo: IDM Sudtirol - The roof of the Rifugio Comici in Selva Val Gardena was restored in record time.

The roof of the Rifugio Comici in Selva Val Gardena was restored in record time.

Only two weeks after the tragic meteorological event at the end of October, which has brought numerous damages in the Alps, also blowing away the roof of the Comici hut of Selva Val Gardena, works to rebuild the roof are almost completed before the imminent snowfalls.

The time schedule of the works seemed almost impossible, but it was being able to be restored in record time – in just 11 days, with an already final solution that will be completed in the coming days, just in time for the start opening season.

The roof of the Rifugio Comici in Selva Val Gardena was restored in record time.
The roof of the Rifugio Comici in Selva Val Gardena was restored in record time.

This success was due to the coordination of the Marzola group and to the workers of the companies Lignosystem and Zumprafux who have worked uninterruptedly and with great skill at 2153 m to make all this possible. The Comici hut will therefore open in perfect normality at the beginning of the next winter season on Thursday 6 December 2018.

Continue reading “The roof of the Rifugio Comici in Selva Val Gardena was restored in record time.”

3 Zinnen Dolomites will link its resort to Östirol in Austria for the 21/22 ski season

Drei Zinnen seen from the Drei Zinnen ski area - photo PXHere.com. Drei Zinnen will continue with its plan to install the Helmjet Sexten 10-seater cable car.

3 Zinnen Dolomites (3 Peaks Dolomites) will link their resort to Austria, making it a ski carousel of 2 provinces (Sudtirol, Belluno) and 2 countries (Italy and Ausria) when it builds a lift to link its area to the Thurnthaler ski area in Östirol for 21/22-ski season.

Thurnthaler has now 40 km of slopes and with the connection; the new combined ski area will have about 160 km of slopes, becoming the largest ski resort in the Dolomiti Superski carousel.

Drei Zinnen ski area - Copyright: 3 Peaks Dolomites. 3 Peaks Dolomites will link its resort to Östirol in Austria for the 21/22 ski season .
Drei Zinnen ski area – Copyright: 3 Peaks Dolomites. 3 Peaks Dolomites will link its resort to Östirol in Austria for the 21/22 ski season .

Since last year, the ski area was re-named 3 Peaks. Before it was known as Alta Pusteria Valley/Hochpustertal. This new name plays tribute to the region’s outstanding attractions: the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Dolomites and the Drei Zinnen.  The new denomination also includes the skiing area with its 110 kilometres of ski runs, with guaranteed snow and a panorama of peaks that will take your breath away.

Continue reading “3 Zinnen Dolomites will link its resort to Östirol in Austria for the 21/22 ski season”