Ski circuit: Val Gardena - Lagazuoi

Lagazuoi is one of northern Italy’s most famous mountains because of the role it played during World War I. Over a hundred years ago, an extensive tunnel system was built here by both the Italian and Austro-Hungarian armies to keep each other in check. Some of these tunnels have survived the war, and are now open to the public.

Nowadays, Lagazuoi represents one of the most spectacular skiing destinations in the Dolomites. Getting there and back again makes for a fantastic day trip from Val Gardena - at one point you’ll even be pulled along on your skis by horses! Read on for everything you need to know to organize this tour by yourself.

Notes

• We recommend that you start this tour no later than 9 AM to ensure that you have plenty of time to get back to your accommodation.
• You need a Dolomiti Superski-pass for this tour, as you'll pass through multiple ski areas.
• Getting to Lagazuoi requires taking a short taxi ride at one point (5 € per person, plenty available).

Getting from Val Gardena to Lagazuoi is quite straightforward. At the start, simply follow the Orange Sellaronda. Wherever you start in Val Gardena, get to the top of the Dantercepies lift (#30), then ski all the way down to Colfosco and take the Borest lift (#34) to Corvara. This is where you’ll be leaving the Sellaronda.

From Corvara, your next goal is the little village of Armentarola. There are multiple ways to get there, but the quickest is to take the Costes da l’Ega (#29) and Col Alt (#1) lifts, then cross the plateau until you reach the Piz Sorega & Las Vegas mountain huts (at the top of Ciampai lift #9). From there, enjoy the pleasant descent to Armentarola and make sure to keep right as you ski - the slope forks off midway through!

Once in Armentarola, you have no choice but to take a fifteen-minute taxi ride to Passo Falzarego, where the Lagazuoi ropeway is located. The ride will cost about 5 € – don’t worry, shuttles depart all the time.

When you get to Falzarego, you made it – all that’s left to do is take the Lagazuoi ropeway (#1). Enjoy the view from the top – it’s one of the best in the Dolomites! The Cinque Torri (five towers) and the Tofana de Rozes mountains make for a great sight, and Cortina d’Ampezzo lies just around the corner.

You can now have a drink at an altitude of 2,778 meters (9,114ft.), visit some close-by war tunnels, or ski back to Falzarego (red slope #2) and take the Lagazuoi ropeway as many more times as you want.

Once you’ve savored your time on the iconic mountain, it's time to start skiing back to Alta Badia. The 8.5 km (5.3 miles) run that will take you there is one of the longest and most breathtaking descents in the entire Dolomiti Superski area – enjoy it!

At the end of the Lagazuoi descent, you’ll finally reach Sass Dlacia. Now, you have to choose:

1. Option one is to have horses pull you on skis all the way back to Armentarola (about a mile). Taking the Armentarola ski lift (#12) from there will allow you to reach the Sorega lift (#11) in San Cassiano.
2. Option number two is to skip the horses and lifts and just get a taxi straight to the Sorega lift. This is the quicker but less adventurous option. Either way will get you back to the top of Piz Sorega.

From here, it’s basically back the way you came from. Your first goal will be getting to Corvara. Then, you can just follow the Green Sellaronda signs all the way back to ski resort Val Gardena.

Make sure to complete the Lagazuoi daytrip on your next skiing vacation in Val Gardena if you can spare a day - you won't be disappointed!

Located in a spectacular location, the Rifugio Scotoni lies about halfway between Lagazuoi and Alta Badia. If you started your tour early enough, this will make for a great lunch stop – especially if you value grilled meat plates and fine wine!

As the venue is very popular, advance booking is highly recommended. If you’re looking for a high-class dining experience, on the other hand, keep skiing and check out the restaurant of the Hotel Armentarola - probably the best place to get gourmet food without having to take your skiboots off!