Ski circuit: Val Gardena - Marmolada
The Marmolada is 3,343 m high and is also known as the "Queen of the Dolomites". You will surely remember this ski trip.
Introduction
When it comes to skiing, Marmolada represents one of the twelve skiing areas that form part of Dolomiti Superski. Easily reachable from Val Gardena without the need for ever taking a bus or taxi, skiing to Marmolada and back is a favorite daytrip amongst locals and tourists alike. We recommend that you start this tour before 10 AM to ensure that you have plenty of time to get back to your accommodation in Val Gardena.
Reminder: You will need a Dolomiti Superski-pass for this tour, as you will pass through multiple ski areas!
The Tour
In order to get to the Marmolada skiing area, you will first have to complete half a Sellaronda - whether Orange or Green does not matter, as in both cases you'll have to ski across two mountain passes. Read the aforementioned articles to find out how to get to Arabba - your first destination. From Arabba, take the DMC Europa lift (#20) and get out at the middle station.
Alternative Route: If you’re coming from Val Gardena doing the Green Sellaronda, you don't have to ski all the way to Arabba. By taking the Alpenrose (#127) and Carpazza (#9) chairlifts you can get to the middle station of DMC Europa a bit quicker.
Two more chairlifts (#10 and #12) will take you from there to Passo Padon. It pays to be here early in the morning, as these rather slow-moving two-seater chairlifts tend to be the bottleneck of the tour!
From the top of Passo Padon, you'll be able to marvel at the Marmolada glacier from up close for the first time. Then, it's time for the long and scenic descent to Malga Ciapela. Enjoy the ride!
When you reach Malga Ciapela, you basically made it. All that's left to do is taking the three ropeways that will bring you to the top of the mountain (#41, #42, #43). Once you step out of the last one, take a deep breath - you are at an altitude of 3,269m (10,725ft.). Welcome to the peak of Marmolada!
You can now spend as much time as you like on the slopes of the glacier. You may ski down all the way to Malga Ciapela multiple times and even put in a lunch break in one of the local mountain huts.
Whatever you do, we recommend that you start skiing back to Val Gardena no later than 1 pm in order to make it home in time. On your last descent of the Marmolada, be sure not to miss the Padon II chairlift (#13) that will take you to the top of Passo Padon and back into Arabba skiing territory.
From Arabba, once again you have two options - either go back the way you've come from, or finish the Sellaronda you began. Please refer to the articles Sellaronda Green and Sellaronda Orange for details on how to get back to Val Gardena. Or just follow the arrows of either color!
Val Gardena-Marmolada is one of the best ski trips in the Dolomites - give it a shot during your skiing holiday in Val Gardena!
