On the Mountain Chain of Val Gardena (Italy)

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The hut excursion around the fascinating mountain chain of Val Gardena (Italy) is called “Curona de Gherdëina”.

This 60 km stretch starts from the Puez Odle Nature Park in the northwest of the valley (part of the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and crosses the high plateau of the Sella in the southwest to the Group of the Sassolungo in the southern side of the valley.

Hikers will climb a total of 4,155 m and descend along a total of 3,936 m elevation gain. Participants can start from any of the three Val Gardena villages, and the excursion proceeds in a clockwise direction. Choose your overnight accommodation from a simple hut (4-day tour) or from the exclusive mountain hotel (5-day tour). Choosing the “Mountain hut trekking” or the “Trekking Deluxe” option won’t change one thing: the breathtaking scenery only the Dolomites can offer, the magical sunrise and sunsets as well as relaxing evenings eating exquisite traditional dishes and refined wines.

Simple or exclusive, in company or on your own, this tour is an ideal journey into the world of the mountains packed with adventure and filled with legends.

More informations…

 

INFO: Val Gardena

Third Alpe di Siusi Half Marathon on July 5th

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The Alpe di Siusi race is back once more on the customary date of the first Sunday in July. The participants will be running alongside some top Kenyan marathon runners, who are honing their skills on their annual summer training camp on the Alpe di Siusi. And, for all those who want a sneak preview of next season’s running wear, the Alpe di Siusi Running Expo is on at the end of July.

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The Alpe di Siusi Half Marathon is one to choose not for a “PB”, but rather for the location, and to enjoy a run in an unspoilt countryside and exult in all the breathtaking beauty that Europe’s highest mountain plateau has to offer. The Dolomite peaks Sasso Piatto, Sasso Lungo and Sciliar seem to literally smile down upon you as you run. And then there’s the height: the race takes place at 1,800 – 2,200 m, making it both hard work and utterly mesmerising at the same time.

The Alpe di Siusi Half Marathon is the jewel in the crown of our sporting offer for summer”, says Alex Andreis, Alpe di Siusi Marketing Manager. “It is framed by a running park of 180 km of trails designed for top runners or lovers of the sport who choose us as the ideal place for training”.

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And after a winter season as star of the cross-country skiing scene, the Alpe di Siusi is all set to metamorphose into a “complete gym” for runners too, with a summer dedicated to running.
It kicks off on June 28th, when the plateau will host the races of the Kenyan Marathon Team managed by Gianni Demadonna, who has been taking his champions here to train for years.
We then move on to the top event of July 5th, the Half Marathon (closed number of 500 runners) and round it all off with the Alpe di Siusi Running Expo. For the fourth year running, the Expo will be displaying next season’s running shoes on the 26th and 27th of July, giving us all the chance to try them out on the paths of the Alpe di Siusi Running Park.

Information for the public:
Alpe di Siusi
Tel. +39.0471.709.600
www.alpedisiusi.info

Val Gardena (Italy) Winner of the “Top Ski Resort Award 2015”!

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In a European survey the ski website “Snowplaza” has determined the best ski resorts in the Alps. Among the top 20 ski resorts is also Val Gardena as the best Italian ski resort.
So the ski areas in Val Gardena got the Snowplaza Award “Top ski resort 2015”.

At the survey participated about 52,000 skiers from the largest winter sports nations in Europe. The visitors of Snowplaza had the possibility to vote for their own favorite resort choosing between more than 600 ski areas – at the same time they had the chance to win a ski pass for the selected resort. The voting started in mid-December on the websites Snowplaza.de, Snowplaza.nl, Snowplaza.be, Snowplaza.co.uk and Snowplaza.fr.

After two months, they got the following result:

No. 1 in Italy: Val Gardena
No. 1 in France: Les Trois Vallèes
No. 1 in Austria: Wilder Kaiser – Brixental
No. 1 in Switzerland: Free Republic of Holiday Saas-Fee
No. 1 in Germany: Ski carousel Winterberg.

INFO: Val Gardena

Südtirol Sellaronda HERO: New Single Trails For New Experiences International Hero and Tourism

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The Dolomites, one of the most beautiful natural landscapes in the world. No other mountain range in the Alps can boast such a stunning view. The alpine landscape surrounding the Sella Massif is breathtaking and is one of the most famous landscapes in the world: so much so that it has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list.

The Südtirol Sellaronda HERO was born in 2010 and, since then, the mountainsides of the white mountains have been home to an ever growing number of mountain bikers. This was only possible thanks to the extensive work carried out on the paths and trails by local public administration. This summer will see larger groups of bikers making the most of the Dolomites, exploring the area on their mountain bikes in absolute safety.

MTB equals tourism.
The four areas comprising the Sella Group (Val di Fassa, Val Gardena Alpe di Siusi, Alta Badia e Arabba) decided to invest in the ‘mountain bike’ brand: they’ve created new tracks, trying to differentiate the on foot, trekking paths from their mountain bike counterparts. Their endeavour wants to benefit bikers with a richer and more varied experience which also embraces the Sellaronda MTB Tour, which employs lift facilities to ride around the four Dolomite passes. The tourism offer has been incrementally improved in light of the UCI World Championships to be held by the HERO on 27 June.

Downhill MTB adrenaline.
Welcome to the Dolomites: experience new, thrilling rides with our new single trails and Enduro trails. The new, adrenaline-packed world for the daredevil, gravity-defying mountain biker in you!

Tourism is being reshaped as we speak, emerging and changing together with the  HERO: a sustainable and green tourism for the Dolomites’ sensitive landscape. It doesn’t come as a surprise that even Reinhold Messner, the most famous South Tyrolean in the world, has decided to support this ‘new’ way of living the mountains. The Südtirol Sellaronda HERO promotional video, where he recounts his experience of the Dolomites, was met with resounding success.

Single trails fact sheet

ALTA BADIA
Single trail Frara
The Frara single trail starts from Passo Gardena (2,121 m) and descends coasting the ski slope until the Plans-Frara gondola lift to Colfosco (1,645 m). It is around 3 km long, with an elevation gain of 470 metres.
Piz Enduro Tour
An Enduro trail (49 km and 3,480 m elevation gain) in the village of Badia (1,324 m) taking you to Colfosco (1,568 m) across the plateaus between Piz La Ila and Piz Sorega. Use of lift facilities expected. Be prepared for a steep trail of nearly 800 m elevation gain.

ARABBA
Single trail Bec de Roces

Start from the Passo Campolongo (2,160 m) on the Bec de Roces, a beautiful downhill trail ending in Arabba (1,600 m), lasting 3,300 m and with 510 m elevation gain.
Single trail Pordoi
The Pordoi single trail, which starts from Passo Pordoi at 2,239 m and finishes in Pont de Vauz (1,839 m), stretching for 2,700 m and with a 385 m elevation gain.

VAL DI FASSA
Freeride Park Belvedere
Demanding bikers will meet their match on the Freeride Park Belvedere: an over 7km-long trail with 800 m elevation gain. The trail starts from Passo Pordoi and ends at Canazei (1,440 m).

VAL GARDENA
Freeride Ciampinoi

An adrenaline-packed trail which starts from the mountain station of the Ciampinoi gondola lift (2,140 m). The Freeride Ciampinoi trail takes you to Selva Gardena (1,600 m) across 2,700 m and on 550 m elevation gain.
Single trails passo Sella e passo Gardena
Val Gardena will open other three Enduro itineraries in the summer of 2015 from Passo Sella (2,244 m) running for 4.5 km and 600 m elevation gain and from Passo Gardena (2,121 m) for 6 km and 550 m elevation gain leading you to Selva Gardena.
Single trail Vallongia
The Vallongia single trail is also new, leading from the Vallongia hut to Selva Gardena across 2.3 km and 460 m elevation gain.

For information: Südtirol Sellaronda HERO