Skiing the Sella Ronda in the Dolomites: Our Experience + Tips

Sella Ronda (also spelled Sellaronda) is a 44-km ski carousel that circuits the Sella Massif in the heart of the Dolomites in the Italian Alps. 

Intermediate downhill skiers and snowboarders can tackle the orange clockwise route, or the green counterclockwise route in a single day, starting in either Val Gardena, Val Badia, Val di Fassa, or Arabba (Valle di Fodom). 

Skiing the Sellaronda is a top priority for most Dolomites-bound winter travelers. It’s the ultimate Dolomites ski tour, whereby you get to ski across four mountain passes (Passo Sella, Passo Pordoi, Passo Campolongo, and Passo Gardena), take in four valleys, and see multiple mountain groups, all in just a few hours.

During our early December ski trip to Val Gardena, we had a fantastic time skiing (Sabrina) and snowboarding (Kati) the Sellaronda green route. The following March, I took on the orange route. It’s an incredible experience, because you never ski the same slope twice and you have a goal to complete. It’s truly a grand tour of the Dolomites on skis. 

That being said, I was also anxious, because of the timing and fear of getting lost.

Before our trip, I had 101 questions about the ski tour. Which direction is better? Is there sufficient time to take detours? If so, which detours should you take? Is it easy to get lost? How do you access the route, when you’re not staying directly on the circuit (e.g. Selva, Corvara, Arabba)? 

If you have similar questions, this guide will help you better understand the Sella Ronda ski carousel. 

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Sella Ronda Ski Map

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Where is the Sella Ronda

The Sella Ronda ski circuit is located in the Dolomites, a mountain range in the Southern Limestone Alps of Northeastern Italy. 

The Sella Massif, one of the most iconic mountains in the Dolomites, lies between Val Gardena, Val Badia, Val di Fassa, and Valle di Fodom. 

The Sella Ronda ski tour crosses four Dolomites ski resorts: (1) Val Gardena ski area in South Tyrol, (2) Alta Badia ski area in South Tyrol, (3) Val di Fassa in Trentino, and (4) Arabba – Marmolada in Belluno (Veneto).

Cortina d’Ampezzo ski resort is not part of the Sella Ronda. 

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Where to Start the Sella Ronda

Selva in Val Gardena, Corvara and Colfosco in Alta Badia, and Arabba in Valle di Fodom are all located directly on the Sellaronda circuit, and thus offer direct access to the ski tour. 

However, you can also access the Sellaronda from other villages like Santa Cristina and Ortisei in Val Gardena, La Villa and San Cassiano in Alta Badia, and Canazei and Campitello di Fassa in Val di Fassa. It just requires a few extra lifts and runs, depending on where you start. 

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Essential Tips

1. Book a hotel in Selva (Val Gardena), or Corvara (Alta Badia). For budget-friendly options, consider Arabba. 

Where to Stay in Selva: Garni Hotel Bel Vert (3-star hotel), Hotel Scoiattolo (3-star hotel), Hotel Continental Dolomites (4-star hotel), Laurin Hotel (4-star hotel), or Freina Mountain Lifestyle Hotel (4-star hotel)

Where to Stay in Corvara: La Tranquillitè (2-star ski-to-door B&B), Hotel Arkadia – Adults Only (4-star ski-to-door hotel), Hotel Marmolada (4-star hotel), Ciasa De Munt Lifestyle Living (4-star hotel), or Hotel Col Alto (4-star with ski shuttle)

Where to Stay in Arabba: Garni Astor, Residence Aspen (ski-to-door apartments), Hotel Garni Marilena (3-star hotel), or Chalet Barbara (3-star hotel)

2. Purchase your Dolomiti Superski Ski Pass in advance, so you don’t lose time on the day you ski the circuit. 

3. Decide which route, orange or green, you want to ski. Study the map and plan out where you will eat lunch. If visiting in high season (e.g. Christmas holidays), make a lunch reservation. 

4. If you’re not staying in a village directly on the Sellaronda circuit (e.g. Selva, Colfosco, Corvara, or Arabba), find out how to navigate to the route from your village. Note: you will not need to drive. There are cableway and ski run connections. After we checked into Hotel Touring in Santa Cristina, the hotel receptionist showed us on the map how to get to Plan de Gralba from Saslong.

5. Download the Dolomiti Superski Mobile App, if you want to follow the route on your phone. 

6. Pack sunglasses (for lunch on a ski hut terrace), tissues, and chapstick. I don’t think a backpack, stuffed with water and snacks, is necessary – unless that’s something you regularly carry when you ski. There are plenty of ski huts along the circuit that offer food, drinks, and toilet facilities. 

7. Check the opening status of the ski circuit. 

8. Start the Sellaronda as early as possible: 8:30 am.

9. Get to the last pass of the circuit by 3:30 pm latest. If you’re staying in Val Gardena and you’re skiing the green route, then you need to cross Passo Gardena by 3:30 pm. If you’re staying in Val Gardena and skiing the orange route, then you need to cross Passo Sella by 3:30 pm. 

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Difficulty

The Sella Ronda is only suitable for intermediate and advanced skiers. Most of the ski slopes are medium difficulty (red runs). 

Though the ski slopes aren’t particularly difficult, skiers must be confident navigating a variety of different situations and scenarios: busy intersections, narrow slopes, icy steep slopes, shady slopes, potential detours leading to black runs, etc… 

Also, given the flow of people and the narrowness of many runs, it’s often not safe to stop on the slope to rest. You need stamina to keep going. 

Early in the ski season, when days are very short, north-facing slopes are in shade most of the day. In the absence of fresh snowfall and light, these shady runs tend to be icier. Furthermore, it’s more difficult to see the slope terrain. 

All in all, it’s important to be an experienced skier to safely enjoy the ski circuit. 

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How Long is the Sellaronda

The Sellaronda measures 44 km, 22 km of which can be skied. The rest is covered by lifts.

With breaks, it takes about 6 hours to complete. 

With a detour to Edelweiss Valley, a long lunch at Rifugio Col Pradat, and other breaks, it took us 7 hours to ski the green counterclockwise route, starting and ending in Santa Cristina in Val Gardena. 

It’s advisable to start as early as possible (8:30 am), so that you can take several leisurely breaks. Much of the joy of skiing in the Dolomites lies in dining in the perfectly-situated ski huts. 

It’s also important to get to the last pass of the tour no later than 3:30 pm, so that you don’t get stuck in a neighboring valley.

We also suggest starting early to allow some room for error. Though the Sella Ronda is well signed with green and orange arrows, it’s not entirely dummy proof. There are a few junctions that aren’t clear. And, it’s entirely possible to take a wrong slope, if you’re not paying close attention. 

Lastly, it’s important to allow extra time, especially if you’re starting in a village further away from the Sella Ronda Circuit.

For example, if you start in Ortisei in Val Gardena, you must ride the Ortisei-Furnes-Seceda cableways to Seceda, ski down to Col Raiser gondola valley station (incredible ski run btw), take the Gardena Ronda Express underground railway to Saslong valley station, ride two lifts to get to Ciampinoi, and then ski down to Plan de Gralba to access the route. 

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Sellaronda Routes and Detours

There are two sellaronda routes: the orange clockwise route and the green counterclockwise route. I’ve skied both, but in different months and years, so it’s hard to compare them directly.

Online sources generally suggest that the green route is slightly easier. However, I skied the green route in December and the orange route in March, and personally found the orange route easier, mainly because March offers more daylight, meaning less shade and therefore less ice.

One thing I wasn’t aware of before setting off on the orange route is that there’s an alternative option on the descent to Selva. The normal orange route leads down to Selva via Plan de Gralba. The alternative option, the longer and more difficult variation, leads down to Selva via Piz Sella, finishing with the black run Ciampinoi #3.

The alternative route was created to better distribute skier traffic, especially during peak season. If you’re comfortable with black runs, I highly recommend following the alternative route, which is usually quieter.

It’s feasible to take a few detours along the Sellaronda. However, for the uninitiated Sellaronda skier, I recommend limiting the amount of detours you take (if any). 

We detoured to Edelweiss Valley to eat lunch at Rifugio Col Pradat and it was worth it. This stunning side valley of Val Badia is bathed in light in the afternoon. To get to Edelweiss Valley, take lift #46 from Colfosco. 

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Navigation

Both routes are signed with arrows and banners, like in the photo above. But, as stated earlier, not every junction is completely clear. 

For more security, carry a Sella Ronda ski map with you, readily available at valley stations and hotels. This will help you visualize the route. 

You can also follow the route on your phone using the Dolomiti Superski mobile app. 

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Sellaronda Ski Pass

There are two ski pass options in the Dolomites. You can either purchase a single ski resort pass (e.g. Val Gardena-Seiser Alm, or Alta Badia), or the Dolomiti Superski ticket, which covers all areas of the Dolomiti Superski network. 

Because the Sella Ronda passes through 4 different ski resorts, you must purchase the more expensive Dolomiti Superksi ski pass. 

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Where to Stay for Skiing the Sella Ronda

The Sella Ronda can be accessed from four different valleys and multiple villages. 

We recommend staying in Val Gardena (Selva), or Alta Badia (Corvara, or Colfosco). Generally, the accommodations in South Tyrol are superior to those of neighboring Trentino and Belluno (Veneto). 

In Arabba, you’ll find more budget-friendly options. 

During the winter ski season, many accommodations across the Dolomites have a minimum stay requirement of 4-7 nights.

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Val Gardena

Selva is the best base for skiing the Sella Ronda in Val Gardena, because it lies directly on the route. Skiers can start the orange route via Costabella (lift #31) followed by Dantercepies I+II (lift #30) and the green route via Ciampinoi (lift #29). 

Furthermore, depending on where you stay, you may be able to ski directly down to your hotel. 

Here are the best ski-to-door hotels in Selva: Laurin Hotel (4-star hotel), Freina Mountain Lifestyle Hotel (4-star hotel), Giardin Boutique Hotel B&B (bed and breakfast), Mountain Design Hotel Eden Selva (4-star hotel), Stella Hotel (4-star hotel next to the Costabella lift – starting point of the orange route), Savoy Dolomites Luxury Spa Hotel (4-star hotel), Garni Hotel Bel Vert (3-star hotel), Hotel Continental Dolomites (4-star hotel), and Hotel Scoiattolo (3-star hotel).

4-star Boutique Hotel Nives and 5-star Hotel Granbaita Dolomites offer complimentary shuttles to the Dantercepies and Ciampinoi lifts.

Another option is to stay at Passo Sella in Hotel Passo Sella Dolomiti Mountain Resort. 

The Sellaronda is also accessible from Santa Cristina and Ortisei. If you stay in Santa Cristina, take a look at Hotel Touring and Dorfhotel Beludei (read our review). Both hotels operate a private ski shuttle for their guests. 

Related | Best Hotels in Val Gardena

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Alta Badia

Like Selva, the village of Corvara in Alta Badia lies on the Sella Ronda ski circuit. Skiers can start both the orange route via Boe (lift #19) and the green route via Borest (lift #34). 

4-star Hotel Arkadia – Adults Only and 2-star La Tranquillitè in Corvara are situated directly on the Sella Ronda circuit. Hotel Marmolada (4-star ski-to-door hotel) and Ciasa De Munt Lifestyle Living (4-star hotel) are both within walking distance of the Boe and Borest ski lifts. And guests of Hotel Col Alto (4-star hotel) enjoy a free ski shuttle to the Corvara lifts.

The Alta Badia village of Colfosco, located west of Corvara, also lies on the circuit. Hotel Jägerhof (3-star ski-to-door) and Crëp Sella (3-star ski-to-door hotel) are located at the base of the Edelweiss valley slopes. You just have to ski over the bridge (over the main road) to reach the Sodlisia chairlift to start the green route, or the Borest gondola to start the orange route.

Also consider Pension Mirandola (guesthouse), Declara B&B (bed and breakfast), Mountain Hotel Mezdi (4-star hotel), Romantik Hotel Cappella (5-star ski-in ski-out hotel), and Hotel Kolfuschgerhof (4-star hotel with ski shuttle), Nature Hotel Delta (3-star hotel with ski shuttel)

Related | Best Hotels in Alta Badia

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Val di Fassa

From Canazei, you can access the Sellaronda circuit via lift #101. During a different trip to the Dolomites, we stayed in Locanda Degli Artisti Art Hotel (read our review), a very special boutique hotel in Canazei. 

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Arabba

Like Selva and Corvara, Arabba lies directly on the Sellaronda circuit. 

Compared to the other villages, Arabba offers more budget-friendly accommodations like Garni Astor, Residence Aspen (ski-to-door apartments), Hotel Garni Marilena (3-star hotel), and Chalet Barbara (3-star hotel).

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More Dolomites and Winter Travel Guides

Dolomites Winter Travel:

• Introduction to Skiing in the Dolomites
• Ski-in Ski-out Hotels Dolomites
• Cortina d’Ampezzo Ski Resort
• 3 Zinnen Dolomites Ski Resort
• Alta Badia Ski Resort
• Hidden Valley Run: Lagazuoi to Armentarola
• Kronplatz Ski Resort

Winter Travel:

• Dolomites in Winter: Top Things to Do
• Dolomites in December
• Winter in Europe: Top Destinations

Dolomites Travel:

• Things to Do in the Dolomites 
• Places to Visit in the Dolomites
• Best Time to Visit the Dolomites
• Best Hotels in the Dolomites
• How to Get to the Dolomites
• Visiting the Dolomites Without a Car

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