Val di Fassa Ski Resort Review & Guide

The Val di Fassa ski area is made up of several dispersed areas, most of which are interconnected. However, its spread-out layout makes it feel less cohesive than many other resorts.

A major appeal of staying in Val di Fassa is the affordability of its accommodation, combined with direct access to the Sellaronda.

Personally, I would consider staying in Val di Fassa not to ski it exclusively, but as a base for exploring nearby areas such as Arabba-Marmolada, San Pellegrino-Alpe Lusia, and Carezza.

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Pros and Cons of Skiing Val di Fassa

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My Impression of Skiing Val di Fassa

I skied in Val di Fassa in early April, admittedly not the ideal time to judge a resort’s quality. I’ve also passed through it on both Sellaronda routes, once in December and again in March.

Val di Fassa boasts 110 km of slopes, but 40 km of those belong to the Carezza Ski Resort, which is a good 30-minute bus ride (16-minute drive) from Vigo di Fassa, or 90-minute bus ride with transfer (30-minute drive) from Canazei. 

In my opinion, Carezza in Val d’Ega is the standout section, though I wouldn’t base myself in Val di Fassa just to ski there. Instead, I’d stay closer, either at the Sporthotel Passo Carezza at Costalunga Pass or the Hotel Alpenrose by the Paolina lift.

The remaining 70 km of ski slopes are spread out between the ski areas of Buffaure-Ciampac, Belvedere, Col Rodella, and Ciampedie. 

I liked the Belvedere slopes the most, but their overlap with the Sellaronda can make the area feel uncomfortably congested at times. To get to Belvedere, ride the Col dei Rossi cable car from Alba, a hamlet of Canazei, or the Pecol gondola from Canazei. 

Ciampedie, made-up of largely beginner terrain, was empty when I visited. Of all the ski areas, it’s the most visually spectacular thanks to the soaring Rosengarten/Catinaccio peaks. However, it’s disconnected from the other ski areas. To get to Ciampedie, take the Vigo-Catinaccio cable car from Vigo di Fassa, or ride the Vajolet I lift next to X Alp Hotel in Pera di Fassa/Pozza di Fassa.

The Buffaure-Ciampac area offers some excellent red runs, and the outstanding black Ciampac descent to Alba. However, the terrain is fairly limited, so it may not hold your interest for a full day. My impression is that skiers based in Pozza and Vigo tend to use the Buffaure-Ciampac runs as a kind of highway to access the Sellaronda.

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How to Plan a Val di Fassa Ski Trip

With a base in Val di Fassa, this is how I would plan a 1-week ski trip:

• Day 1: Arrival in Val di Fassa
• Day 2: Val di Fassa Ski Resort, starting in Ciampedie 
• Day 3: Ski the Sellaronda Ski Circuit: Orange or Green 
• Day 4: Carezza Ski Resort
• Day 5: San Pellegrino Ski Resort 
• Day 6: Spa day at QC Terme Dolomiti or Alpe Lusia Ski Resort 
• Day 7: Ski the Marmolada Glacier Slope in Arabba Ski Resort

In terms of lift passes, I’d purchase a Dolomiti Superski pass rather than mixing resort-only tickets with Dolomiti Superski days, especially since the latter is essential for skiing the Sellaronda and reaching the Marmolada.

Although there are ski buses, a rental car will make your trip smoother. 

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Where to Stay in Val di Fassa Ski Resort

Val di Fassa comprises seven villages, spread out across a distance of around 20 km. Beginner skiers who want to mostly ski in Ciampedie (aka Catinaccio) ought to stay in Vigo di Fassa, or Pera di Fassa. 

During our first trip to Val di Fassa, we stayed in Locanda Degli Artisti Art Hotel in Canazei, a 4-star art-themed boutique hotel with a fabulous gourmet restaurant and gorgeous rooms. Here’s my Locanda Art Hotel review. 

For our ski trip, we stayed at X Alp Hotel, which offered excellent value for money. Located in Pera di Fassa (part of Pozza di Fassa), it sits right next to the Vajolet 1 lift to Ciampedie. The hotel also provides a complimentary shuttle to the Buffaure valley station, as well as nearby attractions such as QC Terme Dolomiti.

The spa area is small but new and beautifully designed, featuring a steam sauna, indoor Finnish sauna, relaxation room, outdoor Finnish sauna, and two hot tubs. The on-site restaurant serves solid, reliable food, nothing exceptional, but good. Staff were consistently warm and helpful throughout our stay.

Village	Accommodation	Why Stay
Canazei	Locanda Degli Artisti Art Hotel (4-star hotel – top choice) or Hotel Cesa Tyrol (4-star hotel)	The tourist center of Val di Fassa. Direct access to the Sellaronda. Many gear rental shops.
Alba	Albergo Garnì Edy (B&B) or Spires Hotel (4-star hotel)	Canazei satellite hamlet with cable car connections to Belvedere (and Sellaronda) as well as Ciampac-Buffaure.
Campitello Di Fassa	Chalet Marcora (4-star accommodation with rooms & apartments)	Direct cable car connection to Col Rodella and the Sellaronda.
Pozza di Fassa & Pera di Fassa	X Alp Hotel (4-star hotel – great value for money), Hotel Valacia (4-star hotel), Hotel Terme Antico Bagno (4-star hotel), Dolomiti Exclusive (apartments)	Located between the Ciampedie and Buffaure ski areas. QC Terme Dolomiti (thermal day spa) is also located in Pozza di Fassa.
Vigo di Fassa	Mason La Zondra (apartments), mySHH (3-star hotel), Olympic SPA Hotel – Adults Only (4-star hotel), or Ciampedie Luxury Alpine Spa Hotel (5-star hotel)	Great range of accommodation options. Direct cable car connection to Ciampedie and close to Buffaure.

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Val di Fassa Ski Ticket

When skiing in any Dolomiti Superski resort, you always have the choice between purchasing a resort-only ticket and the Dolomiti Superski ticket, which covers all resorts. 

I recommend getting a multi-day Dolomiti Superski pass for the entire duration of your stay in Val di Fassa. It takes the pressure off worrying about crossing into neighboring areas like Val Gardena or Arabba without the right coverage. 

More importantly, it gives you full flexibility. You can ski anywhere in the network during your stay, including Marmolada, San Pellegrino-Alpe Lusia, or even Predazzo-Obereggen (Latemar Ski Center). 

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Dolomites Winter Travel & Skiing

Skiing:

• Skiing in the Dolomites: An Introduction
• Cortina d’Ampezzo Ski Resort
• Val Gardena Ski Resort
• Carezza Ski Resort
• Alta Badia Ski Resort
• 3 Zinnen Dolomites Ski Resort
• Arabba Marmolada Ski Resort
• Kronplatz Ski Resort
• Ski-in Ski-out Hotels in the Dolomites

Winter Travel:

• Dolomites in Winter: Top Things to Do
• Visiting the Dolomites in December

Dolomites Travel:

• Dolomites Travel Guide

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