Ski in the Dolomites; a UNESCO world heritage site

The Dolomites, or “Dolomiti” in Italian, is a mountain range located in the northern Italian Alps, consisting of 18 peaks which rise above 3,000 metres. The range features some of the world’s most beautiful landscapes, with vertical walls, sheer cliffs and a high density of narrow, deep and long valleys as well as glaciers.

As part of the Alps, the Dolomites offer fantastic skiing opportunities. Some of the most popular resorts are Arabba, Folgarida and Selva & St Cristina.

Arabba sits almost at the head of a valley and is one of the highest resorts in the Dolomites. With its snowsure north facing slopes, access to the Marmolada glacier and being positioned right on the famous “Sella Ronda” circuit, the gateway to over a thousand kilometres of groomed pistes, Arabba is a highly popular destination for all levels of skiiers.

Folgarida is located in the aptly named Val Di Sole (Valley of the Sun) and the mountain is best suited to beginner and intermediate skiers & boarders who want to enjoy a peaceful and relaxing holiday with the stunning scenery of the Dolomites as a backdrop.

Selva & St Cristina is linked into the Sella Ronda circuit and boasts several fast lifts from the valley floor. Wherever you stay in the valley, you are never too far from a lift to take you into the majestic Dolomiti Mountains.

In 2009, the Dolomites were declared a natural heritage site by UNESCO in order to protect their highly distinctive landscapes and exceptional natural beauty. Their dramatic vertical and pale coloured peaks, in a variety of distinctive shapes, are extraordinarily unique. The diversity of colours of the Dolomites is made up by the contrasts between the bare pale-coloured rock surfaces and the forests and meadows below. The mountains rise as peaks with intervening ravines, in some places standing isolated but in others forming sweeping panoramas. Some of the rock cliffs are among the highest limestone walls found anywhere in the world and the distinctive scenery of the Dolomites has become the archetype of a “dolomitic landscape”. The Dolomites are also considered an important geological site, providing insight into limestone formations.