The Adamello Ski ski resort is located on the border with Trentino-Alto Adige and includes the villages of Passo del Tonale, Ponte di Legno, Tema and the Presena glacier. 9 km of cross-country ski trails run through picturesque forests, 30 km of trails for Nordic skiing disciplines are laid near the village of Vermillo (Trento province). Fans of downhill skiing will be pleased with the 42 km of trails at an altitude of 2700-3000 meters on the Presena glacier, where skiing can be practiced even in summer.

The Val Camonica Valley, in which the resort is located, is one of the largest Alpine valleys, where the Stelvio National Park is located. In addition to winter sports, tourists have the opportunity to take walks, exploring medieval fortresses and castles and admiring the magnificent surrounding landscapes. Those who wish can relax in the Terme di Boario thermal baths, which have a high therapeutic effect.

Adamelo Ski Resort is located on the old mountain road leading from Milan to Bolzano, between Lombardy and Trentino. It includes three ski areas: Ponte di Legno, Passo Tonale and Presena (altitude 3869) with a total length of trails of one hundred km. It has the longest ski season in the Dolomites, and the glacier and cannons of Presena guarantee year-round skiing. Ponte di Legno was first mentioned in a tourist guide to Italy in 1912, due to the fact that one of the first ski clubs in Italy, Ponte di Legno, was founded here. However, the resort developed quite slowly. Until 1977, there were only five lifts here, for which you had to buy five different ski passes.

The main construction began in the late eighties. Tonale was built according to a plan that was one hundred percent oriented towards a year-round ski resort, so all the lifts can be reached on foot. They are located mainly on treeless slopes, the trails are numerous and designed for “stress-free” skiing. The architecture of the resort is no-frills, modern forms, the main thing is that it is comfortable. The resort looks very democratic. Many bars and restaurants where you can have fun after skiing. The resort is democratic not only externally, but also in terms of prices. The general impression is 15-20 percent cheaper, with, of course, the traditionally high quality of the slopes and service. It is very popular among European youth and skiers from Eastern Europe.

Ponte di Legno and Tonale are connected by a high-speed gondola and the journey between them takes only 15 minutes. If skiing has dragged you down and you are late for it, then don’t worry: there are buses between the villages, but it will take about an hour. Ponte di Legno is a typical mountain village with narrow streets, cozy hotels and charming private houses. The trails are laid in the forest, which provides coziness. Evening skiing is usually organized here twice a week. The age-old fir trees that stand around the slopes give mystery and increase the emotionality of skiing. Ponte di Legno is considered a more respectable place and, accordingly, there is less lively evening life here. It is more suitable for family holidays.

In all guides, Adamello Ski is characterized as a place for skiing for beginners and the average public. This is true. There are a large number of easy slopes, but they are very diverse. Beginner skiers have the opportunity to gradually increase the difficulty of the slopes, honing their skiing skills on perfectly groomed, professionally laid slopes. This resort could be considered a purely family resort, if not for the Permiso zone. It is for advanced skiers. You will have to really work hard on the 2700m long black Paradiso run. There are also excellent places for freeriding there. And first and foremost: the natural conditions of Permiso, with a large amount of snow, mean that there are no avalanches. Here, with a certain skill, it is possible to ski off-piste on your own. And with a guide you can go along the 14 km long Pizgan route, which is famous among freeriders in Europe.

The best skiing spot in Adamello Ski is of course Ponte di Lenio (2120-1256 m). It consists of three peaks. The red and black trails are varied. Christmas tree skiing from top to bottom. A wonderful place. Go there right away, and don’t waste time and energy on Passo del Tonale. Between Passo del Tonale and Ponte di Lenio there is a wonderful chairlift with cabins, but from Passo del Tonale 1883m to Ponte di Lenio you can ski down.

Presena. It consists of three consecutive lifts. On the lower section there is a wonderful 37 black run, but don’t be afraid – it’s actually red with steep but wide sections. The second section (a little higher) is connected to the provided cold and old lift and back by a road with a minimal slope (you can’t call it a run). On the third section at 3069m there are black and red runs. It seems that they are not worth going on them for so long along the second section, except for the lack of snow, since the third section is at an altitude of 3069m. But 37 is definitely worth visiting. The condition of the slopes is good. It all depends on the availability of snow and the weather. During the day, Italians do not snow groom the runs, although sometimes and especially during snowfall it would be extremely necessary.

If you suddenly feel like mountain luxury in every sense, then just 20 km away is the Madonna di Campiglio resort.

How to get there

You can get there via Verona. There are a number of wonderful, flat tunnels from Verona. The last section from Ponte di Legno is a rather difficult serpentine. In case of snowfall, it will probably be very unpleasant to drive.

You can also get there from Milan, probably. You can consider alternative options from Zurich or Munich.

Passo del Tonale – a mountain pass on the border of Lombardy and Trentino

Passo del Tonale is a mountain pass at an altitude of 1883 m above sea level, on the border of two natural parks – Stelvio in the province of Lombardy and Adamello-Brenta in Trentino.

At the highest point of the pass, a bronze monument was erected in memory of the soldiers who fell in World War I.

Here, on the pass, is located the Passo del Tonale ski resort, which a few years ago could have been called the “lowest point of the region” if a cable car had not been built from the neighboring village of Ponte di Legno, located 600 m below, to the pass. Thus, the Passo del Tonale ski area, together with the Pres glacier, Ponte di Legno and Temu, became part of the Adamello Ski agglomeration, which currently has over 100 km of prepared slopes and 28 lifts with a total capacity of 50,625 people / hour.

Thanks to the constant modernization of the ski lift park in Passo del Tonale, as well as the expansion by joining the village of Temu to Ponte di Legno in 2005, the cable cars of the Adamello Ski region are some of the most modern in Italy. By the 2015/16 season, several outdated tow lifts in the upper part of the Pres glacier were replaced by a new gondola-type cable car with cabins for 10 people each, so that tourists have comfortable access to the glacier skiing area at an altitude of 3000 m. It is from here that you can make the most dizzying descents, enjoy the panorama of the surrounding peaks and view from a height most of the Passo del Tonale trails, laid on the southern slopes of Cima Cadí (2606 m).

The main part of the ski slopes in the Adamello Ski region is suitable for those who prefer comfortable skiing on sunny, well-visible slopes of medium difficulty. Beginners can master the turns on the slopes in the immediate vicinity of the village of Tonale – the lower ski lifts are located on its outskirts. As for real masters, the “black” slopes are at their service, both in Passo del Tonale and in neighboring Ponte di Legno. The most impressive descent, according to experts, is the route No. 37, leading from Passo Paradiso (2585 m) to the outskirts of Tonale.

In addition to downhill skiing and snowboarding, in Tonale you can go cross-country skiing (30 km), ice skating, dog and horse sledding, snowmobiling, snow rafting, snow tubing, etc. There are several outdoor tennis courts and an indoor sports complex.

Fans of a lively après-ski will not be bored here: a large selection of discos, bars and pubs will conquer the most avid nightlife lovers.

Where to stay

Overall, there are over 70 hotels in Passo Tonale. Here are some of them:

Hotel Bezzi 3-star hotel

Hotel Bezzi is located 2.1 km from Passo del Tonale. It offers non-smoking rooms, free bike rental, free WiFi and a garden. The hotel offers ski-to-door access, a ski pass sales point, a bar and a shared lounge. Each room has a balcony with mountain views.

At the hotel, all rooms are fitted with a desk, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom. All rooms have a wardrobe.

A continental breakfast is available every morning at Bezzi.

The accommodation offers a terrace. The area is popular for hiking and skiing. Bike hire is available at Bezzi.

Popular points of interest near the hotel include Nigritella, Paradiso and Colonia Vijaya – Tonale.

La Torretta 3-star hotel

La Torretta offers modern rooms with free Wi-Fi, an iPad and a flat-screen TV. It is located in Passo del Tonale, between the Stelvio and Adamello Brenta National Parks.

Each room has carpeted or wooden floors. All rooms have a sofa and a balcony with mountain views.

Breakfast offers a varied menu, including pastries and various cereals, as well as cheeses and cold cuts from local sausages. The restaurant serves regional and Italian cuisine, as well as traditional pizza.

The family-run La Torretta is located opposite the Valena ski slopes, which are equipped with a ski lift.

Grand Hotel Paradiso 5-star hotel

Feel like a celebrity with the great service at Grand Hotel Paradiso

The Grand Hotel Paradiso is located opposite the main ski slopes of Ponte di Legno and Passo del Tonale, and close to the summer ski slopes of Mount Press.

The Paradiso Hotel offers a shuttle service from northern Italian airports. Staff can arrange car rental.

The Paradiso Hotel has a wellness and fitness centre on site. Ski hire is available at a discount at the hotel shop.

Rooms feature an LCD TV with pay-per-view movies, a panoramic balcony and Wi-Fi.

The hotel offers an entertainment programme for children and adults. Other facilities include a conference centre and a restaurant.

Hotel Sole 3-star hotel

Offering a free wellness and fitness centre, Hotel Sole is located in Passo del Tonale, a mountain pass pass through the Rhaetian Alps. It offers a traditional restaurant, a bar, and rooms with a flat-screen satellite TV.

These rooms have carpeted floors and wooden furniture, and overlook the mountains. Each has a private bathroom with a shower and free toiletries.

A sweet and savoury buffet breakfast is served daily. The restaurant serves traditional local and international cuisine.

The spa area includes a free indoor pool, sauna, hot tub and Turkish bath. The hotel can arrange free 30-minute forest tours followed by a barbecue.

A ski bus stops opposite Hotel Sole and takes you to the Paradis ski area, 1.5 km away. You can reach Ponte di Legno by car in 15 minutes.