Arabba is an extreme ski resort located at an altitude of 1,602 meters in the Livinallongo valley, which skirts the Marmolada massif from the north. The resort has a total of 74 km of excellent tracks, lying at altitudes from 1400 to 3300 meters, while most of them (55%) belong to the “red” and 10 – to the “black” ones. Local sports tracks are famous for their complexity and interesting relief and are considered the most difficult in the Dolomite Alps system. Athletes especially love three “black” tracks – Ornella (Ornella), Sourases (Sourases) and Fodoma (Fodoma) on the top of Porto Vescovo (Porto Vescovo, 2495 m). Above, on the Marmolada glaciers, there are extreme skiing areas, also used for summer training.
Arabba, together with the resorts of Val Gardena , Val di Fassa and Alta Badia, is part of the Sella Ronda “circle” (Sella is a huge mountain massif, around which the main skiing resources of the Dolomites are concentrated), so it is impossible to single them out from a huge number connected routes of the entire region. No matter which way you go, you will have an exciting multi-hour ski safari with an endless chain of slopes and lifts, which will inevitably bring you back home to Arabba.
From Araba to Val di Fassa and Alta Badia, a network of continuous tracks and lifts can be reached through the Passo Pordoi and Passo di Campolongo passes. Arabba is connected by a chain of lifts and descents to the neighboring resort of Marmolada, which is not part of the Sella Ronda, but is one of the Dolomiti Superski resorts.
Among the easy descents, the routes in the area of the Passo di Campolongo pass and the descents to Alta Badia and Arabbe, which diverge from it in a fan, as well as the routes connecting Sella Ronda and Arabbe, stand out. Most of the local tracks are short and equipped with ski lifts, for the same reasons there are usually not many tourists on them and the skiing is quite comfortable. There are also lighted tracks.
Arabba is considered one of the best places in the Alps for freeriding and heli-skiing – single-track skiing is possible on almost all slopes of the resort. However, only very experienced skiers are recommended to go beyond the track, as the slopes have a rather difficult topography.
On the peak of Sass-Pordoi (2590 m) there is the best observation deck in the Dolomites.
On the high slopes of the northern exposure, natural snow holds well, and the slopes are the steepest in the Dolomites.
Each of the skiing areas also has a local ski pass.
Board park and half pipe in Pordoi.
The skiing season in Arabba lasts from December to May, the summer season for skiing on the Marmolada glacier is from June to September.
Marmolada (3340 m) is the “queen of the Dolomites”, one of the most impressive peaks of the Italian mountains. In fact, this is one mountain, the slopes of which, facing one or another nearby resort, can be called differently and relate to different skiing areas (the two most famous are Arabba and Malga Chiapella). The visiting card of the region is the glacier of the same name, which provides first-class conditions for skiing at altitudes from 1,450 to 3,270 meters for up to 7 months a year.
Through the Passo Padon pass, a cascade of descents connects Arabba with the very tiny village of Malga Ciapela, perched in a gorge at the very foot of Marmolada (3342 m), the highest peak of the Dolomites with a large glacier. From Malga Ciapela begins a dizzying cable car almost to the very top of Marmolada. From the upper station of Punta Rocca (3270 m) on the Marmolada glacier, the longest red track in the Dolomites, called Bellunese, with a length of 12 km, leads down. For most of the way, this track is surrounded by large fields, carefully cultivated by grateful freeriders.
Of the entire “Sellarondov circle”, Arabba has the most interesting and difficult descents that lead directly to the village. From Mount Porto Vescovo (2478 m) there are very serious “black” tracks, on which experienced skiers get real pleasure. This is a rarity for Sella Ronda: the trails of this region are mostly comfortable, spacious “blue” and “red”. The journey to Marmolada from Arabba begins on the gondola leading towards Passo Padon through the Monti Alta di Ornella.
The Padon ski area starts in Malga Chiapella and connects to the Arabba resort through Agordino . Diverse, but always well-groomed slopes with a height difference of 900 meters offer both interesting skiing opportunities and a good training school. You can get out on the Sella Ronda “around the world” (Marmolada itself is not officially included in this famous route), and vice versa – those skiers who preferred to stay overnight in the resort towns of Alta Badia, Val di Fassa and Arabba can diversify your skiing on the slopes of Marmolada.
Here, several simple and moderately difficult tracks will lead the skier to the lower station of the Malga Kapela ski lift in one to two hours, from where three lines of the cable car will lift to the highest point of the region (3342 m). You can also climb the glacier from Passo Fedaya, the descent from which also begins from Passo Padon. But when going on a trip, you need to remember: in this region, comfortable descents to Arabbe are only from the Sella group, so either use the lift to descend into the valley to Arabbe on the way back, or calculate your strength.
In total, the Arabba ski area has 62 km of prepared tracks plus 12 km in the Marmolada area, and the entire Sella Ronda is also at the service of skiers. The longest track is on Marmolada, “Bellunese”, its length is 12 km.
Marmolada is not only a recognized sports, but also a tourist center, the surrounding towns have everything you need for a vacation without skiing. In Malga-Ciapele, a museum of the First World War was opened (the highest museum in Europe – 2950 m). And in the chapel at the top of Punta Rocca there is an icon of the Madonna “Queen of the Dolomites”, consecrated by Pope John Paul II himself. For accommodation in the Marmolada area, you can choose hotels in one of the small surrounding towns, including Malga Chiapella, Bosco Verde and C di Rocca. There is no hectic resort life here, but the calm atmosphere of the kingdom of mountains and snow reigns everywhere.
There are 37 hotels in Arabba . Among the hotels, the best is located on the Campolongo pass, which has its own ski base and a well-equipped fitness center. For après-ski, Arabba offers several ice rinks, indoor swimming pools, shops, restaurants, inexpensive pizzerias and other infrastructure.
There are discos and night bars, including very cozy bars in some hotels.
Height of the resort (m): one thousand four hundred and forty six
Maximum height of tracks (m): 3342
Number of tracks : –
Track length (km): 74
Greens: 0
Blue: 25
Red: 40
Black: 9
Number of lifts: 37
Telecabin: 9
Armchairs: 13
Bugelnykh: 15
Capacity (people / hour): 43,000
Number of running tracks (km): 15
Arabba climate
Arabba’s climate is the best for skiing. Even if the thermometer drops to -20 degrees, you will not feel the cold even on the highest peak. This is facilitated by low humidity, which allows you to walk around the city even without gloves. You can come on vacation to Arabba all year round. In winter, you can acquire skiing skills, and in summer, you can admire the mountain scenery by cycling along the trails.
Arabba historical reference
The history of this village dates back to the 17th century. Apostles Peter and Paul built the first small church here.
And the appearance of the Andraz castle made a huge impression on the villagers. Initially, the castle was a fortress in which shelter and salvation were found. Many famous personalities found peace and tranquility in this castle. Both in wartime and in peacetime. These were politicians, and artists, and simply people whose financial position corresponded to such greatness and power.
Enumerating all the events that took place in this castle, you can go on for a very, very long time. Plague, fire, revolution. It was almost everything.
During the First World War, battles took place in Arabbe . They touched the main peaks of the Dolomites. Such as Marmolada, Civetta, Pelmen, Sella and many others. It is behind these peaks that the ski route named “The Great War” is laid. The center of this route is Col di Lana, one of the most picturesque peaks. Many traces of that time remained here, in the form of trenches, tunnels, fortresses. Being on these peaks, it is difficult to imagine how people could resist not only each other, but also the wind, frost, and formidable mountain peaks. Not only adults, but also children will get a lot of impressions from such a trip.
Today, this resort has more than 30 hotels and several boarding houses. Tracks have varying degrees of difficulty. Probably, the steepest tracks that are included in the system of the Dolomites are collected here. Ornella, Suraces and Fodoma are the most popular tracks among experienced skiers. They are located at an altitude of 2495 m on the top of Porto-Vescovo. And the Marmolada glacier is suitable for extreme lovers. This slope is considered the queen of all tracks. Many trails are very short, so there are usually not many tourists on them.
This is a great place for training. Teams of skiers from many countries train precisely on the slopes of the mountains located in Arabba. The lifts, equipped with the latest technology, go directly from the center of the town and head towards the 5 main routes.
Sights of Arabba
Arabba is rich in historical monuments. One of them is an old mill. For a long time, the villagers ground grain on it. The mill was old and could collapse at any moment. The municipality decided to carry out the restoration of this historical monument. And now it is a real masterpiece.
The Museum of the First World War in Malga-Ciapele is also a place that you simply cannot miss when you come to Arabba. There is a small chapel at the top of Punta Rocca. It houses the icon of the Madonna, which was consecrated by Pope John Paul II himself.
Natural glaciers are one of the main attractions. Valleys and ridges simply make one lose the gift of speech. With one look at all this beauty, it becomes clear that there is no better place to spend a vacation with the family.
Theaters, museums, tracks. This is only a small part of what really deserves close attention and study.
Excursions from Arabba
Almost everyone who comes to Arabba is interested in snow, skiing and frosty air. After all, this is not the main advantage of the resort.
For those wishing not only to ski, Arabba provides many cultural mass activities. You can visit the battle sites of the First World War. You can wander through the ruins of the legendary Andraz Castle. The museum, which used to be an ordinary mill, has 4 sections. Each of them tells about a certain direction in the life of the inhabitants of this village. Here you can learn about the customs, peculiarities of agriculture, and the beauty of the plant and animal world. One of the sections tells about military operations and the history of the castle. You can also see documents and photos that have passed through the years and have survived to this day.
A large number of people seek to visit the church built by the apostles in the 17th century. After all, it is the beginning of the history of this ski resort.
Some tours include hiking all the peaks. But if there is a desire to visit only the Marmolada glacier, you should first use the gondola that will take you through the Monti Alta di Ornella. Then it is necessary to walk a couple of hours along the ski track. It will take you to the foot of the glacier. And then the cable car will take you straight to the top.
Places for entertainment and shopping in Arabba
The Snowpark and Half Pipe, which are located next to the Pordoi Pass, offer a wide range of activities for snowboarders. Skiing is not the only entertainment Arabba can offer . You can visit the Ice Stadium or rent snowmobiles. You can also go on an excursion to the majestic peaks of the Dolomites. The road there runs through the Cherz plateau.
In the evening, you can have a good dinner in mountain huts, where vacationers are taken by snowmobiles. You can have fun in karaoke bars, which are available in almost any hotel. Once a month, the main square is filled with a large number of merchants. They offer different products.
There are only about 30 hotels in Arabba, not including small rest rooms. But they all meet high standards. And the courtesy and professionalism of the service staff will make your vacation even more pleasant.
There are very few restaurants here. One of them is Rifugio Capanna Bill. Here you can try excellent Italian pasta. And grilled meat will not leave indifferent even gourmets. Live music in many restaurants gives dinner a special beauty. There are also pizzerias in Arabba. Such as “7 Saas” and “Rue de Mont”. It’s always a lot of fun here and, by the way, not expensive. The small number of shops is a bit disappointing. After all, you want to come back from vacation with a lot of gifts and souvenirs.
There is only one pool. There is also no sports center. Therefore, it is very difficult to find any activity for evening recreation. People come here mainly to ride. So lovers of parties and loud entertainment should look for another resort for rest.
A large number of countries can boast of ski resorts, steep slopes, fashionable hotels, and excellent service personnel. But if you think about it, Italy with all its resorts, snow and refinement, in almost everything, has gone far ahead. After resting in Arabba, you want to be under the hypnosis of white peaks and fresh frosty air for a very long time.
