Arabba is an extreme ski resort located at an altitude of 1602 meters in the Livinallongo Valley, which skirts the Marmolada massif from the north. The resort has a total of 74 km of excellent slopes, located at altitudes from 1400 to 3300 meters, with most of them (55%) being “red” and 10 being “black”. Local sports trails are famous for their complexity and interesting terrain and are considered the most difficult in the Dolomite system. The three “black” runs – Ornella, Sourases and Fodoma on the summit of Porto Vescovo (2495 m) – are particularly popular with athletes. Higher up, on the Marmolada glaciers, there are extreme skiing areas that are also used for summer training.

Arabba together with the resorts Val Gardena, Val di Fassa and Alta Badia is part of the “surroundings” of the Sella Ronda (Sella is a giant mountain range around which the main ski resources of the Dolomites are concentrated), so it is impossible to single them out from the huge number of connected trails of the entire region. Whichever direction you go, you will be greeted by an exciting ski safari lasting many hours with an endless string of slopes and lifts, which will inevitably return you home to Arabba.

From Arabba to Val di Fassa and Alta Badia, you can reach them via the Passo Pordoi and Passo di Campolongo passes via a network of continuous trails and lifts. Arabba is connected by a chain of lifts and slopes to the neighboring resort of Marmolada, which is not part of the Sella Ronda, but is one of the Dolomiti Superski resorts.

Of the easy slopes, the slopes in the area of ​​the Passo di Campolongo pass and the slopes to Alta Badia and Arabba, which diverge from it in a fan, as well as the slopes connecting Sella Ronda and Arabba, stand out. The local slopes are mostly short and equipped with tow lifts, for the same reasons there are usually few tourists on them and skiing is quite comfortable. There are also illuminated slopes.

Arabba is considered one of the best places in the Alps for freeriding and heli-skiing – virgin skiing is possible on almost all slopes of the resort. However, it is recommended to go beyond the track only for very experienced skiers, as the slopes have a rather difficult terrain.

The peak of Sass-Pordoi (2590 m) has the best viewing platform 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 ski areas also has a local ski pass.

Board park and half-pipe in Pordoi.

The ski season in Arabba lasts from December to May, the summer skiing season on the Marmolada glacier is from June to September.

Marmolada (3340 m) – the “queen of the Dolomites”, one of the most impressive peaks of the Italian mountains. In fact, it is one mountain, the slopes of which, facing one or another nearby resort, can be called differently and belong to different skiing areas (the two most famous are Arabba and Malga-Chiapella). The region’s calling card is the glacier of the same name, which provides first-class conditions for skiing at altitudes from 1450 to 3270 meters for up to 7 months a year.

A cascade of descents connects Arabba via the Passo Padon pass to the tiny village of Malga Chiapella, nestled in a gorge at the foot of Marmolada (3,342 m), the highest peak in the Dolomites with a large glacier. From Malga Chiapella, a dizzying cable car begins almost to the very top of Marmolada. From the top station of Punta Rocca (3,270 m) on the Marmolada glacier, the longest red route in the Dolomites, called Bellunese, leads down, 12 km long. For most of the way, this route is surrounded by large fields, carefully cultivated by grateful freeriders.

Of the entire “Sella Ronda circumnavigation” in Arabba, the most interesting and difficult descents lead directly to the village. From the mountain of Porto Vescovo (2478 m) there are very serious “black” runs, on which experienced skiers get real pleasure. This is a rarity for Sella Ronda: the runs in this region are mostly comfortable, spacious “blue” and “red”. The journey to Marmolada from Arabba begins with a gondola ride towards Passo Padon via the Monti Alta di Ornella.

The Padon ski area starts in Malga Chiapella and connects to the Arabba resort via Agordino. The varied but always well-groomed slopes with a difference in altitude of 900 meters offer both interesting skiing opportunities and a good school of learning. You can get 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 their skiing on the slopes of Marmolada.

Here, several easy and medium-difficulty trails will take the skier to the bottom station of the Malga Capella lift in one or two hours, from where three turns of the cable car will take them to the highest point of the region (3342 m). You can also climb the glacier from Passo Fedaia, the descent from which also begins from Passo Padon. But when setting off on a journey, you need to remember: in this region, comfortable descents to Arabba are only from the Sella group, so either use the lift on the way back to descend into the valley to Arabba, or calculate your strength.

In total, the Arabba ski area has 62 km of prepared slopes plus 12 km in the Marmolada area, and the entire Sella Ronda is also at the service of skiers. The longest slope is on Marmolada, “Bellunese”, its length is 12 km.

Marmolada is not only a recognized sports center, but also a tourist center, the surrounding towns have everything you need for a holiday without skiing. In Malga Chiapelle there is a museum of the First World War (the highest mountain museum in Europe – 2950 m). And in the chapel on 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 Chiapelle, Bosco Verde and Co di Rocca. There is no bustling resort life here, but a calm atmosphere of the kingdom of mountains and snow reigns throughout.

There are 37 hotels in Arabia. Among the hotels, the best is located on the Campolongo pass, which has its own ski bus and a well-equipped fitness center. For après-ski, Arabba offers several skating rinks, indoor pools, shops, restaurants, inexpensive pizzerias and other infrastructure.

There is a disco and night bars, including very cozy bars in some hotels.

Resort altitude (m): 1,446

Maximum altitude of slopes (m): 3,342

Number of slopes: –

Length of slopes (km): 74

Green: 0

Blue: 25

Red: 40

Black: 9

Number of lifts: 37

Gelabatina: 9

Chairs: 13

Towbars: 15

Capacity (persons/hour): 43,000

Number of cross-country trails (km): 15

Climate of Arabba

The climate of Arabba 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 to Arabba for a vacation all year round. In winter, you can learn skiing skills, and in summer, admire the mountain landscapes, riding along the bike trails.

Historical background of Arabba

The history of this village dates back to the 17th century. The 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 they found shelter and salvation. Many famous personalities found peace and tranquility in this castle. Both in wartime and in peacetime. These were politicians, artists, and just people whose financial situation corresponded to such greatness and power.

Listing all the events that took place in this castle, you can go on for a very, very long time. Plague, fire, revolution. There was almost everything.

During the First World War, battles took place in Arabba. They touched the main peaks of the Dolomites. Such as Marmolada, Civetta, Pelmeni, Sella and many others. It is behind these peaks that a ski route called “The Great War” was laid. The center of this route is the Col di Lana, one of the most picturesque peaks. There are many traces of that time left 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 wind, frost, formidable mountain peaks. Not only adults, but also children will get a lot of impressions from such a hike.

Today, this resort has more than 30 hotels and several boarding houses. The slopes have varying degrees of difficulty. Perhaps the steepest slopes that are part of the Dolomite Alps system are collected here. Ornella, Suraces and Fodoma are the most popular slopes among experienced skiers. They are located at an altitude of 2495 m on the top of Porto Vescovo. And for extreme sports enthusiasts, the Marmolada glacier is suitable. This slope is considered the queen of all slopes. Many of the slopes are very short, so there are usually not many tourists on them.

This is a great place for training. Ski teams from many countries train on the slopes of the mountains located in Arabba. The lifts, equipped with the latest technology, go straight from the center of the town and head towards the 5 main slopes.

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 simply collapse at any moment. The municipality decided to restore this historical monument. And now it is a real masterpiece.

The Museum of the First World War in Malga Chiapelle is also a place where you simply cannot miss when you come to Arabba. At the top of Punta Rocca there is a small chapel. It houses an icon of the Madonna, which was consecrated by Pope John Paul II himself.

Natural glaciers are one of the main attractions. The valleys and ridges simply make you speechless. At one glance at all this beauty it becomes clear that there is no better place to spend a vacation with your family.

Theaters, museums, trails. 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 who want to go not only skiing, Arabba provides many cultural and mass events. You can visit the sites of the First World War battles. You can wander through the ruins of the legendary Andraz Castle. The museum, which was previously 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 customs, features of agriculture, the beauty of flora and fauna. One of the sections tells about military operations and the history of the castle. You can also see documents and photographs that have passed through the years and 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 excursions involve hiking to all the peaks. But if you want to visit only the Marmolada glacier, you should first use the gondola, which will take you through the Monti Alta di Ornella. Then you need to walk for a couple of hours along the ski slope. 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 near the Pordoi Pass, offer a wide range of entertainment for snowboarders. Skiing is not the only entertainment that 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 delivered by snowmobiles. You can have fun in the karaoke bar, which is available in almost any hotel. Once a month, the main square is filled with a large number of merchants. They offer various goods.

There are only about 30 hotels in Arabba, not counting small rest rooms. But they all meet high standards. And the courtesy and professionalism of the staff will make your stay even more enjoyable.

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 even gourmets indifferent. Live music in many restaurants gives dinner a special charm. There are also pizzerias in Arabba. Such as “7 Saas” and “Rue de Mont”. It is always very fun here and, by the way, not expensive. The small number of shops is a bit disappointing. After all, you really want to come back from vacation with a lot of gifts and souvenirs.

There is only one swimming pool. There is also no sports center. Therefore, it is very difficult to find any activity for evening relaxation. People come here mainly to ski. So lovers of parties and loud entertainment should look for another resort for relaxation.

A large number of countries can boast of ski resorts, steep slopes, fashionable hotels, excellent service staff. But if you think about it, Italy with all its resorts, snow and sophistication, in almost everything, has gone far ahead. After a vacation in Arabia, you want to stay under the hypnosis of white peaks and fresh frosty air for a very long time.

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