On December 2nd, Val di Fassa, in the heart of the Dolomites, will open the new ski season until April 1st 2024. Exciting months full of events and news promoted by the Ladin resort.

Above all, great skiing with ten international level competitions scheduled until next March: from 14th December, in fact, the show starts with the men's and women's snowboard World Cup parallel giant slalom on the “Pra di Tori” slope in the Carezza ski area; reaching the maximum with the two super Gs of the women's Alpine skiing World Cup, on 24 and 25 February in the San Pellegrino Ski Area. On the “La VolatA” slope - as happened in February 2021, with three speed races - the strongest skiers on the planet are involved in two competitions that bring the elite of skiing to the Ladin valley, at a key moment for the ranking positions of Cup.

But in December there are still many skiing events: on the 17th the European Cup men's special slalom at the "Ski Stadium Aloch" in Pozza; from 20 to 22 December two European Cup women's downhill runs and a super G on the “La VolatA” slope. From 17 to 18 and from 23 to 24 January and then from 19 to 21 March it will be the turn of the Fis Baltic Cup competitions at the "Ski Stadium Aloch". On January 28th will be held the 51st Marcialonga of Fiemme and Fassa, while on March 1st and 2nd the European Skicross Cup in the San Pellegrino Ski Area. Finally, not to be missed from 8 to 12 March the "Scufonèda", a free-heel skiing happening, and on 22 March the Sellaronda Skimarathon, the most famous ski mountaineering race in the world on a pairs track at night.

VAL DI FASSA SKI WONDERS, THE SURPRISE OF THE NEW SEASON

A ski safari, an innovative ski tour that the area dedicates to skiers who love good living and snow activities. It is the Val di Fassa Ski Wonders, an immersive experience on the snow divided into a long weekend or a week which, with the timing of skiing, allows you to contemplate the enchantment of the mountains, taste the food in the cult places of Fassa and beyond alone, enjoy the après-ski between aperitifs at sunset and thermal waters until admiring a starry sky that only high altitudes can provide.

Weekly experience: the offer includes six nights in a hotel and one in a refuge or two nights in a hotel and five in a refuge (with half board), six days of Dolomiti Superski ski pass, ski tours accompanied by ski school instructors of Val di Fassa, luggage transfer from one facility to another, transfers to and from Venice airport, Val di Fassa designer surprises, entrance to the QC Terme Dolomiti center in Pozza, aperitifs at sunset in exceptional panoramic places and, when possible, also the experience of Trentino Ski Sunrise, skiing at sunrise. All this, with a single ski pass and without thinking about your luggage.

A HOLIDAY FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

Val di Fassa has such a wide offer that is an ideal destination for couples, evergreens and even families with children. There are many proposals and, among the most original, there is Trentino Ski Sunrise: eight events, from 28 December to 8 March in every ski area of the valley, with exclusive skiing at sunrise on a freshly groomed slope and a rich breakfast in refuge based on local products.

From January to March, however, there is space for the charm of the sunset with four "Enrosadira Time", or the last rays of the sun in Ladin. With snowshoes or the ski lifts, accompanied by a guide, you can reach enchanting places such as the Fuciade basin, the San Pellegrino or the 2,950 meters of Sass Pordoi, and then end in a refuge with tasting of local gastronomic specialities.

And there is the "Forest Bathing" experience, even in winter, to light up all the senses. Or horse riding in the snow, along wonderful itineraries aboard horse-drawn sleighs; walks with snowshoes or mountaineering skis up to cross-country skiing, perhaps along the legendary Marcialonga route of Fiemme and Fassa or the circuits of the Alochet center at San Pellegrino.

SKI AREA WITH 210 KILOMETERS OF SLOPES

Val di Fassa extends for just over twenty kilometers between the towns of Moena and Canazei and is an exceptional destination for those who want to ski, from the novice to the more expert. The two large areas "Val di Fassa - Carezza" and "Alpe Lusia - San Pellegrino", served by around eighty chair lifts, cable cars and cable cars, four ski tours including the famous Sellaronda and the popular Skitour Panorama and eight snow parks, develop 210 kilometers of tracks suitable for every skier.

The valley's offer is completed by the five ski schools (all in possession of the "Golden Seal" for the quality of teaching) to learn or improve technique, as well as "kindergartens" and playgrounds on the snow, at high altitude and at valley floor, for the happiness of the little ones and rent innovative and fully automated ski and snowboard equipment like Peak Sport Adventure, just steps away from the Sellaronda cable car. A state-of-the-art rental that, with its Rent&Go System, not only reduces waiting times in-store but also avoids queues for online bookings, allowing you to find all the equipment neatly organized in dedicated lockers.

SLOW HOLIDAYS BETWEEN MUSIC, THERMAL WATER AND TASTY FOOD

When the days warm up in the spring sun, “Dolomiti Ski Jazz” arrives in Val di Fassa: from 8 to 17 March, over twenty concerts, jam sessions and street parades are scheduled to vibrate together with the soul of the Dolomites. The festival organizes performances by internationally renowned musicians in town squares as well as in the coolest clubs and theaters and on the panoramic terraces of various refuges in the Fassa and Fiemme Valleys where the taste of tradition is hidden.

Here are the most characteristic ones directly on the ski slopes:

Rifugio Salei - Passo Sella - Canazei (TN)
If you want to stay or take a break at 2,225 meters above sea level, along the famous Giro dei Quattro Passi (Sellaronda) route, Rifugio Salei is perfect for you. In this Ski-in/Ski-out Wellness hotel, you can relax in the spa or savour typical dishes of Ladin and South Tyrolean cuisine on the large restaurant terrace with a 360° view of the Dolomites.

Fienile Monte - Passo Sella - Canazei (TN)
The restaurant/wine bar "Fienile Monte", situated along the Giro dei Quattro Passi, is an ideal and delightful stop with a strong emphasis on culinary tradition. Nestled in this small hut on the ski slopes, you can savour exquisite grilled meats and indulge in delectable first courses u.

Baita Checco - Ciampedie - Vigo di Fassa (TN)
Ladin cuisine and typical flavors of Trentino await you at Ciampedie, in the characteristic "Baita Checco", where traditional recipes are revisited in a modern key by the young chef Matthias Trottner, who, together with his family, brings local products to the table every day.

Tobia de Zeli - Val di Fassa - Canazei (TN)
For those who want a tasty lunch or dinner in a rustic setting, in typical Alpine style, in the heart of Val di Fassa, the must-stop is Tobia de Zeli. The hut, immersed in greenery along the Avisio stream promenade, near the playground of Alba di Canazei, offers local specialties, Trentino and South Tyrolean wines, and a wide selection of regional grappas and liqueurs.

In Pozza there is also the Aloch thermal spring which feeds the Terme Dolomia, known for treatments and cures (in agreement with the national health service) and the QC Terme Dolomiti. This center is spread over more than 4,000 square meters of hydromassage tubs, Kneipp paths, waterfalls, Japanese baths, steam baths, saunas and biosaunas, salt rooms and massage areas.

The philosophy of well-being also embraces many hotels in Val di Fassa. Unparalleled Mountain Resorts for beauty, style, and services where you can spend a holiday immersed in nature and relaxation. Here are some addresses not to be missed:

Hotel Latemar Suite & Spa - Val di Fassa - Soraga (TN)
Cultural barriers and geographical boundaries dissolve in the charming Latemar Hotel Suites & Spa in Soraga. A place of unique charm where the love for Ladin tradition merges with the passion for travel. South American, Ladin, Arabic, Nordic, and Japanese atmospheres characterize not only the suites and spaces of the two Spas, where diversity is beauty and enrichment at both the physical and mental levels, but also the wellness rituals.

Hotel Ladina Holiday - Val di Fassa - Campitello di Fassa (TN)
Hotel Ladina Holiday is the perfect destination for a relaxing and service-rich holiday in both winter and summer. The hotel offers rooms furnished in a warm mountain style, equipped with all comforts, and a delightful restaurant with a wide selection of traditional dishes. In addition, for moments of well-being and relaxation, there is a new Wellness Centre with a sauna, Turkish bath, Kneipp path, and massages.

Hotel Rancolin - Val di Fassa - Moena (TN)
The Romantic Charming Hotel Rancolin in Moena offers unforgettable days of absolute rest in comfortable panoramic rooms in alpine style furnished in natural wood and moments of relaxation and regeneration in the wellness centre with a sauna, whirlpool, Turkish bath, Kneipp, tropical shower, and flavoured cold mist.

CHRISTMAS IN VAL DI FASSA BETWEEN TRADITIONS AND EVENTS

The Advent period is magical in the valley, starting with the markets in the heart of Moena (from 25th November from 3pm to 7pm), Vigo (from 7th December) and Campitello (from 8th December), every weekend and then from Christmas to the Epiphany, they offer typical artisanal and gastronomic products and the most fascinating atmosphere of the holidays. Don't miss the "Fairy Christmas Parade" on December 9th, at 5pm, through the streets of Moena.

And on November 25th at 6pm the Krampus’ parade along the streets in Strada de Meida in Pozza. Krampus are allegorical figures from the German-speaking areas of Europe who keep alive the ancient tradition linked to Christian mythology, more precisely to that of the bishop Saint Nicholas and the demon Krampus, defeated by him and therefore forced to serve him. There will be over 500 participants from different locations in Trentino, Alto Adige, Veneto and Austria gathered in a procession led by the hosts, the "Krampus da Poza". Traditionally, on the night between 5 and 6 December, these figures accompany the Saint as he visits, from house to house, the children of Pozza and the other towns of Val di Fassa.

By Marco Giovenco