Live the Dolomites
Alta Badia in summer: hiking, biking and culture
The scent of moss at daybreak. The vivid reds and pinks of the rhododendrons in June. The bracing mountain air at the pass. The Dolomites are all this and more. And their unmistakable pull is what draws you here to Alta Badia.
Summer in Alta Badia is all about hiking; from a gentle stroll through the woods to challenging high-altitude trails. But there are plenty of other ways to explore the area, from mountain biking and road cycling, to via ferratas and rock climbing. With the Puez-Odle and Fanes-Senes-Braies nature parks right on your doorstep here at La Bercia Alpine Lodge, the possibilities for outdoor adventures are endless.
But Alta Badia is more than just stunning scenery, it’s also home to the Ladin people, a community that has lived here for centuries. We can't wait to help you discover both.
Overview
- Easy walks
- High-altitude hikes
- Via ferratas and rock climbing
- Mountain bike and e-bike trails
- Cycling the passes
- Movimënt parks
- Castle and Museum Ladin
On foot
Hiking trails and via ferratas in Alta Badia
A soon as you enter the forest, everything seems to slow – your breathing, your thoughts, time itself. So where will it be today? Perhaps a relaxing stroll along the Gran Ega stream, or up to Lake Sompunt for a leisurely picnic? If it’s rugged rock faces and dramatic scenery you’re looking for, you could hike up Mount Gardenaccia or traverse the ridges of the Sas dla Crusc to the Fanes plateau. Alternatively, maybe we can inspire you with some of our favourite hiking trails in Alta Badia.
By bike
Mountain bike, e-bike and road cycling itineraries around Alta Badia
Helmet on, water bottle ready, energy bar packed. You start pedalling, your legs find their rhythm, and the scenery opens up before you. Maybe you’re out on your mountain bike on a forest trail, the gravel crunching beneath your tyres. Or perhaps you’re counting down the switchbacks to the pass on your road bike. Alta Badia offers endless routes for road cyclists and mountain bikers alike. Here are a few of our favourite rides.
All together now
Adventures for all ages at Movimënt parks
Summer on the mountainside. The snow may have melted but the fun continues at Movimënt outdoor parks. There are four in total – Piz La Ila, Piz Sorega, Boè Vallon and Bike Beats – reachable on foot or by ski lift. Each park offers different challenges, especially for younger guests. There are slides and ziplines, climbing walls, treasure hunts, water games, pump tracks and even a paleontology dig area. For adults, Bike Beats offers a range of mountain biking trails and downhill tracks, from easygoing rides to heart-hammering descents. All set against the magnificent backdrop of the Dolomites.
Incredible days out
Our favourite summer adventures in Alta Badia – on foot and by bike
One route, two options
Easy hikes in Alta Badia: Tru dles Viles and Roda de Armentara
Choose from two mid-altitude hikes starting from your apartment at La Bercia. The Tru dles Viles is suitable for all (elevation gain 280 m, duration 2 h 45). From La Villa head towards the stream, cross over and follow the loop towards Badia, passing through Alpine meadows and clusters of "masi" (rustic farm buildings, aka "viles" in Ladin). If you’re feeling energetic, when you reach Badia, instead of following the loop back to La Villa, carry on and do the Roda de Armentara (elevation gain 600 m, duration 4 h 30), another loop that takes you through pastures and meadows beneath the majestic Sas dla Crusc.
Try your first ferrata
Dles Cordes – an introduction to via ferrata
Are you a keen hiker but have never tried a via ferrata (a kind of cross between hiking and climbing)? The Dles Cordes is a great opportunity to try it out. After just 15 minutes’ hike from the top of the Gardenaccia chairlift, you come to the start of the route, which traverses a relatively steep rock slab with a handful of slightly tricky sections. With an elevation gain of just 200 m, after around an hour, you’ll reach the Gardenaccia refuge. If you’re already experienced and are looking for more of a challenge, then try the Sas dla Crusc and Cima Diecidouble ferrata.
Moderate e-mountain bike loop
Alta Badia e-bike route: Giro del Pralongià
This 30 km e-bike loop has an elevation gain of 915 m. The trail ascends via San Cassiano and Armentarola through woodland and meadows until you reach the rolling pastures at Pralongià, from there descending towards Campolongo and Corvara, until returning to La Villa. Along the way you’ll ride past a succession of Alta Badia’s iconic peaks. The ascent is long, but not too arduous, along forest trails with a few brief single-track sections, while the descent is a mix of trails and gravel tracks.
Easy mountain bike route
Mountain biking in Alta Badia: La Villa – Pisciadù waterfall
This 22 km route with 410 m elevation gain takes you through the heart of Alta Badia along gravel tracks and quiet back roads, past the Gran Ega stream and through gently undulating meadows. Climbing up from La Villa, the landscape opens out to reveal a spectacular amphitheatre of jagged mountain peaks. From Colfosco, the trail leads beneath these towering rock faces to your destination: the Pisciadù Waterfall, plunging through a narrow crevice in the rock. Once you've taken in the view, simply return the way you came.
Medium-Easy Route
Road Cycling in Alta Badia: La Villa to Passo Valparola
With 790 m of elevation gain over a 28 km round trip, cycling from La Villa up to the Valparola Pass is a moderately easy road bike itinerary. The gradients are fairly steady, before ramping up a little during the second half of the route. You’ll take in some spectacular scenery along the way, including Armentarola, Sas Dlacia and Spinarac, up to Lagazuoi.
For more of a challenge, take on the four passes of the Sellaronda. Visit in early June or early September for quieter roads, or time your trip for a Sellaronda Bike Day, when the passes are closed to motorised traffic.
Beyond outdoor sports
Ladin culture in the Dolomites
Not just for a rainy day
Museum Ladin: Ladin culture brought to life in a medieval castle
Perfect for a rainy afternoon, but worth a visit whatever the weather. The Museum Ladin is housed within the medieval walls of Ćiastel de Tor, perched high on a hill in nearby San Martino in Badia. The permanent exhibition offers a fascinating journey through the history of Val Badia, from the earliest prehistoric settlements right up to the birth of modern tourism, while celebrating the unique culture of the Ladin valleys. Learn all about the language, rural architecture, the development of farming, traditional crafts and the landscape itself. The whole story unfolds through an engaging, immersive layout, complete with a special audio guide for children.
Music, sport and festivals
Summer Events Here in La Villa, Alta Badia
Summer in Alta Badia is packed with things to do. Our personal highlights? The Maratona dles Dolomites in July, a legendary bike race that starts right here in La Villa and takes riders on a loop across some of the most famous passes in the Dolomites. Then there’s Santa Maria dal ciüf on 15 August. The celebrations start with a mass and run late into the evening, the highlight being a lively parade featuring brass bands and locals dressed in traditional Ladin costume. Lastly, there’s the Segra da La Ila at the end of August. A village festival featuring religious services, live music and delicious local food.
Let it snow
What to do in Alta Badia in the winter
While Alta Badia in summer is incredible, in the winter the landscape transforms into something out of a fairytale. With 130 km of snow-sure pistes and state-of-the-art lifts, you’re in Dolomiti Superski country. And if you’re looking for a winter holiday away from the slopes, there’s cross-country skiing, sledging and snowshoeing. Need some tips?