The Dolomites are right on your doorstep when you stay in Sottoguda!
In summer, cyclists flock to the famous passes. The bends of the Fedaia Pass and the roads along the Serrai have seen many a gripping battle in the Giro d'Italia, which has been up the Marmolada as many as 13 times; the famous straight road at Malga Ciapela, 3 kilometres with an incline of over 12% and steep slopes, makes this one of the most demanding stretches in the whole of the Alps and a challenge any cyclist worth his salt cannot resist.
And if you prefer a motorbike to a bike, there are exciting tours for you too, as well as routes for cars. Roll down the window, breathe in the fresh mountain air and savour the freedom of adventure. Below is a selection of itineraries.
What are you waiting for? A world of emotions is there, just waiting for you!
In summer, cyclists flock to the famous passes. The bends of the Fedaia Pass and the roads along the Serrai have seen many a gripping battle in the Giro d'Italia, which has been up the Marmolada as many as 13 times; the famous straight road at Malga Ciapela, 3 kilometres with an incline of over 12% and steep slopes, makes this one of the most demanding stretches in the whole of the Alps and a challenge any cyclist worth his salt cannot resist.
And if you prefer a motorbike to a bike, there are exciting tours for you too, as well as routes for cars. Roll down the window, breathe in the fresh mountain air and savour the freedom of adventure. Below is a selection of itineraries.
What are you waiting for? A world of emotions is there, just waiting for you!
Alpenglow over the Queen of the Dolomites
Lenght: 90 km
Sottoguda (1.250)- Passo Fedaia (2.057) - Canazei (1.450) - Moena (1.184) - Passo San Pellegrino (1.918) - Falcade (1.100) - Alleghe (1.000) - Sottoguda (1.250) No other place in the world offers the incredible spectacle of the Alpenglow, a natural phenomenon that tinges the Dolomite rock faces pink and red at dawn and dusk. If you leave very early in the morning or do the tour in reverse, you will be able to admire the sun as it rises or sets on the north face of the Marmolada and the north-western side of Civetta from the Fedaia Pass: you will never forget this magical moment. Legend has it that King Laurino destroyed the lovely rose garden belonging to the prince of Latemar, as he had taken his daughter from him in marriage. The only thing left of this garden are the pink shades which light up the rocks every day. The tour continues through the Fassa Valley to Moena and then climbs the San Pellegrino Pass with the Pale di San Martino mountain chain around you. Descend to Falcade, through Canale d'Agordo where Pope John Paul I was born, then turn left at the Cencenighe junction and back to Sottoguda. |
Sellaronda
Lenght: 95 km
Sottoguda (1.250) - Caprile (1.023) - Salesei (1.193) - Arabba (1.602) - Passo Campolongo (1.875) - Corvara (1.568) - Passo Gardena (2.136) - Selva di Val Gardena (1.536) - Passo Sella (2.218) - Passo Pordoi (2.239) - Arabba (1.602) - Salesei (1.193) - Caprile (1.023) - Sottoguda (1.250) This classic tour offers the ultimate in Dolomite scenery and can be completed on the slopes in the winter and along the roads in the summer. From Sottoguda, head towards Arabba and the gentle inclines of the Campolongo Pass, until you get down to Corvara which stands at the foot of Sassongher. Go through Colfosco and climb to the Gardena Pass. Near the Chalet Gerard (a great place for a quick stop for refreshments), the view over Sassolungo is priceless. Descend to the Sella Pass, go round the gigantic Sass Pordoi peak, then follow the 33 scenic bends of the Pordoi Pass which will take you back to Arabba and then Sottoguda |
Around Pelmo and Civetta
Lenght: 87 km
Sottoguda (1.250) - Colle Santa Lucia (1.453) - Passo Staulanza (1.773) - Dont (935) - Passo Duràn (1.601) - Agordo (611) - Cencenighe (773) - Alleghe (1.000) - Sottoguda (1.250) Take the road down from Sottoguda to Caprile then turn left along the road leading to the pretty village of Colle Santa Lucia, once the centre of the activities of the Fursil iron mines, which are today open for guided tours. Next is Selva di Cadore, where the small church of St. Fosca dating back to 1200 is worth a visit. Take the Staulanza Pass on the slopes of famous Mount Pelmo, ‘el caregon del Signor’ (the Throne of God) and the first peak in the Dolomites to be climbed in 1857 by John Ball. The road descends to Dont in Val di Zoldo then along the narrow Duràn Pass with fabulous views of the Tamèr - San Sebastiano and Moiazza groups. Once you get to Agordo, follow the road back up to Cencenighe, Alleghe and Caprile to return to Sottoguda. |
Cortina d'Ampezzo through the Giau and Falzarego Pass
Lenght: 90 km circa
Sottoguda (1.250) - Caprile (1.023) - Colle Santa Lucia (1.453) - Passo Giau (2.236) - Cortina (1.211) - Passo Falzarego (2.105) - Cernadoi (1.512) - Digonèra (1.157) - Sottoguda (1.250) As with the previous tour, go down from Sottoguda to Caprile until you get to Colle Santa Lucia. Here the road starts climbing to the Giau Pass, referred to among cyclists as "His majesty”. Stop for refreshments at the Fedare refuge or the sophisticated restaurant Da Aurelio. Keep descending until you reach Cortina, the pearl of the Dolomites, surrounded by the wonderful profiles of the Tofana, Pomagagnon and Cristallo mountains. Cortina became the first resort in Italy to host the Winter Olympics in 1956, establishing itself as the Alpine capital of glamour and winter tourism. In 2021 it will be staging the Alpine World Ski Championships. A short ride on the Faloria cableway from the centre of the town will take you to a panoramic mountain refuge. On the way down, you can go through the Falzarego Pass; the famous Lagazuoi cableway leaves from the top. Not far from here is the Forte Tre Sassi Museum, which is well worth a visit. The road descends through Cernadoi and Digonèra back to Sottoguda. |
The Dolomiti Bellunesi canyons
Lenght: 120 km
Sottoguda (1.250) - Agordo (611) - Gosaldo (1.141) - Tisèr (940) - Valle del Mis (427) - Sospirolo (447) - Ponte Mas (373) - La Stanga (456) - Agordo (611) - Sottoguda (1.250) The Dolomiti Bellunesi are home to spectacular waterfalls, canyons and narrow gorges where, according to local legend, lovely mythological creatures called Eivane lived in the crystal-clear waters; this tour will take you to some of the most beautiful spots in the area. Leave Sottoguda and head down to Agordo (30 km). Turn right at the roundabout for the pretty hamlets of Frassenè, Rivamonte Agordino and Gosaldo. After Tisèr, the road takes you through the remote wilderness of the Mis valley, thanks to a number of tunnels hewn out of the rock by miners. In Gena, park at the bar alla Soffia, the starting point for two short walks to the Soffia waterfall and the Cadini del Brentòn, a series of basins and waterfalls. After a refreshing stop to admire the wonders of Mother Nature, head towards Sospirolo (be careful in the tunnels) and then Ponte Mas and the regional Agordina road. At the Osteria alla Stanga, where the museum of local customs and traditions is worth a visit, a path leaves for a 10-minute walk to the Val de Piero waterfall. Head back up to Agordo and on to Sottoguda. |