Italian Ski Break in Santa Caterina including Bormio & Valleys Ski Pass

Santa Caterina Valfurva (1738m) is located in the Alta Valtellina, Italy, just 10km from Bormio and 40km from Livigno. A small village with a pretty centre, it now features on the World Cup Alpine Ski Downhill calendar thanks to investment in the area for the 2005 World Championships.

The ski area offers 35 km of runs from 2890 to 1720m, with 2 blue runs, 12 reds and 2 blacks and 10 lifts including an 8 seater gondola located around 1-2km from the town centre. Despite the small number of blue runs the resort is good for beginners with large, uncrowded, wide pistes at the arrival of the chairlift that are great for building confidence. Intermediates will enjoy cruising the red runs and taking on the fairly gentle black runs, while more advanced skiers can try the excellent off piste skiing with the help of a guide.

The Bormio & Valleys ski pass also includes Bormio (50km of marked runs) and Oga/Cima Piazzi (25km of marked runs) which can both be reached by car or ski bus, Bormio in 15 minutes, Oga/Cima Piazzi in just under 30 minutes.

The resort also boasts an excellent 15km cross country track through pine trees with wonderful views of the surrounding mountainside, as well as an outdoor ice rink. It is also close enough to Bormio for a visit to the Bagni Vecchi thermal spa.

Après ski

The resort is fairly quiet in terms of après ski and nightlife, which mainly centres around the Camino pub close to the centre. There are some good mountain restaurants including Rifugio 2000 and Sunny Valley which sometimes open in the evening, and a couple of pizzerias.

Hotel Nordik***

This friendly, family run 3* hotel is located in the pretty little ski resort of Santa Caterina Valfurva, famous for its amazing scenery, good snowfall and relatively quiet slopes. It is less than five minutes’ walk from the chairlift in the centre of Santa Caterina.

The rooms are simply furnished and comfortable, with private bathrooms with shower, satellite TV, free WiFi access, phone and balcony.

The Hotel Nordik restaurant offers a good buffet breakfast and in the evening quality regional specialties as well as a selection of national and international cuisine.

There is also a wellness centre with sauna and steam room.

Nearest Airport: Milan Bergamo (Orio Al Serio) – 160km / just over 3 hours

Other airports: Milan Linate, Milan Malpensa, Innsbruck

By Car

Exit Orio al serio, follow signs for Lovere, then Edolo-Passo del Tonale. At Edolo, turn left at the crossroads and continue on to Aprica then Tirano via the Aprica Pass and follow signs to Bormio then to Santa Caterina Valfurva.

Alternatively take the road alongside Lake Como following signs to Lecco, then to Colico, Sondrio, Tirano, Bormio. This route is straighter than the first and there are no winding mountain passes.

By Public Transport

You can either take a bus direct from the airport to Santa Caterina with Livignoexpress.com, or take a bus to Bergamo train station then the train to Tirano (changing at Lecco), then take a bus to Bormio with busperego.com, then change and take a different bus to Santa Caterina.

By Private Transfer

Taxi available outside airport. Private transfer available on request after main booking.