high ropes garden - cortina

The High Rope Garden at the Cortina Adrenalin Centre is a ‘must’, but not for the faint-hearted. Even if you do have a head for heights, it will take your breath away at some point. You cannot fail to be exhilarated by the cables, bridges, cargo nets and ladders, all suspended high above the ground, not to mention the amazing flying fox zip wires. The High Rope Centre in Cortina is about 45 minutes drive from Arabba, Corvara and Pedraces through the stunning scenery surrounding the Falzarego Pass. The centre opens at 1pm and is split into three sections of increasing difficulty. It will cost €25.00 to do all three, this includes the hire of a helmet, harness, Via Ferrata ropes and the pulley system for the zip wires and flying foxes.

Hurtle down the Olympic bob-run at about 70mph in a 'taxi bob'. Open throughout high season and must be booked in advance, the run is based at the Cortina Adrenalin Centre and was used for the 1956 winter olympics. The taxi bob can be booked by appointment only in low season when group sizes are large enough (12 people). The Taxibob is a summer bobsled with wheels istead of runners. One run costs €48.00 per person and lasts about 3 minutes. 4 people are required as a minium to fill the sled and runs usually take place in the early evening (6pm onwards) and the minimum age is 12. Sometimes bookings depend on the size of the group - they can be cancelled if there are not enough people to warrant an excursion, although they will try and link separate groups to make up numbers. Our staff are very happy to advertise the excursion in resort if you have not got a group of four in order to make up a bobsled team. All safety equipment is supplied.

Canyoning is also available through the Cortina Adrenalin Centre although this is a little more intrepid and there is a higher age limit of 16. Canyoning is hard to describe but easy to learn, this sport takes the you on foot over small torrents and waterfalls a head for heights is essential. Various levels of difficulty are provided and while negotiating the drops, slides and double-rope abseils, you will be able to admire an entirely different type of mountain landscape. The excursions are made in groups of 4-8 persons, with one or two guides from the Cortina Adrenalin Center per group, according to the group size and difficulty involved. No abseil experience is required because the guides take care of securing and lowering each participant. An excursion costs around €50.00 (which includes all safety equipment) and our staff in resort will be happy to book canyoning for you from resort. This excursion does depend upon water levels.

This sport is undoubtedly one of the most exciting river sports. You’re always in contact with the water, hanging into the floating shell and swimming along with the current. This makes for a really fascinating adventure. Basically with the use of an armoured float, helmet, buoyancy aid, wetsuit and flippers you negotiate fast alpine torrents having different characteristics and degrees of difficulty...and all in complete safety. A minium group of four is required, guides and all safety equipment is provided in the price. A half day excursion costs about €50.00 and must be booked in advance, see our office staff in resort for details, directions and booking. This excursion does depend upon water levels.

Available at River Tours near Brunico and costs between €46.00 and €60.00 (depending upon the grade) for 2 hours. Trips normally start at 9.30 am, and 1.30 pm.. Prices include equipment hire, insurance, the raft guide, and transport to and from the river. All equipment is supplied (wetsuit, helmet, buoyancy aid, footwear etc) but you will need to take your swimming costumes and towels! Different grades of tour are available and there are even family tours which children over the age of 12 can enjoy. There are shorter tours for younger children which can be arranged when booking by our staff in resort.

Kayak tuition is available from the Cortina Adrenalin Center which offers both group and individual instruction. The latter, of course, provides the advantage of learning and obtaining good results in a short time. For the less adventurous, we provide a short course where one can learn to kayak on a calm lake or river where there are no significant difficulties to overcome. This excursion costs between €40.00 and €60.00 and should be booked in advance.

Tandem paragliding in the Val Badia at Corvara with an instructor is a wonderful and exhilarating experience. You will take off from the top of the Boé Gondola in Corvara, and your pilot will show you the basics of flying, (even letting you have a go!) whilst you glide with the aid of thermals around Sassongher, the mountain that towers above Corvara. For a long session in the air (30-40 minutes) it will cost around €95.00 (including souvenir t-shirt) and you should come prepared with your walking boots, sunglasses and some warm clothes although a boiler suit will be provided. For an extra €20.00 you can have your photograph taken by your pilot whilst in the air!

Mountain Biking in the Val Badia is a good alternative to walking or climbing. If you need some ideas please refer to our cycling routes in the Ideas & Information file which is available in resort, we also keep some maps and suggested routes with 'Route Laminates'. In general, bikes cannot be taken on cable cars and chairlifts, although it is possible on a selected few. Please check in resort for more information. We get our route information from the Tourist Offices of Corvara, La Villa & Pedraces, so drop in to one of these and they will give you their latest suggestions, usually backed up with a dedicated map. For €2.00 you can acquire a Mountain Bike map of the Alta Badia from La Villa tourist office. The nearby wooded riverside tracks make very attractive bike trails. If you would like to hire bikes, they are available from DA CARLO in Corvara & BREAKOUT in La Villa near Pedraces. BREAKOUT is run by Ivo, who speaks some English, so you should be able to pop in and book bikes yourselves although we would be very happy to call on your behalf. Breakout is also a very fashionable & sporty clothes shop! Rough guide to prices - Full suspension: Full Day - €26.00 Half-Day: €19.00 Front Forks: Full Day - €19.00 Half-Day: €13.00 DA CARLO in Corvara is fine although the product range is not as good or comprehensive. Rough guide to prices - Full Day - €15.00 Half-day (5hrs.): € 11.00. If you would prefer to hire a road bike and cycle the four passes we can arrange this through our friends in Canazei.

Horse riding is available in Pedraces at the Sport Hotel Teresa and also a little further afield at the Sitting Bull Ranch at Lungiaru about 35 minutes drive from Pedraces. Hacks or lessons can be booked in resort. You can either book hourly, by the half day or full day. The prices at the Sitting Bull ranch are as follows - €19.00 per hour or €78.00 for a days excursion. Our resort staff will be happy to book horse riding for you, they will also supply directions for Longiaru which is about 20 minutes from our Chalets in Pedraces. Italian trekking companies don't always necessarily supply helmets so make sure you request one when you ask our staff to book.

We are very happy to arrange Sport Climbing or multi pitch climbing with our Guide Francesco Tremolada. If you wish to have one to one guided multi pitch climb, Francesco (who speaks good English) will come and meet you in resort to discuss your ability and which route you desire to climb, he usually picks a classic on the Sella massif which towers above our resorts. They are between 4-8 pitches and all equipment is provided. It will cost around €200.00 for a days one to one guiding with Francesco. Sport climbing can also be booked with Francesco and the price will be split amoung the group, 6 people are required for sport climbing. Come and see our resort staff to arrange a meeting with Francesco. He is not available on a Monday or Friday.

The highest peak in this range is the magnificent Marmolada, known locally as the 'Queen of the Dolomites'. Her summit at Punta Penìa (3343m) and her brilliant white glacier dominate many a beautiful panorama. Most will admire this awesome spectacle from a distance in the comparative comfort of a waymarked trail lower down in the valleys or you can go there yourself via the cable car, which rises dramatically in front of the vast eastern wall, against which the cable car itself looks like a 'matchbox' toy!

Each week, Collett's offers two professionally guided excursions on the glacier with Francesco Tremolada, an English speaking and fully qualified mountain guide. The Glacier trek costs £50.00 per person and the summit trek costs £60.00 per person - this must be booked in advance of your stay to avoid dissappointment, please contact our UK office on 01763 289660 for more details or click Glacier Treks for a detailed summary.

Ice skating is available in Corvara at its brand new ice arena. There is also an ice rink at Alleghe. Both rinks also hold regular ice discos and the rink in Corvara hosts shows starring international skating champions from time to time, the ice disco in Corvara is on a Thursday, dates will be published in resort. The Corvara rink is open from 3pm - 6pm and 9pm - 11.30pm (these times are axtended in case of bad weather) and costs about €12.00 depending upon the type of skates you hire. There is a bar that overlooks the rink, a pool table and a fussball table. Ice skating is also available in Canazei.

For your more relaxing days we suggest to visit the biotope lake in Corvara. Around the lake is a typically alpine ecosystem a recreation area has been made with deck chairs and a bar that serves drinks and small snacks. There is a play area for children, a sun terrace and a solarium. Entrance is €6.00 per person, €2.00 for children aged 8 - 12, children under 8 go free. The lake is open every day in the summer (depnding upon the weather) from 10am - 7pm. There is also an indoor public swimming pool in La Villa which is open from the end of June until mid September. It is €5.00 for adults and €4.00 for children and is open between 2pm and 9pm.

Nine holes (most of them quite good) and a small driving range near the Campolongo Pass. Open late June to early October. 18 holes will cost approximately €40.00. There is a discount for people staying in the Sport Hotel, as the hotel is affiliated to the golf club. Clubs and trolleys can be hired. It is a course where even the most focused will be driven to distraction by the awesome backdrops! It claims to be the second highest golf course in Europe! There is a small bar at the halfway point for liquid refreshment! The last hole is a challenging one over a lake and along a narrow fairway through a copse of trees.

Half a day spent in the small town of Aleghe is a great way to unwind. Alleghe is a short drive towards Venice from Arabba and will take about 30 minutes, it is nestled under the beautiful massif Civetta (which means 'little owl' so called due to the mountains shape). There are many gelaterias in Allehge which offer superb mixes, we reccomend the Gelateria Pasticceria Artigana in the main Piazza near the Church. You can hire pedaloes or, for the more romantic amoung you, a rowing boat, this costs about €6.00 per hour. Many people row or pedal accross the lake to Chalet Bar Al Lago, famous for its superb steaks, for lunch and a glass of red wine.

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