Why this road
No other drive packs this much Dolomites into so few kilometres. Every pass looks different: green and gentle at Campolongo, wide and open at the Pordoi with the Marmolada glacier across the valley, rough and rocky at the Sella with the Sassolungo right next to the road, and steep pale walls at the Gardena. We drive it anticlockwise from Corvara, which saves the two highest passes for the middle of the day and ends with the descent into Alta Badia. Colfosco is just above Corvara, so the ring is closed: it is a loop, not a way from A to B.
The route
- ACorvara in Badia
Start in Corvara, the main village of Alta Badia, right under the north-east face of the Sella. Head south towards Arabba.
- 1Passo Campolongo
The lowest and gentlest of the four passes, at 1,875 m, with meadows and ski lifts. A short climb, a short descent.
- 2Arabba
A small village at the foot of the Pordoi, the south side of the Sella above it. From here the road climbs west in a long string of hairpins.
- 3Passo Pordoi
At about 2,240 m the highest point of the ring. Across the valley to the south is the Marmolada glacier; the Sass Pordoi cable car goes up the Sella to almost 3,000 m.
- 4Passo Sella
Down to the Lupo Bianco junction and up again. The Sella Pass is the wildest of the four, with the Sassolungo towering right next to the road.
- 5Passo Gardena
From the Val Gardena side you climb under the steep north walls of the Sella and the jagged Cir peaks to 2,121 m.
- BColfosco
The descent ends in Colfosco, a few minutes above Corvara where you started.
Stops worth it
Park and walk a few minutes up the slope for the Marmolada view, or take the cable car up the Sass Pordoi if the top is clear.
Pull over near the top and look at the Sassolungo, it fills the whole sky. A good place for a short walk on the meadows.
Stop at the top for a coffee and the view back down Val Gardena and ahead into Alta Badia.
Light and the best time
Leave Corvara around 8:30. The morning sun comes from the south-east, so on the way to the Pordoi the eastern faces of the Sella are lit on your right. The Marmolada glacier faces north: from the Pordoi you look at it against the light around midday, and the morning or late afternoon gives it more shape. At the Sella Pass in the late morning the sun lights the Sassolungo from the side. The north walls at the Gardena are in shade most of the day, they look best in the soft evening light if you drive the ring later.
June to September is the season. The passes are high and serve the ski area in winter, so they can close at short notice after snowfall, check before you go. July and August are very busy: motorbikes, cyclists, buses and full car parks at the top. In recent summers there have been trial restrictions for traffic on some Dolomite passes, check the current rules before you go. Start early, and on a weekday if you can. September is quieter and often clearer.
By vehicle
One of the classic motorbike loops of the Alps, and you will not be alone. Many hairpins, good tarmac, lots of cyclists. Start early to have the road to yourself.
Wonderful open-top, the walls tower right above you. It gets cold at over 2,000 m, take a jacket even in July.
No problem for any car, the roads are wide enough. Use a low gear on the descents and let faster traffic pass.
The Sella Ronda is a famous road-bike loop, four climbs in one day. Some summer days the passes are closed to motor traffic for cycling events, those are the best days to ride it.
Good to know
No toll on the pass roads. Parking at the passes often costs money, and in summer the car parks fill up by late morning. Fuel up in Corvara, Arabba or the larger valley villages, there is no fuel at the tops. Thunderstorms are common on summer afternoons. The passes have hairpins that are tight for long vehicles: a big camper can manage, but it is not relaxing in summer traffic.
Route checked against OpenStreetMap on 2 November 2026. Roads, closures and rules change: always check before you go and follow local signs.
Questions
How long does the Sella Ronda take by car?
About 2 hours of pure driving for the loop, more in summer traffic. With stops at the passes, plan half a day.
Which direction is best for the Sella Ronda?
Both work. Anticlockwise from Corvara (Campolongo, Pordoi, Sella, Gardena) you reach the Marmolada view at the Pordoi in the morning and finish with the descent into Alta Badia. Clockwise is just as beautiful, so start where you stay.
Which passes are on the Sella Ronda?
Four: Passo Campolongo, Passo Pordoi, Passo Sella and Passo Gardena. The road links the valleys of Alta Badia, Arabba, Val di Fassa and Val Gardena.
Is the Sella Ronda open in winter?
The passes serve the ski area and are often kept open, but they can close after heavy snow and chains or winter tyres are needed. For a scenic drive, come between June and September.
Is there a toll on the Sella Ronda?
No, the pass roads are free. You may pay for parking at the tops, and check before you go whether any traffic restrictions are in place that summer.