Val di Fassa Swaps a 1997 Chairlift for a 10-Seater Gondola and Opens the Winter to Non-Skiers

A new ten-person gondola is the headline addition to Val di Fassa’s 2026/27 winter. The Buffaure-Col de Valvacin lift replaces a chairlift that has been in service since 1997. It is part of a package that also includes sunrise skiing events, behind-the-scenes tours of piste preparation and a new winter pass aimed at people who don’t ski. The Dolomite valley, which promotes itself as six ski areas with 110 kilometres of pistes and more than 50 lifts, is investing in speed and comfort at the same time as it widens its appeal.

A faster link at Buffaure

The Buffaure-Col de Valvacin gondola replaces a four-seat chairlift built in 1997. The new lift cuts the journey from 7 minutes 15 seconds to 3 minutes 49 seconds. It can carry 2,600 people an hour in winter and 1,300 in summer. It is built by Doppelmayr and has a partly underground bottom station, which reduces the visible technical equipment. <cite id="a">The route has also been altered to reduce exposure to wind and improve visitor flow.</cite>

The lift runs from the Buffaure base at about 2,050 metres to the Col de Valvacin summit station at about 2,355 metres. The line is 1,050 metres long. The Italian trade site Skimania puts the investment at €18.53 million, and the same figure appears in other reports. An aviation notice for paragliders gave an expected opening in December 2026.

Its role is strategic. The link carries skiers around the Buffaure area and towards the Sellaronda circuit. The consortium has been working towards this for some time. In 2025, the president of Funivie Buffaure said replacing the Col de Valvacin chairlift with a 10-seater gondola would be a strategic move. This followed a season with 4.3% more lift passages, and record numbers on every lift.

Building on a run of lift upgrades

Valvacin follows other investments in the valley. Last winter was marked by a new gondola at Col Rodella and the new Franzin gondola at Carezza. The same consortium reported that the season ended with 19 million lift passages. It was also due to start work on replacing the Valvacin lift, which was described as being transformed into a gondola with an underground departure station.

Sunrise, sunsets and a peek behind the scenes

The valley is adding experiences at different times of day. The Trentino Ski Sunrise calendar opens on 12 December at Carezza, then continues at Belvedere on 21 December, Col Rodella on 5 January, Ciampedie on 29 January, Buffaure on Valentine’s Day and Ciampedie again on 20 March.

At Carezza, a programme called “Dietro le quinte dello sci” (“behind the scenes of skiing”) will show participants how pistes are prepared, how artificial snowmaking works and how a snowcat is driven. Georg Eisath, founder of Technoalpin and the owner of the ski area, is billed to ski with guests. The article describes him as a pioneer of artificial snowmaking in South Tyrol. The tour will also include a visit to the reservoir pumping station and a look at snowmaking systems and sustainability projects. Carezza Snow Night evenings, with ski instructor shows and freestyle and telemark demonstrations, are set for 29 December, 27 January, 17 February and 24 March.

A winter pass for people who don’t ski

The newest idea is the Panorama Pass Invernale. The Consorzio Impianti a Fune Fassa-Carezza and the local tourist board have designed the multi-day pass to give unlimited rides on gondolas, cable cars and chairlifts approved for pedestrians. It is valid from 4 December 2026 to 4 April 2027, and aims to open Dolomite viewpoints to hikers, families and visitors who don’t ski.

Suggested activities include snowshoe walks, panoramic routes and family events. One new theme trail on the Ciampedie ring at Catinaccio, “Il Corvo Blu e la parola magica”, has a picture book and nine installations inspired by Ladin legends. The idea builds on the summer Panorama Pass. That pass was valid from 30 May to 11 October 2026 on 31 lifts. Winter prices weren’t in the sources I checked.

Closing thoughts

Val di Fassa’s 2026/27 plans aim to attract several types of visitor. Powder-focused skiers get a faster uphill link and a stronger path to the Sellaronda. Early risers get sunrise slots, while curious guests can see how snow is made. Walkers and families get a pass that doesn’t require skis. If the new gondola opens on time, the Buffaure side of the valley will have a modern, wind-resistant lift for the first time. That would give the whole valley more options, whatever visitors choose to do on the mountain.