Pejo Ski Resort Italy
Pejo, in the Val di Sole Italy, is a small ski resort with some BIG attributes, that makes a blissful change to the hustle & bustle of other Brenta Dolomites resorts. Pejo (or Peio) includes a tasty 1,600m of skiable vertical, an 8km longest run, spectacular views, long intermediate piste trails & because this is Europe, plenty of nearby castles & ancient villages to pique one's interest.
The ski area at Pejo has undergone serious improvements in recent years including top to bottom snow-making, new ski lifts & fun slopes plus inclusion in the Superskirama lift pass.
Pros & Cons for Pejo Ski Resort
Pros
- Fabulous value, small ski resort experience.
- Snow sure, with most terrain over 2000m & full snow making coverage.
- Excellent intermediate piste trails & a 1600m skiable vertical.
- Uncrowded (even on mornings in the peak season!).
- Splendid views.
- ’Ski-in’ accommodation available.
- Lively mountain rifugi with great food & drink.
- Nearby villages, castles & ski resorts make for fun explorations.
- Access by free ski bus.
Cons
- Surprisingly limited easy access alpine freeride terrain.
- Accommodation in the village books out quickly.
- Lift pass is nudging toward the expensive end of the spectrum for such a ‘small’ resort.
- The main beginner lift is a painfully slow chair in a cold, dark location at the base of the resort.
- The superb valley run can get skied-off & messy in the lower section, even with limited traffic.
Pro or Con (depending on your perspective!)
- Limited piste terrain may only hold one’s interest for a couple of days.
- Located in a quiet side valley with ancient villages which may not appeal to anyone looking for ‘action’!
Skiing & Snowboarding, Lift & Terrain
Powderhounds tend to love the smaller ski resorts of the world. There are a few reasons why. Chief among them is the general reduction in humanity which lends itself to uncrowded slopes, more fresh lines, less noise, and no lift queues. Pejo is one such small ski resort. Of course, the notion of 'small' is a classic understatement when it comes to skiing in Europe. Pejo's 1600m skiable vertical far surpasses most North American and all Japanese ski resorts by an exceptionally long way.
Check out the ski trail map for Pejo below.
Starting at the top with the Val della Mitte run, the 8km to the bottom is fast & fun, particularly in the morning. Easy access off-piste terrain is relatively limited, but with good snow depths to the bottom, the valley below Tarlenta provides a broad scope. The adventurous will scope out more possibilities.
On piste, Pejo is an intermediate skier & snowboarders heaven. Beginners are well catered for too, although most will be better off learning at the ski lift near Cogolo village.
The modernisation of the Pejo ski lifts is evident. The new cable car is rightfully the pride of the ski hill, but improved chairlifts are just as important! Two are good, two are not so.....!
Lift Passes
There are no shortage of lift passes that are valid in Pejo. Local day passes for skiing Pejo only are available and quite affordable. Other ski passes valid in Pejo include the Skiarea Campiglio Dolomiti di Brenta (Madonna di Campiglio et al), the broader Skirama Dolomiti ski pass, and the international Epic Pass.
For more information on lifts, terrain & lift passes, see our Pejo Skiing & Snowboarding page.
Where is Pejo Italy?
The Pejo ski resort is in Trentino, northern Italy, rising up above the valley hamlet of Peio Fonti, the mountainside village of Peio & the larger valley town of Cogolo. As a European crow would fly, Pejo is only 155km northeast from the centre of Milan & 55km west of Bolzano (what we at Powderhounds regard as the capital of the Dolomites - feel free to disagree!). Sadly, due to the nature of the topography, driving distances are far greater. Whether arriving via the international airports at Milan Malpensa (MXP) or Venice Marco Polo (VCE), journey time to Pejo by car is around 4hr or greater in winter.
Public transport options exist via the train from Trento to the terminus at Mezzana & then bus or taxi to Pejo. Journey times are long.....very long (but carbon friendly)! POW- Protect Our Winters. A quicker method, especially good for larger groups, is a private transfer direct to the Val di Sole & Pejo. Search & book your private transfer to Pejo.
For more information, see our Travel to Pejo page.
Peio Accommodation
Accommodation in Pejo comprises numerous options. For the ultimate Pejo alpine experience, a few nights in a rifugio located at the top of the gondola at Tarlenta (2000m) provides ski-in ski-out perfection. Otherwise there is the mountainside original village of Peio, the resort village of Peio Fonti, & the larger village of Cogolo, a few kilometres down valley.
Search & book all Pejo ski accommodation.
The village of Pejo (Peio) is sited below Tarlenta, but above the lift base on the terraces which attract more of the winter sun. Its narrow laneways are hidden amongst a cluster of buildings, several of which provide hotel, BnB & rental apartment lodgings. Try the Hotel Centrale or Albergo San Rocco. Connected to the ski resort by a valley trail, staying in the village requires a 1km shuttle ride or walk/off-piste ski down the lift base.
At the lift base, the village is known as Peio Fonti. Renowned for its thermal spa & spring water, Pejo Fonti is the most convenient village to stay overnight, however it does lack winter sunshine. Numerous hotels & apartments are available nestled around the lower ski slopes & gondola station. The best located is Residence & Wellness 3MILA, which has rooms & self-contained apartments right at the gondola station. Nearby are the wonderful Albergo Sporting & Hotel Cristallo (which self-respecting ski resort in Italy doesn't have a Hotel Cristallo nearby!).
A better option is probably the quiet village of Cogolo, if only for its sunnier disposition, wider range of hotels & relative ease of access to the ski lifts. The pick of the hotels are the Sport Hotel Stella Alpina, beautiful Domina Parco Dello Stelvio & the Hotel Gran Zebru (located near the Cogolo ski lift - perfect for learners).
A short distance from the Peio valley, larger villages & towns in the Val di Sole offer plenty of quality accommodation. Anywhere between Ossana (with its superb castello) and Mezzana provides a quiet & quaint snow holiday experience.
Search & book all Ossana ski accommodation.
Ski Rentals
Receive a discount when you search & book via our local partners at Peio Terme (Peio Fonti).
Pejo Activities
Many (if not most) European ski resorts have access to a plethora of adrenaline-fuelled non-ski activities to fill in the days of those not wanting to slide down the hill on skis. Thankfully, Pejo is NOT one of them. From the looming Castel San Michele at Ossana to the wonderful fresco clad Chiesa dei S. Filippo e Giacomo church & grounds in Cogolo, the villages surrounding Pejo have more than enough interest in them to not warrant any frivolous sleigh rides, paragliding or sledding.
Keep it simple & explore all the nooks & crannies in the villages. You will discover intriguing farm buildings, historic sites, locals' bars, museums, and a wonderful lifestyle that most have forgotten or never experienced.
Review
The Powderhounds reviewed Pejo in 2018 & had a super-fun time, but thought the area was only good for a fast half-day. Click on the review link in the left column (or top of the page if on a mobile) to read its inciteful postulations!
See how Pejo compares to the rest of the Italian ski resorts on the Italy ski resort ratings page or compare to the rest of Europe on the European ski resort ratings page.
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