Italian Dolomites

Itinerary

Day 1 – Venice to Cortina d'Ampezzo

The group will meet at the Venice Marco Polo airport at 10:00 am, a private shuttle then takes the group to our 4-star hotel in the heart of the Alpine resort of Cortina d'Ampezzo. Cortina hosted the 1956 Winter Olympics, and has been selected to host the games again in 2026. We take a cable car up to a mountain refuge for lunch and then hike down to the town again through pastures and forests with great views of Cortina. An introductory dinner in this beautiful mountain village will give you a preview of what the week has in store. Evening and dinner in Cortina d'Ampezzo. (LD)

Day 2 – Fanes - Sennes - Braies Park

Today’s hike will be in the Sennes natural park, one of the largest protected areas in the South Tyrol. We hike through beautiful verdant mountain pastures with panoramic mountain views and stunning summer flowers. Throughout the day we’re surrounded by captivating peaks and unusual rock formations—all under the watchful eye of the towering Croda Rossa. (BLD)

Ascent: 1800-2200 feet | Descent: 2000-2300 feet | Distance: 7-9 miles

All of the hiking stats for this trip are approximate since there is variability in each day's hike. 

Day 3 – Tre Cime di Lavaredo

Today's excursion will take you into one of the area's national parks on a hike taking in the world famous, iconic Tre Cime di Lavaredo, one of the most stunningly beautiful and best-known groups of peaks in the Alps with ultra-panoramic, ever-changing views throughout. The evening will be spent in Cortina. (BLD)

Ascent: 1400-1600 feet | Descent: 1400-1600 feet | Distance: 5-7 miles (may vary)

Day 4 – Cortina to Passo di Giau, Return to Cortina

We climb through forests with pretty views to emerald Alpine lake Croda da Lago before continuing across a wide panoramic plateau to the open meadows of Passo Giau, offering commanding views in all directions. Passo Giau once marked the boundary between the Republic of Venice and the Austrian empire. (BLD)

Ascent: 2800-3000 feet | Descent: 1500 feet | Distance: 8-9 miles (may vary)

Day 5 – Cinque Torri, Val Badia

We embark on a captivating hiking adventure that takes us to Cinque Torri. As we ascend to this natural wonder, we are treated to the classic, awe-inspiring vistas that showcase the majesty of some of Cortina's most famous peaks. We begin our descent, gradually making our way to the charming Passo Falzarego area. Here, the transition from the wild beauty of the mountains to a more accessible road marks the continuation of our journey. As we descend, we are greeted by the scenic Val Badia, a valley renowned for its stunning landscapes, traditional Alpine villages, and captivating culture. It's a delightful change of scenery, with the verdant valleys and charming villages providing a sharp contrast to the rugged beauty of the high mountains. Our day ends with a warm welcome at our 4-star hotel near the enchanting village of San Cassiano. (BLD).

Ascent: 1200-1400 feet | Descent: 1800-2000 feet | Distance: 6-8 miles (may vary)

Day 6 – Gardena Pass, Corvara

We drive up to Passo Gardena and the Sella group of peaks for some of the area’s most unusual and celebrated hikes with varied and ultra-panoramic 360 degree views of towers, pinnacles, gorges, and forests. Dinner and evening in San Cassiano. (BLD)

Ascent: 2600-2800 feet | Descent: 2400-2600 feet | Distance: 8-9 miles (may vary)

Day 7 – Passo Falzarego to Val Badia

We return to Passo Falzarego to capture the mountaintop views and explore its network of tunnels and trenches built over one hundred years ago during World War I. We delve into the tunnel fortress around Fort Tre Sassi built by the Austro-Hungarian forces in 1898 to protect the pass against invasion. We'll take the Lagazuoi lift up to the highest point on our trip at over 9000 feet for unrivaled panoramic views of the Dolomites. Dinner and evening in San Cassiano. (BLD)

Ascent: 650-800 feet | Descent: 650-800 feet | Distance: 2-3 miles (may vary)

Day 8 – San Cassiano, return to Venice

From San Cassiano we drive through impressive mountain scenery, past pretty villages and Lake Alleghe, stopping off en route for lunch and to explore a little, before continuing to our hotel near the Venice airport. Arrival in Venice is typically around 5:00pm. Evening near Marco Polo Airport. (BL)

Day 9 – Departure

We say good-bye and continue an onward journey or return to the airport for homebound flights. (B)