Dolomites - UNESCO World Heritage Site The Dolomites have long attracted walkers and climbers drawn by the high mountains, vast limestone cliffs and thick forests. Located close to the border between Italy and Austria, we spend a week exploring the area which has recently been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its outstanding natural beauty. Our hikes take us to lakes, along ridges, across passes and to the top of some peaks.
Ridge walks, lakes & iconic Tre Cime Our walks take us into the Dolomites' National Parks and are point-to-point enabling us to cover more ground and see more of the area. We hike along some quieter trails, make 2 excellent ridge walks above 2000m and traverse in front of the Tre Cime - arguably the most famous landmark in the Dolomites. Throughout the trip there are jaw-dropping views with mountain panoramas and sheer cliffs dropping over 500m.
Charming traditional Alpine hotel with indoor pool/spa & other activities Our very comfortable family-run 3-star hotel is located in Dobbacio - a small Italian town with a handful of shops, restaurants and perfectly located to head off into the mountains each day. The hotel has well-appointed en-suite rooms, a restaurant, bar, swimming pool, health & fitness spa and sauna. There is one free day where you can visit Cortina, the 5000 year-old ice man at Bolzano or head to Lienz - a medieval town in Austria full of beautiful architecture and museums.
Details may vary depending on departure date. Please choose
Day 1:
Join tour Venice. Transfer to Dobbacio (1200m).
Arriving at Venice Marco Polo Airport we transfer for 3 hours to our hotel in Dobbiaco (1217m). Located in the far north of Italy, we are close to the border with Austria. There are great views of the mountains from our hotel and it is well-located for all the shops, restaurants and other facilities in the town. There will be a short briefing by our Tour Leader about the week ahead. Please note that dinner is not included this evening.
Overnight Hotel (Comfortable)Swimming available
Day 2:
Ridge walk along the Italian-Austrian border
After breakfast we take a short train and bus ride (approx 20 mins) to Versciaco and then a cable car to a height of 2041m giving us a good head-start for our first walk. The height gain also helps us to acclimatise for the rest of the week. Our route climbs to Mt Elmo, passing relic buildings from the 1st World War, to a high point of 2434m. At this point we are on the border of Italy and Austria and can see far into the mountains of both countries. We keep our height following an undulating ridge at approximately 2400m. There are small peaks to climb along the way (max altitude 2550m) and we are continually rewarded with magnificent and panoramic views. After lunch we descend, steeply at first and head into pretty forest. Our descent brings us to Moso (1337m) where we take the local bus and head back to our hotel. Approx distance 12 km, Ascent 500m, Descent 1200m.
Overnight Hotel (Comfortable)Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerSwimming available
Day 3:
Lake Braies and the Grande Apostolo
Taking the public bus, we travel to Lago Braies - a justifiably popular lake spot with high sided cliffs and emerald waters. We climb above the lake (1494m) surrounded by magnificent cliffs that make the Dolomites famous. From a high-point - the Grande Apostolo (1947m) - we have excellent views of the lake and increasingly broad mountain views of the whole area. We then traverse through forest and open land aiming for a mountain pass at 2194m: this is a steady climb. The top of the pass gives us a new view of these big mountains before descending steeply back to the valley floor at Ferrara (1231m). Public bus back to the hotel. Approx distance 10 km, Ascent 700m, Descent 960m.
Overnight Hotel (Comfortable)Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerSwimming available
Day 4:
Free day: optional visits to Cortina, Leinz and Bolzano.
Today is an opportunity to rest your legs and explore the cultural side of the region. We recommend trips to Cortina - arguably Italy’s premier ski resort with smart shops and craft stores; Lienz in Austria with beautiful architecture, museums and cafés; or Bolzano which is home to the remarkable ‘Ice Man’, discovered in the Schnalstal Glacier in the Ötztal Alps in 1991. At over 5000 years old, he is Europe’s oldest natural human mummy and the discovery of his body, along with the remnants of his weapons and clothing, has helped to throw some light on the life and times of the region’s Chalcolithic (Copper Age) Europeans. All excursions can be made using public transport. Alternatively you can take further walks or stay at the hotel and make use of the indoor pool and spa.
Overnight Hotel (Comfortable)Included meals: BreakfastSwimming available
Day 5:
Trek to Tre Cime
The Tre Cime are the Dolomites most famous landmark: 3 imposing rock towers that stand at almost 3000m high. Popular with expert rock-climbers, they offer steep, unrelenting cliffs. Our walk takes us to the base of the towers. We begin just beyond Dolomitenhof (1454m) and make a long ascent through forest and finally open mountain country with a wild feel. The route is long and continually increases in altitude. The high-point is a mountain hut (2405m) standing in front of the Tre Cime and offering breath-taking views of the jagged rocky peaks that surround the area. We descend via different route, therefore making a traverse of the mountains. Please note that this is a tough day and more akin to a C grade walk (strenuous). We include the walk as it is the highlight for many people. Expect 7-8 hours walking and to be outdoors for 10 hours. Approx distance 15 km, Ascent 1000m, Descent 1000m.
Overnight Hotel (Comfortable)Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerSwimming available
Day 6:
Flodige Sattel and ridge walk to Mt Serla
A short bus ride brings us to the 1st World War cemetery just beyond Dobbiaco. From 1300m we climb steeply for most of the morning through an ever-changing forest of low-land deciduous tress, into larch and pine and then to high open mountain country with dwarf juniper and rhododendron. Our destination is a pass called Flodige Sattel (2163m). As we climb we have increasingly better views and can look back to the Tre Cime and in front of us the peaks above Lago Braies. From the pass, we head north along an undulating ridge, home to a couple of summer farmsteads. At the end of the ridge (2201m) is a peak - Mt Serla (2378m) - that we can ascend for 360 degree views. We then descend - steeply at first - into a forest and walk straight back to our hotel. Approx distance 12 km, Ascent 900m, Descent 1000m.
Overnight Hotel (Comfortable)Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerSwimming available
Day 7:
Traverse from Pratopiazza to Lago Braies
Our final walk is a gem: a point-to-point walk through high mountain scenery that ends at Lago Braies. We have to take 2 public buses (approx 1 hour in total) to Pratopiazza (1991m) where there are views of the Tre Cime and the jagged peaks above Cortina. From here we walk through wild mountain scenery with impressive high cliffs flanking our walk. We cross 2 mountain passes (2300m) and have to negotiate a small section of fixed equipment (a hand-rail where there is a bit of a drop). En-route we stop at a mountain hut for a drink and admire the great cliffs of Croda Rosa Pizora. Our descent takes us back to the magnificent Lago Braies - a fitting end to a week walking in the Dolomites. Approx distance 12 km, Ascent 400m, Descent 900m.
Overnight Hotel (Comfortable)Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerSwimming available
Day 8:
Tour ends Venice Airport
Transferring back to Venice today, our tour ends at the city’s international airport.
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Swimming available 
