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Spend over a week exploring the three valleys in the UNESCO-protected Dolomites: Val Gardena, Val Badia, and Cortina. Each day, you’ll explore carefully selected routes and discover numerous famous locations—all the while taking in views of countless dolomite peaks and pinnacles. Apart from excellent hotels catering delicious local food, one evening is reserved for an overnight stay in a scenic mountain hut. During the evenings, you’ll get a chance to explore gorgeous towns, exhibiting influences of both Austria and Italy. Find out for yourself what makes the Dolomites one of the best hiking destinations in the Alps!
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Arrive in Val Gardena (1,563 m / 5,128′) and check into your hotel. Set among the mountains of Sassolungo, Puez, and the Sella Massif, Val Gardena is best known for skiing and rock climbing, as well as woodcarving, which has flourished here since the 17th century! Due to a unique history and contemporary mix of cultures, most signage in Val Gardena is written in three languages – Italian, German, and Ladin. Depending on when you arrive, you may have time for a hike or to explore one of the three villages of Val Gardena – San Cristina, Ortisei, or Selva Gardena.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Val Gardena
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After breakfast, you’ll meet your local hiking guide and fellow hikers for a trip briefing and orientation. Today you’ll hike around the Odle mountain group (literally “needles” in Ladin), which has been subject to long term erosion, revealing the fascinating earth and rock strata underlying the Dolomite rock—from gray-white chalks to red porphyry. Later, you will reach the Tyrolean town of Ortisei, take the Resciesa funicular and hike some more. Stop for a drink or a rest at a local Rifugio and admire the jagged north faces of the dramatic Odle Group. In the afternoon, you can roam the streets of the charming Tyrolean town near the border with Austria.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Hiking: 13.3 km / 8.3 miles
Elevation: 350 m / 1,150′ ascent; 700 m / 2,300’ descent
Accommodation: Hotel in Val Gardena
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Today you’ll explore the Puez-Odle Nature Reserve—named after the striking peaks of the Puez and the pinnacles of the Odle/Geisler massifs. After breakfast, take the Dantercepies cable car to Passo Gardena (2,120 m / 6,955′). Hike up to the Passo Cir (2,470 m / 8,100′) and follow a wider trail on undulating terrain that leads to the Forcella Ciampai Pass (2,365 m / 7,760′) and up to the Rifugio Puez (2,475 m / 8,120’) where your group will stop for lunch. A final three-hour hike is a downhill on an easy and panoramic trail, bringing you to the town of Colfosco and then onto Corvara (1,560 m / 5,120′), where your hotel is located.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Hiking: 15 km / 9,3 miles
Elevation: 590 m / 1,935′ ascent; 1,150m / 3,775′ descent
Accommodation: Hotel in Alta Badia
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After a hearty breakfast, get transferred to San Cassiano. From here, you’ll hike to the Santa Croce Sanctuary, found at the base of the Sasso della Croce. During the first section on the paved road, you’ll pass through a number of hamlets showcasing characteristic architecture of Val Badia. Continue onto a gravel trail, walk uphill through the pine forest with great views of Santa Croce, the Conturines, and Sella mountain groups, as well as numerous towns of the Val Badia valley. Once you’ve reached Ospizio S. Croce (2,045 m / 6,710′), enjoy a traditional Dolomites lunch at the rifugio. When your group is ready to depart, you’ll descend along the Armentara meadows to La Villa and take a private transfer to your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Hiking: 13.0 km / 8.1 miles
Elevation: 600 m / 1,970′ ascent; 530 m / 1,740’ descent
Accommodation: Hotel in Alta Badia
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After breakfast, take a private transfer to today’s trailhead sitting at 1,726 m (5,663′), located in a scenic setting. From here, begin your hike with a steep, 1,5-hour ascent. Once at Col de Locia (2,069 m / 6,788′), you will enter a fairytale valley, set between mountains and carpeted with lush green pastures. After 3 hours of ups and downs through the valley, your group will reach a cozy mountain hut (2,104 m / 6,903′), where you’ll eat lunch. Afterward, pass by Lago di Limo and marvel at gentians, buttercups, and globe flowers surrounding the lake—before descending to reach your rifugio for tonight.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Hiking: 9.1 km / 5.7 miles
Elevation: 520 m / 1,705′ ascent; 200 m / 660′ descent
Accommodation: Rifugio
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Leaving behind your rifugio, hike down to rifugio Pederü (1,540m / 4,313′), joining the iconic Alta Via 1 trail. From Pederü, hike on to Rifugio Fodara Vedla (1,965m / 6,447′), located in the Natural Park of Fanes-Sennes-Braies. Enjoy superb views of the Croda Rossa Massif (2,818 m / 9,245′), known for its red rock. After lunch, you’ll hike along a stony track, a former wartime mule route, traversing a series of grassy basins dotted with bushes and dwarf mountain pine, while spotting marmots and chamois. The final part of today’s hike winds steadily down through to Rifugio Malga Ra Stua. From here, you’ll get transferred to your hotel in Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Meals: Breakfast
Hiking: 13.2 km / 8.2 miles
Elevation: 500 m / 1,640′ ascent; 880 m / 2,890′ descent
Accommodation: Hotel in Cortina d’Ampezzo
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This morning begins with a private transfer to Passo Tre Croci, right above the North-East border of Cortina. Today’s hike will allow you to admire the view of the Cristallo mountain group to the North, the Tofane to the West, and the Ciadin del Loudo to the South. Hike a section of the panoramic “Dolomieu Trail”, providing stunning views of the classic Dolomite’s rock layers as you hike through woods of larches and spruce pines just above Rio Gere. Take a transfer back to your hotel in Cortina.
Meals: Breakfast
Hiking: 11.4 km / 7.1 miles
Elevation: 510 m / 1,670′ ascent; 600 m / 1,970′ descent
Accommodation: Hotel in Cortina d’Ampezzo
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Your adventure comes to an end on day 8. Say goodbye to your Dolomites hiking guide, fellow hikers and to the Dolomites—or continue touring on your own.
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What you get on this adventure:
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- An experienced, local hiking guide with extensive knowledge of the area
- 8-day Dolomites hiking adventure (6 days of hiking)
- Airport group transfers from and back to the Venice Marco Polo Airport
- Accommodation in 3* hotels (6 nights) and in a mountain hut (1 night)
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary
- Lift tickets
- Tourist tax
- Luggage transfer from Val Gardena to Val Badia and Val Badia to Cortina
- Donation to Wow Nature’s reforestation projects — making your trip carbon-neutral
What’s not included:
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- Transportation to and from Venice
- Meals not indicated in the itinerary
- Any personal expenses
- Guide gratuities — optional
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For this Dolomites hiking trip, you need to be in a very good physical shape and have previous hiking experience. You don’t necessarily need to have experience of going on a multi-day hiking tour, but you need to be able to hike in mountainous terrain for six days in a row. You’ll be crossing between 7 and 10 miles (11-16 km) every day, with an altitude gain between 1,150 and 1,970 feet (350-600 m). You can expect to hike between 5 and 6 hours on any given day.
Keep in mind that weather can be unpredictable in the Dolomites. Even though warm and dry weather is very common in the summer (more so than in the rest of the Alpine region), there is still a possibility for cool and wet days. Your guide will always be by your side, making breaks whenever necessary and adjusting the route if hiking gets too strenuous for your group.
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Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
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- Day pack large enough to carry all the items you might need during a day (around a 25-40L bag)
- Hiking poles — optional
- Water bottle or hydration bladder (2L capacity)
- Lightweight hiking boots or shoes
- Hiking pants and shorts
- Spare clothes for layering
- Casual clothes for when you’re not hiking
- Waterproof rain jacket
- Sunhat
- Toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, bug spray, toilet paper, etc.)
- Headlamp or flashlight
- Sunglasses
- Camera — optional (but recommended)
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.
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Group sizes and prices:
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- For this group adventure, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 5:1.
- It takes a minimum of 2 people for this tour to operate.
- The cost does not decrease as the group grows.
Guided hiking tours in the Dolomites can be arranged for private groups with 2 or more people and for larger groups. If you go private, the price is higher, but the cost per person decreases as the group grows and you also get the option to pick your own date. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements:
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- If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
- Minors younger than 18 may be permitted to join the hike on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.
If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
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To get to Val Gardena, the starting point of your Dolomites hiking trip, most people fly into Venice Marco Polo Airport, which is 3 hours away. You will meet your guide at a predetermined location within the airport and get transferred with fellow hikers to Val Gardena at 2 pm.
If you are unable to arrive on Day 1 or before 2 pm, we suggest you take a bus ride to Bolzano (also available from Milan, Bergamo, and Verona) and then another short ride to Val Gardena (available every hour). You can also arrange a private transfer with the guiding company for an additional cost.
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