Italy Inn-to-inn
This self-guided loop through the Gardena Valley is a gorgeous introduction to the Dolomites
Guided Best of the Dolomites TraverseSmall group guided tour with guaranteed departures, max size 14 people |
Private Guided Classic Dolomites TraverseMake it private! Your companions, your dates, your tour - we do the rest. |
The Dolomites are prettier than you know. They really are. You’ll find flower-filled meadows tucked against breathtaking pink and yellow cliffs. Charming, sunny villages with trails radiating in every direction. There are easy walks and sturdy, rugged hikes into rocky peaks with a cozy hut just where you need it. It’s a cultural delight with tidy Tyrolean hospitality and hectic Italian charm, and it’s perfect. Each day is another great hike to a welcoming inn, followed by a 5 course feast with local wine. A striking sunset. Relax. You can’t beat it.
If you don’t have time for our full Dolomites Traverse, this 6 night circuit of the Gardena is a great way to spend a week. Visit beautiful villages and fantastically scenic huts. Striking mountains, fresh air, cultural charm and memorable cuisine. It’s everything you want in a hiking tour.
Day 1
Ortisei- Arrive in Italy and make your way to Bolzano, a beautiful small city surrounded by vineyards and filled with plazas and museums. Bolzano’s natural history museum is home to the famous Ötzi iceman, and it’s worth spending some time here to see the museum and other nearby attractions.
We’ll have a private taxi meet you in Bolzano and take you to Ortisei, a beautiful town surrounded by the stunning scenery of the Gardena valley. Enjoy a wonderful welcome dinner and settle in to your comfortable and friendly 3-star hotel for the night.
Day 2
Ortisei – Today’s hike starts with a funicular train ride to a ridge high above town, and take a dayhike through high scenic meadows to the Brogles hut, where you can scan practically the entire Gardena valley and gaze upon the jagged needles of the Puez-Odle peaks.
In the evening, spend some time exploring town. Ortisei is a beautiful village with shops and cafes lining their cobblestoned, pedestrian-only main road. Your stay also includes entrance to the Mar Dolomit pool and spa, a great place to relax for an hour or two.
Day 3
Schlernhaus hut – After a relaxing morning, begin today by ascending a gondola to the rolling green hills of the Alpe di Siusi, the largest mountain meadow in the Alps. After a mellow crossing of the meadows and an unforgettable stop at the lively Gostner Schwaige for lunch, continue on a short but steep ascent to the peak.
Finish the day at Schlernhaus, an historic mountain inn atop the mighty Schlern peak, with breathtaking views in every direction. Trails radiate from the hut for optional walks to even higher views. Schlernhaus is fairly rustic, with private rooms, bathrooms down the hall, and no showers. Their beautiful dining room is a cozy place to relax in the evening enjoying a night high in the Dolomites.
Day 4
Plattkofel hut – Off to the next hut, you’ll make a moderate high traverse toward the towering Sassolungo mountain group. The trail provides stunning views of the famed Catinaccio/Rosengarten group enroute.
Plattkofel hut is tucked at the base of the pyramidal peak it is named for, and an optional trail leads to the top, if you are in the mood for an energetic day. Plattkofel hut is more a comfortable mountain inn than a hut, with cozy private rooms and hot showers, and a quiet ambiance that encourages relaxation.
Day 5
Selva – Today you traverse around the northwest corner of the Langkofel Group, towering in stark relief over the Alpe di Siusi. You’ll spend the day winding your way through boulder fields, grassy meadows, and spruce-larch forests before catching a cable car down to Selva.
A more strenuous optional trail leads right through the heart of the Langkofel/Plattkofel group, and is a fun, dramatic detour for those looking for a challenge.
Day 6
Selva- Today you’ll hike up to explore the high Seceda meadows below the dramtic Puez-Odle mountain group, perhaps stopping in at the Regensberger or Stevia huts along the way. There are dozens of criss-crossing trails through this area that invite exploration, and all boast unforgettable views of the region.
In the evening, you can unwind and enjoy the delicious cuisine at your tasteful village hotel. Many of our Selva hotels include small spas if you would like to relax before your final dinner.
Day 7
depart – After breakfast, your taxi driver will meet you at your hotel to take you back to Bolzano.
The otherworldly beauty of the Dolomites is on full display on this hut-to-hut hike from the Gardena valley to Cortina d’Ampezzo.
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