Arrive in Italy and and make your way to Bolzano, where you’ll have a private taxi to Ortisei. If you like, we can help with nights in Bolzano or a taxi from Venice or other regional airport. Ortisei is a lovely little village surrounded by the stunning scenery of the Gardena valley.

You’ll meet your guide, talk about the trip to come. Afterwards, enjoy a wonderful welcome dinner and settle in to our comfortable and friendly 3-star hotel for the night.

Arrival: Bolzano. We’ll arrange a private taxi to pick you up in Bolzano for the 50 minute trip to Ortisei.  We normally plan this trip for a 5 pm pickup in Bolzano, but this can be adjusted to suit your schedule.

Today, we might start with a cable car 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.

Afterwards, spend a little time in town. Ortisei is a beautiful village with shops and cafes lining their cobblestoned, pedestrian-only main road. The village pool and spa is also included in your stay and is a great place to relax for a couple hours.

We’ll enjoy a slow morning today and then begin our hike 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, we’ll continue our 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 and bathrooms down the hall. Their beautiful dining room is a cozy place to relax in the evening enjoying a night high in the Dolomites.

Hiking hut-to-hut, we’ll traverse east toward the towering Sassolungo mountain group, to the Plattkofel hut, tucked at the base of jagged, imposing rock spires. The trail provides stunning views of the famed Catinaccio/Rosengarten group enroute. Stop at Tierser hut for a hearty lunch before continuing to your inn for the night.

For those with extra energy and time, an optional hike up to the peak of Sassolungo will reward you with spectacular views of the whole region. Plattkofel is more a comfortable mountain inn than a hut, with private rooms (but no singles) and hot showers. They have a quiet ambiance that allows us to relax and enjoy a beautiful evening high in the mountains.

Today we traverse around the northwest corner of the Sassolungo Group, towering in stark relief over the Alpe di Siusi. We’ll spend the day winding our way through boulder fields, grassy meadows, and spruce-larch forests before catching a cable car down to Selva.

Selva is surrounded by pleasant hiking trails and is blessed with beautiful views from every corner. Take an evening stroll and enjoy the mountain views from the highest village in the Gardena valley.

There are plenty of great day hike options from Selva. Today we’ll work our way up and explore the high meadows of the dramatic Puez-Odle mountain group, and perhaps stopping in at places like the Regensberger or Stevia Huts along the way.

In the evening, you can unwind and enjoy the gourmet cuisine at your tasteful village hotel.

A dramatic hike through the U-shaped Vallunga valley leads us to the Puez hut. Puez hut has a large outdoor terrace and is a great place to stop for lunch or even just a cold drink. From here, a high, rocky traverse to the the Gardena pass, where the massive Sella mountain dominates.

After reaching the Gardena pass, a scenic descent along a wooded trail or a short bus transfer brings us to Corvara in the traditional Alta Badia region. Stay comfortable and friendly hotel in this pleasant village.

This is a more moderate day starting from the nearby town of Badia and leading up to the chapel and restaurant at Santa Croce (la Crusc), with gorgeous views all around. Hike through scenic meadows below a monumental mountain wall to Santa Croce, which can also be reached by chairlift (for a very easy day).  After lunch at the hut, head down wooded trails to the lovely small village of San Cassiano, framed by a gorgeous backdrop of mountains.

Return to Corvara for a 2nd night.

Today’s dramatic walk takes you high above the valley to the rifugio Lagazuoi, a popular hut perched at the summit of a mountain with incredible views and rich history. The direct trail is an uphill route through a quiet valley, with optional detours for a longer day. You can also choose an easy day today by taking a bus to the Falzarego pass, and walking to even taking a cable car to the hut.

Lagazuoi was the scene of fierce fighting in WWI, and many tunnels and artifacts remain to this day. Lagazuoi has comfortable rooms, fairly spacious dorms and hot showers, and takes care to serve abundant and delicious meals.

Lagazuoi is a very popular hut and rooms fill fast… even dorm space is often unavailable. Booking early will allow for the best chance at securing accommodations here, but if Lagazuoi is full, we can add an extra night in Cortina d’Ampezzo.

Finally, you’ll cap your trip with a hike to Cortina d’Ampezzo, and your choice of hikes. A strenuous option includes a long descent on a quiet, lightly-traveled route through the Fanes National Park. This surprising descent is filled with waterfalls, and promises yet another memorable day.

For a more relaxing day, take a shorter traverse beneath the Tofane di Rozes mountain. This brings us to a mountain inn where we arrange a taxi for a short transfer to Cortina, the lively town at the heart of the eastern Dolomites for a final, celebratory evening.

Today we say arrivederci, and depart for our post-tour destinations.

Departure: Venice.  A private taxi to Venice, a 2 hr trip, is included in your tour, either to the airport or downtown.  We normally book a 9 am departure, but this can be adjusted to suit your schedule. We can book additional taxis or custom travel to other destinations, at extra cost, if needed.