Arrive in Italy and meet your guide in Ortisei, with time to wander the village and enjoy the crisp air and dramatic views from town. Ortisei has a nice, pedestrian-only town center and a laid-back atmosphere. Your private taxi transfer from Venice, Verona, or Innsbruck is included in your tour.  Stay in a beautiful 4-star hotel with great food and a welcoming pool and spa.

If you have time, you might consider coming early to stop in Bolzano, your gateway to the Dolomites. Bolzano is a pleasant city with large squares, outdoor markets, and a captivating natural history museum (home of the famous Ötzi iceman). We can arrange additional nights in Bolzano to give you time to explore this small, vibrant city before heading to the mountains.

Arrival: Venice. Our deluxe Dolomites tour includes 1 private taxi per group from Venice to Ortisei, a 3½ hr drive.  We can make arrangements for other pickup locations, such as Bolzano, Innsbruck or Münich, or for additional taxis at extra cost, if these work better for you.

One of the charms of Ortisei are the many different trail options surround the village. On your first full hiking day, you might take a dayhike through high scenic meadows to the Brogles hut, where you can look back on almost your entire route so far and gaze upon the jagged needles of the Puez-Odle peaks.

Or for a more adventurous outing, meet up with a local guide for a via ferrata climb (guide and gear not included) on one of the local routes. Via ferrata climbs are famous throughout the Dolomites, and there are many options to choose among, from easy beginner hikes to steep, challenging routes. The local guide office can help you decide on an appropriate route, rent gear, and provide a guide.

You’ll start with an easy morning with plenty of time to relax before your hike. Start with a gondola from town up the vast meadows of the Alpe di Siusi, the largest mountain meadow in the Alps. The undulating trail across the meadows passes by a number of small mountain inns. We’ll send you to a favorite lunch spot where you can enjoy some of the best homemade local flavors in the Dolomites, including our favorite Kaiserschmarrn in South Tyrol.

After lunch, continue across the Siusi to the 5-star Hotel Alpina Dolomites. The Alpina Dolomites is the epitome of mountain luxury, with beautiful rooms and a not-to-be-missed pool and spa. The Alpe di Siusi is a popular destination with hikers during the day, and takes on a quiet ambiance in the evening that allows you to relax and enjoy a beautiful evening high in the mountains.

There are many things you might do with an extra day on the Alpe di Siusi. If you’d like an adventurous hike today, we love this loop hike up to Schlernhaus and Tierser hut.

Start with mellow trails across the giant rolling meadows with beautiful mountain views all around. Then a sturdy climb leads up to the historic Schlernhaus hut, perched high on the Schlern mountain. From here, traverse the high plateau toward the Rosengarten mountain group to the Tierser hut, tucked behind a steep cliff and a great lunch stop.

From Tierser, a short ascent brings you over the Rosszahne pass and back across the moors and meadows of the Alpe di Siusi. Get back to your hotel in time for an afternoon visit to the pool and spa, or to relax on your balcony taking in views of the distant mountains you just traversed.

Today you’ll traverse the dramatic Sassolungo Mountain Group. One option includes a steep and somewhat rugged ascent leading directly into the heart of the mountains, surrounded on all sides by jagged peaks. You might hike all the way to a high pass, to the Toni Demetz hut, where a fun gondola brings you down to the Sella pass where a bus takes you to Selva.

Alternately, hike along a lower circuit through green meadows with constant views of the mountains, finishing at the Ciampinoi lift, which will bring you directly to Selva. Selva is the highest village in the Gardena valley and has a number of fine hotels and restaurants. We like the traditional elegance of the 4-star Hotel Tyrol.

A second day in Selva gives you a chance to further explore this beautiful region. A great hike from town leads directly up to the Seceda meadows, part of the Puez-Odle Nature park. Seceda has a number of wonderful trails. A favorite leads to the higher reaches of the meadows to Piera Longia, a picturesque mountain restaurant at the base of the peaks.

Your descent from Seceda can be eased by a lift down to the valley floor, or you can take an energetic detour to the Stevia hut, for their fantastic apple strudel and otherworldly views of the Sella mountain. Return to Selva for a 2nd night.

Leaving Selva, a dramatic hike through the U-shaped Vallunga valley leads you to a high, rocky landscape and the Puez hut, and then past the the Gardena pass to the Alta Badia valley.

The Gardena pass is also accessible from Selva by bus or cable car, and you can have an easier day today walking the many pretty trails near the pass. From here, a scenic descent or a short bus transfer brings you to Corvara. Stay luxurious 4-star hotel in this pleasant village.

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. This was the scene of fierce fighting in WWI, and many tunnels and artifacts remain to this day.

A short bus transfers brings you to the trail head, where you head up and then up into the mountains. After a strenuous hike and time to look around at the Lagazuoi hut on the peak, you can either descend by trail or cable car to the Falzarego pass.

Return to Corvara for another luxurious night.

Another great hike high in the mountains.  We’ll hike along the famous alta via 1 route, one of the epic long distance trails of the Dolomites.  This is one of the best stretches, hiking through the Locia pass to a high meadow surrounded by incredible peaks.  Stop at the Fanes hut for lunch and descend to Pederu, where a quick transfer brings us to San Vigilio.

We’ll stay in a beautiful 4-star hotel in San Vigilio, a luxurious hiker-friendly retreat with invigorating spas, a beautiful pool, great meals, and friendly service.  You won’t want to leave!

Short but steep, San Vigilio’s local mountain, Piz da Peres, is an adventurous peak ascent for views of the valley and surrounding area. Start with a bus or a taxi to the Furcia pass for this rugged loop trail.

A more moderate option starts with a transfer back to Pederu, where you finished hiking yesterday.  From here, hike Alta Via 1 trails up to the lovely Fodara Vedla and Fanes huts, a steep but straightforward climb that is rewarded with wonderful views from the high Fanes plateau.  Return on a loop trail to Pederu and back to your hotel.

If you prefer to take it easy today, the your hotel has a beautiful spa and pool.  They have mountain bikes free for your use if you want to mix things up.  The wooded trail from San Vigilio to Pederu is nice by foot or by bike.  Return to your hotel for one final night.

Today you say arrivederci, and depart for your post-tour destinations.

Departure: Venice.  A private taxi to Venice, a 3½ 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.