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, Innsbruck or Munich 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.

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.

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.

The 4-star superior Hotel Excelsior is one of our favorites, a luxurious hiker-friendly retreat with 2 spas, a beautiful infinity pool, great meals, and incredibly friendly service.  You won’t want to leave!

Short but steep, San Vigilio’s local mountain, Piz da Peres, is an adventuous 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.

If you prefer to take it easy today, the Excelsior has a couple of spa and includes a bountiful lunch buffet in your stay.  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. A private taxi to Venice is included in your tour, or we can book custom travel to other destinations.