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Self-Guided Classic Dolomites Traverse

The otherworldly beauty of the Dolomites is on full display on this hut-to-hut hike from the Gardena Valley to San Cassiano

Self-Guided Classic Dolomites Traverse

The otherworldly beauty of the Dolomites is on full display on this hut-to-hut hike from the Gardena Valley to San Cassiano

    Support
  • Self-Guided,
    Style
  • Inn-To-Inn,
    Activity Level
  • Moderate to Challenging,

Aah, the Dolomites. Europe’s secret gem, where tidy Tyrolean hospitality meets hectic Italian charm.

It’s perfect, really. You’ll find flower-filled meadows tucked against breathtaking pink and yellow cliffs. Charming, sunny villages with trails radiating in every direction. Sturdy, rugged hikes into the rocky heights where you stumble upon a serendipitous hut serving the best coffee you’ve ever had. A great hike to a welcoming inn, followed by a 5 course feast with local wine. Unwind, sleep, repeat.

The Dolomites are notable for having a crazy number of choices. There are so many great routes, with trails everywhere, and no real central massif. We’ve developed one of the best routes in the Dolomites, hiking from verdant Val Gardena to the cultural richness of Alta Badia to the rocky giants around Lagazuoi. We have a great mix of village hotels and scenic huts. Beautiful culture, striking mountains, off-the-beaten-path surprises, memorable cuisine. You could get used to this.

This tour is not available in late July or in August when 1-2 night stays at hotels are not possible.  Our self-guided Great Hikes of the Dolomites tour is a good option for mid-summer.

See our guided version

    Length
  • 11 days, 10 nights
    Departures
  • Jun 5 – Jul 15, 2025
  • Sep 1 – Oct 10, 2025
    Cost
  • $3690 Per Person
  • $1050 Single Room

Itinerary At a Glance

Day 1-2

Ortisei

You’ll start in Ortisei, a sunny village with a pedestrian-only core in the fantastic Val Gardena. Miles of hiking trails radiate in every direction. After a scenic day hike above town, you’ll then head to the Alpe di Siusi, the largest alpine meadow in the Alps.

Days 3-4

Schlernhaus to Plattkofel

You’ll do a 3 day hike across the Alpe di Siusi, first up to the historic mountaintop Schlernhaus hut. After a peaceful night among the stars, you’ll spend an unforgettable day traversing to Plattkofel, a beautiful, newly renovated lodge at the base of an impressive mountain.

Days 5-6

Selva

Rolling trails loop you around to Selva, the highest village in Gardena valley. Another great day hike to a high alpine hut caps your time in the Gardena valley, with gorgeous views all around.

Days 7-11

Alta Badia

Now you move east to Alta Badia, a rugged region with a strong Ladin culture and seemingly endless views. Stay in the villages of Corvara and San Cassiano. Explore WW1 tunnels.  A private taxi takes you to Venice after breakfast.

Included

Your tour includes 8 nights in 3 star village hotels and 2 nights in huts in small dorms. We include all breakfasts and 6 dinners. Luggage transfers between villages are included, as well as private taxis from Bolzano to Ortisei and San Cassiano to Venice. You will also receive topo maps, detailed route descriptions, gps routes and sightseeing suggestions. We are always available by phone if you have questions during your tour.

Full Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive Ortisei

Arrive in Italy and transfer to the Dolomites. A private taxi transfer from Bolzano is included in your tour. Our driver will meet you on arrival and take you right to your hotel in Ortisei, a pleasant and very walkable town in the Gardena valley. If you would like a bit of luxury, 4-star upgrades are available in Ortisei.

If you have extra time, we can arrange additional nights in Bolzano to give you time to explore this small, vibrant city before heading to the mountains. Bolzano is a pleasant city with large squares, outdoor markets, and a captivating natural history museum (home of the famous Ötzi iceman).  Dinner will be on your own in Ortisei, and there are many good restaurants to choose from.

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.

3-star Villa Park, Cosmea or similar

Day 2

Ortisei, hike to Brogles hut

Ortisei is surrounded by pleasant hiking trails and is blessed with beautiful views from every corner. Take a dayhike through high scenic meadows to the Brogles hut, where the view lends a sneak peak to your route for the next few days gazing upon the jagged needles of the Puez-Odle peaks and the long back of the Schlern massif.

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. If you’d prefer to relax in town, Ortisei has a nice, pedestrian-only town center and a great pool and spa.  Dinner is again on your own.

HIKE: 5-6 hours, 8 miles; Elevation: 1180 ft up, 2360 ft down

3-star Villa Park, Cosmea or similar
  • Breakfast

Day 3

hike across Alpe di Siusi to Schlernhaus hut

You’ll have time for a slow start this morning before starting your day with a gondola ride high above town to 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, a short but steep ascent leads even higher, to the historic Schlernhaus hut, perched on top of the mountain. Built in 1885, this was one of the first mountain inns in the Dolomites. Although it’s been expanded and renovated many times since, Schlernhaus still exudes a rustic charm. The spacious lodge-like dining room gives you a cozy place to relax and enjoy the accomplishment of arriving at such a beautiful place in the Alps.

HIKE: 5-7 hours, 9 miles; Elevation: 2670 ft up, 1220 ft down

Schlernhaus Hut
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

Day 4

traverse to Plattkofel hut

Leaving Schlernhaus, you’ll make a relatively easy traverse of the high meadows. Views of the Catinaccio group lead you forward, and there are beautiful mountains in every direction. After a couple hours, you’ll pass by the handsome Tierser hut, a great place to stop for lunch.

From Tierser, a steep but brief decent to Pas de Duron followed by a couple more hours of moderate traverse brings you to Plattkofel Hut. Newly renovated, with hot showers (and wifi and laundry service), Plattkofel is more a comfortable mountain inn than a hut – you’re going to love it. It’s a popular daytime stop with hikers, and takes on a quiet ambiance in the evening that allows you to relax and enjoy a beautiful evening high in the mountains.

HIKE: 5-7 hours, 8 miles; Elevation: 1640 ft up, 2140 ft down

Plattkofel hut
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

Day 5

hike around Sassulungo to Selva

Today you’ll traverse the dramatic Sassolungo and Sassopiatto 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 and the Toni Demetz hut, where a fun gondola can bring you down to the Sella pass. From here, a bus takes you to Selva.

Alternately, continue your circuit lower down through green meadows with constant views to the north and west over the Alpe di Suisi. The Ciampinoi lift will bring you directly to Selva, the highest village in the Gardena valley, a quiet base with a number of fine hotels and restaurants.  This is also a great place to ask about upgrades to a 4-star hotel.

HIKE: 5-7 hours, 7 miles; Elevation: 2030 ft up, 2230 ft down

3-star Flora, Krone or similar
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

Day 6

Selva, a beautiful loop hike to Seceda in Puez-Odle park

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.

HIKE: 6-8 hours, 9 miles; Elevation: 3600 ft up, 3600 ft down

3-star Flora, Krone or similar
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

Day 7

hike to the Alta Badia region and Corvara

From Selva, a dramatic hike through the U-shaped Vallunga valley leads you to a high, rocky landscape and the Puez hut, over the Gardena pass, past the massive Sella mountain, and down to the quiet 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, another pleasant village.

HIKE: 7-9 hours, 10 miles; Elevation: 3160 ft up, 3360 ft down

3-star Villa Eden, la Tambra or similar
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

Day 8

Corvara, hike the Sella massif

Today you’ll hike up to Kostner hut, set on a high rock balcony on the slopes of the Sella.  An optional strenuous ascent to the Piz Boé peak is great for high mountain views.

The Kostner hut sits high in the Sella group, and makes a great destination for a hike from Corvara. You can walk the whole way, but there are cable cars and buses to shorten the walk that make this an easier excursion.  We like to hike up and take the cable car down.

The optional higher trail to the Piz Boé peak is steep and rocky, and is only for hikers comfortable with heights, but rewards you with exciting views from the highest point of the Sella.  Return by cable car or bus for a 2nd night in Corvara.

HIKE: 4-6 hours, 5 miles; 3180 ft up, 590 ft down (Kostner) -or- 7-9 hrs, 10 miles, 5400 ft up and down (Piz Boé)

3-star Villa Eden, la Tambra or similar
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

Day 9

hike across the Pralongia meadows to San Cassiano

This is a fairly mellow day over the meadows of Pralongia, the ridge that separates Corvara and San Cassiano, with mellow trails, great views, and lots of restaurants to stop at along the way.  There are many options for longer or shorter days.

If you’d like a harder hike, you can make the steep out-and-back excursion to the peak of Setsas from Pralongia, which should add about 3 hours to the hike, and leads to unforgettable panoramic views from the peak.

HIKE: 5-6 hours, 8 miles; Elevation: 2240 ft up, 2170 ft down

3-star Steinrosl or similar
  • Breakfast

Day 10

hike past WW1 tunnels to Lagazuoi hut

Finally, you’ll finish your Dolomites Traverse with a dramatic hike 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.

Return to San Cassiano by bus for a final, celebratory evening.  Dinner is on your own here.

HIKE: 6-8 hours, 10.5 miles; Elevation: 4110 ft up, 1590 ft down

3-star Steinrosl or similar
  • Breakfast

Day 11

depart

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

Departure: Venice.  A private taxi to Venice, a 3 hour 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.

  • Breakfast

Tour Options

Self-guided Classic Dolomites Traverse

Inn-To-Inn

  • Great options for both harder and easier days
  • A moderate inn-to-inn with 6 stops in 10 nights
  • luggage 8 of the 10 nights
  • A beautiful mix of Tyrolean, Italian and local Ladin cultures
  • Fabulous hotels and memorable cuisine – high on comfort
  • Fascinating WWI history
  • $3690Per Person
  • $1050Single Room

Self-guided Best of the Dolomites

Inn-To-Inn

  • Great inn-to-inn choice for shorter hikes
  • An easy to moderate inn-to-inn with 4 stops in 6 nights
  • A beautiful mix of Tyrolean, Italian and local Ladin cultures
  • Historic mountaintop hut at Schlernhaus
  • Friendly hotels and memorable cuisine – high on comfort
  • Great choice for early and late season, June and September
  • $2690Per Person
  • $850Single Room

Self-guided Deluxe Dolomites Traverse

Inn-To-Inn

  • Great options for easier hikes
  • A moderate inn-to-inn with 5 stops in 10 nights
  • 4 & 5-star hotels, private airport transfers, luggage each night
  • A beautiful mix of Tyrolean, Italian and local Ladin cultures
  • Our most luxurious inn-to-inn hiking tour
  • Easily customizable to include extra nights
  • $5690Per Person
  • $1650Single Room

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