Spires of the Rosengarten Dolomites, Italy

We enjoy spectacular day hikes each day in the dramatic Dolomites. Overnights are in deluxe inns in gorgeous mountain settings where we can savor the cuisines of both Italy and the South Tyrol.

Photo by Dan Heller

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Ultimate Dolomites

Spectacular Peaks and an Italian and Southern Tyrolean Heritage

The towering rock spires of the Dolomites are among the most dramatic landscapes in the world, and a sheer paradise for hikers. At the suggestion of our friend and legendary mountaineer Reinhold Messner, we’ve created the ultimate experience of this epic realm, following a crescent route from its less touristed southern reaches to the famed Cortina Dolomites, where the striking pillars of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo soar toward the sky. With a choice of daily hikes, we explore the pinnacles of the Pale di San Martino, hike amid the rose-tinted spires of the Rosengarten Massif, and discover the stark vertical walls of the enormous Sella Massif. And in Bolzano, we have the option to visit Reinhold’s own Mountain Museum and to see the famed mummy of Otzi, the Copper Age hunter found in a glacier in the nearby peaks.

Highlights

  • Discover an enchanting blend of Italian and Tyrolean mountain cultures and cuisines
  • Enjoy a range of great hiking options
  • Option to view Otzi, the Iceman, and the incredible Messner Mountain Museum

Details

  • 12-day trip begins and ends in Venice
  • 9 nights in 4- and 5-star mountain hotels, 2 nights in comfortable alpine lodges with semi-private rooms, shared baths, and hot showers
  • All meals except 1 dinner
  • 10 hiking days on choice of moderate to steep trails, 3-7 hours a day, altitudes between 5,000-9,100 feet, van support, team of up to 3 Trip Leaders
  • All transport during the trip (cable cars, etc.) included

Tour Costs

$5595 (11-15 members)
$6095 (6-10 members)

Single supplement: $225

Prices are for 2010 dates

Departures & Leaders

Jul 6-17, 2010  Sean Morrissey
   Gianluca Canalicchio, Mike Browder
Aug 16-27, 2010  Sean Morrissey
   JoAnn Lantz, Leila Thompson
Sep 6-17, 2010  JoAnn Lantz
   James Fuss, Stefano Baldi

*There may be up to 3 leaders on any departure. Please call for details.

Suggested Reading

Reading list, click here.

Itinerary at a Glance
Ultimate Dolomites route-map

Days 1-3
Venice / San Martino di Castrozza

From Venice we head to San Martino di Castrozza, dominated by the sheer flanks of the Pale di San Martino, a 12-mile-long high rock plateau of soaring towers referred to as a “bevy of formidable giants” by early mountaineer/explorer Douglas Freshfield. Our hikes take us among the rockscapes of this stony wilderness and through beautiful valleys brightened by a vivid alpine flora.

Day 4
Rosengarten / Latemar Massif

We hike among the towering rock faces and eerie pinnacles of the Rosengarten Dolomites, a spectacular collection of peaks named for their luminous rose-red hues at dusk and dawn. One of our hikes brings us through the Latemar Labyrinth, an enchanting maze of pinnacles, needles, and massive blocks of rock. A strenuous option is a traverse of Latemar’s crescent-shaped crest, the rim of an ancient volcano. In nearby Bolzano, we can view Otzi, the Iceman, a 5,000-year-old mummy discovered encased in ice in 1991, and Messner’s own Mountain Museum, housed in a medieval castle.

Days 5-8
Alpengasthof Dialer / Corvara / Sella Massif

A hike from the pastoral realms of the Rosengarten Valley brings us to the Alpengasthof Dialer, a marvelous mountain lodge set right among the spires and high peaks. From Corvara, a South Tyrolean gem, we venture into the stronghold of the Sella Massif for hikes along its exhilarating high trails or among fragrant mountain meadows dotted with wildflowers.

Days 9-12
Rifugio Lagazuoi / Cortina d’Ampezzo

Crossing alpine pastures and passing the remains of World War I fortifications, we reach the Rifugio Lagazuoi, with its 360-degree panoramic views. Hiking right from the lodge, we descend around the peaks of the Tofane Massif into stylish Cortina. From here we have options for wonderful hikes of all levels, including one to a magical blue-green lake in the rocky, rugged heart of the Sorapiss Massif. Depart from Venice on Day 12.

This is the Itinerary-at-a-Glance. For the complete trip description, Download Full Trip Brochure