Overview
Northern Italy’s Dolomites are universally heralded as one of the most beautiful and distinctive mountain ranges in the world, with colossal, pale-hued limestone spires of jagged rock sheering out of gloriously green valleys. On our new WT Expedition with our beloved Trip Leader JoAnn Lantz, we bring you deep into this unrivalled alpine realm—but without the challenging hikes of our other Dolomite adventures! Our daily hikes will be leisurely (and phenomenally scenic), at a slower pace on the trail, and on moderate terrain. As a complement to the hikes, we’ve built in opportunities to savor the fine cuisine that has made the Dolomites a culinary destination (and two lunches in Michelin-starred restaurants), and time to kick back with optional spa visits at our hotels. Highlights include a short “meditation” hike in a quiet forest with a local host, a panoramic stroll across the breathtaking Alpe di Siusi, the highest alpine plateau in Europe, and an unforgettable ramble through the famed Latemar Labyrinth, a lunar landscape of pinnacles and needles. Lovely hotels with spa services keep us comfy at night. If you’re looking for fun hikes and walks, cultural and culinary exploration, and a little pampering, this trip is for you!
Itinerary at a Glance
Days 1-2
Verona / Brenta Dolomites / Madonna di Campiglia
From Verona, we head up into the lush valleys and jagged spires of the Brenta Dolomites. A gondola ride carries us above treeline for a fantastic hike on a balcony trail, and our spa hotel is a village in a stupendous valley between the glaciers of Admello and Presanella.
Days 3-5
South Tyrol / Alpe di Siusi / Lago di Fié
Driving through the apple orchards of Val di Non, we enter the South Tyrol for a beautiful hike to Lago Smeraldo (“emerald lake”). In the unique landscape of the Alpe di Siusi, Europe’s largest and highest mountain plateau, we’ll savor a breathtaking loop hike. After a short “meditation hike” with a local host, we’ll hike to beautiful Lago di Fié, at the foot of the craggy Sciliar Massif, for a lakeside lunch. Our hotel offers a spa and Finnish sauna.
Days 6-7
Val d’Ega / Latemar Labyrinth / Sella and Marmolada Massifs
In the Dolomites’ Val d’Ega, we follow a meandering trail across the fantastic Latemar Labyrinth, where the picture-book Latemar Massif, one of the giants of the Dolomites, towers above us in an enchanting maze of pinnacles and needles. Hiking on the Pralongia Plateau, panoramas include the marvelous Sella Massif, the Santa Croce mountains, and, of course, the “Queen of the Dolomites,” the Marmolada. We can enjoy our hotel’s spa and sauna facilities to soothe weary muscles.
Days 8-10
Val Gardena / Puez Odle National Park / Bolzano
We follow a beautiful trail down the Sasso della Croce massif, followed by lunch in a Michelin-starred restaurant and a visit to a museum of the local Ladin culture. In the Val Gardena, our final hike brings us to Puez-Odle National Park’s famed saw-toothed spires: Sella, Sasso Lungo, and Sasso Piatto in the Sella group. Ending our adventure in Bolzano, we visit the fascinating museum built to showcase Otzi, the Iceman, the Copper Age hunter whose mummy was found at 10,000 feet in the Otztal Alps. Depart Day 10 via Verona.
Treasures of the Dolomites
Highlights
Highlights
Details
Easy to moderate walks and hikes, 3-4 hours a day, altitudes between 5,000 and 7,000 feet, van support (for luggage or if you wish to skip a day’s hike)
