Overview
Our friend Reinhold Messner, renowned mountaineer and native son of the Dolomites, calls these mountains “the 8th wonder of the world,” and we agree! This odyssey, our longest in the Dolomites, features hikes in three distinct regions of this majestic realm, each with its own characteristics: the Pale di San Martino in the southern Dolomites, the rose-tinted spires of the Rosengarten Massif, and the Tre Cime di Lavaredo in the north—all on one trip. Along the way, we fuel our hikes with sumptuous meals topped by robust wines. Two overnights are in hike-in lodges among the high peaks, and with up to three Trip Leaders, there’s a choice of hiking options most days.
Each hike we went on was spectacular and memorable. We kept thinking, at the end of the day, that the hikes couldn't get any better, but each day was a new and different hike that topped the day before!
— Joni H., Evergreen, CO
Itinerary at a Glance
Days 1-3
Venice / Pale di San Martino
From Venice, we head to San Martino di Castrozza for hikes across three mountain summits and a high-level circuit of the altipiano of the Pale di San Martino, with its crown of grand peaks and vivid alpine flora.
Days 4-5
Rosengarten / Latemar Massif / Alpe di Siusi
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 needles and massive blocks of rock. In Bolzano, we view Otzi, the mummy of a Copper Age hunter. High mountain trails bring us to a wonderfully situated hike-in lodge set among the peaks of the Alpe di Siusi, Europe’s largest high alpine plateau.
Days 6-8
Alpe di Siusi / Corvara / Sella Massif
A traverse across the Alpe di Siusi brings us down into the Val Gardena, where the ancient Ladin language is still spoken in a few remaining enclaves. From the delightful town of Corvara, we head into the stronghold of the Sella Massif for exhilarating hikes along its high trails.
Days 9-12
Rifugio Lagazuoi / Cortina d’Ampezzo
Passing evocative fortifications from World War I, we reach the Rifugio Lagazuoi for our overnight, then descend below the Tofane Massif into enchanting Cortina. Our hiking options include a circuit of the enormous limestone peaks of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo. Depart on Day 12.
Ultimate Dolomites
Highlights
Highlights
Details
10 hiking days, choice of moderate to steep trails, 3-7 hours a day, altitudes between 5,000-9,100 feet, van support (for luggage or if you wish to skip a day’s hike). This is a strenuous hiking trip, read “What the Trip is Like” for more details.
