Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009, the Dolomites form a spectacular majestic mountain range in North Eastern Italy. They fare part of the Southern Limestone Alps and extend from the River Adige in the west to the Piave Valley in the east. The northern and southern borders are defined by the Puster Valley and the Sugana Valley. ‘The Dolomiti’ are nearly equally shared between the provinces of Belluno, South Tyrol and Trentino.
This wonderful itinerary commences in amongst the incredible spires of the Rosengarten Massif where we will hike balcony trails and have time to better understand Otzi, the Copper Age Iceman found at the base of a glacier at 10,000ft, who perished in the Alps some 5,300 years ago. Utilising rugged Alpine paths we will hike in magnificent surroundings calling into one of the many high mountain Rifugios for coffee stops and tasty lunches. Leaving the Rosengarten behind we journey across the Alpe di Siusi Plateau and descend into Ortisei via cable car; a stylish mountain town. Our journey continues on to St Peter village, the birth place of Reinhold Messner. A visionary and pioneering mountaineer, Messner was the first person to climb all 14 x 8000m peaks without oxygen. We visit one of the Messner mountain museums high up on the Kronplatz plateau in a truly spectacular setting. Journeying on to the Badia valley with magnificent vistas of the eastern Fanes and Sella mountains. Our second penultimate hike is set in a breathtaking location, and steeped in WWI history with a network of tunnels constructed inside the mountain that were used as part of the Italian stronghold against the Austrians. For our final stage of this Dolomiti adventure we descend in the shadow of the Tofane massif with many of the peaks over 10 500ft in height. Alpine meadows our at their best in early summer and we lavish in the flower fields with obligatory photos to save the moment before descending into Cortina d’Ampezzo and enjoying our 5* luxury hotel for two nights before a farewell dinner in this beautiful Italian town.
September 8th – 16th, 2025 Wendy Meaden PRIVATE group
(Private departures also available)
Duration: 9 days
Grade: Challenging
Airport: Venice (Italy) or Innsbruck (Austria)
Cost: from €6250 pp
All accommodation incl 5 star hotels, breakfast, lunch & most dinners
Professional experienced licensed guides
Authentic, flavourful local Tyrolean cuisine
Traditional mountain Rifugios
Private vehicle support during the trip
Spa Entrance
Transfers
Days 1 - 3
We meet at Venice Airport (or Innsbruck / Brenner Pass) before we journey to the picturesque hamlet of Carezza with time to enjoy the fabulous spa, wellness are and relaxing gardens.
After breakfast we start the day with a chairlift to Rifugio Fronza where our trail traverses underneath the face of Rosengarten massif to reach Rifugio Roda di Vael where we can enjoy a cappuccino with far reaching views of the Latemar massif in the distance. We then hike along the Bella Vista Restaurante at Ciampedie to enjoy a tasty lunch, then descend by cable car into Vigi di Fassa. There is time here in the afternoon to relax and enjoy the hotel’s beautiful spa facilities. The following day directly from our village we take the Rodlea lift to Col du Rodlea at 2037m. Following a beautiful panoramic path with magnificent views of the Fassa valley and the Sassolunga ‘long stone’ Sasso Piatto mountains.
Enjoying a visit to the Plattkofel Hutte and an opportunity to taste homemade strudel and enjoy a coffee or tea at 2300m, before descending to the Zallinger mountain lodge a delicious lunch, then our final destination of Ortisei.
Days 4 - 5
Utilising the Resciesa lift we pick up a trail known as the Adolf Munkel, widely seen as one of the most beautiful hikes in the Dolomites with unparalleled views of the Odle / Geiser mountains. This stunning trail takes us to Rifugio Brogles at 20245m with views over to the north faces and cliffs of Seceda. We enjoy some classic mountain Tyrolean food at the Glatschalm Rifugio before journeying a further 1.5km to Zanzeralm where we finish.
A short 10min drive and we arrive at St Magdalena, the valley where Reinhold Messner was born. Day 5 – an opportunity to relax of ascend on mountain transport to the beautiful Santa Croce, a small white washed church dating back to the 15th century and beautifully situated at the base of the Sasso della Croce Mountains.
Days 6 - 7
Utilising a cable car we ascend 1500ft to arrive at the alpine plateau above Corvara. Enjoying uninterrupted views of the Sella massif and surrounding peaks hike to Rifugio Pralonga with its stunning panorama’s and excellent local cuisine. We can also see the ‘Queen of the Dolomites’ the Marmolada 10,968ft which until the end of WWI sat on the Austrian-Hungarian and Italian border. We journey along the rugged Settsaas ridge famed for its geology and wartime remains. The local people are also trilingual speaking Ladin, a Latin derivative in addition to German and Italian. We descend to Passo di Valparola and on to Passo Falzerego with sweeping views of the Tofane massif: Tofane di Roses, Tofane di Mezzo and Tofane di Dentro, all over 10, 500ft in height on the famous Alt Via1 trail, a long distance trail across the Dolomites. Tonight we stay at our fabulous spa at our 5 star luxury hotel in the heart of Cortina d’ampezzo.
Days 8 - 9
- Cima Piccola / Kleine Zinne (“little peak”)
- Cima Grande / Große Zinne (“big peak”)
- Cima Ovest / Westliche Zinne (“western peak”)
Returning to our hotel we enjoy a farewell dinner.
Need To Know
Accommodation
5 x nights in 4* hotels – Campitelli di Fassa, Ortisei & Covara
1 x night in a 3* family hotel
2 x nights in 5* hotels – Cortina d’Ampezzo
What’s included
All accommodation
All breakfasts, lunches and dinners ( except 2)
Traditional Tyrolean Cuisine *Specific dietary requirements catered for on request.
We provide private vehicle support throughout the trip including transfers from Venice.
2/3 Licensed Guides
Entrance to spa facilities in each hotel.
Guides
We adopt an excellent guiding ratio meaning we can cater for differing levels.