Hiking IN the DOLOMITES
SEPT-OCT 2029 (TBD)
PRIVATE TRIP
Dramatic, imposing, unforgettable. The Dolomites rival any mountain range on Earth for natural beauty. Join an International Mountain Leader to walk through the national parks of Fanes-Sennes and Dolomiti di Sesto, trekking among the jagged peaks and gazing over the extraordinary three spires of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo. We stay in the traditional village of Villabassa, where spectacular scenery meets a fiercely proud Tyrolean heritage. Our home for the week is Hotel Adler, with a wonderful spa and renowned fine-dining restaurant within its 400-year-old walls.
Highlights + Inclusions + Not Included + Map + Terrain + Mileage
Cost: TBD/double occupancy; land only
Non-Refundable Deposit: TBD
Single Supplement: TBD
Final Balance Due: June 2029
Comfort Level: Superior; “Accommodation rated as Superior Comfort includes hotels and lodges that combine good amenities, local character and great service. Expect an extra-special feature or two, such as a great location, well-designed communal areas, extensive grounds, a swimming pool, beautiful view or great restaurant.
Rooms are usually well kitted out with amenities and have air conditioning as standard where needed.
Most of the hotels we rate as Superior Comfort are equivalent to a European four-star property.”
CHALLENGE LEVEL 3/5: Moderate; “The inclusion of more hilly or even mountainous terrain makes this grade suitable for fit and frequent hikers. Underfoot conditions could be rocky or with some loose gravel; on wider trails, we may encounter some steep drops to one side. The maximum ascent could be up to 3,600ft (1,100m) in one day. We typically walk for four to seven hours per day.”
Due to the terrain on this trip, this trip is not recommended for vertigo sufferers.
We'll be walking approximately 6-8 hours per day.
Terrain: Low altitude; good paths with some steep ascents
Day 2: Distance: 8mi (13km); ascent: 1,663ft (507m); descent: 521ft (159m); Extension to the Malga for coffees 1mi (1.5km); ascent 246ft (75m)
Day 3: Distance: 9.3mi (15km); ascent: 2,438ft (600m); descent: 2,365ft (721m)
Day 4: Distance: 9.3mi (15km); ascent: 1,640ft (500m); descent: 3,281ft (1,000m)
Day 5: FREE DAY
Day 6: Distance: 6.83mi (11km); ascent: 1,817ft (554m); descent: 1,765ft (538m)
Day 7: Distance: 8.5mi (13.7km); ascent: 2,450ft (747m); descent: 2,857ft (871m)
The order of the treks and the routes themselves could change due to weather conditions. The mountains are prone to rapid changes in conditions and our expert guide makes every effort to maximize our safety and enjoyment.
What's Included
All accommodation: 7 Premium nights (Hotel Adler)
All breakfasts, five lunches, six dinners, one of which will be an authentic Tyrolean gourmet dinner
Immersive itinerary with all transport and listed activities
Expert tour leader to enhance your adventure, chosen for their experience and great customer feedback
Group arrival and departure transfers available
Highlights
Hike through Norway’s stunning fjords, the most immersive way to experience the natural wonders
Ride the Flåm railway, one of the most beautiful and steep train journeys in the world
Enjoy a ferry cruise through the dramatic sheer cliffs of Naerøyfjord (Narrow Fjord)
Visit the award-winning Norwegian Glacier Museum to discover the secrets of the landscape
Stay at Nes Gard, a family farm on the edge of Lustrafjord
Key Information
Accommodation: 8 Classic nights (2 hotel, 6 guesthouse) Can be upgraded by request.
Five days of walking
Travel by minibus, train and ferry
Minimum age: 16
Countries visited: Norway
What's Included
All breakfasts, seven packed lunches and six dinners
All accommodation
All land transport and listed activities
Tour leader throughout
Group arrival and departure transfers available
What's Not Included
Travel insurance (REQUIRED): Must have a minimum of $250,000 coverage for emergency medical treatment and medical transportation.
International flights
Single accommodation (available on request)
Visas or vaccinations
DAY 1
Transfer from Marco Polo airport Venice to our home for the week
If you'd like to extend your trip to spend a few days in Venice, I HIGHLY recommend that you do it on the front end if you can. I spent time in Venice on the back end of my first hiking trip here, and it was jarring. I was exhausted (in the best way) and my heart was overflowing with true awe. Spending 7 days living in the present moment, 5 of them in nature, with some of the most extraordinary people in existence, is pure gold--the kind of treasure you can't describe with words.
What I wish for you is that you explore the city before our mountain adventure, which will also help with acclimating to the new time zone and recovering from the long flight, so you can just sit in and truly absorb the magic of our week in the mountains on your flight home.
Once we're checked into our rooms at the Hotel Adler in Villabassa, our guide will give a short briefing to give an overview of the week ahead. The hotel is handily located on the village square, so any free time can be spent with a little stroll around, perhaps up past the church or down to the river. The church is built over a sacred pagan site, and they left a window to the ancient ruins in the middle of the floor--it's so cool!
Alternatively, we can soak up the cozy atmosphere with a relaxing drink in the bar or on the patio overlooking the square. We'll be in prosecco country, and the prosecco is ON TAP.
Meals included: Dinner
DAY 2
Lago di Braies
The ideal start to visiting this vast area is a walk straight from the hotel through the very pretty, flower-filled Braies Valley. We walk through small villages and farmland until we reach the magnificent Lago di Braies itself, one of the 297 glacial lakes in the area. It is certainly one of the most beautiful, surrounded by jagged peaks that are reflected in the extraordinary mirror-like surface of the water. We follow the route of SS hostages, the leaders of 19 countries who were freed after the second world war by the inhabitants of Villabassa.
Distance: 8mi (13km); ascent: 1,663ft (507m); descent: 521ft (159m)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 3
Kreutzberg Pass to Nemes Alm
Today we explore high pastures and ridges along the Austrian border. We walk steadily exploring the meadows under the ridge of Knieberg. We have great views towards the Rotwand and Monte Popera. Later in the afternoon we visit Alpe Nemes hut, a great spot for a drink and a bite of homemade apple strudel.
Distance: 10.25mi (16.5km); ascent: 2,438ft (743m); descent: 2,365ft (721m)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 4
Climb up towards Strudelkopf
We start at 6,562ft (2,000m) altitude, walking among beautiful wildflowers and ascend to the summit of Strudlekopf (7,579ft/2,310m). We stop at the Durrenstein hut in the early afternoon to try the local Kaiserschmarrn speciality. On a clear day, from the summit, we can enjoy views of the Tre Cime, Monte Piana and Monte Cristallo.
Distance: 9.3mi (15km); ascent: 1,640ft (500m); descent: 3,281ft (1,000m)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 5
Free Day
A free day to relax in the hotel wellness center or take a self-guided cycle around this wonderful area. Or you could journey to the attractive provincial capital of Lienz in Austria; or closer to the cosy town of Brunico.
Meals included: Breakfast
DAY 6
Tre Cime di Lavaredo
We enjoy a memorable walk under the Three Chimneys, or Tre Cime di Lavaredo (or Drei Zinnen in German). Set amid one of the classic mountain groups of this area, our walk around these impressive peaks is certainly a highlight of the week.
Today, we begin to see evidence of the White War--when the ill-prepared Italians, mostly from Sicily, were slaughtered by the elements, the terrain, their officers or the Austro-Hungarian soldiers during WWI.
Tonight the restaurant will delight our palates with an authentic Tyrolean gourmet dinner.
Distance: 6.83mi (11km); ascent: 1,817ft (554m); descent: 1,765ft (538m)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 7
Monte Piana
To complete the week, we take the amazing eastern approach route up Monte Piana. After 1,969ft (600m) ascent we find ourselves upon the flat-topped mountain surrounded by some of the most impressive scenery in the Dolomites. It is the site of an open-air museum dedicated to the first world war, where trenches, dugouts and shell craters can be seen among the alpine flowers.
Distance: 8.5mi (13.7km); ascent: 2,450ft (747m); descent: 2,857ft (871m)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 8
Transfer to Marco Polo Airport Venice
We'll enjoy our final breakfast in Hotel Adler and take the opportunity to reflect on what has been an inspirational escape in the Dolomites. Like Bart, my husband, in these photos--absorbing all of it.
After breakfast, it’s time to start our return journey home.
Meals included: Breakfast
Join us on this extraordinary experience!