Traversing from West to East
Ultimate Dolomites
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 there's a choice of hiking options most days.
Arrive: Venice, Italy
Depart: Venice, Italy
Highlights
- Discover the Dolomites in depth, with world-class hikes in three sections of this extraordinary mountain realm
- Choose moderate or challenging hiking options most days
- Enjoy two special overnights in lodges set high among the peaks
- In Bolzano, view the mummy of ötzi or visit the Messner Mountain Museum
Itinerary
From Venice, we head to the alpine resort of San Martino di Castrozza for marvelous hikes on the altopiano of the Pale di San Martino, with its crown of awe-inspiring peaks. We'll pass bunkers from the First World War as we hike up to the summit of the Grande Cavallazza.
Our hikes among the towering rock faces and eerie pinnacles reveal the spectacular landscapes of the Rosengarten Dolomites, named for their luminous rose-red hues at dusk and dawn. One trail brings us through the Latemar Labyrinth, an enchanting maze of needles and massive blocks of rock, and on Day 5, we hike up to our wonderfully situated hike-in lodge overlooking the Alpe di Siusi, Europe's largest high alpine plateau. In Bolzano, we visit the museum dedicated to ötzi, the mummy of a Copper Age hunter.
We hike down to the Val Gardena and across the northern edge of the Alpe di Siusi, then descend by gondola to Ortisei in the Val Gardena. From the delightful town of Corvara, we head into the moonscape vistas of the Sella Massif for exhilarating hikes along its high trails.
Passing evocative fortifications from World War I, we ride by cable car up to the Rifugio Lagazuoi for an overnight, then hike a high plateau from Col Alto to Val Parola for panoramas of the Sella, Marmolada, and Santa Croce massifs. Our other hiking options include a circuit of the famed trio of limestone peaks called the Tre Cime di Lavaredo. Depart on Day 12.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
This trip is rated Level 4 or 5, Moderate to Strenuous, according to our trip grading system and depending on the hiking options you choose. During our ten days of hiking, we have two hiking options to choose from on most days, ranging from moderate to challenging by Alps standards. Each day will include anywhere from three to seven hours of hiking, with options that give us time for visiting small villages and other interesting places en route.
Most hiking is between 5,000 and 9,000 feet, with the routes featuring a good bit of up-and-down (although some level walks are available). While the Dolomites are not exceptionally high, they are steep and rugged, and this trip, while not difficult, is aimed for those who have at least some experience of mountain hiking. All participants must be in good physical condition. No climbing or mountaineering experience is necessary. Of course, you are always free to skip a day's hike and travel to the next destination in the support vehicle. The support vehicle transports the group's luggage, so you only need to carry a daypack for items you need for the day (sweater, camera, water bottle).
We strongly urge you to "train up" for your trip. Your enjoyment of the trip will be very dependent on your level of fitness. The best training for hiking is hiking, especially over hills or rough terrain. Next best are running, swimming, bicycling or other sports exercise. Stair-climbing machines are excellent preparation for hiking uphill. Try to incorporate exercise into your daily schedule at least a couple of months before departure. Your feet should also be well prepared -- make sure your hiking boots are sturdy and thoroughly broken-in. Altitude is not a problem on these trips. The itineraries are designed to take you gently to higher altitude, giving you plenty of time to acclimatize. However, some people still find they get a few problems when they first reach high altitude. Slight headache and sleeplessness are the most common problems.
Temperatures are likely to reach the 60s and 70s during the day, with cooling breezes and occasional rain. At night the temperature will drop quite a bit, depending on the altitude. The months we run these trips are the optimal ones, but the weather can be fickle and it can range from blue skies to cloudy, wet, and cold conditions, making rain gear and warm garments necessary.
Our accommodations are in comfortable, small hotels with private bathrooms. Our hotels have been chosen as much as possible for their ambience and history and they are delightful for the local color and dining that they offer. These rustic and well located hotels are clean and comfortable, but rooms are not always of uniform size or amenities. Our Trip Leaders try to assign rooms in a fair way so that all participants experience an equal advantage throughout the trip as a whole. Single rooms are offered when possible, but those who pay the Single Supplement may have to share a room for the two nights at alpine lodges.
For two nights we stay in a fantastic alpine lodge with 4- or 6-person rooms with shared bath and showers. The bedding at the lodges is very clean, consisting of a down comforter, a bottom sheet, and a pillow. There is limited vehicle or cable car access to these alpine lodges, so you will not have to carry your overnight luggage.
On most days, breakfast will be around 7:30 am. You should bring your packed bag to the hotel lobby when you come down for breakfast on days when we will be changing hotels. We usually leave the hotel at around 8:00 or 8:30 am. The Trip Leader will describe each day's hiking options including trail conditions, level of challenge, elevation gain or loss, mileage, and duration, so that you can choose the one that fits your wishes best for that day. Lunch will usually be either in a small village, mountain lodge, or a picnic amidst the beauty of the surrounding mountains.
Most evening meals will be taken at our hotels and will be hearty, nourishing mountain fare, often with the cuisine the region is noted for. Please note that in Europe, the dinner hour is considerably later than what it is in the US. We do our best to secure early reservations for our groups, but most often the evening meal will be at 7:30 pm.
Client Testimonials
"Best trip ever! You should really promote this trip because there’s nothing else like it!"
Craig K.
Sewickley, PA
"This trip was extremely well designed and run. It topped my expectations."
Darrell K.
Danville, CA
"This was the ultimate trip for scenic hiking and the food was the icing on the cake!"
Don T.
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
"This trip was a 10! Great places to see, wonderful hikes, fantastically collegial group, guides who know the area intimately. I couldn't be more pleased."
Fae E.
Salt Lake City, UT
"GREAT! A true challenge with stunning visuals and delicious food!"
Harriet M.
Santa Barbara, CA
"A fabulous trip, with great hiking and scenery, wonderful leaders, fine food and wine, and a great group of fellow hikers."
Ian L.
Weston, CT
"The food was outstanding and the hiking fantastic."
Jeanna F.
Paradise Valley, AZ
"Superb trip! Everything about it was outstanding and every day was terrific."
John L.
Highland Park, IL
"This is an outstanding trip! The itinerary was terrific and the guides made it a wonderful experience."
John M.
Healdsburg, CA
"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
"A very well designed trip in a memorable mountain area."
Kitty L.
Chicago, IL
"This trip was fabulous! A great itinerary, and walking across the Alpe di Suisi is one of the best things I’ve done on nine trips to the Alps!"
Kristi H.
Orinda, CA
"I've been on many adventure trips with many different organizations. This trip stands out for its top-notch leaders who were well organized, fun to be with, and extremely helpful. Not only did we hike, but we ate and especially drank very well. The scenery is unique and the hikes varied in climate and topography. The size of the group was perfect and the ratio of leaders to participants was very welcomed."
Livia A.
Madison, WI
"A wonderful experience with expert guides who were lovely and personable."
Liz M.
Long Beach, NY
"The combination of a beautiful mountain range and high-end Italian cuisine make this an extraordinary hiking trip."
Logan & Edrie R.
Bloomfield Hills, MI
"This was such a rich and diverse experience, and an extraordinarily spectacular area for hiking, food, wine, and culture. Thank you!"
Lynne M.
Placerville, CA
"This was one of the best vacations my husband and I have ever taken and my first trip with WT. Outstanding itinerary, great leaders. We enjoyed it so much that we booked another trip with WT a week after we returned home!"
Marilyn H.
Barnstable, MA
"A truly phenomenal trip. Gorgeous hiking, amazing food, and fabulous guides."
Megan C.
San Carlos, CA
"We have done 5 WT trips and have never been disappointed with the lodging or food; this trip was no exception. We especially appreciated the rooms in the refugios we stayed in."
Nancy K.
Box Elder, SD
"Fabulous trip! High mountain adventure with all the comforts one could want."
Patricia F.
Sandy Hook, CT
"A wonderful, rugged hiking experience in a gorgeous area!"
Robin F.
Bellingham, WA
"This was my 9th WT trip and it was excellent."
S. Edwards
Henderson, NV
"The trip was spectacular in every way. The hiking was as good as we expected; the food and the lodging were better!"
Samuel H.
San Francisco, CA
"It was a very well run and planned trip, with several hiking options each day. The guides were the best!"
Steve H.
Verona, WI
"The trip exceeded our expectations. We were particularly appreciative of the various hiking options offered each day, since we had a variety of skill levels in our group. And some of those options were pretty exciting! The Dolomites are even more incredible than I thought they would be. Amazing hikes, beautiful scenery, luxurious hotels, fantastic views, great food, and fun people. What more can you ask for?"
Sue C.
Healdsburg, CA
"We had a great trip and I can't wait until the next time we travel with Wilderness Travel! Thanks for a great experience."
Sue M.
San Carlos, CA
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Book your trip today
Our Area Specialists know every detail about our tours. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!
Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult—see descriptions below for explanations of each number. A plus (+) sign means the trip is a bit more strenuous than other trips of that level. The detailed explanation of each trip—below the bar with the number rating—is perhaps more important, specifying activities, altitudes, hiking, and travel conditions. The Detailed Itinerary, available by download or mail, gives further information. Our Area Managers can also answer questions and guide you to the trip that best suits your interests.
Level 1 – Easiest
Non-camping journeys, optional walks, little elevation gain or loss.
Level 2 – Easy to Moderate
Hotel nights and/or safari-style camping, hikes of two to four hours on some days. Other physical activities are sometimes included, such as optional sea kayaking.
Level 3 – Moderate
Half- to full-day hikes (3-6 hours) over rolling countryside on most days, occasional steep trails. Many of our hotel-based walking tours are in this category, as are our snorkeling adventures.
- Tuscany & the Cinque Terre
- Argentina: Hikes and Estancias of Patagonia
- Palau Snorkeling & Sea Kayaking
- Some trips with minimal hiking but rugged travel conditions or long drives, such as Tribal Ghana, Togo & Benin, are Trip Level 3.
Level 4 – Moderate to Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-6 hours), mountainous terrain, significant elevation gains and losses (hiking up or down as much as 3,000 feet) on many days. Altitudes no greater than about 10,000 feet.
Level 5 – Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Trips with hiking at average altitudes of 10,000 to 12,000 feet are in this category.
Level 6 – Very Strenuous
Full-day hikes (5-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Most hikes take place at altitudes above 10,000 feet, with some days ascending as high as 18,000 feet.