Dolomites

Bolzano to Cortina

11 days & 10 nights
June 19—29, 2025

Private Group

Itinerary

Click each day for details

Kastelruth

Hotel Lamm Rooftop

  • We’ll meet mid-afternoon in Bolzano to begin our trip. With a few hours in Bolzano (aka Bozen), don’t miss the South Tyrol Archaeological Museum, home of the Ötzi the Iceman, and a stroll though Bolzano’s charming arcaded streets. This is also a great place to pick up last-minute hiking gear (check out Sportier).

    Then we’ll drive up toward the Alpe di Siusi with its imposing Schlern Spire, welcoming us to the Dolomites. We’ll settle in the village of Kastelruth (aka Castelrotto), maybe take a sunset stroll around town, and enjoy a welcome dinner together.

Everyone at Hotel Lamm in Kastelruth

Seceda

Hut Grub

  • Guten morgen! Breakfasts here tend to be hearty and this one is particularly good. Don’t sleep on the dairy products—you’ll see why when we hike. To get warmed up we’ll day-trip to the spectacular Seceda Ridgeline, using our lift passes to ride two lifts up above 8,000’. Despite Seceda looking like the end of the Earth, the trails here are moderate with many options for lunch at a hut. We’ll keep it simple and be back at the hotel for an afternoon dip in the hotel’s rooftop pool. Dinner tonight at a local restaurant.

Everyone at Hotel Lamm in Kastelruth

Alpe di Siusi

Rifugio Alpe di Tires

  • With backpacks ready for three days and two nights, the trekkers will have a big breakfast, stash their suitcases, check-out, and be ready to go.

    Day hikers should start with us as we’ll take a nearby gondola up into Alpe di Siusi, a high alpine valley. People come here to walk through cow pastures and meadows, and panoramic views. As Day Hikers wave goodbye (and settle into a patio lunch), the trekkers will carry on to crest the valley rim toward the neighboring Alpe di Tires. There are a few ways to go—climbing toward the Schlern Spire being the most scenic. Day Hikers return to Kastelruth, and trekkers arrive at our first overnight hut, aka rifugio. Don’t miss the alpenglow sunset. Treking 4-6 hours.

Day Hikers at Hotel Lamm in Kastelruth
Trekkers at Rifugio Alpe di Tires
Day 3 Hike (7.1mi +3000’) — Other Hike Options

Rosengarten

Sassolungo

  • This morning the trekkers carry on with an epic hike across three passes in the mythic Rosengarten (Catinaccio, in Italian) Range. There are two huts along the way for lunch before an adventurous cable-assisted rock scramble past the dramatic Vajolet Towers and on to the architecturally awesome, Rifugio Santnerpass.

    Today the hikers will road trip across the Sella Range of the Dolomites. At Passo Sella, you can opt to ride the phone booth lift (a type of early gondola) to the jaw-dropping Forcella Sassolungo, a mecca for rock climbers, parasailors, and anyone seeking a good strudel at Rifugio Demetz. The views here are stunning in all directions, especially up. Carry on to the resort village of San Cansciano, where just outside of town is home for the next four nights.

Day Hikers at Hotel Ciasa Salares
Trekkers at Rifugio Santnerpass
Day 4 Hike (4.4mi +2700’)

Vajolet Towers

Passo Pordoi

  • The trekkers hike out of the Rosengarten and traverse across to Passo Pordoi an all-day journey linking seven lifts and several trails. We’ll get picked up at the pass and drive on to San Casciano for rest, relaxation, and laundry. We’re all reunited for the next two nights. Dinners are at the hotel.

    Hikers have a day to explore the San Casciano area or relax at the hotel. There’s an excellent Ladin museum in town, and lifts into the higher hills. In the late afternoon, a van pickup is needed for the trekkers arriving at Passo Pordoi. We’ll all swap stories from the trails, roads, and dangling phone booths in the wind.

Everyone at Hotel Ciasa Salares
Day 5 Hike (7.6mi +800’)

Ciasa Salares

Wine & Cheese Tasting

  • Today is a rest day, free to spend as you like. Ready to chill? The hotel has a pool and spa. Want to arrange a cooking class? Or if ready for more Dolomite drama, opt for a day trip to a proper via ferrata (Brigata Tridentina, also called Pisciadu, is close by).

    The Dolomites have some of the best dairy farms in the world, so let’s do an aperitivo wine and cheese tasting before dinner.

Everyone at Hotel Ciasa Salares

Lagazoui Cable Car

Via Ferrata

  • Buongiorno! We’re leaving German speaking Trentino-Alto Adige region behind and heading into the Italian speaking Veneto region. This is the area where Italy and Austria battled in WWI. Trekkers will pack for two-nights in the mountains, while Day Hikers can join us at Passo Falzarego. We’ll explore tunnels, trenches, lookouts, and opt to try an entry level via ferrata route used by Austrian soldiers to reach the summit of Monte Lagazuoi—now a 5-minute cabe car ride away. We can all meet at the top for lunch together at Rifugio Lagazuoi. This day has many great options for everyone. Trekkers will spend the night at the pass, while Day Hikers return down valley to the hotel.

Trekkers at Rifugio Col Gallina
Day hikers again at Hotel Ciasa Salares
Day 7 Hike (3.8mi +2000’)

WWI Tunnels

Cinque Torri

  • Brace yourself, Trekkers, for cultural shock at the breakfast buffet. We’re ‘back in Italy’ now. We’ll pack up and head toward the Cinque Torri area and its WWI open air museum. Day Hikers will (hopefully!) join the trekkers taking advantage of the chairlift and huts for lunch. Or just continue to Cortina d’Ampezzo, home of the 1956 and 2026 Winter Olympics, for a head start on spritzes.

    In the afternoon, the trekker continue to one of the most historic and popular huts in the range—Rifugio Nuvolau—dramatically perched on the edge of a cliff. After dinner and sunset, we’ll crowd into an attic bunk room all together (note earplugs on the gear list!) for our last hurrah night in a hut.

Trekkers at Rifugio Nuvolau
Day Hikers at Hotel Ambra in Cortina
Day 8 Hike (3.0mi +1700’)

Rifugio Nuvolau

Hotel Ambra

  • For the trekkers it’s all downhill to Cortina. Opt for a short walk + lift + van pickup, or take a longer route passing below the dramatic Tofana massif. Lots of options for varying energy levels on this day. We’re all reunited tonight in Cortina.

Everyone at Hotel Ambra in Cortina

Tofana Cable Car

Lake Braies

  • Today is free for adventure. We can day trip to Lake Braies and rent boats, ride cable cars to 10,600’ Tofana di Mezzo, or arrange a picnic lunch at a dairy farm. Or just chill in Cortina. Either way, we’ll toast our adventure together with a fun last night dinner.

Everyone at Hotel Ambra in Cortina

  • Today is departure day. It’s an easy, breezy 2-hour drive to the Venice airport. Not everyone will fit in the murder van so some will need to take the public shuttle, which is fast and reliable. Arrivederci and safe travels home.

Gear List

Essential Gear for Everyone

  • Hiking shoes, well broken-in. Waterproof with Vibram soles recommended.

  • Hiking socks (help avoid blisters)

  • Sun protection: sunglasses, hat, sunscreen, SPF lip balm, neck buff or scarf, sun shirt

  • Waterbottle

  • Passport, cell phone with data connectivity, charging cord, plug adapter/s, cash, printed itinerary

  • Daypack

  • Rain protection: Waterproof jacket, water resistant/proof pants, backpack cover or poncho

  • Meteoblue weather app

  • All Trails hiking app

Essential Gear for Trekkers

  • Backpack (25—30L) with waterproof rain cover

  • Puffy jacket warm layer or similar

  • Lightweight hiking shirts and underwear that can be hand washed if needed, fast drying

  • Sleeping bag liner (not a sleeping bag)

  • Fast drying towel

  • Hut slippers or flip flops

  • Earplugs

  • Headlamp

  • Snow spikes

  • Lightweight gloves

  • Toiletries: biodegradable soap, tissue packet, painkiller med of choice, blister care

  • Multitool & mini-first aid kit

Optional Gear

  • Trekking poles (available in Kastelruth for ~€30)

  • External battery for devices

  • Time Shifter app