Dolomites

8 days & 7 nights
September 19—26, 2025

Private Group

Itinerary

Click each day for details

Cinque Torri

We can meet as early as 10am in Cortina (or as late as 2pm). We’ll drive a short distance into the hills and begin our trek. With a short lift ride we’ll check out the Cinque Torri open air museum and have a short hike to Rifugio Averau.

Lagazuoi

From Rifugio Averau it’s a short walk to Passo Falzarego and the cable car to Lagazuoi. Let’s skip the cable car and do our first Via Ferrata. The Kaiserjager route is an entry level ferrata establisehd by the Austrians defending the pass in WWI.
We’ll arrive at Rifugio Lagazuoi where we’re staying overnight, but let’s keep going and explore the Italian side of the mountain. We can descend via the amazing Anticima tunnels and mines, explore the Martini Ledge, and arrive back down at the pass. Then a 5-min cable car ride back up Lagazuoi and one of the most famous rifugi in the range. Expect to meet trekkers doing the famous Alta Via 1 here.

WWI Tunnels

From Rifugio Lagazuoi we have options. With good weather we can traverse east toward the Tofana group overlooking Cortina. Along the way we can explore the Castelletto mine or level up on the Via Ferrata Col dei Bos.
In the afternoon we’ll return to the car and drive an hour west to Passo Pordoi. We can book rooms last minute at the pass, or if the weather is lousy, in a nearby town. Given the late summer season, hotels should have plenty of capacity.

Hotel TDB; Hotel Savoia at Passo Pordoi preferred

Via Ferrata delle Trincee

Let’s aim for Via Ferrata delle Trincee today! It’s an incredible ridgeline above the road to Pordoi and full of abandoned tunnels. The lift from Arabba gets us there.

Hotel TDB; Hotel Savoia at Passo Pordoi preferred

Vajolet Towers

Today we begin our second trek, leaving the car in Canazei and taking a short bus ride to the Vajolet lifts into the Catinaccio/Rosengarten group.
There is an option to do a medium difficulty via ferrata, or an easier cable-assisted route to reach Rifugio Santnerpass.

Alpe di Tires

Descending past the Vajolet towers, the direct route to Rifugio Alpe di Tires is about 4 hours crossing two passes. Let’s get there, and if energy levels are high, explore the area further. An hour’s walk along a moonscape ridge to Bolzano Hut has amazing views into the Alpe di Siusi.

Sassolungo

There are two options for reaching the mighty Sassolungo group. Hike the west side up and between the two towers (the Forcella), or follow the ridge around to Passo Sella and take the 1970s-era-phone-booth gondola up.
This night is not yet booked. Let’s see where our energies are and what the weather is up to before deciding where to stay. There may be an opportunity to make up an activity from earlier in the week. There are plenty of hotels available in Canazei.

Hotel TBD

Today is departure day. We’ll drive back to the Venice airport, aiming to be there by noon. Arrivederci!

Itinerary weather dependent and subject to change.

Essential Hiking Gear

Hiking shoes, well broken-in. Waterproof is recommended.
Hiking socks (helps avoid blisters)
Sun protection: sunglasses, hat, sunscreen, SPF lip balm, neck buff or scarf, sun shirt
Waterbottle
Passport, cell phone & charging cord, plug adapter/s, cash, printed itinerary
Daypack
Rain protection: Waterproof jacket, water resistant/proof pants
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: soap, tissue packet, painkiller med of choice, blister care
Multitool & mini-first aid kit

Optional Gear