Tour meets in Venice for a private bus transfer to Val Gardena.

Day 1—Sun. Our tour begins at 9am at our Venice meeting point for a scenic drive north into the heart of the Dolomites. We’ll stop along the way at the Arte Sella sculpture park for wooded stroll among thought provoking site-specific art, and a welcome lunch together. After arriving in our gorgeous Tyrolean hotel we’ll do an orientation walk around the village and settle into a free evening for dinner on your own. (Bus 5 hours, sleep in Castelrotto 3 nights)

Day 2—Mon. This morning we’ll take a gondola up to the high alpine valley of Alpe di Siusi to get acquainted with walking, navigating, and eating your way through the Dolomites. We’ll journey through rolling meadows and cow pastures to a group lunch at a rifugio, a mountain hut serving up Tyrolean specialties on a sun-soaked deck. The rest of the day is free for more hiking on your own and dinner back in town.

Day 3—Tue. Today we’ll take the cable car to Seceda to watch the slow-motion drama of continents colliding before our eyes. With gentle meadows on one side, sheer cliffs on the other, we’ll walk the ridge toward the jaw-dropping Fermeda rock spires. The afternoon is free for more hiking, a spa, or exploring town. A classic group dinner caps our last evening in the South Tyrol region.

Day 4—Wed. We travel up valley, crossing the high passes of the Sella Ronda, stopping for thrilling views and lifts to some of the highest peaks in the range. Group dinner together. (Bus 2 hours, sleep near Passo Pordoi 1 night)

Day 5—Thu. Today we follow the footsteps of World War I through the Dolomites with a visit to the evocative Lagazuoi outdoor museum. We’ll hike through restored trenches, to cliffside battle stations, and have the option to climb tunnels mined by Italian alpini toward Austrian lines (or opt for the cable car). After, we head down valley to Cortina d’Ampezzo, host of the 1956 Winter Olympics and once again in 2026. Free for dinner on your own. (Bus 1 hour, sleep in Cortina 3 nights)

Day 6—Fri. This is a day of icons in the Dolomites: we venture north to walk along the stunning three peaks of the Tre Cime Lavaredo, then a late afternoon visit to the picturesque, and instafamous, Lago di Braies. (Bus 2.5 hours)

Day 7—Sat. You are free today to explore elegant Cortina, take a spa day, or join us for an optional excursion. Tonight we’ll toast the Dolomites with a grand finale dinner together.

Day 8—Sun. The tour is over after breakfast and checkout. Transportation from Cortina to Venice (2 hour drive) is not included—there are many convenient options which we’ll help arrange.

Itinerary subject to change. Activities weather dependent.

When is the best time to visit the Dolomites?
The Dolomites summer season lasts from late-May to early-October. Visiting in June or September is great because chances are good for nice weather days, while avoiding the busy rush of July and August.

Is this a hiking tour?
This tour includes many easy walks and hikes over gentle terrain, taking advantage of world-class network of lifts to get up close and personal with high mountains (a good example is the ‘FAQ photo’ above). The amazing thing about the Dolomites is how accessible they are—there are walks and hikes for every activity level. We’ll do introduction walks and lift rides together as a group, and orient you with tailored suggestions to explore further during free time. You can choose to do as much or as little as you like.

I’m not much of a hiker. Is this tour for me?
Absolutely! The Dolomites are a great place to experience big, dramatic mountains and breathtaking views by simply riding the lifts. There are hundreds of them across the range, most with food and drinks at the top and a sunny terrace to enjoy. You can ride both ways, or if up for it, walk back down a dirt road meandering through hills (often you can see these paths on the ride up).

I’m an experienced high mountain hiker. Is this tour for me?
Definitely! This tour is great because you’ll get expert guidance on trail routes above the tree lines. While we don’t do such hikes together as group, you’ll have plenty of free time and direction to do them on your own speed. There are amazing ‘rifugio’ huts nestled between high peaks which make for great lunch goals.

How much free time is there on this tour?
There is ample free time on this tour to enjoy the Dolomites as you like. While most of my tours follow the 50-50 rule for group vs. free time, this one has even more built in flexibility to accommodate different activity levels. Each day, I will offer optional experiences aimed to appeal to the most in the group.

Do I need any special gear?
For most people, good walking shoes, rain gear, and a day pack work will suffice. There is an opportunity to hike the amazing WWI tunnels at the Lagazuoi open air museum, which require climbing helmets and headlamps. These can be rented locally. And while there are many famous “via ferrate” routes in the Dolomites that require technical climbing gear, those are not a focus of this tour.

It is highly recommended to bring a working cell phone to stay in touch as needed. Cell service doesn’t extended everywhere in the Dolomites but is generally available in the places this tour visits.

Add 3 Days and Nights in Venice

“Explore Venice like a Venetian. Boat rides trhough back canals, cicchetti with friends, workshop visits, and art exhibitions by some of world’s most creative minds.”
—Rainer

Extension Day 1. We begin at 10am from Venice’s Marco Polo airport with a private boat tour of the lagoon and Venice’s back canals, places in the city only known to boats. We’ll drop bags at our Grand Canal hotel and continue our introduction to Venice on foot. We’ll visit a working artist studio, then with a special focus on art galleries, private palace exhibitions, followed by a cicchetti food tour and toast to being in Venice. Dinner on your own.

Extension Day 2. Artist studio visit and special exhibition day. We explore the best of this year’s art shows, visiting a selection of Punta della Dogana, Palazzo Grassi, Peggy Guggenheim Museum, Prada Foundation, Fortuny Museum, or a special palace opening for a temporary exhibit.

Extension Day 3. An entire day devoted to the annual Venice Biennale, it’s national pavilions and invited artists and architects exhibiting work in the Arsenal shipyard.

Extension Day 4. After an early breakfast and hotel check out we’re off to our meeting point for The Dolomites Day 1.

To add, book The Dolomites above and request the Venice Extension in reply to your confirmation email.