The soaring limestone spires of the Dolomites make a stunning backdrop for a number of quaint villages, expansive mountain meadows, or alps, and a highly developed trail system. The Italian Dolomites are culturally diverse, and we visit the German speaking Tyrolean villages with their onion-domed chapels in Val Gardena, Corvara in the Ladin speaking Alta Badia, and the busy alpine center of Cortina D'Ampezzo, the hub of the Italian speaking Alps.
From our fabulous inns, including one immured in a 14th C. edifice and others known for their cuisine and Tyrolean charm, we enjoy the most fabled scenery and classic hiking of the Dolomites. Following a warm-up hike to a mountain restaurant, we traverse above the Alpe di Siusi, the largest "alp" in the Alps, and climb high into a number of the fabulous, vertical-looking ranges including the Rosengarten, Sassolungo, Puez and Tofane.
ITINERARY
Day 1 Travel independently by rail to Bolzano and taxi to Vols. Overnight in a lovingly restored inn in 14th C. walls in this tiny hilltop village with winding cobblestone streets.
Day 2 Today we'll enjoy a gentle warm up hike from Vols to Tuffalm, a picturesque alp where we'll enjoy views of the Sciliar at a mountain restaurant before looping back to Vols.
Day 3 Today's hike begins in Alpe di Siusi, where views extend to the Austrian Alps, the Sassopiatto, Sassolungo and today's objective, the Scialar. Overnight in a comfortable mountain refuge with shared accommodations.
Day 4 We enjoy expansive views over the Alpe di Siusi as we head toward the Sassopiatto and Sassolungo and a dramatically situated cable car. We descend to the village of Selva in Gardena and a welcoming four star inn with Tyrolean charm and tradition-inspired haute cuisine.
Day 5 Ascending a pristine glacial valley surrounded by towering limestone walls, we climb through larch and stone pine toward the Rifugio Puez before descending to the village of Corvara in the Alta Badia, a valley where the Ladin culture dominates. Overnight in one of our all time favorite inns- filled with Tyrolean charm and offering superb cuisine.
Day 6 We begin with an ascent to a ridge separating the Puez and Sella groups and the Marmolada, the grand sentinel of the Dolomites at 3259 meters to the west, and the Tofane and Della Croce groups to the east. Return to Corvara and our fabulous inn.
Day 7 A bit of transport returns us to a path that leads into the heart of the Tofane Range before we descend the beautiful and lush Val Travenanzes. Transfer to Cortina D'Ampezzo and the comforts of a four star hotel.
Day 8 Depart. Taxi to rail stations in Dobiacco or Pieve di Cadore for connections to Milan, Munich, Venice, Innsbruck or other destinations in Europe
