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Trip Highlights:

• Experience culture that is colorful with fantastic architecture and cuisine.

• Sneak through heavenly lush meadows, explore high hills, and trek more rugged peaks.

• Rest in remote hamlets and charming hotels.

The Pusteria Valley, on the Italian–Austrian border, marks the dramatic transition where the Alps give way to the soaring limestone peaks of the Dolomites. Along the valley’s northern flank, rolling pastures and gentler summits create a pastoral alpine landscape, while to the south the Dolomites reveal their striking personality—jagged rock towers rising sharply above forests and meadows. Ryder-Walker’s Easygoing Italian Dolomites: Lago di Braies, Fanes Wilderness and Alta Badia trek begins in the charming town of San Candido, set beneath the dramatic Baranci peaks.

What makes this Dolomites hiking itinerary so special is the way it navigates these rugged mountains. Trails wind through flower-filled meadows, quiet forests, and high alpine passes, linking Ladin villages, welcoming alpine inns, and a beautifully located rifugio. Along the way, hikers may also encounter remnants of World War I’s Italian Front, reminders of the region’s complex alpine history.

The route travels through the heart of Ladin culture, one of the oldest alpine cultures in Europe. Originating in the Tyrol and spreading southward through the Dolomites, Ladin communities settled in these valleys where the terrain allowed travel and farming. Their traditions remain vibrant today, reflected in distinctive architecture, regional cuisine, and a welcoming culture that blends Tyrolean order with Italy’s relaxed dolce vita.

The trek moves north to south through several character-rich mountain villages. It begins in San Candido, continues to the Ladin village of St. Vigilio at the gateway to Fanes–Sennes–Braies Nature Park, then to Badia in the heart of Alta Badia, where green pastures meet towering limestone peaks. The journey concludes in Armentarola, a picturesque hamlet surrounded by the dramatic Sella and Sassongher massifs.

Throughout the trek you stay in comfortable alpine inns known for their hospitality and regional character. Evenings typically feature a four-course dinner blending Tyrolean and Italian flavors. Breakfast is served buffet-style, while lunches are enjoyed as scenic picnics in alpine meadows or at traditional mountain huts along the trail.

This trek travels from north to south, staying in some of the most comfortable and character-rich inns along the way. It begins in San Candido, set at the edge of quiet forests beneath the dramatic, jagged peaks of the Baranci, where alpine elegance meets a peaceful mountain atmosphere. From here, the journey continues to St. Vigilio, a charming Ladin village at the gateway to Fanes–Sennes–Braies Nature Park, known for its authentic character and excellent access to some of the Dolomites’ most scenic trails. Next, you’ll arrive in Badia, a serene village in the heart of Alta Badia, where rolling pastures give way to towering limestone peaks. The journey concludes in the picturesque hamlet of Armentarola, beautifully set between the Sella and Sassongher massifs, surrounded by sweeping alpine views, dramatic rock faces, and cascading waterfalls.

As you travel through these distinct mountain villages, the rhythm of each day is complemented by warm hospitality and thoughtfully prepared meals. Dinner is typically a four-course meal, while breakfast is a simple, buffet. Lunches are often picnics set high in the mountains or in scenic pastures with sweeping views, or you’ll stop at a mountain hut or local restaurant along the trail.

Learn more about the Northern Italian Alps-Dolomites destination