September 2-10, 2016

Trip Overview

On this exciting adventure we hike through colorful alpine meadows amid the awesome slendor of the Italian Dolomites (Alps) and visit picturesque Tyrolean villages in lush green valleys while lodging in a Tyrolean village. Sixty million years of erosion have sculpted awesome jagged spires, hanging glaciers, tortured columns and “moonscape” plateaus; a spectacular backdrop to the open pastures, staggering array of wild flowers and gently undulating woods where we hike. Everywhere there is color. From the soft pink stone and the brilliant blues of the glacial lakes, to the bright saffron, blue gentians, alpine edelweiss and wild lilies that jostle vividly in lush summer meadows. And the evening light that turns towering rock walls into a glowing panoply of pinks is truly awesome. The Dolomites is an outstanding hiking area, made even more enjoyable by the legendary hospitality of the mountain people.

In the heart of the Northern Italian Dolomites, close to the border with Austria and dominated by the famous Tre Cime (Three Peaks), is the beautiful Tyrolean village of Dobbiaco. We lodge in an upscale hotel and each day have the opportunity to hike a different trail,relax at the lodge or explore the village. These hikes allow us to discover the beauty and sheer magnificence of the majestic Alta Pusteria Valley, an area renowned for jagged peaks up to 10,968 feet tall and recognized by UNESCO as one of the most unique and spectacular mountain environments in the world.

Trip highlights include a high ridge path along the Austrian border with 360º views over the entire Dolomites and Austrian Alps, and a circular hike around the world-famous Tre Cime, three immense obelisks of sheer rock that have now become the symbol of the region.

Amazingly, all of this is accessible on well-defined paths either directly from our hotel, or via a short bus or cable car ride. All hikes will be led by an American tour director.

If you want to extend your adventure in Europe, you can also sign up for the Island Hikes in Croatia tour which starts the day following this tour.

Trip Itinerary

Day 1: Friday, September 2. Depart for Italy

Day 2. Saturday, September 3. Arrive in Venice, Italy
Arrive in the morning via your international flight at the Marco Polo Airport in Venice, Italy. Once you clear customs you will be met by a transfer agent who will escort you and the rest of our group via a private van to Dobbiaco, a scenic Tyrolean village of about 3,200 mostly German-speaking people located in a pastoral mountain valley with downhill skiing in the winter. The scenic trip north to Dobbiaco takes about 2.5 hours and is about 115 miles distance.

We lodge at the upscale (4 star) Park Hotel Bellevue, which combines old-world charm with good old fashioned hospitality. It has both traditional and modern comfort, rustic charm and stylish elegance, and serves light Italian cuisine and a savory rural fare. Facilities include a spa, sauna, steam room, swimming pool, and massage is available; a cozy lounge and relaxing bar. Evening meals are served in the charming dining room where high quality cuisine includes a weekly five course banquet and themed Tyrolean buffet evening. All breakfasts and dinners during our stay at the hotel are included in the trip cost. We will stay in the deluxe double rooms which have a balcony with stunning alpine views,; satellite TV, direct dial phones, radio, safe, and free wifi. (D)

Day 3. Sunday, September 4. Chapels and Churches Walk – 9.5mi/4.5hr
From the hotel, we ascend gently along peaceful country lanes, through picture-perfect Tyrolean villages and hamlets dotted across the hillside, each boasting a chapel or church offering stunning views and decorated with frescoes. At the village of Stadlem, we take time out for a picnic lunch and to soak up the mountain panorama before returning to Dobbiaco alongside the Rienza River. (B,D)

Day 4. Monday, September 5. Nemes Alp Walk – 9.5mi/5.5hr or 11mi/5.5hr
We take a short bus ride and then a spectacular cable car ride this morning to the high Rotwand pastures (6,280 ft) just below the mighty Croda Rossa limestone peaks. From here it’s a gentle descent along pretty pine-scented forest trails to the ancient Kreuzbergpass, South Tyrol’s most easterly mountain pass. We then head up to the refuge of Nemes Alm, a fabulous panoramic spot for lunch, with marmots foraging in the open sunny pastures, before descending along a wide woodland track to the Tyrolean village of Moos where we pick up the bus back to Dobbiaco. (B,D)

Day 5. Tuesday, September 6. Bonner Hütte & Pfannhorn Walk – 6.5mi/4hr or 8mi/5.5hr
With an ascent of 2,300 ft, it’s a tough but entirely worthy pull up to the idyllic Bonner Hütte for a tremedous panoramic lunch overlooking the unmistakable Tre Cime. If we choose to continue 1,000 ft further (328 ft higher) up to the summit of the Pfannhorn at a lofty 8,736 ft, we will be rewarded with a truly unforgettable 360 panorama of the Dolomites and the Austrian Alps -arguably the most expansive view of our week. (B,D)

Day 6. Wednesday, September 7. High Mountain Pastures & the Rifugio Ra Stua Walk – 10mi/6hr
Today we’ll head into the heart of the Ampezzo National Park in the Italian-speaking Veneto region. Setting off from Cimabanche along a disused railway line, we’ll head up through the Gótres Valley on an old military road to reach the high mountain pasture of Forcella L’Erosa. We descend to the idyllic meadows of Rifugio Ra Stua and follow a narrow forest footpath towards Cortina. Return to our hotel. (B,D)

Day 7. Thursday, September 8. Mount Elmo & Klammbachütte Walk – 9mi/5.5hr
This exciting hike takes us along the impressive crest of the Carniche Alps. We start the day with a bus ride then take a cable car up to Mount Elmo (6,700 ft). From there, an old military supply route takes us to the refuge Sillianerhütte (in Austria). This ridge forms a border between Italy and Austria and gives us the most spectacular views across the Austrian Alps. Our descent is on a less well-defined rocky path that crosses the pretty mountain pastures of the Klammbachalm to arrive at the postcard-pretty Klammbachhütt, before the forest track back down to the village of Moos and take a bus back to our hotel.. (B,D)

Day 8. Friday, September 9. Tre Cime – 7mi/4hr or 11mi/5.5hr
A tremendous finale to our week awaits us as we head out by bus to the high-altitude Rifugio Auronzo at the foot of the world-famous Tre Cime di Lavaredo (9,839 ft). These enormous freestanding limestone towers have been so popular with hikers that they’ve naturally become the symbol of the Dolomites. We follow a wide mountain trail constructed by soldiers during the First World War and circle these three immense towers. (B,D)

Day 9. September 10. Leave Dobbiaco
After breakfast, we will be escorted back to the Marco Polo Airport in Venice by private transfer for our flights home. (B)

There is also the option of spending the night in Venice and then going on to the Islands of Croatia tour which starts on September 10.

COSTS

LAND COST: Costs below are based on double room occupancy.
$1,400 per person double occupancy
Single Supplement $161

COST INCLUDES: Lodging, all breakfasts and dinners at the hotel, all land transportation (buses and cable cars), airport transfers, and an American tour director.

COST DOES NOT INCLUDE: Personal expenses, international airfares to Venice, Italy, lunches, drinks and alcoholic beverages with meals.

REGISTRATION AND INFORMATION

If you would like additional information, e-mail us at info@adventureboundmen.com, or call us locally at 303-449-0990 or toll free at 1-877-440-0990. Our office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) Monday through Friday.

You may also download our trip registration form, and mail it in to us.

GRADE

We hike on superbly varied and well signposted footpaths and forest trails, both at high altitude and in the lower valleys. There are moderate ascents on most days, and longish descents on days when a cable car is used to get to the top of the mountain. Please note: In the unlikely event of extremely bad weather, cable cars may not operate. The longest hiking days are 5.5-6.5 hours and have ascents and descents of up to 2,400 feet. This trip is rated moderate to strenuous in terms of difficulty.