The Dolomites
- Sep, 2023 (13D/12N)
- 12 Pax Small Group Tour
- From S$5,960 / Person
There is really no better place to go, in the summer, than to what many would consider to be the most beautiful mountains in Europe, if not the world.
Spectacular, awe-inspiring, and sublime are just some of the superlatives that come to mind when describing the Dolomites, which since 2009 have been included among the nearly 60 UNESCO World Heritage sites in Italy.
Come and enjoy not only the breathtaking scenery but also the unique food and way of life that encompass three different cultures, the flora and fauna, as well as opportunities for optional walks, hikes and bicycle riding through some of the most evocative landscapes to be found anywhere.
- Bolzano, Cortina d'Ampezzo, San Candido, Sappada
- Jun 23 - Jul 05, 2024 (13 Days / 12 Nights)
- From S$ 5,960 / person (flights excluded)
Highlights
- Small group size limited to just 12 persons.
- Possibly the only tour that focuses on just the Dolomites alone.
- Discover a surprising part of Italy where the main spoken language is not Italian but a very local version of German and the rare and little-known Romance language called Ladin.
- Visit the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology, and meet Ötzi, the 5300 year old mummy, the oldest ever found in Europe.
- Learn about alpine flora and fauna from our expert guide.
- Explore the World War 1 (1915 to 1917) trenches and ruins in the the little known Dolomites front that was bitterly fought over between Italy and Austria.
- Quality accommodations located near to or in the heart of town.
- Authentic regional and local cuisine, with fresh local ingredients.
- Personal time for you to go shopping, visit a museum of your choice, or simply relax and savour the ambience.
- The highlight of the Dolomites tour include hikes in the Cinque Torri (5 Towers) and Tre Cime di Lavaredo (3 Peaks of Lavaredo), and cycling excursions including a scenic ride from San Candido in the Dolomites to Lienz in Austria.
- Transfer by train from Venice-Mestre or Milan Central railway stations to Bolzano is included in the price of the tour, along with the eventual overland transfer from Sappada to Venice-Mestre railway station at the end of your tour on Day 13.
Gallery
The Dolomites cast a magical spell. The backdrop of sky-scraping limestone mountains, sublime alpine lakes, and green forests and pastures with spectacular alpine flora. We will explore Bolzano, the gateway to the Dolomites, visit San Candido with a decidedly Tyrolean flavour, explore the mountain environs of Cortina d'Ampezzo and drive in search of the source of the River Piave at Sappada.
Itinerary
Day 01 / Sun / Sep 24
Arrival at Bolzano
We shall kick off the tour with a Welcome Dinner after your arrival in Bolzano and checking in to your hotel.
(Dinner and overnight at Bolzano)
Day 02 / Mon / Sep 25
Bolzano; City Tour
We begin the morning with a walking tour of old Bolzano with our guide, followed by lunch in a typical Tyrolean restaurant. With the sun setting as late as 9pm, you will have ample free time to explore the city on your own.
(Lunch and overnight at Bolzano)
Day 03 / Tue / Sep 26
Bolzano; South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology
We visit the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology this morning to learn about the amazing 5300-year-old mummy which was discovered near the top of a nearby mountain some 30 years ago.
Affectionately nicknamed Ötzi after the Ötztal Alps where the body was discovered, this is, to date, the oldest and best-preserved human body ever found in Europe, and has been the source of some of the most valuable information about life in copper-age Europe.
(Lunch and overnight at Bolzano)
Day 04 / Wed / Sep 27
Cortina; Cinque Torri
Leaving Bolzano for Cortina, our alpine guide will lead the group up by chairlift to Cinque Torri, where we shall have lunch at the Scoiattoli Refuge, followed by a hike around the 5 towers to visit one of the open-air war museums retelling the battles between Italy and Austria during the First World War.
In the event of unsuitable weather, we shall head straight to Cortina to check in, and embark on an alternative hike, either to Rifugio Dibona or to Rifigio Metres.
If it should rain, we can visit the Paleontological Museum, leaving the hiking to the following day.
(Dinner and overnight in Cortina d’Ampezzo)
Day 05 / Thu / Sep 28
Cortina; Cinque Torri
Depending on weather conditions the day before, we may either hike around the Cinque Torri or the other afore-mentioned hikes in the environs of Rifugio Dibona or Rifigio Metres.
If it rains, we can visit the Paleontological Museum.
(Lunch and overnight at Cortina d’Ampezzo)
Day 06 / Fri / Sep 29
Cortina; cycling to Fanes Waterfalls
Today’s programme is an e-bike tour along the Boite river to the Fanes Waterfalls in the Natural Park of Cortina d’Ampezzo.
(Pack Lunch and overnight at Cortina d’Ampezzo)
Day 07 / Sat / Sep 30
Cortina; Three Peaks of Lavaredo
Today we spend the entire day hiking around the world-famous Three Peaks of Lavaredo, starting from the Auronzo Refuge, taking you first to the Locatelli Refuge and then back to the Auronzo Refuge completely circumnavigating the Three Peaks.
(Pack Lunch and overnight at Cortina d’Ampezzo)
Day 08 / Sun / Oct 01
San Candido
We transfer to San Candido today, with a stopover at Lake Landro for some sightseeing. Once we dropped off our bags at our hotel, we shall make our way up to the Baranci Refugio by either chairlift or, for those inclined, a hike up to the restaurant, for lunch.
Following our meal, we have the options of hiking in surrounding areas, or descending the mountain on foot following an easy trail, or we can take the luge to the foot of the mountain.
(Lunch and overnight at San Candido)
Day 09 / Mon / Oct 02
San Candido; Cycling to Lienz!
A day of a cycling to the town of Lienz in Austria is planned for today, using either normal or e-bicycles, with lunch along the way.
We return to San Candido by train.
(Lunch and overnight at San Candido)
Day 10 / Tue / Oct 03
Sappada
We leave San Candido today to make our way to the Montecroce Pass, from where we depart for a full day of hiking to Malga Alpes Nemes to enjoy a lunch of home-made cold cuts, fresh yoghurt and apple strudel. We then head for Sappada where we shall spend the next 3 nights.
(Lunch and overnight at Sappada)
Day 11 / Wed / Oct 04
Sappada; Cima Sappada
Our guide shall be taking us around Sappada and the older nucleus of Cima Sappada this morning.
We then visit a dairy production and finish off with a barbecue or picnic lunch by the lake, or in case of bad weather, a lunch indoors with typical local cold cuts and cheeses.
(Pack Lunch and overnight at Sappada)
Day 12 / Thu / Oct 05
Sappada; Seeking out the Piave
Today we make our way to Rifugio Calvi at the source of the River Piave, one of the most important waterways of northeast Italy. We shall have our lunch at the refugio following a hike over to the nearby Sesis Pass, where spectacular views of the valley extends all the way to the Austrian border.
(Lunch, Dinner and overnight at Sappada)
Additional Notes
- This tour shall be led by Tim of Eco Adventures, who has been specialising in organising active vacations since 1990.
- Tour price is for land arrangements only. Flights are not included
- This tour begins in Bolzano and ends in Sappada. Transfers by train from Venice-Mestre OR Milan Central railway stations prior to the start of the tour in Bolzano is included, as is the transfer to Venice-Mestre railway station at the end of the tour. Please contact us if you need any special arrangements for transfers to and/or from the hotels.
- Travel insurance is required for all tour participants.
- Single supplement for this tour is S$1,180. For triple-sharing and other arrangements please contact us.
- Sightseeing, entrance to sights, hiking and cycling are included as specified in the programme.
- Hiking and cycling are graded “easy” to “moderate”, and a certain level of physical fitness is required as set out in the Activity Grading below.
- Activities may sometimes need to be modified, rescheduled, or even cancelled as weather conditions are unpredictable in the mountains and can often change without warning.
- Gratuities for group services and city taxes are absorbed.
- Extension of trip (before or after the tour) can be arranged upon request.
- Tour deposit and final payment is to be made by bank transfer or by PayNow
Activity Grading
Dolomites 2024 is graded as an Active tour, a more energetic vacation which includes walks and bicycle rides.
Activities on our active tour range from Easy to Moderate. In our activity grading below, we have indicated the ‘difficulty’ or expectations to allow participants to understand the physical requirements of an Active tour.
- Participants must be in reasonable health and able to handle their own luggage, climb a few flights of stairs, and walk up to 8km each day.
- Walks/hikes will last 2 to 4 hours and will be along undulating paths or trails with short ascents and descents.
Moderate
- Participants must be in good health and generally fit, able to handle their own luggage, climb stairs and walk approximately 15km each day.
- Walks/hikes last between 4 to 6 hours at a fairly brisk pace, and include some longer ascents and descents.
- Terrain may be mixed including rocky areas and mixed surfaces underfoot.
(In addition to the requirements in Walks/Hikes above)
- Bicycle rides are for 2-3 hours and on clearly marked trails and good pavement.
- Cycling distance is typically between 25 and 55 km per day.
- Perfect for the occasional rider.
Moderate
- Bicycle rides are for 3-6 hours covering up to 45-75km per day. We can optionally hire e-bikes which makes this considerably easier.
- Moderate grade itineraries include longer cycling days and steeper ascents and descents. May include longer stretches of uphill climbs and descents or a number of shorter steeper uphill and downhill sections along the route.
- Cycling distance is typically between 45 and 75 km per day.
Why travel with Ergo: Travel & Eco Adventures?
We've been organising tours to Italy since 2008 with hundreds of satisfied and return customers so you can benefit from our experience, our local knowledge and insider secrets.
When you travel with us, you get to...
By specialising in Italy, we focus our energies on crafting unique tours so you get to enjoy truly authentic experiences. In fact, our trips are good enough that we have a few Italian families as customers!
We plan our trips with a good balance of organised group activities and leisure time. This means you can explore the town on your own, visit that special museum, go shopping, spend time with the family or just getting into the Italian spirit of il dolce far niente.
By limiting our group size to 12, we ensure that you get the attention and support you need throughout your trip, so that you can feel safe knowing that things are being taken care of. Small sizes allow better access and interaction with the locals.
Our trips are leisurely paced and usually in a limited area of travel, staying a few days in each place. This way, you can maximise your enjoyment, and spend minimal time travelling and packing and unpacking every day.
Enquire About This Trip
This soft adventure trip is collaborated with and facilitated by Ergo: Travel, a bespoke agency specialising in travel experiences to Italy.
Please fill in and submit the enquiry form below to express your interest in this trip!