Summer in the Dolomites
- July 2022 (14D/13N)
- 12 Pax Small Group Tour
- From S$5330 / Pax
- Bolzano, San Cassiano, Sesto, Sappada, Cortina d'Ampezzo
- Jul 2 - Jul 15, 2022 (14 Days / 13 Nights)
- From S$ 5330 / person (flights excluded)
Journey 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 thus far.
- Spend a night (or even two if you wish!) in a mountain refuge. See Days 03 and 04 of our Tour Programme.
- Learn about alpine flora and fauna from our expert guide.
- Strategically-located quality accommodations in the heart of town or on the mountain, where all you need to do to enjoy each place is to step out of the front door!
- Authentic regional and local cuisine, with fresh local ingredients
- Sights off the beaten track and secret locations no other tour will ever take you to see, including some not normally accessible to the public
- Generous amount of personal time for you to go shopping, visit a museum of your choice, or simply relax and savour the ambience.
- Easy walks are included in the price of the tour, while optional hikes on more challenging terrain are offered for the adventurous at a small supplementary charge. We have planned sufficient time in the schedule to allow for this.
- 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 transfer from Cortina d'Ampezzo to Venice-Mestre railway station or Venice Marco Polo Airport after your tour ends.
Trip 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 Austrian flavour, drive in search of the source of the River Piave at Sappada, and explore the mountain environs of Cortina d'Ampezzo.
Tour Itinerary
Day 01
Arrival at Bolzano, City Tour
The tour begins in Bolzano with lunch, followed by a tour of the city with our guide. Please check in to the hotel before 12:30pm. With sun setting as late as 9pm, you will have ample free time to enjoy the city on your own after the tour with the Bolzano Card provided to you.
(Overnight at Bolzano)
Day 03
Day Trip to Merano, Merano Historic Centre
Today we take the local train over to the nearby town of Merano, where a guide shall take us around the lovely historic centre which combines the best of both Mediterranean and Alpine traditions.
Those of you who wish to hike in the mountains instead can make your way there today to begin your 2-night stay there. There is an additional charge of S$100 per person for this second option, which includes dinner at the mountain lodge.
(Overnight at Bolzano)
Day 04
Seceda
Participants of the group who stayed back in Bolzano will now make their way to an authentic mountain lodge to meet up with the first group, passing first by the dramatic mountain formation of Seceda. Dinner is included amid a most spectacular panorama.
(Overnight near Cinque Torri)
Day 05
Open Air War Museum, Brunico, Sesto
This morning our alpine guide will lead the entire group to visit one of the open-air war museums and tell us about the historical significance of the Dolomites in the battles between Italy and Austria during the First World War.
We shall then make our way after lunch up the predominantly Ladin-speaking Val Badia corridor to Brunico in the Puster Valley, where a guide shall take us around this very Tyrolean town, before we make our way to Sesto spend the next three nights.
(Overnight at Sesto)
Day 07
Fondovalle Refuge
We spend the day making our way up to the Fondovalle Refuge, where an array of activities await us, from chairlifts to panoramic points with spectacular views to optional rides on horseback and horse-drawn buggies.
(Overnight at Sesto)
Day 09
Sappada Tour, Dairy Farm
Our guide shall be taking us around Sappada this morning, followed by a visit to a dairy farm to see how the local cheese is made. The afternoon is left at your leisure for you to explore the town and surrounding area as you prefer.
(Overnight at Sappada)
Day 12
Misurina Lake, Auronzo Refuge, Tre Cime di Lavaredo
The plan today is visit the village of Misurina and its lovely lake, and then onward to the Auronzo refuge where you can finally see the spectacular icon of the Dolomites, the world-famous Three Peaks of Lavaredo.
Just like we did at the source of the River Piave, a hike around the peaks will be proposed for an additional charge of S$50 per person, with two possible options – a relatively easy walk to the Locatelli Refuge with a return along the same route back to the Auronzo Refuge, or the more challenging one which takes you first to the Locatelli Refuge and then back to the Auronzo Refuge going completely around the Three Peaks. Depending on the weather, the hikes may be carried out the next day should meteorological conditions be unsuitable on this day.
(Overnight at Cortina d’Ampezzo)
Additional Notes
- Tour price is for land arrangements only. Flights are not included.
- This tour begins in Bolzano and ends in Cortina. Transfers by train from Venice-Mestre OR Milan Central railway station prior to the start of the tour in Bolzano are included, as is the transfer at the end of the tour to Venice Marco Polo Airport or Venice-Mestre railway station. 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$980. For triple-sharing and other arrangements please contact us.
- Sightseeing and entrance to sights are included as specified in the programme.
- Please note that the night spent in the mountain lodge will be in a shared sleeping arrangement, as is traditional in such locales.
- More challenging activities such as hikes up to mountain passes and around the Three Peaks of Lavaredo are offered as options with a supplementary charge of S$50 per person per session. The charge does not include any rental of special clothing or equipment as may be required. Additional hikes may also be requested during free days, subject to the availability of the guide and for the same supplementary charge of S$50 per person per session. Reservations for the hikes are to be made in advance prior to the start of the tour so that we can organise the appropriate logistics to cater to the entire group, while reservations made during the tour itself will be charged at €50 per person instead.
- Gratuities for group services and city taxes will be absorbed.
- As there will be substantial walking on both paved and unpaved ground, wearing comfortable walking shoes is strongly recommended.
- 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.
- Extension of the trip (before or after the tour) can be arranged upon request.
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.
Express Your Interest for this Trip
This soft adventure trip is collaborated with and facilitated by Ergo: Travel, a bespoke agency specialising in travel experiences to Italy.
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