HIKE THE DOLOMITES

Highlights

ITALY BY FOOT

Days are typically 6-8 hours covering 6-12 miles per day through lush valleys and dramatic mountain landscapes. The trails are well kept but rocky in places. The trip is vehicle supported so you are able to enjoy the wonderful scenery with only a light day-pack. The hut is not reachable by car so you need to carry your overnight belongings.

EXPLORE LOCAL CUISINE

Plan to eat our way through Italy! Breakfasts are continental-style buffet with addition of cereals, fruit juices, eggs and meat. Lunches are self made from delicious goodies bought locally. This is carried in your pack and eaten picnic style on the trail. Dinners are three courses at our hotel where we get to taste local cuisine.

STUNNING LANDSCAPES

The Italian Dolomites represent a unique site in the Alps with distinctive geology and a fascinating blend of cultures. The rock deposit in the form of marine sediments and coral some 230 million years ago, forms the base of the mountains. Much later, about 65 million years ago, the rocks were uplifted by various tectonic events and the Dolomites were born.

A WALK THROUGH HISTORY

The Dolomites are geographically and culturally at a crossroad between Italy to the south and Tyrol to the north. Since after the World War they have been mostly an Italian possession. The culture remains a blend of the Tyrolean and Italian influences. Because the Dolomites were the front line between Austria and Italy during World War I, the region is still scattered with abandoned bunkers and fortifications.

DEEP CONNECTION

Make new friends with similar passions. Disconnect from the everyday stresses of life. Reconnect with the part of yourself that is curious, excited, adventurous, and in love with life. Return to the every day with a deeper connection to yourself and the outdoors, refreshed and empowered with the AdventurUs spirit.

Guides & Trip Leaders

Françoise

Local Guide
Francoise was born in Lyon and has lived in Chamonix for more than 35 years attracted by mountain life. She is a certified guide as well as a paragliding instructor. Hiking is Francoise’s passion, leading in the mountains allows her to share her passion with others, even in winter through snowshoeing. Paragliding was her primary activity for 10 years and she loved teaching and flying clients in a tandem! After this small break, she came back to sharing her passion of hiking. In her free time, Francoise like biking, golfing, hiking, cross country skiing, and traveling in the Alps.

Karine

Local Guide
Karine was born in Guerande in southern Brittany by the sea; however she was soon attracted by the mountains! She has always favored jobs that involve working with people and is grateful to have the chance to earn a living from her passions. Karine has passed various training courses and earned numerous sports diplomas including: outdoor multi-sport, horse riding, ski instructor for children, and since 2001 mountain guiding. Her base camp is Chamonix for more than 25 years. She guides snowshoeing in winter and trekking in summer and loves sharing her passions with others! For her leisure time you can find Karine hiking, but also climbing, biking, mountaineering, ski touring, and cross country skiing… and she travels the world as much as she can!

Saveria

AW Trip Leader
Saveria Tilden (she/her) is the brains behind AdventurUs Women! She has lots of outdoor experience, both professionally and personally. As an educator in a variety of fields over the past twenty years, Saveria has experienced first-hand the magic that happens when women come together to learn about and explore the outdoors! She is certified as a Wilderness First Responder and Leave No Trace Master Educator. Saveria lives in Bend, OR with her adventure pup @BettyBooInTheWild. Saveria will be your main point of contact leading up the trip and will host group calls, 1:1 calls, and provide pre-trip information to make sure you, and the group, is ready for our adventure.

Schedule

DAY 1

June 26 - You have arrived!

Meet group around 1:00 pm (exact time TBD) at Venice Marco Polo airport (VCE) to be transferred to Selva di Val Gardena (Wolkenstein is the Ladin name) where you will settle into our hotel. Orientation meeting 6:00 pm and welcome dinner at the hotel.

Please note: We recommend arriving in Venice on June 25 and joining the group for dinner.

DAY 2

June 27 - The adventure begins.

We start with a ride up by cable car to Col Raiser (6950ft) where our trail leads us among green pastures till Summit of Seceda (8300ft). We follow a very scenic balcony trail along the Odle Pics, stop for a cappuccino at the Baïta Pieralongia enjoying along the way flowers, cows, donkeys, and the absolute peacefulness of the mountains. After descending, we continue along a green valley to reach Rifugio Firenze (2037m). From here, hiking down to Selva or cable car down. Approximately 7 hours of hiking.

DAY 3

June 28 - Hiking the Friedrich August trail

A short minivan transfer (15 mins) takes us to Passo Sella (7405ft). Our path, called the Friedrich August trail, leads to the Refugio Sasso Piatto (7649ft). This is a fairly level path for a while that allows us to enjoy the marvelous views around. All along the day, going up and down, we will be switching from forest to alpine meadows to pale white and pink rocky areas. Approximately 7 hours of hiking.

DAY 4

June 29 - The Sella Massif Loop to Rifugio Boe

After a 30 minute transfer to Passo Pordoi, we discover the enormous bulk of the Sella massif! The cable car takes us to Forcella Pordoi. This alpine hiking tour crosses the stunning plateau of Sella (highest summit, Mt Piz Boe at 3,152 m.). We hike down to Forcella Pordoi to start the loop crossing a bizarre moon-like landscape. As we get closer to the bottom of Piz Boe, this panoramic trail takes us to Rifugio Boe, crossing this stunning plateau back to the cable car.

The summit portion requires a high mountain guide. While we get closer to the bottom of Piz Boe another trail reaches the summit (there is a hut at the top). From here the hike is steeply upwards. The guide will lead you along the most difficult sections which are secured by cable or steps. From the summit, you discover a wonderful 360° stunning view of the surrounding famous Dolomite peaks.

We will then head back down the steep trail off the other side of the summit to complete the loop. Approximately 7 hours of hiking.

DAY 5

June 30 - Into the mountains we go

We transfer to Capanna Alpina (5696ft) where the trail starts in the forest then along a gushing torrent under the orange walls of the Cunturines. A steep zigzag ascent takes us to Col Loccia (6828ft) after a short descent we find ourselves in gently undulating terrain, passing a small lake, to reach the comfortable Rifugio Lavarella. Note: we need to carry our overnight personal belongings. Approximately 5 hours of hiking.

DAY 6

July 1 - Our journey continues

In these remote alpine valleys, local communities have maintained a strong cultural identity. We can still hear people speaking Ladin, a language born from Latin and German origins. While we are getting ready for our hike, marmots have long been playing in the alpine lawn around the hut, ready to pause for a picture! We follow our trail to Pedéru and then hike up to an accessible route thanks to an old military road, dug and carved into the mountain. We will enjoy lunch near the Rifugio Fodara (6,500ft). This is a beautiful hike across fields, alpine prairies and sedimentary rock. Then our trail goes down into the Valsalata following a WW1 mule trail and back toward the road. Short transfer to our hotel at Cortina d’Ampezzo. Approximately 6 hours of hiking.

DAY 7

July 2 - Easy hiking, great views, WWI history

A short transfer close to the Falzarego pass is the starting point of our Cinque Torri hike. Emblematic mountains of the Dolomites, the ascent in the forest of old larches, then through a mineral universe leading us to the Scoiattolo refuge. Famous old restored war galleries are accessible to visit! Some trenches have even been reconstructed to show us a piece of history. Approximately 5 hours of hiking.

This will also be an optional rest day for folks that want to explore the town of Cortina.

DAY 8

July 3 - Alpine pastures await

After a short shuttle by minivan, we hike to the Palmieri mountain hut, located at the foot of the imposing Croda da Lago. We can admire the Mondeval alpine pastures from the Forcella Ambrizola. For many centuries, this alpine grazing area was known for the abundance and quality of its grass. Tools and human relics dating back to the Neolithic ages were found here. Hiking across this extraordinary landscape makes it easy to understand the reason for human presence here and why it is a paradise for cattle herds and horses. After hiking to Forcella Giau, we meet our van at Passo Giau. Approximately 6 hours of hiking.

DAY 9

July 4 - Our last day in the mountains

From Cortina, a 30 minute van ride takes us past Lake Misurina to the start of our hike. We are at the foot of the vertical rock needles Tre Cime di Lavaredo, summiting at almost 9900ft, famous for their rock climbing routes. We begin with a gentle hike around the Tre Cime. This is one of the most impressive cliff faces in the Dolomites. The landscape is breathtaking. A loop around the range takes us back to the start of the hike. We transfer to our hotel in Cortina by minivan. Approximately 6 hours of hiking.

DAY 10

July 5 - All good things must come to an end

After a good breakfast, we will say goodbye. Transfer to Venice (VCE).

Trip Tips

EXPLORE VENICE

Venice is a magical place to spend a few extra days exploring and eating before or after our trip! We will coordinate a group dinner on June 25th and highly recommend arriving to Italy on this day. We will share lodging recommendations as well.

TRAVEL PLANNING ASSISTANCE

We are proud to partner with JennyMac Travel Adventures for all of your travel needs! Whether it’s booking airfare, lodging, or a rental car for your next AdventurUs Women trip, Jen is committed to making your next adventure as fun as can be. Let Jen do the planning so you can focus on the adventure! Explore travel options at www.jennymactravel.com or contact Jen@jennymactravel.com!

REQUIRED TRIP INSURANCE

Trip insurance with medical and repatriation coverage is required for our international trips. Cancellation insurance is also recommended. Our travel partner, JennyMac Travel Adventures, is happy to book travel insurance for you at competitive rates. Contact Jen@jennymactravel.com! (You are also welcome to book insurance on your own... please be aware we will require proof of insurance prior to the trip.)

FITNESS PLAN

We will be enjoying our days of hiking, eating and taking a million pictures and will not be rushed. We will work with each participant to make sure they have a training plan to make sure the trip is enjoyable!

DEPOSITS & CANCELLATIONS

Our international trips require a deposit of 50%. 10% of the full trip price is non-refundable. If the Participant cancels 91 or more days before the Activity, they shall receive a full refund minus a cancellation fee of 15% of the full trip amount; Within 61-90 days before the Activity, a 50% refund will be given; Within 60 days of the Activity, there are no refunds given, no exceptions. To ensure your experience is unforgettable much of our planning is finalized in the months leading up to the trip. Scheduling of guides, permits, accommodations, food planning, goodie bags, and all the little things that make our events great get finalized manually. Cancellations within the 90-day window incur costs that we cannot recoup. Last minute cancellations within 60 days are even harder as we often cannot fill the vacated spot on short notice. Our cancellation policy ensures the best possible experience for everyone. We strongly recommend purchasing "cancel for any reason" trip insurance.

FAQs

When should I arrive?

We will be meeting at Venice Marco Polo International Airport on June 26th. Our shuttle will meet us there and we will leave at 1pm. We highly recommend arriving in Venice on the 25th and joining everyone for our group dinner. We will share lodging recommendations with confirmed participants.

Want help arranging your travel?

Where can I find trip insurance?

Insurance is mandatory for our international adventures. Therefore this trip requires that we all have trip insurance that includes medical evacuation and repatriation insurance, which covers medical costs and the cost to get home if needed. Our travel partner, JennyMac Travel Adventures, is happy to book travel insurance for you at competitive rates. Contact Jen@jennymactravel.com! (You are also welcome to book insurance on your own... please be aware we will require proof of insurance prior to the trip.)

Does your passport expire within 6 months of our trip?

Please check that your passport does NOT expire within 6 months of our trip dates. Their is a funny story behind how we know this that may be shared over a glass of wine!

What is the cancellation policy?

Please note: Our international trips require a deposit of 50%. 10% of the full trip price is non-refundable.

If the Participant cancels 91 or more days before the Activity, they shall receive a full refund minus a cancellation fee of 15% of the full trip amount; Within 61-90 days before the Activity, a 50% refund will be given; Within 60 days of the Activity, there are no refunds given, no exceptions.

To ensure your experience is unforgettable much of our planning is finalized in the months leading up to the trip. Scheduling of guides, permits, accommodations, food planning, goodie bags, and all the little things that make our events great get finalized manually. Cancellations within the 90-day window incur costs that we cannot recoup. Last minute cancellations within 60 days are even harder as we often cannot fill the vacated spot on short notice. Our cancellation policy ensures the best possible experience for everyone.

What are the COVID requirements?

All participants must show proof of vaccination and should be prepared to follow all government and international travel requirements. Current info can be found here.

What COVID protocols will be followed on the trip?

Face coverings may be required when physical distancing cannot be maintained, if traveling in shared vehicles, and in any location where use is mandated.

What is the group size?

We want each experience to feel intimate and special and as such, keep our adventure trips small. This trip has a minimum requirement of participants to run and may have up to 8.

HIKE THE DOLOMITES | 10-Day

Overview