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The Dolomites (Village-based hiking/walking tour)
Meet: Bolzano (Italy) Visit: St. Ulrich/Ortisei Length: 7 days Hike Rating: Moderate - Strenuous, 5-7 hours/day, 1000'-3500' elevation gain/loss
Nothing quite compares to the otherworldly beauty of the Dolomites, whose sheer pink and yellow limestone pinnacles tower like monuments over quaint villages, flowery meadows, wooded valleys, and sun-soaked trails. Italian, Austrian, and ancient Ladin cultures intermingle peacefully in the small, scattered villages in this mountainous corner of Italy. The Dolomites also boast a surprising variety of beautiful wildflowers in the grassy meadows below the mountains. Our tour begins with one night in Bolzano, a beautiful small city filled with plazas and museums. We'll follow this with 5 nights in the quiet village St. Ulrich, also known by its Ladin name of Ortisei. St. Ulrich is a charming village in the heart of the very traditional Val Gardena, with miles of hiking trails radiating in every direction. Our 4-star hotel in Ortisei is a treat, luxurious yet casual, with a pool and spa, and great food. You won't want to leave! We are also planning one optional night in a mountain hut on this tour, giving us the opportunity to explore some of the region's highest reaches. Some in the group may choose to stay in St. Ulrich to dayhike, while others continue on to the hut. Our typical day starts with a delicious buffet breakfast at our hotel - a feast of freshly baked bread and croissants, local meats and cheeses, cereal, fruit, eggs made to order, coffee and freshly squeezed juice - which gives us the energy needed for the task ahead. Soon we'll be out on the trail, where you'll get to choose between an easier or more strenuous hike for the day. Each morning, you'll be handed a lunch to carry, and at a mid-point along the way we'll choose a beautiful spot to stop and enjoy our picnic. We get a lot of compliments on our imaginative lunches - making them something to look forward to as well! We should finish our hike around 4 pm, giving you time to wash up, relax, perhaps settle into the pool, or just gaze upon the outside panorama from your room balcony. After that, we'll enjoy dinner together at our hotel's fabulous restaurant. These are multi-course feasts, often featuring delicious local Austrian and Italian specialties.
Day 1 Arrive in Italy and transfer by train to Bolzano, our meeting point in the Italian Dolomites. Bolzano is a pleasant city with large squares, outdoor markets, and an captivating natural history museum (home of the famous Ötzi iceman). After we meet, we'll have a wonderful welcome dinner and settle in to Bolzano hotel for the night.(Hotel Citta)
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For info on our hiking tours of Italy and the Dolomites, call toll free: (888) 509-7810 Or email: alpinehikers@yahoo.com 1203 Loren Dr Prescott, AZ 86305 USA |