The Dolomites are Italy's alpine playground, an inspiring landscape of enormous limestone towers, colorful wildflowers, and lush green meadows. Italian, Austrian, and ancient Ladin cultures intermingle peacefully in the small, scattered villages in this mountainous region, and hiking trails range from easy, meandering routes to challenging via ferrata climbs. This village-based tour centers on the Val Gardena, one of the loveliest and most traditional valleys in the Dolomites.

To get to the Val Gardena, you will travel through Bolzano, a beautiful small city filled with plazas and museums. From there, a direct 1 hour bus ride takes you to the Val Gardena and the village of Ortisei, also known by it's Tyrolean name St. Ulrich. Ortisei is a charming village in the heart of the very traditional Val Gardena, with miles of hiking trails radiating in every direction. We'll meet here and will spend the next five days exploring the mountains all around us. 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!

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 hikes 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 at our hotel restaurant. These are multi-course feasts, often featuring delicious local Austrian and Italian specialties. Our hotels all serve fabulous food, and dinners will be hearty, filling, well-earned and very delicious.

The Val Gardena is our favorite region in the Dolomites. With gorgeous hotels and an attractive village to go with and numerous exciting hikes, this Dolomites tour will make an indelible impression.

Day 1 Arrive in Italy and transfer by train to Bolzano, your gateway to the Italian Dolomites. Bolzano is a pleasant city with large squares, outdoor markets, and an captivating natural history museum (home of the Ötzi iceman). Continue by bus on a scenic one-hour ride to Ortisei, in the heart of the lovely Val Gardena. We'll meet for a welcome dinner at our luxurious 4-star hotel. (Hotel Grones)
Day 2-6 Ortisei will be our base for hiking for the next 5 days. Ortisei is surrounded by pleasant hiking trails and is blessed with beautiful views from every corner, while the pedestrians-only village core features narrow cobblestoned streets lined with elegant shops. Our hikes may vary depending on the group and the weather, but our options include a day crossing the Alpe di Siusi, the largest mountain meadow in the Alps. Circumnavigate the trails surrounding the rugged twin peaks of Sassolungo and Sassopiatto. Hike to the high rocky reaches of the powerful Sella mountain. Explore the U-shaped Vallunga valley or the high scenic meadow trails of Seceda, where we can take in a panorama of virtually the entire region. In the evening, you can unwind in the sauna or pool and enjoy the gourmet cuisine at our tasteful hotel. (Hotel Grones)
Day 7 After breakfast, you'll say arrivederci, and depart by bus for your post-tour destinations.

sign up now