Dolomites Hiking
Mountain Majesty in Northern Italy
Crowning Italy’s northern border, the Dolomites are a pristine alpine playground, where vivid green meadows nestle against enormous limestone peaks and charming rifugi (mountain huts) welcome hikers with satisfying strudel and steaming cappuccino. Join us to explore two of the region’s most prized natural parks: Sciliar and Puez Odle. Ascend by cable car and gondola to some of Europe’s most breathtaking hiking routes. Lose yourself in fairy-tale villages, whose architecture, cuisine and language reflect a delightful blend of Italian and Austrian cultures. At night, enjoy distinctive lodges, savoring outstanding regional cuisine and superb local wines.
Trip Planning Links
- Hidden valleys, fairy-tale villages and majestic mountains in a multicultural mosaic
- Ride chairlifts, then hike past grassy meadows, pine forests, alpenrose and mountain huts
- Michelin-starred cuisine outside Cortina
- Dramatic views of the Cinque Torri, five towering stone pinnacles
- Shop for authentic Tyrolean specialties, such as jams, cheeses and flavored grappa
The Day-to-Day Itinerary
Days 1-2 fie allo sciliar
Meet in Bolzano 
Enjoy a picnic lunch and a warm-up hike in the hills above Fié allo Sciliar Ride a chairlift to the trailhead for a guided hike in the spectacular Sciliar Range In an amphitheater of soaring limestone peaks, follow rolling wildflower-specked meadows to a traditional mountain rifugio, a cozy hiker’s hut, where we enjoy a home-cooked lunch of canederli, speck, polenta or other local delicacies.
Days 3-4 San Cassiano
Explore dazzling Puez Odle Natural Park, one of the most pristine areas of the Dolomites Keep an eye out for chamois, mountain pheasants, eagles and marmots Climb the rocky terrain to Crespeina Pass, ablaze with spring and summer wildflowers Ride a chairlift to Santa Croce, a picturesque 15th-century chapel, and then hike past mountain huts, pine forests and meandering brooks.
Days 5-6 Cortina d'Ampezzo
Ascend to Rifugio Scoiattoli for dramatic views of the Cinque Torri, five stone pinnacles towering at nearly 9,000 feet Arrive in Cortina d’Ampezzo, a sophisticated—and distinctly Italian—ski village set beneath a battlement of stunning mountain peaks Enjoy a final walk in the mountains above Cortina Raise a glass to our adventures over dinner at a Michelin-starred restaurant outside town.
- Premiere Inns: These lodgings possess both elegance and authentic regional flair.
- Casual Inns: These lodgings are comfortable and appropriate to the area with such characteristics as authenticity, scenic settings and proximity to our activities.
- Deluxe Family Camping: We set up the tents (and take them down), handle every camp chore and perform culinary magic.
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Look at what other guests are saying about this trip!
This is our first Backroads trip. It far exceeded our expectations, in every way. The food was over the top in quality and quantity. The scenery and hiking are diverse and extraordinary. The inns were intimate and excellent. But it was the guides who made the trip so very special. They appeared to handle all the logistics effortlessly and we so appreciated having everything handled. They both provided leadership, but it never quite appeared so. They were tons of fun, inspiring, well informed and good teachers, and just so generally interesting as human beings I would have loved to have been almost anywhere with them. I effuse enough. It was a perfect trip.- Carmel, CA More about this Trip All Guest Reviews
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Dolomites Hiking
ALPINE MAGIC: Premiere Inns*
Romantik Hotel Turm
Fiè allo Sciliar (2 nights) A 13th-century hotel with Tyrolean-style décor, an acclaimed art collection and delicious regional cuisine prepared by proprietor and renowned chef Stefan Pramstrahler.
Hotel Ciasa Salares
San Cassiano (2 nights) An alpine chalet complete with Turkish baths, a full-service spa, a celebrated restaurant and a wine bar offering more than 1,500 labels.
* Casual Inn
Hotel de la Poste
Cortina d'Ampezzo (1 night) Established in 1835, this charming four-star hotel is located amid mountain peaks in the center of Cortina.
Dolomites Hiking
Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain
Routes For All Abilities
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.
| Activity Level | Average Time | Biking Average | Walking Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insider Trips | Explore at a leisurely pace—on village walks, market strolls, art history excursions, hands-on cooking classes and more. | ||
| 1 | 2-3 hours | 10-20 miles | 2-5 miles |
| 2 | 2-4 hours | 21-30 miles | 5-7 miles |
| 3 | 3-5 hours | 31-40 miles | 7-9 miles |
| 4 | 4-6 hours | 41-55 miles | 9-11 miles |
| 5 | 5-7+ hours | 56-75+ miles | 11-13+ miles |
Day 1
- Level 1 2 Route Options Available
- 4.3, 5 miles
- 300 - 1000 feet elevation gain
Day 2
- Levels 3 to 5 2 Route Options Available
- 7.9, 11.2 miles
- 900 - 2200 feet elevation gain
Day 3
- Levels 1 to 4 3 Route Options Available
- 5, 7.8, 10.5 miles
- 500 - 2200 feet elevation gain
Day 4
- Level 2 2 Route Options Available
- 6.1, 6.5 miles
- 700 - 1100 feet elevation gain
Day 5
- Levels 1 to 2 2 Route Options Available
- 3.5, 6 miles
- 1700 - 2000 feet elevation gain
Day 6
- Level 1 2 Route Options Available
- 1.9, 3.1 miles
- 700 - 1200 feet elevation gain