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Hiking in the Dolomites

Italy - Trip code DW Walking and Trekking
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162Kg of CO²e
Average carbon footprint per person
Carbon Footprint
You deserve to know everything about your holiday, from what is included, what to expect and every kilogram of CO2 emitted on average per person along the way.

We've partnered with ecollective to measure the carbon footprint of this tour based on an average group size. Find out more about how we calculate this and why we think it's important here.

 

Discover the dramatic scenery of the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on this week-long walking holiday. Enjoy treks through alpine meadows and pine forests, straddle the border of Italy and Austria, and explore relics left behind from World War One, as you traverse Italy's famous peaks. At the end of the day, unwind in our comfortable family-run hotel in the small town of Dobbiaco, gateway to the mountains.

Why we love this trip
  • Tre Cime - Trek with breathtaking views of these three iconic limestone peaks.
  • Local food and drink - Enjoy the traditional Austrian-influenced cuisine typical of the region.
  • Cortina, Leinz and Bolzano - Free day to explore further afield in the South Tyrol.
  • Included meals

    Breakfast: 7

    Lunch: 5

    Dinner: 5

  • Trip staff

    Explore Tour Leader

    Driver(s)

  • Transport

    Bus

    Cable Car

    Public Bus

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    Accommodation

    7 nights comfortable hotel

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    Walking grade:

    Moderate

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    Group Size:

    Trip maximum 16
    Explore Average 11

Itinerary

Day 1 - Join trip in Venice; drive to Dobbiaco (1,200 metres)

Our tour begins today at Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE), where we'll transfer as a group to Dobbiaco.

Our tour leader will meet you by the red-fronted 'RELAY' shop in the airport's Arrivals Hall at 3.45pm. If you'd like to join the group transfer, the latest your flight can arrive is 3.15pm. Please note, that it can be extremely busy by the main exit from the luggage area, please do not leave the building.

After we've gathered our group, we'll travel to our hotel in Dobbiaco, around a three-hour drive away. Located in the far north of Italy, Dobbiaco is close to the border with Austria - you might be surprised to find the food this week is Austrian-influenced, rather than typically Italian!

We'll stay at the Hotel Tschurtschenthaler, a family-run, traditional Alpine-style, 3-star hotel, located in the centre of the Old Town, surrounded by pretty shops and cafes and with far-reaching views of the stunning Dolomites mountains. On arrival, our tour leader will give us a short briefing on the week ahead.

Accommodation:

Grade: Comfortable Hotel

Single room available

Swimming pool available

Meals Provided: Dinner

Day 2 - Walk to the shores of emerald green Lake Braies

Taking the public bus, this morning we'll travel to Ferrara to begin our walk to Lake Braies (1,494 metres). We'll make our way through the fields and forest paths to arrive at the grandeur of the hotel at the head of Lake Braies - a justifiably popular lake spot with high-sided cliffs and deep green emerald waters. We'll have lunch and explore further around the lake before taking the public bus back to our hotel.

Today's 14-kilometre/8.7-mile walk is expected to take around five hours with a total ascent and descent of 450 metres/1,476 feet.

Accommodation:

Grade: Comfortable Hotel

Single room available

Swimming pool available

Meals Provided: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 3 - Trek through forest and alpine meadows to the Putzalm hut

We'll take a local bus to the old spa town of Altprags this morning, from where we'll climb up through beautiful flower meadows and on through forests to reach the lovely Putzalm hut for a well-earned coffee break. We'll then continue climbing to reach the tree line and shortly after, the pass of Suisridl, a little over 2,000 metres and a beautiful picnic spot. We'll descend on paths and tracks through the forests and the cross-country ski area to return to our hotel.

Today's 12.5 kilometres/7.8-mile walk is expected to take around six hours with a total ascent and descent of 750 metres/2,461 feet.

Accommodation:

Grade: Comfortable Hotel

Single room available

Swimming pool available

Meals Provided: Breakfast & Lunch

Day 4 - Ridge walk along the Austria/Italian border

We'll take a bus to Sesto and then a cable car to the top station (approximately 2,000 metres) and then ascend Mt Elmo (2,434 metres). Our walk takes us along a ridge that marks the border between Austria and Italy and has several bunkers and look-out posts from WWI. There is also a great and unusual photo opportunity - a foot in both countries! After walking the ridge and possibly bagging another summit, we'll descend into quiet valleys echoing with the shrill whistle of the elusive marmot, the eagle-eyed may well spot one sat sentry on a rock. We'll return to a different cable car for a descent to the valley floor and a public bus back to Dobbiaco.

Today's 11-kilometre/6.8-mile walk is expected to take around six hours with a total ascent of 680 metres/2,231 feet and a descent of 700 metres/2,297 feet.

Accommodation:

Grade: Comfortable Hotel

Single room available

Swimming pool available

Meals Provided: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 5 - Free day: optional cycling or visits to Cortina, Lienz and Bolzano

Today is an opportunity to either rest your legs and explore the cultural side of the region or keep up the activity levels and try some biking. A popular cycling day is the 50-kilometre/31.1-mile cycle ride to the Austrian town of Lienz. This gentle descent follows a well-made cycle track which is traffic-free and pretty much all downhill. Taking between two-and-a-half to three-and-a-half hours, most people will arrive in time for lunch. The train will take the strain for the return trip and the local rental company will collect the rental bikes from Lienz. A pair of cycling shorts and cycling gloves are recommended for this trip.

The town of Brunico hosts one of Reinhold Messner's mountain museums and is a short 30-minute train journey away. The pedestrianised main street leads to the castle atop the hill overlooking the town, the old castle's rooms contain interesting exhibitions celebrating the mountain peoples of the world as well as displaying some of the expedition equipment used on his epic oxygen-free ascents of the world's 148,000-metre peaks. A longer journey to Bolzano allows you to visit the museum of the 'Iceman' discovered in the Schnalstal Glacier in the Otztal Alps in 1991. At over 5,000 years old, he is Europe's oldest natural human mummy and the discovery of his body, along with the remnants of his weapons and clothing has helped to throw some light on the life and times of the region's Chalcolithic (Copper Age) Europeans.

For those interested in the battlefields of the 'White War,' as the conflict of 1915-17 in these mountains was known, a visit to Monte Piano via a bus journey and 4x4 shuttle can be arranged. This open-air museum commemorates the 14,000 soldiers who lost their lives to enemy action and the environment with well-preserved battlefield trenches, look-out posts and troop shelters. The nearby town of San Candido, barely five minutes by train, is another popular destination for a spot of shopping on a slightly larger scale than Dobbiaco. Pedestrianised streets, street cafés and restaurants invite you to linger for a lazy lunch as the world passes by. Perfect for a relaxing day off.

Less than an hour by public bus, Cortina is a world-renowned glamourous spot. The streets ooze high-class shopping experiences, and the cafes invite you to stay and people-watch. With the 2026 Winter Olympics being part-hosted here, there's a buzz and flurry of activity that is infectious and exciting. Alternatively, you can take further walks or stay at the hotel and make use of the indoor pool and spa.

Accommodation:

Grade: Comfortable Hotel

Single room available

Swimming pool available

Meals Provided: Breakfast

Day 6 - Trek around the three iconic limestone peaks of Tre Cime

We'll take the bus to the Auronzo hut at 2,320 metres, just below the famed UNESCO site of the Tre Cime de Lavaredo. From here, we'll take a quieter path to the most impressive north faces of the Tre Cime and pass the Langalm hut before following another less well-known path to reach the Locatelli hut and a picnic spot near the lake. After lunch, we'll take a small path, looping around Torre di Toblin and have some time to explore various Austrian WWI defences. We'll return to the Auronzo hut via the south faces of the Tre Cime and a complete loop of the most iconic mountains in the Dolomites. From here, we'll return to Dobbiaco via the shuttle bus service.

Today's 13-kilometre/8.1-mile walk is expected to take around seven hours with a total ascent and descent of 500 metres/1,641 feet.

Accommodation:

Grade: Comfortable Hotel

Single room available

Swimming pool available

Meals Provided: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 7 - Trek from Pratopiazza to Strudelkopf summit

We'll take the public bus to Pratopiazza (1,991 metres) - approximately 50 minutes - and walk a high-level track to the Durrenstein hut (2,040 metres). From here, we'll make a climb to the summit of Strudelkopf - a fabulous summit at 2,307 metres. The panoramic views are superb and we'll see the Tre Cime in the near distance. We'll descend via a military road and a choice of either a return on the same outward bus or an additional 4-kilometre/2.5-mile descent through the forests and along the riverside to Brukele and a bus back to Dobbiaco.

Today's 11-kilometre/6.8-mile walk is expected to take around six hours with a total ascent of 480 metres/1,575 feet and a descent of 1,000 metres/3,281 feet.

Accommodation:

Grade: Comfortable Hotel

Single room available

Swimming pool available

Meals Provided: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 8 - Trip ends at Venice Airport

Our trip ends today. Departing Dobbiaco this morning, we'll drive to Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) where we'll arrive at around 1.30pm. The earliest your flight can depart today is 3.30pm.

Meals Provided: Breakfast

Trip information

Climate and country information

Italy

Climate

April/May and October/November are pleasantly warm. June to September are the hottest months. Showers are common in Autumn.

Time difference to GMT

+1

Plugs

2 Pin Round

Religion

Roman Catholic

Language

Italian

Budgeting and packing

Optional activities

The following excursions and/or activities are usually available and may be arranged locally. Estimated costs are provided below for guidance only, are on a per person basis unless shown otherwise, and may depend on the number of participants. Prices quoted are correct as of the date these tour notes were originally issued but may change at any time due to currency fluctuations. Please note: These activities are booked and paid for locally and do not form part of your Explore holiday contract.


Cortina: one of Italy's premier ski resorts: public transport, 1 hour each way, €8 return journey.
Lienz: charming medieval town in Austria with churches & museums: public transport, 1 hour each way, €10 return journey.
Bolzano: 5000 year old ice man: public transport, 2 hours each way, €9 ice man museum entrance.
Monte Piana - WWI remains. Jeep from Misurina €12 both ways
Brunico - Messner's museum €9
Cycling Dobbiaco to Lienz - Hybrid bikes and cycle helmets are available to rent from Papin Sport for approximately €30. Return train Lienz to Dobbiaco €12

Clothing

We recommend taking lightweight and breathable clothing that can be layered according to the temperature and your level of activity. This should include a good quality waterproof jacket and trousers (e.g. Goretex / e-Vent), fleece jacket, comfortable walking trousers, shorts, warm hat and gloves, sunhat and sunglasses. Temperatures can change dramatically at altitude and at night. For around-town wear in Dobbiaco, you may like to bring some slightly smarter clothes.

Footwear

We recommend you bring good quality walking boots with ankle support - leather or fabric are both fine but trainers are definitely not suitable for these hikes. Make sure that your boots are worn-in and comfortable before the start of the trip. Bring trainers or sandals for relaxing and general wear. We suggest that on international flights you either carry your walking boots in your hand luggage or wear them - should your luggage be lost or delayed, your own boots are the one thing that will be irreplaceable.

Luggage

20kg

Luggage: On tour

One main piece of baggage and a waterproof daysac (25-40 litres recommended).

Equipment

You will need a reusable water bottle (preferably 2 litres), and high factor sun cream.Trekking poles are recommended. It is a good idea to line your daysac with a good quality plastic bag. This will go a long way in protecting your gear from any rainstorms we encounter.
Tap water is safe to drink at the hotel, but water sources along the trail may not always be drinkable. Using tap or purified water rather than bottled water will help avoid creating plastic bottle waste. Energy snacks including chocolate and sweets are recommended whilst on trek as well as a lunch box/tupperware for picnic lunches.

We strongly recommend that if you intend to take part in the optional bike ride on this tour, you bring your own cycling helmet with you. Cycling helmets will be available to hire locally from a reputable supplier, but we cannot guarantee the structural integrity of local equipment. Most insurance providers require helmets to be worn whilst cycling, so in the event of an accident, it is likely that any insurance claim will be invalidated if you are not wearing a helmet.

Tipping

Explore leader
Tipping isn't compulsory, and we work hard to ensure that our leaders all receive a fair wage. You may however, want to recognise a leader that has done a great job or really added to your trip by giving them a tip. We're often asked about the recommended amount. It is a tricky one, and down to personal preference, but we would recommend €35 to €50 per person per week as a guideline.

Italy

Food and drink

The costs for meals may vary depending upon location, type of restaurant and number of courses eaten and so the prices given are an average guide. Local restaurants located off the beaten track may be less expensive, whereas an upmarket restaurant located in the centre of a major city may charge more.


Lunch price
£15.00 - 20.00
Dinner price
£25.00 - 40.00
Beer price
£4.00 - 7.00
Foreign Exchange
Local currency
Euro.
Recommended Currency For Exchange
GBP.
Where To Exchange
We recommend that you change any currency into Euros prior to arrival. Bureau de Change are generally only found in major cities and large airports.
ATM Availability
Major towns.
Credit Card Acceptance
Most hotels and restaurants.
Transport, Accommodation, Food & Drink

Transport Information

Bus, Cable Car, Public Bus

Accommodation notes

During this tour, we stay at the comfortable, family-run Hotel Tschurtschenthaler, a traditional Alpine-style 3-star hotel, located in the centre of the old town of Dobbiaco - also known locally as Toblach. The hotel was built in 1972 and has been in the hands of the Tschurtschenthaler family ever since, with the daughter Marlies now in charge. The hotel is surrounded by pretty shops and cafes with far-reaching views of the stunning Dolomites mountains.
All rooms have a balcony, safety deposit box, satellite TV and hairdryer. There is a small bar area and a comfortable lounge for relaxing as well as a wellness spa, which has a variety of saunas and steam rooms, a jacuzzi bath, an infrared heat cabin and solarium as well as a small, heated swimming pool and relaxation area. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel.

The traditional-style dining room is a lovely setting for breakfast and dinner. The daily changing menu includes a mixture of Mediterranean and Tyrolean dishes using produce from the local area. The restaurant can cater for specialised diets such as gluten-free and vegetarian. Please make sure that you advise us of any dietary requirements at the time of booking.

Italy

Food and drink

Can you drink the water? 
It is generally possible to drink the local tap water, therefore to reduce the need for single-use plastic bottles we recommend you bring a refillable water bottle with you. Your leader will advise you on refill points each day. 

Essential Information

Government Travel Safety Advice

We strongly recommend that you check your government's travel advisory for up-to-date information and advice about your destination's safety and security, entry requirements, health, local laws and customs. Relevant government website links for UK, US, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand citizens are available on our Travel Safety page.

If you'd like some inital information on country-specific entry requirements, such as visas or any health declaration forms, please refer to our Entry Requirements page.  The services and information on this page are provided by a third party, and so we will still recommend that you cross check this against your government website for the latest advice.
 

Under 18 immigration guidance

Please note that some countries require proof of parental consent when travelling overseas with under 18s. Please check requirements with the relevant embassy or consular office well in advance of travel if this applies to your party.

Price Guarantee

Once your booking has been confirmed we guarantee the price will not increase, whatever the circumstances. However, please note that if you voluntarily make any changes to your booking including changing your trip or departure date, any additional costs or charges incurred will not be covered. Before booking please ensure you have read our important tour pricing information.Booking Conditions
 

Visa and Passport Information

Italy: Visas are not required by UK, E.U nationals, Australian, New Zealand, US and Canadian citizens. Other nationalities should consult their local embassy or consular office.


If you do require assistance in obtaining a visa then you may be able to apply through Explore's recommended visa service in the UK, Travcour. See www.travcour.com to download the relevant visa application for your trip, if applicable (UK citizens only), along with details of how to apply for your visa through Travcour. The Team at Travcour will be happy to answer specific questions relating to visa applications, please call them directly on 0208 5431846.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you are in possession of a full passport, with the correct validity for your chosen destination.
 

Booking conditions

Before booking your Explore trip, please ensure that you read both our Essential Information and Booking Conditions.
 

Minimum age restrictions

For our group tours, the minimum age is 16. The minimum age on Family trips varies between 7 and 11 - please check the 'Family information' section of the trip page for more information. 


Your safety and enjoyment on tour

We want everyone to have a safe and enjoyable holiday, so we ask you to confirm when booking this trip that you are fit and able to fully participate in all elements of the itinerary. If you have any concerns about your fitness or ability to complete any of the activities, please get in touch with our Customer Relations team at cr@explore.co.uk as soon as possible. Our tour leaders are trained and experienced in managing differing abilities within a group, but if they have concerns about a group member’s ability to safely participate in any element of the itinerary or believe someone’s presence could affect the safety or enjoyment of the holiday for others, in accordance with our Booking Conditions our tour leaders have the authority to ask an individual to miss an activity or activities. This decision would never be taken lightly, but on the rare occasions our tour leaders ask someone to sit out part of the tour, refunds will not be offered and individuals may be liable for additional costs incurred. 
 

Your Tour Leader

All tours aside from extensions, Galapagos cruises and polar expeditions will be led by one of our experienced Tour Leaders. We believe that our Tour Leaders are the key to the success of our tours; they are local experts who are bursting with first-hand knowledge which they love to share, and their unique insights will bring the destination to life. Your Tour Leader will be on hand throughout your tour to make sure arrangements run smoothly, to organise all the local logistics and to keep you safe. Your Tour Leader should be your first point of contact if you encounter any difficulties or disappointments in country – please raise any concerns, however small, with your Tour Leader as they are best placed to assist you.

Transfers

Find out more about Trip Transfer Terms and Conditions before you book.

Booking a land only package with Explore

Customers who have chosen to book on the ‘Land Only’ arrangements of our tour, please ensure that you have checked your tour specific ‘Joining Instructions’ prior to booking your own travel arrangements. Your joining instructions can be found below in the dates and prices information. 

You may also be eligible for the Free Explore Transfer.


Joining Tour Abroad

Customers booked on the ‘Land Only’ arrangements will receive a Free Transfer, provided you arrive and depart on the tour only itinerary start and end dates. The complimentary transfers will be arranged from the Explore designated airport or train station to your trips joining point, and then back from the ending point to the designated airport or train station. Generally the airport or station that Explore have selected will be the one that is closest to the town or city where the trip starts, or the one nearest to the joining point. It will be either an airport or train station but not both.

The exception to this rule is customers who are booked on a tour where the joining and ending point is at the designated airport or train station.  

Free transfers are not available for Polar customers.

If you are not eligible for the Free Transfer then you will need to make your own way through to the joining and ending point. On a majority of our tours Explore will be able to provide a private transfer at an additional cost. Please ask for a quote at the time of booking.  

For more information regarding the Explore Free Transfer click here

Insurance

It is a condition of booking with Explore that you have adequate valid travel insurance. It is your responsibility to arrange appropriate travel insurance and ensure you have read and understood the full terms and conditions of your travel insurance policy to ensure that you are covered for all activities you intend to undertake whilst on the tour, including all optional activities. Your Insurance Policy must fully cover you for medical expenses and emergency repatriation to your home country. Please ensure your policy includes medical emergency helicopter evacuation in the event of illness or injury and covers the entire duration of your holiday. If you are trekking at altitude please ensure that there is no upper altitude limit which may limit or exclude cover for your trip. The cost of many of our Polar Voyages will exceed the capped amount covered by standard insurance premiums and you will be required to pay an additional premium to cover the full value of your trip. Please ensure that you are covered for the full amount of your holiday cost, as insufficient cover could invalidate a claim under the policy. Medical and repatriation insurance cover is not mandatory for UK residents who are travelling on trips within the United Kingdom.
Read more information about what travel insurance is required.

Flight information

Explore can arrange your flights for you, to make joining and leaving our trips easy. Read more about them here.


Flight Information

You are able to book this tour on a 'land only' basis or as a ‘flight inclusive’ package. Your flight inclusive package will be fully protected by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) ATOL protection scheme.

 

Booking a flight inclusive package with Explore

We have a good selection of flights not only from London but from many regional airports around the UK allowing us to compare fares between scheduled carriers as well as low cost and charter airlines. Our dedicated flights team will match the best flight options to your arrival and departure airport.

On our website we display the price of the tour only. Please call us or select the flight option during the online checkout to receive a quote for a flight inclusive package. To avoid paying supplements or to secure your preferred flight option, we recommend booking as early as possible, especially for peak travel dates.

Maximum altitude (m)

2550

Italy

Vaccinations

Nothing required. Tetanus recommended. Please check the latest requirements with your travel clinic or doctor prior to departure. The above is not an exhaustive list. Information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice can be found by on the NaTHNaC website and from your local healthcare provider. Visa and vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed by you before travelling.

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