The Dolomites to Lake Garda

This tour blends the classic combination of mountains and lakes with a wonderful variety of authentic regional accommodation. Enjoy rustic charm in traditional mountain huts, hotels and the historic resort-town of Riva del Garda. Challenging walks in the Dolomites lead to easy lakeside strolls around Garda, the perfect spot to wind down.

Classic Routes | If you’re the active, outdoorsy type, who’s interested in taking on the great routes of the world or looking for a challenge, then our Classic Routes are for you. We’re talking the West Highland Way, Tour Du Mont Blanc and the Passau to Vienna Danube Cycle Path, to name but a few!

Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&B’s, inns, and guesthouses.

Solo Travellers, Families with Teens

The minimum age for this tour is: 12 Years

This trip is graded ‘moderate’ overall, as the walks are 8-16km in length and there are ascents/descents of anywhere between 350 to 800m. However on day 4 when you are walking to Rifugio Al Cacciatore, this day is ‘moderate to strenuous’ as you will be ascending 1200m—this is the most challenging day of the week.  This is a trip for experienced mountain hikers. The routes are not technically difficult and we do not include any via ferata, but some paths (particularly to/from/between the rifugi) are remote and high, and as such you must have a good head for heights, be sure-footed and not suffer from vertigo. Other paths on the walk include tarmac tracks, farm vehicle routes and some walking on minor roads (where unavoidable). 

7 nights accommodation is included in your trip; you’ll stay 2 nights high in the mountains at 2 different Rifugi (mountain huts), where you’ll enjoy true Dolomiti hospitality, staying in mixed-sex dormitory-style accommodation with bunks and a shared bathroom. Hot showers are available (fee payable), blankets and pillows are provided, and you can either bring your own sleep sheet or hire them from the rifugio, we recommend you take your own. At Rifugio Cacciatore rooms are for 2, 4, 6 or 8 people and are subject to availability at the time of booking.

For the rest of your 5 nights you’ll stay in authentic hotels and B&Bs that are ideal for walkers (of a 3-star standard), family-run and smaller properties where possible. The accommodation we normally use is detailed here, however, it is subject to availability and therefore alternatives of an equal standard may be offered.

Single Rooms 

This trip is not available to solo walkers due to the nature of the terrain in the Dolomites. Single rooms are on request at the hotels/B&Bs only (not possible in the rifugi) and a supplement is payable. Please remember that with smaller properties the number of dedicated single rooms will be limited. 

Meals

Dinners are included on your nights in Rifugio Malga Andalo and Rifugio Cacciatore. Dinner usually consists of polenta or potatoes, meat, preserved vegetables (such as delicious wild mushrooms), pasta and bread. Please let us know in advance if you have any dietary requirements as we will need to check with the hut managers if it is possible to accommodate you. When you are staying at hotels/B&Bs you are on a bed and breakfast basis. Most of your accommodations will be more than happy to provide a packed lunch on request and this can be booked on arrival.  This is strongly recommended at the rifugi and is payable locally. 

The route is not always waymarked (with the exception of some sections where you will be walking on official trails and to/from/between rifugi, where way-marking is good). Detailed routes note and GPS data will be provided for you via the Macs Adventure App. Further information will be provided upon receipt of your booking.

You can start this walking tour on any day between the end beginning of July and start of September.  Lake Garda is very popular so it’s best to book as far in advance as you are able to.  The summer months (mid-July through September) have warm temperatures and plenty of sun – perfect for hiking. While the average temperature of around 80 °F / 25°C on the valley floors, a gentle wind higher up usually makes for refreshing walking, and for every 1000m you climb, the temperature will drop by approx. 6.5°C.  As some of the walking on this trip is above 2000m, there may be some snow patches lying early on or late in the season. 

By Air: Trento is easily reached by train from city centre stations across Italy; just 2h10 from Venice, 2h50 from Milan or 4 hrs from Rome. Train timetables are available at Trenitalia.  

Departing Riva you can take the bus to Rovereto train station (40 mins) then catch the train to Venice (1h50). Alternatively take the bus to Peschiera del Garda (1h50) where there’s a train station on the Milan-Verona-Venice line, making onward travel easy from here. Further information regarding travel advice will be in your comprehensive pre-departure information pack.

Your bags will be transferred only between hotels on days 2, 5 and 6 (as there is no transfer access into the rifugi). We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg/44lbs per person. On Day 3 you will need to pack your daypack to take the essentials with you for the next 2 nights. You will be reunited with your bags again after your walk on Day 5 (at Comano Terme).