The Dolomites to Lake Garda

8 Days & 7 Nights 5 Read 10 reviews

Classic walks from high in the Brenta Dolomites to Lake Garda
Historic and cosy mountain rifugi, surrounded by golden limestone peaks
Remote trails around chiselled rock faces, forested valleys & alpine pastures
Relaxing at your wellness hotel at Comano Terme, famed for thermal springs
Lake Garda—Italy’s largest lake—with its beach, waterfront parks and cafés

Walk from the sky-scraping limestone peaks of the Brenta Dolomites to the shimmering shores of Lake Garda. Combine classic hut-to-hut hikes in the Dolomites with relaxed walking at Lake Garda Experience the atmosphere of remote and historic mountain huts (rifugi), riding a cableway from Lake Molveno up into the heart of the Dolomites. You’ll stay 2 nights nestled amongst a natural amphitheatre of giant monoliths. Descend via the Val d’Ampiez and walk to the thermal springs of Comano Terme, before you wind your way through wooded valleys to spectacular Lake Garda, where you can relax water-side, ferry-hop to picture-postcard villages or enjoy loop walks.

What To Expect

Travel restrictions and resources, to and from any destination

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.

Tour Type:

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!

Activity:

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

Ideal if you have an interest in:

Alpine Walking

Activity Level & Terrain

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 3 when you are walking to Rifugio Tosa Pedrotti, 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).

Navigation

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.

Accommodations

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. 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 for the 2 nights that you are staying in the rifugi. 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.

Included

5 Nights in properties of a 3-star standard
2 Nights in mountain huts/rifugi in bunk-bed dormitory-style accommodation
7 Breakfasts
2 Dinners
Baggage transfers between hotel accommodation (days 2, 5, 6)
Taxi transfer on day 2 as per itinerary
Route notes, maps and detailed information pack
24/7 emergency telephone support from our office

Excluded

Travel insurance (required).
Travel to Trento and from Riva del Garda.
Entrance fees.
Public transport costs (eg. buses and ferries).
Lunches, drinks and snacks.
5 Dinners
Local City Tax (up to EUR2 per person per night).
Personal equipment

Extras

Additional nights
Additional taxi transfers (on request)

When To Go

You can start this walking tour on any day between the end beginning of July and start of September. Available from 2017. 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 max temperature may reach 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.

Getting to the Start

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.

Getting from the End

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.

Luggage Transfer

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 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).

General Information

The distances and ascent/descents are approximations of the recommended routes. Please be prepared by packing all necessary items, for example, proper rain gear (jacket and pants), sun hat, sunscreen. Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes for the cooler months and lightweight clothing for summer, and a day pack.

Travel Insurance

It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity and emergency evacuation and hospital care.

How fit do I need to be?

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Can we have our own room in the rifugi/huts?

What personal equipment do I need?

When is the best time of year?

What happens if I dont want to walk?

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Trento Day 2 Walk Fai della Pagnella to Molveno 9.5 miles / 15 km Day 3 Cableway to Palon di Tovre, walk to Rifugio Tosa Pedrotti 5.5 miles / 9 km Day 4 Walk to Rifugio Cacciatore 5 miles / 8 km Day 5 Walk to San Lorenzo, bus to Comano Terme 5.5 miles / 9 km Day 6 Walk to Villa del Monte 10 miles / 16 km

Continue walking south through the leafy Val di Lomasone as you leave the highest summits behind to reach Villa del Monte. Here a taxi transfer is arranged in the late afternoon to take you to Riva del Garda (30 mins). Alternatively, if you’d prefer a lazy day then take the bus all the way from Comano Terme to the lake (1hr).

‘Riva’ is a bustling town on the northern shores of Lake Garda, with a mountainous backdrop. Protected by the town’s fortress you'll find the historic centre - tall buildings and narrow lanes, with the Torre Apponale clock tower, looming above. Opposite the waterfront, there is a string of cafés, a harbour, a park and a beach—perfect for people-watching with a gelato.

Ascent/Descent: 578m/406m

Overnight Riva del Garda

Accommodations

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Hotel Vittoria | Hotel

Hotel Vittoria has 11 rooms over 4 floors; it is an old Bavarian-style hotel-restaurant in the city centre of Riva, just a few steps from the lake. The restaurant specialises in typical Bavarian dishes, accompanied by German beers and Italian wines.

Albergo Alle Porte | 3 Star | Hotel

This hotel is located 8 minutes away from the beach, it is amongst the traditional restaurants and shops of Riva del Garda's historical centre and pedestrian area. Each room provides Wi-Fi, Sat. TV, phone, safe, mini fridge (Mini Bar), own regulated clima, en-suite bathroom with hair dryer.

Hotel Luise | Hotel

A modern 4 star hotel just a 10 minute walk from the shores of Lake Garda. The staff are at hand 24 hours a day to assist with anything you may need. A delicious buffet of breakfast is provided every morning and the restaurant is open in the evenings if you decide to eat at the hotel. They have a selection of menus that cater to a variety of tastes and dietary requirements. The hotel has a pool and garden to relax in during the evenings, and can provide bike hire for guests.