Walking in the Heart of the Dolomites

7 Days & 6 Nights 4.6 Read 18 reviews

Center-based hiking in South Tyrol's traditional Alta Badia region
Rewarding walks through flower-filled meadows dotted with wooden huts and Alpine cows
Discover the Ladin culture, hospitality and cuisine; all dinners are included
Enjoy spectacular views over the Dolomites from viewpoints at 2,500m
Relax at the end of a hike with a beer at your comfortable 3* hotel

Experience classic Alpine hiking in South Tyrol’s Alta Badia region; an impressive arena of Dolomite peaks combined with green meadows, idyllic villages and the traditional Ladin culture and hospitality. Stay in one village and enjoy included dinners at your hotel each night. Take on challenging and rewarding hikes through the Puez-Geisler and Fanes-Sennes Nature Parks, enjoying views of Dolomite giants such as Tofana (3,244m), Marmolada glacier (3,342m) and Civetta (3,218m). Use cable cars and chairlifts to reach high-level trails in no time at all; maximising your time in the high mountains without staying in mountain huts. Spend 6 nights in a comfortable, family run 3* hotel in atmospheric Corvara. Enjoy homemade feasts at your hotel, often featuring South Tyrolean specialities like dumplings, speck (smoked ham), polenta and apple strudel, washed down with local beer or wine - the perfect end to a classic Alpine day.

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What To Expect

This itinerary is ideal for those who prefer to have just one base for their hiking holiday, or who wish to travel to the Alta Badia during busy periods when minimum night stays at hotels are required (local events, holidays and August) If you are a keen walker who loves the mountains and wants to experience the very best of the Dolomites without compromising on comfort, then this is the tour for you. Stay in a lovely 3* hotel in a picture perfect alpine valley. You should be sure-footed, have a head for heights and not suffer from vertigo to fully enjoy this trip. Surrounded by lush green valleys and dramatic snow capped peaks, what's not to love!

Tour Style:

Self Guided | Go at your own pace on an independent active trip.

Activity:

Single Center Walking | The accommodation on this tour is in one main location, meaning you can unpack your bags for the duration of your trip

This trip is suitable for:

Solo Travelers, Multi-Generational, Groups > 10

As a guide, we would suggest that the minimum age of traveler this tour would be suitable for is: 12 Years

Ideal if you have an interest in:

National Parks & Trails
Mountains

Inspiration:

Activity Level & Terrain

This itinerary is rated as moderate to strenuous with the average daily distance being 12km. Each day has significant ascent and descent and the paths are a mixture of woodland trails, rocky mountain paths, gravel tracks and scree paths. Some paths are narrow and exposed so a head for heights and a sure foot is required. There are some sections of easy Via Ferrata (metal wires, ladders, foot holds bolted into the rock) to overcome. These don't require any specialist equipment and are similar to an easy scramble. To get the most of this trip, you should be in good physical shape and be an experienced walker, having already done some Alpine walking. You should also be comfortable using cable cars and chair lifts as this itinerary involves a few of these to get to the start/end of walks.

Navigation

The route is well waymarked. We also provide you with detailed turn-by-turn route notes and maps. You will also have access to the Macs Adventure Smartphone App enabling you to follow the route using your phone's GPS so you will have no problems finding the way. You can simply download the GPX tracks to your phone for offline use and off you go!

Accommodations

You will spend 6 nights in a comfortable, family run 3* hotel in the village of Corvara. The hotels we use have been hand-picked and all offer a warm welcome to hikers. The accommodation we normally use is indicated in the itinerary, however is subject to availability and therefore alternatives of an equal standard may be offered (hotel facilities may change if only alternative properties are available—should you have any specific requirements, please let us know).

Single Rooms and Solo Walkers

Single rooms are available should someone in your party want their own room and a single room supplement is payable. This tour is available to solo walkers but you must be an experienced and confident walker, having already done some Alpine hiking. Some paths are narrow and exposed so a head for heights and a sure foot is required. There are some sections of easy Via Ferrata (metal wires, ladders, foot holds bolted into the rock) to overcome. These don't require any specialist equipment and are similar to an easy scramble. The trails we have chosen are well-frequented however you should still be comfortable walking in rough terrain alone.

Meals

6 Breakfasts are included and are a buffet selection with lots of sweet treats like pastries, homemade jams fruit and cereals. Savoury tastes are also catered for with bread, cheese, ham and eggs available.

6 Dinners are included at the hotel restaurant. We have included evening meals as all hotels have wonderful on-site restaurants which offer great value for money, as well as an insight into the hospitality and cuisine of the Val Badia. Dinner is often a set menu with a few choices and consists of at least 3 courses. You will likely experience at least one traditional 'South Tyrol' or 'Ladin' evening which is a feast of local specialities including Knoedel (bread dumpling) usually served with homemade Sauerkraut and cheese, barley soup, polenta, speck, local cheeses, spinach pastries and sweet treats like apple strudel and cream.

Included

6 Nights accommodation in a 3* hotel
6 Breakfasts
6 Dinners
Transfer from Brunico train station to your hotel
Transfer to Brunico train station from your hotel
Transfers as per the itinerary
Detailed information pack, route notes and access to our navigation App
24/7 telephone support from our UK office

Excluded

Travel to and from Brunico train station
Cable car/chair lift tickets (a pass can be purchased locally for approx. 65 euros) or buses
Travel Insurance
Lunches
Drinks and Snacks
Personal Equipment

Extras

Single Room Supplement(s)
Extra nights along the way

When To Go

For the 2020 Season, this tour is available to start from the 1st of August.

For 2021 onwards, this trip is available to start any day of the week, from the beginning of July to mid September, subject to availability. In July you can experience Alpine flowers at their finest while in bloom. September often brings pleasant temperatures and a more relaxed atmosphere. Availability in August is very hard to come by as this is the main holiday making month for the Italians and indeed many other European countries, the hiking trails and the towns will be busy. For a more pleasant experience we recommend July or September. The season is relatively short due to the high-altitude nature of this tour, which can mean snow is a possibility even in June and in October.

Getting to the Start

The closest airports are Innsbruck, Verona, Munich and Venice. From all of these airports, take the shuttle or train to the main train stations of each city, then you can reach Brunico (also written as Bruneck) by train. The journey takes approx 3 hours from Innsbruck, 3 hours 40 mins from Verona, 4 hours 40 mins from Munich, and 5 hours from Venice. All routes require one change in trains. Train information can be found at the German, Austrian or Italian Railway websites. In Brunico, you will be met by your taxi transfer and taken to your first hotel in Corvara. Please inform us of your arrival time as soon as possible.

Getting from the End

From Corvara, you will be collected from your hotel and taken back to Brunico train station. The transfer time is approx. 50 mins, so we recommend allowing at least an hour if you are planning on catching a specific train.

General Information

Cable cars and chair lifts: This itinerary makes extensive use of the local cable cars and chair lifts, allowing you to start hiking at altitude, without spending too much time in the tree line. Each cable car/chair lift takes about 5 mins. We highly recommend purchasing a lift pass from the Tourist Information Centre in Corvara upon arrival. There are various options to choose from, for this particular itinerary, the 5 of 7 card is best. This means you can use the pass on any 5 days within a week. Once it has been activated for the day, it can be used as many times as required that day. The cost is approx. 65 euros per person. Up to date information can be found at the Alta Badia Tourist Board's website.

The reviews for this tour up until December 2019, are based on a previous itinerary. As of December 2019, changes have been made to the itinerary.

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