Compare Guided Best of the Dolomites Traverse by Alpine Hikers

Day 1:

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Grones

Ortisei – Arrive in Italy and and meet our shuttle in Bolzano.  If you are arriving early, we can help with extra nights in Bolzano or with arrangements on getting to Ortisei independently.  Ortisei is a lovely little village surrounded by the stunning scenery of the Gardena Valley.

You’ll meet your guide, talk about the trip to come.  Ortisei is a pleasant walkable village and is blessed with beautiful views from every corner. We’ll stay in one of our favorite hotels, the always friendly 4-star Hotel Grones.

Day 2:

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Grones

Ortisei –Today, we might start with a cable car ride to a ridge high above town, and take a dayhike through high scenic meadows to the Brogles hut, where you can scan practically the entire Gardena Valley and gaze upon the jagged needles of the Puez-Odle peaks.

Afterwards, spend a little time in town.  Ortisei is a beautiful village with shops and cafes lining their cobblestoned, pedestrian-only main road.  The hotel pool and spa is a great place to relax for a couple hours before dinner.

Hike: 6-8 hours, 7 miles; Elevation: 400 ft. up, 3200 ft. down

Day 3:

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Schlernhaus Hut

Schlernhaus hut – Hiking hut-to-hut, we’ll traverse the famous Alpe di Siusi, the largest meadow in the Alps.  We’ll first make an unforgettable gourmet stop at Gostner Schwaige for lunch, and then after a mellow crossing of the meadows, we’ll tackle the steep ascent to the mountaintop Schlernhaus.

Schlernhaus is fairly rustic, with private rooms, bathrooms down the hall, and no showers.  Their beautiful dining room is a cozy place to relax in the evening enjoying a night high in the Dolomites.

Hike: 5-7 hours, 9 miles; Elevation: 2600 ft. up, 1100 ft. down

Day 4:

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Plattkofel hut

Plattkofel hut –  Today we’ll continue along the ridgeline high above the rolling green hills of the Alpe di Siusi, with breathtaking views in every direction.  We’ll stop for lunch at the beautiful Tires hut, and finish the day at Plattkofel hut.

For those with extra energy and time, an alternate hike up to the peak of Sasso Piatto will reward you with spectacular views of the whole region.  With comfortable private rooms and hot showers, Plattkofel is more a comfortable mountain inn than a hut, with a quiet ambiance that allows us to relax and enjoy a beautiful evening high in the mountains.

Hike: 5-7 hours, 8 miles; Elevation: 1250 ft. up, 1750 ft. down

Day 5:

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Krone

Selva – Today we descend from Plattkofel and make our way to Selva, circling around the towering, jagged Sassolungo group.  After a stop at a dramatic mountain hut tucked inside a cirque of mountains, we’ll cross a series of meadows to a cable car that whisks us down to town.

Selva is a lovely little village surrounded by the stunning scenery of the Gardena Valley.  Tonight marks the start of the Dolomites East 6-night tour – new arrivals will join the group for dinner.

Hike: 5-7 hours, 7 miles; Elevation: 2000 ft. up, 2200 ft. down

Day 6:

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Krone

Selva – For our final hike we’ll work our way up and explore the high meadows of the dramatic Puez-Odle mountain group, and perhaps stopping in at places like the Regensberger or Stevia huts along the way.

In the evening, you can enjoy a final farewell dinner at our tasteful village hotel.

Hike: 6-8 hours, 9 miles; Elevation: 3150 ft. up, 3150 ft. down

Day 7:

Meals: Breakfast

Depart – Today, you say goodbye to the Dolomites, and transfer to Bolzano for your post-trip destinations.