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Dolomites Family Hiking Adventure

Hiking/Trekking in Italy with Dolomite Mountains

Highlights

  • Breath in pure air and experience hiking on a UNESCO World heritage site
  • Enjoy the atmosphere of the mountain rifugios after a variety of hikes among spectacular landscapes
  • Hike with the kids and climb vie ferrate that were originally built to aid the military units during WWI

Full Description

Besides the exhilarating hiking, our family trip features a bike ride to Austria and return trip by train, swimming pools, waterslides, a summertime Funbob bobsled and the Adrenaline adventure park in Cortina where the kids can try their skills on zip-lines, tree-swings and a variety of exciting rope-courses.

The Italian Dolomites are truly a hiker's paradise. Thousands of trails wind their way between the fantastic pinnacles of these jagged mountains, which magically turn from pale gray to gold and pink at dusk. We set our tour in the South Tyrol, unquestionably the finest hiking in the Italian Alps. Our hikes are in the Braies National Park and the Ampezzo Dolomites. Most of our hiking trails are above the tree line, providing us with magnificent views of the Dolomite's elegant limestone spires and massive rock towers.

Literally translated as the iron way or iron path, the via ferrata runs throughout the Dolomites, incorporating a system of iron ladders to assist hikers on steep mountainous terrain. The trails were originally built and used by WWI soldiers fighting in this region. Your alpine guide provides you with the necessary helmets and harnesses to safely negotiate this exhilarating way to access spectacular mountain terrain.

We spend the first three nights in the village of San Candido, two nights traverse in mountain inns and last in Cortina d'Ampezzo for two nights. San Candido is located in the Val di Pusteria, part of the Southern Tyrol. Until 1918, this region was part of the Austrian Tyrol and its people are largely of Germanic descent; many still speak the Latin-based Ladin language. Their local cuisine is a sublime marriage of flavors from Austria and Italy. Our last three nights are spent in Cortina d'Ampezzo. The village lies in a sunny basin at the junction of the Bigontina and Boite valleys. Host of the 1956 Winter Olympics, Cortina village is equal parts rustic beauty and chic Italian style. We spend our evenings in the comfort of small hotels nestled among the surrounding peaks. Cozy wood-paneled bedrooms and big fluffy duvets make for a great end to the day.

Includes:

  • Includes 3 different accommodations in family hotels and charming rifugi with private rooms
  • Meals as noted in itinerary
  • Local English speaking UIAGM/IFMGA mountain guide during the entire trip
  • Transfers as noted
  • Via ferrata equipment for 2 days
  • Meals as noted (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
  • Map of the area

Excludes:

  • Airfare to/from the departure point
  • Gratuities to local guides

Day by Day Itinerary

Sample Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive in San Candido/Innichen on your own (because the region is bilingual, villages and towns have both an Italian and Austrian name). Daily rail connections are available from Milan, Venice, Munich, and Innsbruck. Check into your hotel, and meet your guide for a trip briefing. Depending on when you arrive, you may have some time to explore the village and admire its beautiful wooden farmhouses. Meeting with guide upon arrival and briefing of the trip. D. Family Hotel in San Candido/Innichen

Day 2

Bike ride to Austria or Hike-Today we take a leisurely bike ride along the bike path from San Candido to Lienz, Austria. The 44 km (26 mile) bike ride is quite easy and is recommended for families with small children. This unique bike trail cuts through a valley surrounded by breathtaking mountains on either side. The one-way ride takes about 2 ½ - 3 hours, but if you are tired, there are six train stations along the route where you can load yourself and the bike and return back to San Candido. So, there is no pressure to complete the ride! Once in Lienz, we'll park our bikes at the train station and visit the quaint Austrian village of Lienz. Lunch and free time to explore the town and its fascinating castle. If time permits, kids might opt to take an exciting ride on San Candido's "Funbob," a summertime version of the bobsled. B,D. Family Hotel in San Candido/Innichen.

Day 3

Hike/Via Ferrata-We start the day with a short van transfer up to the rifugio at Auronzo. Our hike takes us around the spectacular massif of the "Tre Cime di Lavaredo." The "Three Peaks" are some of the most dramatic mountains in the Dolomites due to their extraordinary spike shape, alignment and subtle color changes that occur throughout the day. The Cima Grande (Big Peak) is the highest (9836'), followed by Cima Ovest (Western Peak) and Cima Piccola (Small Peak). We stop for lunch at a rifugio that offers magnificent views of the surrounding landscape, then continue down through alpine meadows to the valley below. Via Ferrata Monte Paterno: The route is dedicated to two of the most famous protagonists of the Mountain War, Piero de Luca and Sepp Innerkofler, both accomplished mountaineers whose skills and local knowledge were vital to the military campaign. The Via Ferrata Innerkofler is one of the most beautiful and suggestive Via ferratas on this group as you ascent the Paternkofel, 2744m and then descend through the old war-tunnels to the Three Pinnacle Hut B,D. Cortina d’Ampezzo

Day 4

Cortina Col dei Bos/WW1 Tunnels/Via Ferrata Col dei Bos-After breakfast, we’ll transfer to Col Gallina and begin our short hike to the Via Ferrata Col dei Bos, which doesn’t appear on maps or in guidebooks. From the top of Col dei Bos, the views of the surrounding mountains are unforgettable. We descend to Rifugio Lagazuoi, our home for the night featuring a marvelous terrace with a 360° view of the Dolomites. Mount Lagazuoi is a veritable castle of rock, with spires, turrets, and hidden military forts deep within. We will transfer children (and parents) who don’t want to hike to Passo Falzarego to ride the cable car up to Rifugio Lagazuoi. From there, we’ll walk to the Galleria del Lagazuoi, a fascinating WWI museum carved into the mountains. Here the Italian and Austro–Hungarian armies dug shelters out of the mountains, transforming them into an impenetrable 20th century fortress of tunnels, trenches, and machine gun posts. Numerous routes take us on a behind-the-scenes tour of a dramatic, high-altitude battles that were unique in the history of man. B,D. Rifugio

Day 5

Descend by cable car to Passo Falzarego. From here hike under Cresta Gallina (“Chickens’ ridge”) and reach the junction that leads either to Rifugio Averau and Nuvolau. We descend on the path that drops south before coasting southeast across loose rubble beneath Nuvolau. The grassy slopes are home to a colony of playful marmots. Quite used to humans, they do not shy away from having their photograph taken. As you pass beneath the soaring Ra Gusela point a short distance above Passo Giau. B,D. Rifugio

Day 6

Cortina d'Ampezzo-From Rifugio Passo Giau we hike up to Forcella Giau and along the Lastoni di Formin massif we arrive to the Rifugio Croda da Lago under the impressive massif of the same name and part of UNESCO Natural World Heritage. Hike down to Cortina for the last night. B,D. Cortina d’Ampezzo

Day 7

Breakfast and departure. B.

About The Operator:

Dolomite Mountains

Headquarters:

Livinallongo del Col di Lana, Italy

Our Company

Dolomite Mountains is the only local company based in the Dolomites specializing in and providing unique experiences in adventure travel within one of the most beautiful natural settings on earth.

We create the ultimate custom adventure experiences within the Dolomite valleys, for the most demanding and exclusive clientele in search of stylish and low impact programs that provide excellent quality and cost.

For over 15 years we've been crafting Dolomite adventures, helping our travelers uncover the region's true spirit in style. We customize guided and self-guided active trips, luxury and gourmet adventures, and take you off the beaten path for truly authentic experiences, so you can experience and enjoy the real Dolomites.

Why the Dolomites?

With an incredible variety of diverse landscapes, lush valleys, breathtaking panoramas, and friendly inhabitants, the Dolomites are the "crown jewel" of the Alps. From soaring peaks to elegant spires to sheer rock faces, the Dolomites offer endless opportunities for exploration and adventure.

This unique corner of the Alps features numerous valleys, ideal for a wide range of outdoor adventures. From the charming Italian atmosphere of the Ampezzo region to the green pastures of the Dolomiti di Sesto and Alta Badia to the towering peaks of the Val de Fassa and Val Gardena regions, this world-renowned mountain terrain offers something for every type of adventure traveler.

Hiking, biking, skiing, snowshoeing, rock climbing, or climbing a via ferrata - the Dolomites have an adventure for everyone!

At Your Service

The Dolomite Mountains staff works year round refining our services to ensure we offer the best trips possible in the Dolomites.

We combine this with accommodations that best reflect the style of the area, inspired regional cuisine, expert local guides with international certifications, and the best panoramas you can get in the Dolomites.

We're here so you can relax and enjoy the pleasures of wandering in the Dolomites, while we take care of the details of travel, luggage handling, and all other logistics.

About Our Founder
Agustina Lagos Marmol

Agustina is a multi-lingual world traveler, adventurer, climber, and devout hiker. She has traveled and lived in various countries, but her heart is shared between the Dolomites, where she currently lives, and Patagonia, where she grew up fly fishing and horseback riding on her family's estancia.

Before entering the world of travel, Agustina studied photography and fashion design in California. In 1994, she discovered the Dolomites while working for Butterfield & Robinson in Canada, which led her to settle down in this magical part of the world and start her own outdoor company: Dolomites Mountains.

"Being able to combine work, family, and fun together has always been my goal. The Dolomites feature some of the most stunning mountains in the world, and the mixture of beauty and service is superb: from romantic hotels to charming rifugios set on top of the mountains; Michelin star rated restaurants to authentic local cuisine; and outdoor activities to incredible spa treatments; the Dolomites offer the perfect blend of authenticity and luxury that is not to be missed."

-Agustina