Independent arrival in Bolzano. Nestled amongst vineyards and orchards at the edge of the Dolomites it is the thriving capital of the South Tyrol region. It is also home to “Ötzi”, the 5,300-year-old mummified “ice man” whose body was found in the nearby mountains two decades ago. His body and related artifacts are on display in a fascinating archaeological museum that should not be missed. If you want to3 stay in Bolzano the night before the pick-up day let us know and we will book you a room (choices range from convenient and comfortable three-star hotels to the luxurious Hotel Park Laurin). Meet your guide(s) today at 5 p.m. at the Hotel Laurin for a 50-minute transfer to the charming alpine village of Ortisei where we check into the four-star Hartmann Romantic Hotel or Hotel Rainell (or similar). Dinner in the village. Overnight Ortisei Hotel, transfer, and dinner included.

Rise and enjoy a hearty Tyrolean breakfast before departing on foot to take a funivia up the north side of the Val Gardena. Today we hike below the dramatic southern face of the Odle massif, and enjoy expansive views across the valley to the Alpe di Siusi, whose jagged rock towers seem to pierce the sky. We arrive at a rifugio (mountain hut) for a perfectly-timed snack break before taking on a challenging 550 m/1,700 ft climb to a 2,500 m/8,000 ft pass. From here the views are truly vast as you take in several of the Dolomites most dramatic ranges. The charming all-wood Stevia hut welcomes us for a well-deserved lunch of fresh pasta or the ubiquitous and delicious barley soup. More spectacular views await us after lunch before our gradual descent towards the village of Selva di Val Gardena. The worst of the descent is avoided with a van pick-up which takes us back to our hotel in Ortisei. We will be back in time to enjoy a gelato in the village square or a sauna at the hotel spa. Overnight Ortisei. Details: Total distance: about 14 kms/8.5 miles. Uphill 700m/2,250ft and downhill 450 m/1440ft. Hiking time: 5h. Maximum altitude: 2500m/8000 ft. Summary: Moderate hiking to start then a challenging steep climb to the pass. Very good trails. A full day of hiking.  Hotel, breakfast, lift ticket, and dinner included.

Your big adventure starts today as we embark on the “Alta Via” (high route) component of the tour where we stay four nights up in mountain chalets known as “Rifugi”. You will have proper beds, pillows, hot showers, excellent food and a decent wine list while staying up high, in the crisp, clean, quiet air of the mountains. We start this day with a 5-minute private van transfer to a funivia lift which whisks us 800 meters up to the start of our hike. We hike along the northern wall of the Odle massif. As we hike, we take in vast views out over the Val di Funes and onto the spiky peaks of the Odler group which tower above us. Lunch is enjoyed at 2000 meters at the Rifugio Odle where you can sit back, relax and take in the scenery. After a warning lunch of homemade barley soup, we set out again on a sensational trail that takes us beneath the imposing spires of the Furcheta to our final destination, the rifugio Genova. This charming chalet was constructed in 1898. It sits at 2300 metres at the entrance to the Puez-Odle national park. Toast the day’s hike with a cold beer, followed by a hot shower then dinner in the charming wood-paneled “stube.” Overnight in private double room (late sign ups may have to share a triple or quadruple room). Hot shower and WC are down the hall. Details: Total distance: about 18 kms/11 miles. Uphill 750m/2,400ft and downhill 450 m/1440ft. Hiking time: 5h30m. Maximum altitude: 2425m/7760 ft. Summary: Moderate hiking, very good trails, but a long day. Bags: You leave your main luggage at the Ortisei hotel to be retrieved on Day 7. You carry your overnight stuff for 4 nights in your backpack. Basically, you just need 1 change of socks, underwear and base layer because we spend two nights in each rifugio, you can do a hand wash and the garments can dry over 36 hours. Breakfast, dinner and rifugio accommodation included.

As the sun’s rays reflect off  Putia peak we head east on a 13.5 km (8.5 mile) hike around the mountain. The trail features magnificent views from above the tree line before gently descending into the soft embrace of the larch woods. The trail follows the valley of the mills, and we see ancient wooden aqueducts that fed water from the mountains to the water mills below. Lunch is had at a log mountain hut, the Utia di Goma. We are once again above the tree line and we have a gradual climb that takes us up over the Putia Forcella (strong hikers have the option of hiking up Putia peak, two hours out and back) and back home to Rifugio Genova where we enjoy a relaxing drink in the deck-chairs overlooking the valley. Hiking time: 5h. Maximum altitude: 2415 metres/8768 ft. Summary: Total climb of 950 meters/ 3000 feet.  Easy hiking on good trails, one 2 km section on 4X4 road plus optional challenging climb. This hike is very pleasant because it stays up high as it loops around the flanks of Putia mountain. We never drop below 1950 meters/6,000 feet. Breakfast, dinner and rifugio accommodation included.

Today’s hike is made up of dramatic alpine terrain as we strike into the heart of the Odle-Puez national park. The trail eventually gets squeezed between several peaks as we climb to the Nives pass. A short section of trail requires you to climb ladders and rungs that are bolted into the rock. There is no exposure, so if you can climb a ladder, you can do this. However, if you are not happy with the sounds of this, there is an alternative path that you can take which makes the day much easier and reduces the whole tour to a level 4 rather than a level 5 Activity Level. We crest at 2740 metres/8768 ft. Energetic hikers can take an optional out and back trail to the top of Piz Duelda peak, which tops out at 2,909 metres/9,308 ft. The views are impressive as we gradually descend to the welcoming embrace of Puez Hutte for lunch, which is nestled in amongst the surrounding peaks at 2475 metres/7920 ft. A large, sunny terrace welcomes us where you can kick back and take in the quiet solitude of these gorgeous mountains. After lunch we have a two-and-a-half-hour hike to Gardenacia hut. This rifugio was built in 1937 and renovated in 2009. Happily, the owners kept many of the original features and furniture to retain an old-world charm. The Gardenacia rifugio has an additional special feature; a sauna with large one-way windows that look out over a stunning alpine view. What a great way to relax at the end of an epic day of hiking! Indeed, this is an extremely comfortable rifugio where we are delighted to stay for two nights. Overnight in private double rooms (late sign ups may have to share a triple or quadruple). The shower and WC are down the hall but we also offer you a free Sauna so you can use the modern shower facility in the Sauna area. Hiking distance: about 16 kms/10 miles. Uphill 1000 m/3,200ft and downhill 800m/2500 ft. Hiking time: 6.5 hrs. Maximum altitude: 2740 metres/8768 ft. Summary: Challenging hiking, good trails but with some assisted climbing to be done during the ascent to Nives Pass (option to avoid this trail is available). That means climbing up ladders and steel rungs. Today is the most challengin day of hiking, thanks to a long 600 metre/1900 ft continuous climb. Breakfast, dinner and rifugio accommodation with sauna facilities included.

We have a variety of options on offer for today’s hike to suit the weather and your energy levels. All of them feature spectacular views and isolated trails, so it all depends on how much you want to do. Past hikers have been seduced by the rifugio's lovely terrace and fabulous sauna so we have offered a morning hike followed by a free afternoon to relax and enjoy the amenities. However, if you still have energy to burn you can embark upon an epic hike that features the imposing vastness of the Gardenacia plateau, a dramatic descent to undulating pastures, lunch in charming La Villa village, and finally a chairlift back into the mountains with a final 40-minute climb back up to the rifugio. Details: Total distance: choices range between 8 km/5 mi - 17 km/11 mi. Hiking time: 3 - 6hrs. Good trails throughout.  Breakfast, dinner and rifugio accommodation with sauna facilities included.

We set out this morning for our final Alta Via hike. We quickly enter a dramatic landscape as we ascend towards the Para Dai Giai to hike along a high ridge line at 2450 meters/8000 ft. Our last hour of hiking takes us along the southern side of a group of mountains making up the Crespeina massif. As we slowly descend, we will see climbers on the Piz da Cir whose vertical pitches have enticed local climbers for over a century. We end our hike at the Danterceipe “hut” which is a super modern structure of steel and glass with fabulous views from its excellent restaurant where we have lunch. After lunch, we happily cheat by taking the gondola down the last 600 m/1,900 ft to Selva val Gardena where a private transfer takes us to Bolzano and the lovely four-star Hotel Park Laurin (or similar) in the center of historic Bolzano. We splash out tonight with a our four-star boutique hotel overlooking Selva Val Gardena. Overnight Selva Val Gardena. Details: Total distance: about 15 kms/8 miles. Uphill 1100m/3,500 ft and downhill 750 m/2460 ft. Hiking time: 4.5h. Maximum altitude: 2525 metres/8300 ft. Summary: Another full-on hike with a challenging 500 meter/1600 ft continuous climb at the beginning of the day, then a second sustained climb of 500 meters to the Crespiena fork. Good trails throughout but with a little scree for about 15 minutes towards Forc. Di Sassonher.  Hotel, breakfast, lift ticket, van transfer, dinner included.

After breakfast departure for Bolzano train station by private van transfer. We will arrive at the train station in time for 10:30 train departures.  Bolzano is well connected by train to Verona, Milan, Venice, Innsbruck and beyond. For private groups we can also arrange final transfer to Venice (airport or train station, both of which are about a 2.5-hour drive). Breakfast and transfer included.

Please note: Some details of the itinerary may change according to the departure date of your tour. Whenever we run a tour we make new discoveries. Sometimes they are good discoveries, like a wonderful new trattoria, and sometimes they are bad, like a trail has been washed away. The result is that we sometimes change our itinerary to improve it by adding new wonderful elements to the tour or by removing something that does not work anymore. Rest assured, our goal is to always provide you with the best possible experience. We will advise you of any changes to the original itinerary prior to departure.  

The hikes in the Dolomites are the most challenging that we offer. The paths are good, but you require good footing and should be used to hiking on steep, rugged terrain. This tour is not appropriate for people who suffer from vertigo or who have bad knees or hips. The terrain is frequently steep and we sometimes have long ascents and descents. Some days require 6 hours of hiking. Daily distance between 14-18 km/8-12 miles.

Backpacks: On these trips you will be carrying more in your backpacks than on other tours because: a) we are in the mountains so you need to carry more layers and be ready for any weather conditions; b) you may need to carry more water since it may not be readily available; and c) you will have to carry 1 change of clothing and your toothbrush for the overnights in the rifugio. We stay two nights in each rifugio, which means that you can do an easy hand wash of 1 pair socks, underwear and T-shirt and it will have time to dry. Or just wear non smelly merino! On the final hike we organize a bag transfer from the rifugio, therefore of 6 days of hiking you carry just your day-pack on 4 days. Here is how it looks day by day.

Day 2: First hike is a loop Hike. You just carry what you need for the day.
Day 3: Hike to Rifugio No. 1. You carry your overnight stuff for 4 nights in your backpack. You leave your main luggage in the Ortisei hotel to be picked up at the end of the hiking tour.
Day 4: Loop Hike. Overnight again in Rifugio No. 1. During the hike you just carry what you need for the day.
Day 5: Hike to Rifugio No. 2. You carry your overnight stuff in your backpack to Rifugio No 2.
Day 6 Loop Hike. Overnight in Rifugio No. 2. During the hike you just carry what you need for the day.
Day 7 Hike. During the hike you just carry what you need for the day. We will arrange for a bag transfer from the rifugio to our transfer van, so you do not have to carry your overnight stuff on the last day of hiking. Your main luggage will be waiting for you when you arrive at out hotel in Selva Val Gardena.