Price on request
Destination
The Dolomites: Where to Go, When to Visit, What to Do
UNESCO peaks, alpine trails and mountain villages in the heart of the Italian Alps.
Why travel to Dolomites
The Dolomites are a UNESCO World Heritage range in the north-east of Italy, spread between Trentino-Alto Adige and Veneto: pale limestone towers, high pastures and valleys that each keep their own language and cuisine. Within an hour's drive you pass from Ladin villages to South Tyrolean farms and Venetian mountain towns.
Dolomites hikers come for the long summer walks between mountain huts, from Val Gardena and Val di Fassa to Lago di Braies and the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, with cable cars that lift you straight to the trailheads and via ferrata routes for those who want exposure and a cable to hold. In winter the same valleys become one of the largest connected ski areas in Europe, linked by the Sella Ronda circuit.
The best time to visit the Dolomites is late June to September for walking and December to early April for snow: weather in the Italian Dolomites turns fast at altitude, and afternoon storms are normal in July and August. Distances are short but roads climb over high passes, so our Dolomites tours are planned around two or three valleys at most, with hotels inside the villages rather than along the main roads and coach transfers from Venice, Verona or Innsbruck.
- Where
- Trentino-Alto Adige and Veneto, northern Italy
- Best for
- Trekking, via ferrata, skiing, mountain food and wine
- When to go
- June to September for hiking, December to March for snow
- Gateways
- Venice, Verona, Innsbruck and Munich airports
What to see in Dolomites
Tre Cime di Lavaredo
The three limestone towers that symbolise the Dolomites. A ring path of about 10 km circles them from Rifugio Auronzo, passing wartime tunnels and the Locatelli hut, and stays walkable for anyone with a steady pace.
Lago di Braies
An emerald lake below the Croda del Becco, with a wooden boathouse and a flat 3.5 km loop along the shore. Access is regulated in summer, so we time the visit for early morning or late afternoon light.
Val di Funes
The valley of the Odle peaks, with the small church of Santa Maddalena standing alone in the meadows. It is the gentlest introduction to the range: farm trails, hay barns and short walks with big views.
Monte Seceda and Val Gardena
A cable car from Ortisei reaches the tilted ridge of Seceda at 2,500 m. Below it, Val Gardena keeps the Ladin language alive along with woodcarving workshops and some of the best mountain huts for lunch.
Passo Sella and the Sella Ronda
The pass sits between the Sella massif and the Sassolungo. In winter it is part of the Sella Ronda ski circuit around the massif; in summer the same road is a classic for cyclists and a start point for high trails.
Val di Fassa
Ladin valley under the Marmolada and the Catinaccio, with pastures, spa towns like Moena and Canazei, and a network of huts that makes hut-to-hut walking easy to organise.
Tours in Dolomites
Price on request
Hiking experience in the Brenta Dolomites
Price on request
Sella Ronda
Price on request
Madonna di Campiglio
Dolomites: frequently asked questions
Where exactly are the Dolomites in Italy?
In the north-east, across the provinces of Bolzano, Trento and Belluno. The main valleys, Val Gardena, Val di Fassa and the area around Cortina d'Ampezzo, sit between two and four hours by road from Venice, Verona and Innsbruck.
What is the best time of year to visit the Dolomites?
Late June to September for hiking, when the high trails and mountain huts are open, and December to early April for skiing. June and September are the quietest months with the clearest light.
How do I get to the Dolomites from Venice or Verona?
By road. Venice to Val di Fassa or Cortina takes about two and a half hours, Verona about three. Our tours include coach transfers from the airport, so no car rental is needed.
What is a rifugio and do I need to book one?
A rifugio is a mountain hut serving meals and, in most cases, offering beds in rooms or dormitories. On our hiking tours you sleep in valley hotels and stop at rifugi for lunch, so no separate booking is required.
Do I need a car in the Dolomites?
Not on an escorted tour: our coach moves the group between valleys and trailheads. Independent travellers usually do want a car, as valley bus services thin out outside the summer and winter seasons.
Planning a trip to Dolomites?
Our team in Italy builds each itinerary from scratch, for private travellers and for travel agencies.