Panoramic trekking circuit of Cortina

A panoramic trekking route in the Dolomites, near Cortina d'Ampezzo and the iconic Tre Cime di Lavaredo  

A spectacular week-long circuit starting and finishing in pretty Cortina d’Ampezzo on high mountain trails through Alpine pastures and forests and over passes with views of some of the most famous pinnacles and spires of the Dolomites. A panoramic continuous mountain hiking route which gives you the Alpine high route experience whilst staying in comfortable hotels.

• Walking difficulty level: medium – gravel roads and mountain footpaths with reasonable gradients and some narrow steep sections. 4.5-8 hours hiking per day with vehicles and/or a ski lift  available on the longest days to shorten the walks.
• Hotel accommodation ranges from a boutique hotel in Cortina d’Ampezzo to a spectacular, 2000 metre high mountain hotel, a lake-side lodge and one simple family-run hotel.
• Luggage transfers included.
• Also available as a self-guided trip.

AVAILABLE ON REQUEST IN 2024

PRICES VARY ACCORDING TO NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS AND SEASON 

Day 1: Pick up at Venice Marco Polo airport /Venice Mestre train station and a 2.5 hour drive to pretty Cortina d’Ampezzo. Dinner in a local restaurant. (LD)

Day 2: We walk directly out of Cortina through meadows and forests and up on high mountain paths to our first panoramic Dolomite col at 2000 metres/6560 ft (ski lift option in season only) before continuing on well-made paths to pretty Locanda Ospitale. (15 km/9.5 miles, 7 hrs). Dinner in the hotel. (BLD)

Day 3: A section of cycle track before a dramatic ascent through a rocky gorge brings us out at over 2000 metres/6560 ft once again on the bucolic high pastures of Pratopiazza for lunch in a mountain refuge and our next hotel on a beautiful high plateau (7.5 km/4.5 miles, 3.5 hrs). Optional afternoon walk on the plateau and dinner in the hotel. (BLD)

Day 4: Climb up to the edge of the plateau before descending gradually on well-made paths of World War One interest with beautiful views of Dolomite peaks and the Austrian Alps to the Landro Valley for lunch before climbing up once more along the Rienza river valley and down briefly to the tiny hamlet of Misurina and its lake (18 km/12 miles, 8 hrs) to our hotel (2 nights). Dinner in a family-run mountain dairy. (BLD)

Day 5: A short drive takes us to the most famous walk in the Dolomites, the spectacular, highly panoramic circuit of the famous Tre Cime di Lavaredo (9 km/5 miles, 4.5 hrs). Dinner in a local restaurant. (BLD)

Day 6: A pretty wooded climb to the base of the beautiful pinnacled Cadini mountains (ski lift option available in season only) takes us to a panoramic high military track and lunch at a mountain refuge. We then descend through pastures and forests to our next overnight stay at a small family-run hotel (15 km/9 miles, 6.5/7 hrs). Short drive to the hotel and dinner in the hotel. (BLD)

Day 7: Short drive to the end of yesterday's walk. We return to Cortina through the serene open pastures of Val Bona and dappled larch forests, climbing initially to Passo Tre Croci and a lunch of local specialities before traversing the Faloria massif with beautiful views over the Cortina bowl and down to the town itself through forests and hamlets to Cortina again (15 km/9 miles, 6/6.5 hrs). Dinner in the renowned Michelin starred Ristorante Tivoli. (BLD)

Day 8: A 2.5 hour drive takes us back to Venice airport/Venice Mestre train station. (B)

 

Hotels

Hotel Ancora – Cortina d’Ampezzo – a stylish 4-star hotel right in the middle of Cortina with individually furnished Tyrolean style rooms (2 nights, first and last)     www.hotelancoracortina.com                                

Locanda Ristorante Ospitale - Cortina d'Ampezzo - a former medieval hostelry on an important trade route with recently restored rooms and a restaurant (1 night)   www.ristoranteospitale.com                 

Hotel Hohe Gaisl, Prato Piazza – exceptional, high plateau position, health centre and comfortable rooms (1 night) www.hohegaisl.com

Quinz Locanda al Lago, Misurina – a small family-run hotel on the lake (2 nights)  www.quinz.net  (N.B. It is possible that this hotel may need to be exchanged with Grand Hotel Misurina - www.grandhotelmisurina.com)

Albergo Al Mughetto, Auronzo di Cadore – family-run mountain hotel with good food (1 night) www.albergoalmughetto.it 

 

What is included:

  • comfortable, characterful hotel accommodation;
  • all meals – breakfast, lunch at mountain refuges or panoramic picnics and multi-course dinners with wine in interesting local restaurants or hotels (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner);
  • all transport – to/from Venice airport and to/from walks in mini buses (or cars depending on group size) – which can, where mountain access allows, be used as an alternative to walking;
  • baggage transfers as appropriate;
  • 1 or 2 experienced tour consultants/mountain guides (depending on group size) to guide and support you;
  • all specified trips or visits.

 

For bookings and enquiries contact us at the email address or telephone numbers above.