Trip Overview:
The Dolomites are rich in ancient culture and tradition and offer some of Italy’s most spectacular peaks. The mountains of the Dolomites (Dolomiti) are largely protected in regional parks and the huge network of well-marked trails makes hiking here a delight. There are also many high mountain huts, rifugi, which provide wonderful lunch stops (thus the “eating” part of this trip’s title), as well as overnight stays for the adventurous. The stunning scenery of the Dolomites with towers of white rock contrasting with green forests and grassy slopes results from their unique geology, specifically from the dolomitic and volcanic rock. Dolomitic rock is sedimentary rock that is the remnants of trillions of sponges and coral from an ancient sea. This rock was pushed up from beneath the sea and reshaped by the elements.
The northern section of the Dolomites is largely part of Alto Adige or South Tirol (Suedtirol in German). The entire Dolomites range reaches south into Trentino and east into Veneto. While the Trentino/Alto Adige range forms an autonomous Alpine region, the two provinces are distinct from each other culturally, linguistically and historically. South Tirol was part of Austria until it became a part of Italy after World War I. The people are largely Germanic and a majority speaks German. Ladin, an ancient Latin-based language, is also spoken in some areas. Trentino was a more grudging part of the Austrian and Austro-Hungarian empires for a century before it was returned to Italy in 1919. The Italian identity predominates here, although many people also speak German. This trip allows us to sample both of these beautiful and interesting areas, in towns such as Cortina d’Ampezzo, Fanes, Corvara, San Cassiano or San Candido.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Travel independently to Cortina. We will provide joining instructions and assist in coordinating transportation. Meet in the lounge of the hotel at 6:00 p.m. for welcome drinks and orientation.
Day 2: We’ll walk directly from our hotel and ride the cable car from Cortina (1226 m./4,022’) to the top of Faloria (2,123 m./6,965’). We’ll continue on foot up to Rifugio Tondi and additional spectacular views from Tondi de Faloria. We’ll then walk down from Rifugio Faloria to Ristorante Rio Gere continuing through the forest to Rifugio Mietres and wonderful views of the Pomagagnon range.
At Rio Gere, if the weather is clear, we’ll take an excursion by cable car up Cristallo Mountain for lunch at Rifugio Lorenzi and exceptional vistas – the same vistas that can be seen in the movie Cliffhanger, which was filmed there. We’ll ride back down to Rio Gere and continue our hike down through the forest to Rifugio Col Tondo. At this point there is the option to take a chairlift back to Cortina or to walk back to town. 4-5 hours of hiking. +820’/-3,612’ (gradual). Considerably less downhill with final chairlift of the day.
Day 3: We’ll enjoy a scenic 21 mile drive up over the gentle Tre Croci Pass in the direction of Lake Misurina to Rifugio Auronzo (7,650’) and the start of one of the must-do hikes in the Cortina area. We’ll circle around Tre Cime (Three Summits) and Monte Paterno/Paternkofen, one of the best known and most dramatic sights in the Dolomites.
We’ll have lunch at Rifugio Locatelli/Drei Zinnen Huette (7,800’) while enjoying the spectacular view of the north faces of the Tre Cime. The north faces were first climbed in the 1930s and are part of the history of mountaineering. We’ll also pass by tunnels, bunkers and old barracks, reminders of WWI. We’ll walk around Toblinger Knoten and Col Forcellina back to Rifugio Auronzo. 4-5 hours of hiking. +550/-550’.
Day 4: We’ll transfer 20 minutes from our hotel by van to our hike in the famous Tofane Mountains. We’ll start at Cason di Rozes (6,232’) and hike up a wide trail that was built during WWI, walking in gradual switchbacks up to the Forcella Col de Bos (7,642’) at base of the Castelletto and Tofana di Rozes mountains. We will hike up and under the massive rock wall of the Tofana and make a last ascent to the Rifugio Guissani (8,400’) for lunch.
We’ll enjoy the panorama at lunch between the Tofane di Rozes and Tofane di Mezzo. After lunch we’ll descend on the same wide trail we used earlier in the day to the Rufugio Dibona and our transfer back to Cortina. 4-5 hours of hiking. +2,200’/-1,600’.
Day 5: Today we’ll return by van to the Passo Tre Croci and continue to the Lago (Lake) di Musurina chairlift. We’ll take the lift to Col de Varda (6,939’) and walk to Rifugio Citta di Carpi on a well graded trail with beautiful views of Crtistallo, Sorapis, Tre Cime and the Cadini di Misurina above us. The path continues to Rifugio Citta di Carpi where we’ll have lunch. We’ll return to the chairlift via the same trail. Those looking for more walking will have the option of walking up and down without use of the chairlift. If we wish we can also enjoy a walk around Lake Misurina for a different perspective on the surrounding mountains. 3-4 hours of walking and fairly level without extensions. 6+ hour alternative with +/-1,968’.
Day 6: The Cinque Torri area is well-known for the climbers who ascend its famous five peaks, and as the headquarters of the mountain artillery unit during WWI. Today we’ll have the opportunity to both watch the climbers and visit the Great War open air museum. After a short transfer, we’ll ride the chair lift up from Bai de Done. From there, we’ll descend toward the towers and then ascend to Rifugio Cinque Torri where we’ll have lunch. This moderate two hour walk would allow those Walkers and Talkers who wish to take the afternoon off time to do so. For those who wish to have a more vigorous and longer walk today, there is an 8.1 miles 4 ¼ hour loop alternative up to Rifugio Averau and Rifugio Nuvolau.
Day 7: After our final breakfast we depart Cortina for home or other destinations.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
The cost of this trip will vary depending upon the specific itinerary we develop for your family or group of friends.
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Italy
Outdoor: Land Rambler
Hiking & Trekking
Archeology/History
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