Self-Guided Hiking Tours

Italy | Italian Dolomites Trek

Delicious food, great accommodations, and awesome scenery.

Italy flag
  • Dolomites Trek
  • Dolomites Trek
  • Dolomites Hike
  • Dolomites Hiking
  • Sign in front of mountains
  • Dolomites trek tour
  • The Rifugio Alpe di Tires
  • Vols-am-Schlern-Dolomites
  • "Wow. Not enough space here to list all we loved. My wife and I marveled at how smooth and organized the trip was. The quality of everything was exceptional."- David S.
  • "Excellent accommodations and coordination of the trip. Wide variety of options. Everything well organized. I have no other adventure companies to compare Ryder-Walker to, but I have no reason to change. I have been extremely satisfied with both our Engadine and Dolomite trips."- Brian G.
  • "Everything! It was a wonderful mix of landforms, languages, and trails. The towns were charming as were the people in the guesthouses. It was clear that Ryder-Walker is a well-liked organization as we were always treated in an extra-special way! We travel with you because of our previous experience with RW and we love the personal touch."- LeeAnn B.
  • "We thought this was a fantastic trip. Our family has been doing summer hiking trips for nearly 20 years and this was the nicest and most enjoyable we’ve had, with a great combination of fabulous hikes and wonderful places to stay. Every one of the inns and hotels where we stayed worked hard to make it a nice experience for us, and that added to the pleasure of the whole trip."- Tim and Francie Hester
  • "We're finally back home in Oregon after another wonderful Ryder-Walker Alpine Adventure. The Dolomites do truly deserve all the rave reviews they get! The memories should keep me going when I can no longer hike -- and in the meantime, after having met a couple of your guides, I will continue to recommend Ryder-Walker without any hesitations, both guided or self-guided. Keep up the good work in running a reliable outfitter!"- Anne Uzzell

Trip Highlights:

  • Incredible scenery.
  • A top-shelf level of inn keeping and accommodations.
  • Fabled Tyrolean culture and cuisine.

The soaring limestone spires of the Dolomites make a stunning backdrop for a number of quaint villages, expansive mountain meadows, and a highly developed trail system. The region is culturally diverse, and on this self-guided tour you visit the German speaking Tyrolean villages in Val Gardena with their onion-domed chapels, Corvara in the Ladin speaking Alta Badia, and the busy alpine center of Cortina D’Ampezzo, the hub of the Italian speaking Alps.

From our fabulous inns, including one immured in a 14th century edifice, and others known for their cuisine and Tyrolean charm, you enjoy the most fabled scenery and classic hiking of the Dolomites. Following a warm-up hike to a mountain restaurant, traverse above the Alpe di Siusi, the largest “alp” in the Alps, and climb high into a number of the fabulous, vertical-looking ranges including the Rosengarten, Sassolungo, Puez and Tofane groups.

Trip Itinerary

Choose from our standard itinerary or customize the trek by adding or subtracting days.

Travel independently to Bolzano. We will arrange a taxi to pick you up and transfer you to Völs. Overnight in a charming hotel nestled in the heart of this Southern Tyrolean village.

Today you embark on a gentle warm up hike above Völs, as you make your way to Tuffalm and onto Hofer Alpl, a picturesque farmhouse turned restaurant. Enjoy views of the Sciliar before you loop back to Völs.

Distance: 6 miles. Elevation gain/loss: 1750 ft.

Begin with a short taxi ride as today’s hike starts at Alpe di Siusi, the largest meadow, or alp, in the Alps! Views extend to the Austrian Alps to the north and to the region’s dominant peaks, Sassopiatto and Sassolungo, and today’s objective, the Sciliar. After a quick boost by chairlift, you ascend toward the summit of the Sciliar and lunch at the Rifugio Bolzano at 2745 m (9059 ft). Following lunch, you traverse to the Rifugio Alpe de Tires. Overnight in a mountain hut. No luggage access!

Distance: 8 miles. Elevation gain/loss (with gondola and lift): 2600/1300 ft.

Beginning with a traverse beneath the Denti di Terrarossi, while enjoying expansive views over the Alpe di Siusi as you head toward the Sassopiatto and Sassolungo. Your route travels directly between the two peaks to a high saddle with a dramatically situated cable car. Alternatively, you may hike beneath the Sassopiatto. Both routes descend to the Forcella Sassolungo for transport to the village of Selva in Gardena and a welcoming three-star inn.

Distance: 8 miles. Elevation gain/loss: up to 3000 ft.

Ascending the lovely Val Lunga, a pristine glacial valley surrounded by towering limestone walls, you climb through larch and stone pine toward the Rifugio Puez. Following lunch at the hut, you traverse to the Fuorcla Ciampai before descending to the village of Corvara in the Alta Badia, a valley where the Ladin culture dominates. Overnight in a superior four-star inn.

Distance: 9 miles. Elevation gain/loss: 3100/3300 ft.

There are many options for hiking in Corvara. From exploring the ski resort right behind the hotel; to ascending to a ridge separating the Puez and Sella groups and the Marmolada, the second highest peak in Italy at 3,259 meters, to the west, with the Tofane and Della Croce groups to the east.

Distance and elevation gain/loss are variable.

A bit of transport returns you to a point just beyond the Passo Valparola, to Passo Falzarego, where your trail starts. Hike into a world of rock; the heart of the Tofane range. Ascend gradually to a striking vantage point before descending to the beautifully located Rifugio Dibona for lunch. Taxi to the alpine center of Cortina d’Ampezzo.

Distance: 5 miles. Elevation gain/loss: 200/2400 ft.

Cortina offers bus service with linking rail transport to Milan, Munich, Venice and other destinations in Europe.

Italian Dolomites Trek | Italy

Similar Trips

You Might Also Like...