Leisure Experiences

Gems of Northern Italy: Alto Adige and Friuli

Discover two of the gems of Northern Italy – Alto Adige and Friuli – where art and culture, wine tasting and gourmet cuisine, and active exploring collide! Explore the Roman ruins of Aquileia; Italian wines influenced by distinct regional climates and terroir, and the multi-cultural influences of neighboring countries.

Trip Overview

Northern Italy has so much beauty and culture to offer, yet it is oft pushed aside in interest of visiting larger cities to the south. Not on this itinerary! Explore Alto Adige, set in the northern Dolomites, and Friuli-Venezia Giulia, just north of Venice – two gems of northern Italy. This is the perfect itinerary for travelers who like to explore, taking their time to uncover the hidden treasures of the region they are visiting. You’ll move at leisure, stopping and exploring as much as you please!

Bolzano/Bozen, the capital city of the Alto Adige region, offers a lovely mixture of cultural displays, open-air markets, restaurants, and high-end shops. The colorful medieval, Gothic and Belle Époque buildings, with their stepped gables, turrets, and attractively faded frescoes have a very northern European feel, while the porticoed main commercial street feels Mediterranean, illustrating the blend of cultural influences. Explore the areas surrounding Bolzano’s: the Renon High Plateau, with vistas across the entire Alps chain; and the Alto Adige Wine Region, where an intriguing diversity of Italian wines are produced; and Abbazia di Novacella, known as much for its religious servitude and library, as for its wines. 

You’ll discover a less well-known part of the country as you explore Friuli-Venezia Giulia (FVG). Tucked away in the far northeast corner of Italy, FVG borders Austria, Slovenia, and the Adriatic Sea, and sits just 30 kilometers (18 miles) to the west of Croatia. The wild landscape of the Dolomites descends into vineyards, and on to cultured cities where a fascinating cultural mash up of Slovenian-Croatian-Austrian-Italian can be found. Explore Aquileia and its Roman ruins. A boat cruise on the adjacent lagoon will show you an island landscape that resembles the outer islands of Venice. Continue to Trieste, the most international city in the region. Coffee, its flagship product here due to a free port for importation since the eighteenth century, interweaves perfectly with the cafes set between the architectural and historical treasures. And on your final day, you’ll taste the wines of this region, exploring the differences with the ones you tasted in Alto Adige: same grapes, but grown in different territories, with different results. This is Italy, a wonderful country of similarities and differences, all for you to explore!

Highlights

  • Visit the capital cities of the Alto Adige and Friuli regions, discovering the beauty of Northern Italy
  • Take in spectacular vistas across the Alps and the Dolomites, above Trieste, from the waters off Aquileia, and through winery vineyards
  • Explore modern cities and ancient towns, enjoying the best of Italy: wine, food, and art
  • Enjoy a fresh approach to traveling in today’s modern world, quenching your curiosity and thirst for knowledge, culture, creativity, and enjoyment

Day By Day

Trip itinerary may vary based on weather conditions, fitness levels and abilities of participants, and/or the recommendations of the Dolomite Mountains Team and your mountain guide. Daily mileage and altitude gain may vary depending on the device used.

  • Day 1

    Hotel in Bolzano

  • Day 2

    Hotel in Bolzano (B)

  • Day 3

    Hotel in Bolzano (B)

  • Day 4

    Hotel in Grado Lagoon (B)

  • Day 5

    Hotel in Grado Lagoon (B)

  • Day 6

    Hotel in Grado Lagoon (B)

  • Day 7

    Hotel in Grado Lagoon (B)

  • Day 8

Accommodation

Great hotels with Dolomite Mountains. Whether intimate lodge, family run B&B, or luxury spa resort, our hotels are unique, eminently local, and hard to leave.

About our Accommodations Beyond the Dolomites 

At Dolomite Mountains, we hand pick accommodations that best reflect the style of each region, to provide you with the most authentic experience of the unique cultures found in the different cities and towns where we travel. We work directly with the owners of each property, forging strong relationships to ensure you receive the best service and care during your stay. Regardless of whether it is a five-star luxury hotel or a cozy bed and breakfast you desire, we choose the best-in-class accommodations within each category, providing you stays at the most sought after hotels in each region. And, we always make sure you have access to inspired, regional cuisine! 

 

About Dolomite Mountains Leisure Trips 

On Dolomite Mountains Leisure Trips, we invite you to discover hidden gems and experience the authenticity of Northern Italy. Embark on a journey through ancient lands and spectacular landscapes – around the edges of the Dolomite Mountains UNESCO World Heritage Site. Uncover the treasures tucked away in small hamlets, medieval castles, and ancestral monasteries. Explore away from the classic tourist routes, and delve into unexpected landscapes, cultures, artistic treasures, architectural wonders, and incredible cuisine. Absorb the colors, flavors, and breathtaking scenery of Northern Italy. Lifestyle at its best.

Our Leisure Trips are full of options, to ensure the trip you choose best fits your travel style. Select a guided trip, and enjoy private transfers and a dedicated guide throughout your entire journey. Or choose a self guided itinerary, where you’ll have local city guides at each destination, but will enjoy private transfers all the way. More adventurous? Use your own vehicle, and take the self guided version of this trip! You’ll still have the benefit of local guides at each destination, but the freedom to explore the countryside from behind the wheel.

Cost

All itineraries are subject to change due to circumstances beyond our control including, weather, road or trail conditions.

Prices for this trip are on request. Please contact us for a quotation.

Helicopter Sightseeing & Airport Transfers – There's Nothing Else Like It!
Take to the skies for an aerial look at the spectacular Dolomite Mountains, and make memories to last a lifetime! Whether on a panoramic sightseeing ride or an airport transfer, you'll appreciate a bird's eye view of the stunning scenery aboard state-of-the-art single-engine helicopters. With over 30 years in operation, our experienced pilots and ground crew employ the utmost safety standards, quality, and service. Contact us for a quotation.
Rides are weather dependent. Heli-transfers from/to airports require advanced reservation. In-resort rides can be reserved with shorter notice.

High season supplement from July 16th to September 10th: 15% surcharge

Cost Includes:


  • Trip briefing
  • Logistics and maps of the areas
  • 3 nights accommodation in hotel in Bolzano
  • 4 nights accommodation in hotel in Aquileia
  • All breakfasts
  • Private driver as per itinerary
  • Local English speaking guides (for self-guided trips, private tourist guide in Aquileia and Trieste, 2 hours per city, and shared guide in Novacella)
  • Wine tastings
  • A €15 donation to Wow Nature’s reforestation projects makes your trip carbon-neutral 
  • Local tourist tax
  • Italian VAT tax

Airport transfers available on request.

Area Map