Dolomites Hikes

Hiking from Alta Badia to Cortina d'Ampezzo

Enjoy a week hiking in the Dolomites, one of the most stunning mountain landscapes in the world. Savor delicious cuisine and intimate accommodations in the Badia and Ampezzo Ladin Valleys, and uncover the incredible diversity of this mountain region.

Trip Overview

Hiking through the Dolomites is a magical experience. Trails climb and wend their way around towering rock, offering unimaginable vistas that surprise with every step. Charming accommodations in town offer warmth and hospitality that make you feel as if you are family. Rifugios, or mountain inns, seem to be placed at the perfect interval, appearing right when you are ready for an espresso or plate of speck – a marvelous smoked meat made only in the Dolomites – or a bed with a cozy comforter and pillow.  

You’ll explore two very different regions of the Dolomites on this itinerary: Alta Badia and Cortina d’Ampezzo. Alta Badia was part of Austria prior to the First World War. Here you’ll find a mix of three cultures – German/Austrian, Italian, and Ladin. Ladin is an ancient native culture, with customs and traditions beautifully preserved in this region.  You’ll notice signs are written in three languages – first in Ladino (a language that comes from the Romansh language), then in German, and lastly in Italian. The mixed culture is very well marked not only in the language but also in the architecture and cuisine. You’re sure to enjoy hearty meals that represent this region's incredible diversity! Cortina, on the other hand, is very Italian. Part of the Veneto region of Italy, of which Venice is also part, the Venetian influence is felt in both the fashionable culture and cuisine.

Regarded as being among the most attractive mountain landscapes in the world, the Dolomite Mountains are a recently recognized UNESCO World Heritage Site, inaugurated in 2009. Comprising over 90,000 acres of mountainous terrain, these mountains offer unusual contrasts in landscapes, changing colors and textures of the mountains and a curious mix of Italian and Austrian influences means fantastic hiking, stunning scenery, and incredible cuisine!

Prefer a shorter trip?
Check out our 5-day Hiking from Alta Badia to Cortina d'Ampezzo Getaway!

Highlights

  • Hike from Alta Badia to Cortina d’Ampezzo, walking on scenic trails through alpine pastures and across mountain passes, surrounded by breathtaking vistas
  • Hike to Santa Croce Sanctuary, at the base of the vertical walls of Sasso della Croce
  • Take in the beauty of stunning Dolomites peaks, including Tre Cime di Lavaredo, recognized worldwide for its beauty
  • Explore Fanes-Sennes-Braies Natural Park, taking in rugged peaks that tower above green alpine meadows and beautiful mountain lakes
  • Enjoy a loop around Prato Piazza, and take in the incredible views of the red-iron-stained Croda Rossa Massif, the Cristallo Group, and Tre Cime di Lavaredo
  • Spend two nights in charming, high mountain rifugi – the best in the Alps

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 Alta Badia (D)

  • Day 2

    Hotel in Alta Badia (B,D)

  • Day 3

    Rifugio (B,D)

  • Day 4

    Rifugio (B,D)

  • Day 5

    Hotel in Cortina d’Ampezzo (B)

  • Day 6

    Hotel in Cortina d’Ampezzo (B)

  • Day 7

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.

Want to learn more about our Hotels and B&Bs?
The Dolomites has a multi-faceted culture and history that is reflected in each village we visit, and we make sure to provide you with the most authentic experience of the region possible through the hotels and B&Bs we offer. Hotels and chalets are available in the larger villages, while agriturismos (working farms with accommodations similar to B&Bs) are more common in rural areas. And we always make sure you have access to inspired regional cuisine, and the best panoramas you can get in the Dolomites!

Prefer luxury accommodations?
You can also book a custom departure of this trip using our Luxury Hotels. For details, please contact us.

Want to learn more about our Mountain Inns & Rifugi?            
Rifugi – or mountain huts in English – are the classic accommodation for hikers, climbers, mountaineers, and ski mountaineers in the Alps. Set in spectacular locations high in the Dolomites, rifugi are accessible only on foot (with a few exceptions that are reachable by car). These marvelous establishments are open primarily in the summer, with a select few in winter, and offer meals and sleeping facilities.

The Dolomite rifugi are considered the best in the Alps. While some are dormitory style with bunk beds, many meet the standard of a simple guest house with private rooms and en-suite bathrooms, and each has its own unique character and charm. Bedding and linens are provided, hot showers are available, and meals are served in common dining areas – like a small mountain inn set high in the mountains with the most incredible vistas in the Dolomites. Whether you’re hiking in summer or skiing in winter, an overnight rifugio stay is not to miss on a Dolomite holiday.

To learn even more about rifugi in the Dolomites, check out our Rifugios in the Dolomites article, and learn about one of the best ways to experience these incredible mountains!

Check out the high definition videos in our SUMMER VIDEO GALLERY!

READ Travel & Leisure: “Hot Spots of Italy’s Dolomite Mountains 

VIA FERRATA OPTION
Add a day (or more!) of climbing via ferrata with one of our UIAGM/IFMGA professional mountain guides! The vie ferrate, or iron paths of the Dolomites, allow non-climbers to discover the mountains in safety and adding a new dimension to hiking the pristine alpine wilderness of the Dolomites. Contact us for details!

Still want more? Why not extend your adventure!
Dolomite Mountains offers fantastic extensions that you can enjoy before or after your trip in the Dolomites. Explore VeniceVeronaLake GardaFlorence, or Milan, or any of the many other magical places found throughout Italy. There's no more perfect way to recover from jet lag upon arrival, or delay your return to reality at the end of your trip!

VIA FERRATA OPTION
Not ready to leave the Dolomites? Add a day (or more!) of climbing via ferrata with one of our UIAGM/IFMGA professional mountain guides! The vie ferrate, or iron paths of the Dolomites, allow non-climbers to discover the mountains in safety and adding a new dimension to hiking the pristine alpine wilderness of the Dolomites. Contact us for details!

Cost

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

Guided Trip:
€ 3.720 per person (2 participants)
€ 2.540 per person (4 participants)
€ 2.130 per person (6 participants)


Self Guided Trip:
€ 1.570 per person (2 participants)
€ 1.420 per person (4 participants)
€ 1.340 per person (6 participants)

The cost is based on the specified hotel category. (Please see the cost inclusions list). If you would like an upgrade, please get in touch with us for a quotation.

We will do our best to accommodate you in the specified class of accommodations. However, if there is no availability in this category, we will offer you the next available classification at a supplementary price. 

Important to note:

  • There is a high-season 15% surcharge from July 14th to Sept 8th. 
  • There is a private-room supplement in Rifugi: €40 per Rifugio, per person per night (based on availability).
  • Prices may increase between the time of quotation and booking. Your Dolomite Mountains consultant will inform you of any changes.


Cost Includes:

  • Trip briefing
  • Logistics and map of the area
  • 2 nights accommodation in 3-star hotel in Alta Badia
  • 2 nights accommodation in rifugio (shared dormitories)
  • 2 nights accommodation in 3-star B&B in Cortina d’Ampezzo
  • All breakfasts
  • All dinners (except in Cortina d'Ampezzo)
  • Local English speaking Hiking Guide (guided trips)
  • Lift tickets (guided trips)
  • Luggage transfer from Alta Badia to Cortina d’Ampezzo
  • Transfers as per itinerary
  • A €15 donation to Wow Nature’s reforestation projects makes your trip carbon-neutral 
  • Local tourist tax
  • Italian VAT tax

Video

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