Dolomites Trail Running

Pure Dolomites Thrill! Trail Running in the Sesto Dolomites

The Sexten Dolomites are raw, wild, and unforgettable. Running through this incredible region is nothing short of inspirational. Experience six days of blazing the quiet trails in the shadow of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, through WWI history, ancient volcanic rock, and pristine alpine valleys, with hearty traditional cuisine and two cozy nights in authentic mountain rifugios. An open invitation to trail runners everywhere.

Trip Overview

This six-day trail running journey begins beneath the unmistakable silhouette of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, perhaps the most recognized landmark in the entire Dolomite range. From the high paths circling these ancient towers, the trail drops into Val Fiscalina, a valley that packs a lifetime's worth of beauty into its flower-carpeted meadows, dense larch forests, and UNESCO-protected rock faces.

The Sesto Group straddles what was once the frontier between the Habsburg Empire and the Kingdom of Italy – a boundary that became a brutal front line during the First World War. You'll discover trench systems that were cut by hand into dolomite by exhausted platoons and defensive stone barricades still trace the high ridgelines. The route crosses Passo Monte Croce Comelico, one of the oldest mountain passes in the Eastern Alps, first opened by the Romans and a vital trade artery for centuries. Until 1919, this pass marked the exact border between Austria and Italy, a divide that shaped the culture and character of Alta Pusteria, the easternmost part of the Puster Valley to this day.

The final days reveal a geological layer unlike anything else in the range. Monte Quaternà is an ancient volcano, and running its slopes means crossing outcrops of rocks that are over 500 million years old, dense with folded sands and silts from a vanished prehistoric sea. It is, quite literally, the oldest ground you'll ever run on.

Authentic, wild, and historically layered: come run with history beneath the Tre Cime! Contact our team.
 

Highlights

  • An immersive 6-day trail running journey through the heart of the Sesto / Sexten Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage landscape of idyllic scenery, WWI history and living culture
  • Run beneath the iconic Tre Cime di Lavaredo (2,999m / 9,839'), the most recognized peaks in the Dolomites
  • Trail run along Val Fiscalina, four and a half kilometers of pristine alpine meadows and larch forest
  • Trace the footsteps of soldiers through and explore frontline passes, hand-cut trenches, and the old Habsburg-Italian border
  • Discover Monte Quaternà, an ancient volcano with the oldest exposed rocks in the Alps, over 500 million years old
  • Relax for 3 nights in an excellent hand-selected hotel in Sesto
  • Experience 2 nights in cozy traditional rifugios

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 Sesto (D)

  • Day 2

    Hotel in Sesto (B,D)

  • Day 3

    Rifugio (B,D)

  • Day 4

    Rifugio (B,D)

  • Day 5

    Hotel in Sesto (B,D)

  • Day 6

Area Map

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 for this trip using our Luxury Hotels. For details, please contact us.

Want to learn more about our Mountain Inns & Rifugios?            
Rifugios – 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, rifugios 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 rifugios 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 rifugios 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!

Still want more? Add one or two days to climb a via ferrata.

Want even more? Extend your adventure!
Dolomite Mountains offers fantastic extensions that you can enjoy before or after your trip in the Dolomites. Explore Venice, Verona, Lake Garda, Florence, or Milan, or any of the many other magical places found throughout Italy. There isn't a more perfect way to recover from jet lag upon arrival or delay your return to reality at the end of your trip!

Cost

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

Guided Trip:
€ 3.270 per person (2 participants)
€ 2.380 per person (4 participants)
€ 2.080 per person (6 participants)

Self Guided Trip:
€ 1.770 per person (2 participants)
€ 1.570 per person (4 participants)
€ 1.510 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 place 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 12 to September 6.
  • 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
  • Local English-speaking hiking/running guide for 4 days (if guided)
  • 3 nights' accommodation in 4-star hotel in Sesto
  • 2 nights' accommodation in shared room in Rifugios
  • All breakfasts and dinners
  • Private transfers as per itinerary
  • Duffel bag transfer on DAY 4
  • An €18 donation to Wow Nature’s reforestation projects: makes your trip carbon-neutral
  • Italian VAT tax

Itinerary Map

Dolomite Mountains is committed to making its digital content accessible, in accordance with Directive (EU) 2016/2102 and the Accessibility Guidelines for IT Tools issued by AgID.
We are currently in the process of updating our website to comply with WCAG accessibility standards. The official Accessibility Statement will be published shortly, once the technical review of our content has been completed and any necessary remediation actions have been initiated.
Should you encounter any accessibility issues or wish to report problems related to the usability of our content, please contact us at: accessibility@dolomitemountains.com