Trekking Tours in italy

The Dolomites

Famed for gigantic, chiselled limestone peaks, the Dolomites certainly provide some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in the Alps. The jagged rocky spires stand like monuments to the immense forces of glacial erosion that created this magnificent scene. The walking on this holiday combines forested valleys, alpine meadows and mountain villages with this spectacular world of vertical rock towering above.

There are few mountain groups more spectacular than the Dolomites, but walking in the area does not have to be at all technical. There are good footpaths across the valleys, verdant summer pastures and up onto the higher passes and smaller peaks. The ancient rock has weathered to hues of rose, yellow and grey; the colours accentuated at sunset when the mountains take on a breathtaking hue of pink, known as ‘Enrosadira’ or ‘Alpenglow’.

We start in Dobbiaco, in the midst of the Dolomites; in the wide Ampezzo valley surrounded by impressive mountains. The contrasts could hardly be more extreme; stark vertical rock faces and jagged spires of limestone hang high above green, forested valleys. A short bus ride gets us to the start of the walk up into the three vertical sided finger-like towers of the Tre Cime mountain group. From Cortina we take a high level route traversing the mountainsides to the Forc Lagazuoi pass before descending to the village of Sare. A day of forests and grassy ridges follows, to reach Col Alti for panoramic views of the Tofana and Sella mountains before descending to the pretty villages of Corvara and Colfosco. Two nights here give the option of a rest day or a walk above the village before what is probably the most stunning day of the route. Walking from Passo Gardena at the base of the Sella group of peaks the route ascends into a narrow canyon, rocky underfoot and quite steep in parts. Before reaching the Rifugio Pisciadu (2582m), we take the less steep option on and upwards to tackle the ascent to the plateau summit at 2895m. Marvellous panoramic views include the Tyrolean range and the Marmolada glacier. The descent is to Campitello for 2 nights and a circular walk to end the trip.

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