Walking the Dolomites of Alta Badia

from $2,349.00

This single centre, self-guided walking week gives easy access to some of the most stunning alpine scenery. Picture postcard villages surrounded by alpine meadows and the jagged limestone mountains of the UNESCO Dolomites.

Reviews 5 Reviews

5/5
Vacation Style Holiday Type
- Family
- Luxury
- Self Guided
- Walking
Self-guided
Activity Level Moderate plus
6/8

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All about the Walking the Dolomites of Alta Badia.

In the heart of the Italian Dolomites, the Alta Badia region boasts some of the most spectacular alpine scenery as well as a reputation for excellent cuisine. The village of San Cassiano is no stranger to either and sits just 15km, as the crow flies, due West of Cortina d’Ampezzo (or 30km by road and the Falzarego Pass). Around 500m in altitude above the village lies a large area of beautiful alpine meadow, dotted with traditional wooden mountain huts and the most amazing panoramic views. At some points you have a 360-degree vista that spans from the Austrian Alps to the North to the Marmolada range to the South (the highest peaks in the Dolomites), with the Fanes Natural Park to the East and the Sella mountain range and Gardena Pass to the West – all stunning views in their own rights but when combined it’s almost mind-blowing!
With over 400kms of marked trails, just in this area of the Dolomites, a week’s walking from here allows you to discover the awe-inspiring beauty of this region. Amazingly, all of this is accessible on well-defined and well way marked paths either directly from the hotel, using the hotel’s shuttle service or via a short bus or cable car ride.
This area is steeped in WW1 history with some of the hardest fighting taking place between Italian and Austro-Hungarian troops in the mountains nearby. There is a WW1 Museum located in what was an Austro-Hungarian fortress and there are still tunnels that can be visited on the Lagazuoi mountain (although you do need a head for heights for this).
Famed for its varied cuisine – a mix of Italian and Austrian for the most part – Alta Badia has three restaurants with a total of 6 Michelin Stars between them, in just 15sqkm (5 stars between 2 restaurants in San Cassiano itself). The 2 Michelin Star restaurant just happens to be one of five restaurants in the Ciasa Salares, your home for the week, located just a short walk (or even shorter shuttle/bus ride) from the centre of San Cassiano. Run by the Wieser family, Stefan, Wilma and their son Jan Clemens, who is passionate about the hotel’s fantastic wine cellar, they manage to combine alpine chic in the decor with good old-fashioned hospitality. The five restaurants include an informal wine bar, a terrace restaurant, a main restaurant, tables in the wine cellar and of course the 2 Michelin Star Siriola restaurant. There are also two other very special rooms – the Cheese Room and the Chocolate Room. Other facilities include a library and lounge, a luxurious spa with indoor swimming pool, relaxation area, treatment rooms (3), sauna, steam room and an outdoor hot tub to soak away those aching limbs after a day of walking.

The tour package inclusions and exclusions at a glance

What is included in this tour?Items that are included in the cost of tour price.

All breakfasts and 4 dinners
7 nights in 4-star hotel with 2 Michelin Star restaurant and spa
Route notes and maps

What is not included in this tour?

Flights
Arrival & departure transfers (available on request, inquire for supplement)
Room upgrades and extra nights at selected hotels (inquire for prices and details)
Single Supplement (available on request – inquire for supplement)

Highlights

Stunning natural landscapes of the UNESCO World Heritage Dolomites: jagged limestone peaks, high alpine meadows and pine forests
Over 400kms+ of marked walking trails; a great array of flora & fauna; unrivaled alpine views
Explore charming alpine villages connected by bus and mountain lift system
Historical WW1 museum and fighting tunnels in the nearby Lagazuoi mountain
Fabulous **** family-run hotel with five restaurants (including one with two Michelin Stars), spa, indoor pool, outdoor hot tub, sauna and steam room

Day 1 Day 1 - Arrive at Armentarola, San Cassiano

Arrive at your hotel in Armentarola, San Cassiano. Staying at 4* Ciasa Salares for 7 nights, with 4 nights on Half Board and 3 nights B&B. As you’re at the same hotel all week the below itinerary is only a suggestion and you can, of course do any walk on any day.
Day 2 Day 2 Pralongia Walk 15km/9.5mi/5hr or 17km/10.5mi/5.5hr

From the hotel, you ascend steadily along peaceful country lanes, through pine forest and up onto high alpine meadows with spectacular views of the surrounding Dolomites mountain ranges. Either enjoy a picnic en route or when you reach the mountain hut at Pralongia, take time over lunch and soaking up the mountain panorama. Return to San Cassiano for the hotel shuttle or walk back to the hotel.
Day 3 Day 3 Santa Croce and Badia Walk 14km/9mi/5hr or 13km/8mi/4.5hr

Walk directly from the hotel or take the shuttle to San Cassiano. This pilgrimage route first skirts above the village then heads through some delightful pine woods. Along the route you pass depictions of the last hours of Jesus Christ’s life on earth before you reach the church at Santa Croce with its amazing backdrop and views across the valley and the village of Badia. Descend to Badia and take the bus back to the hotel.
Day 4 Day 4 San Cassiano to Corvara Walk 11km/7mi/3.5hr or 16km/10mi/5.5hr

Enjoy truly spectacular scenery on this favourite Alta Badia trail. You can start the day with a gondola lift or you can climb the first 5km through pine forest and alpine meadows. Once up at the top there are fabulous views ahead to the Marmolada mountains, the highest in the Dolomites, and behind as far as the Austrian Alps in the distance. At some points you have the most incredible 360-degree panoramic views. Continue on with a variety of mountain hut options for lunch then descend to Corvara for a well-deserved drink before catching the bus back to the hotel.
Day 5 Day 5 Two Lakes of Badia Walk 10km/6mi/3.5hr

A short bus trip to Badia before this lovely walk takes you to two small lakes close to Badia with the fabulous backdrop of the Somamunt, Col Plo Alt and Pre Janin mountains. There are some wonderful views over the village and across the valley to the Santa Croce mountain as you head to Lech dla Lunch (pronounced lek-dela-loonk). Bring a picnic and you could even stop here for loonk! A steep climb sets you on your way to Lech da Sompunt and its delightful swans. Descend back to Badia passing through tiny hamlets and take the bus back.
Day 6 Day 6 Valparola Pass Walk 7km/4mi/2.5hr + extensions

Today you head up to one of the key strategic passes from WW1 the Passo Valparola for fabulous views over the San Cassiano valley. Heading through the delightful Pre de Costa meadows, and past the Malghe Valparola, you head up towards the pass. When you get there, you may want to stop for refreshments at the rifugio at the top. You can make this a history trip and continue on to the nearby WW1 museum or even to Passo Falzarego and a cable car up to the top of Lagazuoi one of the most fiercely fought over mountains in the Dolomites. Another alternative is a tough 13km walk across towards the Setsas mountain with more fabulous views and back to the hotel.
Day 7 Day 7 Fanes Natural Park Walk 15km/9.5mi/6hr or 10km/6mi/4.5hr

Defintely worth the wait – the Fanes Natural Park is a huge expanse of outstanding natural beauty. You can either walk directly from the hotel or get the shuttle to the Capanna Alpina hut before starting the steep climb up to the panoramic Col de Locia. The verdant plateau beyond (Plan de Ciaulunch) and the climb up to the Forcela dl Lech provide awe-inspiring views of the surrounding mountains and a sparkling, aquamarine mountain lake. You need a head for heights on this one as you descend via two steep gorges, with well trodden paths, to the Scotoni mountain hut and down a spectacular ski slope to the start point.
Day 8 Day 8 - Leave San Cassiano

Where you stay

Ciasa Salares

Ciasa Salares, your home for the week, is located just a short walk (or even shorter shuttle/bus ride) from the centre of San Cassiano. Run by the Wieser family, Stefan, Wilma and their son Jan Clemens, who is passionate about the hotels fantastic wine cellar, the hotel combines alpine chic in the dcor with good old-fashioned hospitality. The five restaurants include an informal wine bar, a terrace restaurant, a main restaurant, tables in the wine cellar and of course the 2 Michelin Star La Siriola restaurant. There are also two other very special rooms the Cheese Room and the Chocolate Room, used for tastings, individual courses during gastronomic meals and special occasions. Other facilities include a library and lounge, a luxurious spa with indoor swimming pool, relaxation area, treatment rooms (3), sauna, steam room and an outdoor hot tub with fabulous alpine views to soak away those aching limbs after a day of walking. The hotel offers a free shuttle service to San Cassiano (village and the main Piz Surega lift) as well as to the Capanna Alpina restaurant for the Fanes Natural Park walk.

Eating and Drinking

All breakfasts and 4 dinners are included.

Evening meals are served in the atmospheric candlelit dining room where high quality cuisine includes a weekly 5-course banquet and themed Tyrolean buffet evening.

Is this trip for you?

Activity Level: 3 (Moderate)

This is a centre-based independent walking holiday. Walks can easily be extended/shortened by using the complimentary 7- day Mobil Card which gives unlimited access to local buses and selected cable cars and chairlifts. The walking is along varied and well signed footpaths, both at high altitude and in the lower valleys. There are moderate ascents on most days, and longish descents on days when a cable car is used to gain altitude. Walkers should have a good fitness level and be confident on uneven terrain. This trip is unsuitable for severe vertigo sufferers, but will appeal to people wanting challenging high level mountain walking by day, and luxury 4-star hotel accommodation at night.

As this is a self-guided holiday there is no group and no leader. There may be others on the same departure date as you, but you will not be organised together. You are provided with route notes for each day, which begin with an overview of the walk and advice on lunch, followed by detailed instructions. The route notes contain a 24 hour emergency assistance telephone number should you need it and in emergencies, the hotelier is normally able to dispatch a taxi or pick you up themselves. They may wish to charge for this service.

Overall Rating

5/5

Reviewed On 26/09/2019

5/5

Mr Hesp

Go with the itinerary, or do your own thing with flights transfers and accommodation taken care of, its easy and stress free.

Reviewed On 26/09/2019

4/5

Mrs Wakeham

Very comfortable place to stay with excellent food great service and wonderful walking

Reviewed On 28/08/2019

5/5

Mrs Pizzoni

Hotel Ciasa Salares gave us a genuine mountain welcome. It was sophisticated without being pretentious. The food was of the finest quality and delicious. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay. The only criticism was that the advertised gym was unavailable twice due to it being booked out for the day by another party.

There was plenty of choice of walks for a week's break.

Reviewed On 23/08/2019

5/5

Mrs Stanley

Where to start? This was a fabulous holiday, so good that we have decided to return next year. The staff are delightful and cannot do enough to help even knowing what to do when confronted with a diabetic hypo. We enjoyed the splendid food, the wine and the ambience. The scenery is breath-taking. At 6000ft up the mountains still tower over the landscape. It really is a beautiful place with many well marked tracks for walking. There are cable cars to transport you to the alpine meadows which was a relief as I would have found the climb up challenging. If you would like a memorable holiday this is the place for you.

Reviewed On 31/07/2019

5/5

Mr Shortman

The holiday was excellent, the walking in the area was great, some challenging but easier options available. The hotel was superb, the staff were very friendly and helpful, food excellent and great facilities.

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