All Trips > Italy > Italian Dolomites Hiking and Multisport Italian Dolomites Hiking and Multisport Choose your dates AT A GLANCE Italy 14 Explorer Chicks Hotel, Boutique, Mountain Huts Bucket List, Cycling, Hiking, International, Multisport, Water Sports 8 Days 3 - Active Physical demand level for this trip Benvenuti in Italia Photos Itinerary Logistics Activity Level What's Included Choose your dates Share Benvenuti in Italia All 2024 Italy Trips are Confirmed. Let’s Go!!! This is the trip to Italy that you’ve always dreamed of – the Dolomites, wine, epic sunrises, lakes, and food. Call the craggy Italian Alps sirens home as you explore jaw-dropping trails and impossibly cute mountain villages on this 8-day women’s hiking adventure in northern Italy. We’ll meet in Venice before heading out for views of stunning glaciers, dramatic spires, and towering vistas complete with secret WWI tunnels. Our debut hike to Tre Cime di Lavaredo is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (aka photogenic panty-dropper) where we’ll stay in a luxurious mountain “hut” and eat our body weight in alpine cooking. You’ll learn how to traverse via-ferrata style as we sling our powerful bodies across vertical rock walls to climb Monte Paterno. From there, we’ll shuttle to the iconic trailheads of Cinque Torri and Puez-Odle Nature Park, where we’ll spend the night sleeping in an authentic family-run hut high up in the mountains where even Starbucks can’t reach. Also, no, you don’t have to hulk your beefy Samsonite up the mountains. Throughout your adventure, you only have to sherpa your daypack. We’ll shuttle your main luggage from hut to hotel since you’ll have your hands full moonlighting for National Geographic. We’ll have down time in villages that can only be described as bucolic AF––including Cortina d’Ampezzo, Colfosco, Ortisei, and the stunning South Tyrol wine region which we’ll explore by e-bike. Amidst all the hiking, including an epic sunrise climb, we’ll build in time for slow mornings and plenty of relaxing. There’ll be wine tastings, an alpine spa visit, a hands-on Italian cooking class, and epic sailing on Lake Garda. Did you just become the most interesting woman on the school board? Yes, you did! Photos Itinerary Expand All Days Day 1 - Hike Tre Cime di Lavaredo to a Mountain Hut Hold our beers, gondoliers. This feral pack of women is hiking INTO THE ALPS. Be sure to fill up on breakfast before gathering just outside Venice at 10am with your fellow Explorer Chicks! We’ll strap into the SHE-nanigan Shuttle and head straight to the almighty Dolomites. After a 2-hour drive, we’ll stop for lunch and enjoy homemade alpine delicacies while golden eagles screech in the surrounding trees. After stuffing ourselves with protein and carbs, we’ll drive 30 quick minutes to the start of our trailhead beneath the Tre Cime di Lavaredo––the Three Peaks of Lavaredo. These towering mountains are enlisted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and among the most famous formations in the Alps. Grab your backpack and enjoy spectacular views of these jagged limestone peaks. Once we take a billion photos, we’ll make the easy hike to Dreizinnen Hut, where we spend our first night together. GROWNUP SLEEPOVERS RULE. Kick back with an aperol spritz and drink in the crazy-beautiful sights of your first night with your new besties. We’ll have dinner in our mountain hut and start brainstorming Italian trail names. Elevation Gain: 1000′ Hiking Distance: 3.5 miles Time: 2.5 hours hiking Highest Elevation: 8,274′ Transfer: 3 hours Accommodation: Mountain Hut Meals: L-D Day 2 - Via Ferrata Monte Paterno and Luxury Spa Two words: sunrise hike. The Tre Cime monoliths look stunning in the blazing morning sun, and we’ve got easy access to the peaks just above the hut. Enjoy sunrise coffee at 8,000ft above sea level while the rest of the world plays Wordle in bed. We’ll climb back down to the hut for breakfast and prepare for the most badass day of our trip. We are climbing Monte Paterno via-ferrata style. This means the mountain route will be equipped with fixed ladders, cables, and bridges. The via-ferrata warms us up nice and easy, and we’ll follow tunnels built during WWI. The route gets more vertical and exposed the farther we go. You’ll need a decent level of fitness and hiking experience––and ideally zero fear of heights––to master these slopes. Train on hilly inclines as much as possible before your trip. If you live in Illinois, hit up the stairmaster and treadmill on maximum incline! Our mountain guides will be there every step of the way to keep us safe and as sure-footed as an ibex. If our group ain’t feeling the via-ferrata, we can take an easier trail option. Blasting through discomfort is classic Explorer Chick, but we don’t want anyone clutching their rosary beads. After our hike, we’ll drive 30 minutes to the Olympic town of Cortina d’Ampezzo for lunch and some drinks (or shopping to burn through that adrenaline!). After, we’ll drive another hour to the mountain village of Colfosco, where we’ll spend two nights with dreamy views of the Dolomites and soaking in the luxury alpine spa. Elevation Gain: 1000′ Hiking Distance: 3 miles Time: 5-6 hours hiking Highest Elevation: 9,003′ Transfer: 1.5 hours Accommodation: Luxury Hotel Meals: B-L-D Day 3 - Hiking the Cinque Torri and Spa Ugh, more gorgeous rock formations on the agenda. After a filling breakfast we’re shuttling our booties over to Passo Falzarego to do the hike around Cinque Torri. See the five, gorgeous spires bursting out of the landscape? Those tectonic plates understood the assignment. We’ll do an easy walk and enjoy a picnic lunch along the way. Located near Cortina d’Ampezzo, these iconic towers are a playground for climbers and hikers, offering breathtaking adventure in a stunning alpine setting. For history enthusiasts, the area is also home to World War I historical sites, including well-preserved trenches and tunnels. After we get our fill of views, your afternoon is reserved for even more spa relaxation and pampering. Elevation Gain: 850′ Hiking Distance: 4 miles Time: 4 hours hiking Highest Elevation: 7,431′ Transfer: 1 hour Accommodation: Luxury Hotel Meals: B-L-D Day 4 - Puez-Odle Nature Park and Hut Overnight We’re in zero hurry today and will soak up every last leisurely moment in our hotel. BECAUSE UP NEXT IT’S PRIMITIVE MOUNTAIN HUT TIME, BABY! After breakfast and a short drive to yet another trailhead, we’ll embark on a 2-day hiking journey through the stunning Puez-Odle Nature Park. We’ll warm up nice and easy, enjoying stunning views of Peitlerkoffel north walls. As we climb to the Peitler Saddle, we’ll stroll along comfortable trails with wide open vistas across the stunning mountain meadows and the jagged white horizon above them. This is one of our most beautiful hikes and very much off-the-beaten path. On the way, we’ll stop for lunch in a mountain hut and end the day in our cute little cabin, run by a lovely local family. We’ll be sleeping high up in the mountains in a much smaller, simpler, more authentic mountain hut. Elevation Gain: 1650′ Hiking Distance: 5 miles Time: 4-5 hours hiking Highest Elevation: 7,900′ Transfer: 45 minutes Accommodation: Mountain Hut Meals: B-L-D Day 5 - Hiking the Puez-Odle Nature Park, Part II Enjoy a hearty breakfast with the best view before lacing up those hiking boots. Today we’ll head into the heart of Puez-Odle Nature Park to climb and descend a mountain pass with some intense gravel trails. After, we’ll be rewarded with endless meadows rustling in the wind beneath the famous Seceda ridge. We’ll enjoy our final lunch in the mountain hut, take that Instagram shot of the Seceda ridgeline, and hop a cable car down to Val Gardena valley. Tonight we’ll rest our heads in the darling town of Ortisei. Dinner is entirely up to you. Enjoy your free time as you explore this postcard perfect alpine village filled with hand-carved wooden sculptures. Elevation Gain: 2300′ Hiking Distance: 6.5 miles Time: 5-6 hours hiking Highest Elevation: 8,120′ Transfer: Cable car ride down to the valley Accommodation: Hotel Meals: B-L Day 6 - eBike thru South Tyrol Wine Country Oh good, we have your attention. After breakfast and an easy last morning in Ortisei, we’ll drive to the stunning South Tyrol wine region. Hop on your e-bike and coast along ridiculous side roads that look Photoshopped. You’re gliding through beautiful wine country and bucolic villages like it’s your job. We’ll stop at a winery for lunch and enjoy a generous tasting. After, we’ll board a transfer to Riva del Garda, our home for the next two nights. Grab dinner on your own or with your new friends again this evening! eBiking Distance: 15 miles Highest Elevation: 6,562′ Transfer: 2 hours Accommodation: Hotel Meals: B-L Day 7 - Cook, Eat, and Sail at Lake Garda It’s illegal to go to Italy without taking a cooking class, so that’s how we’ll start our last full day. We’ll take it slow today, preparing typical Italian dishes for 4 glorious hours that include plenty of wine breaks. After lunch, we’ll head to Lake Garda to board our sailing boat. Relax as we whip through the waters, or jump in and enjoy a swim as you gaze up at stunning mountain views. We’ll spend 3-4 hours on the boat before breaking for our last supper at a local winery, oil mill, and restaurant. Transfer: 1 hour Highest Elevation: 215′ Accommodation: Hotel Meals: B-L-D Day 8 - Departure and Ugly Cries After an easy morning and farewell breakfast, it’s time to board the transfer back to Venice and say our goodbyes. If you’re planning on extending your adventure, we can totally arrange a transfer to your next travel destination. Don’t you dare forget about us and can we please start a text thread called “Loose Dolomite Women?” Transfer: 2 hours Meals: B *Explorer Chick reserves the option to modify trip itineraries at the discretion of your tour director as necessary due to weather, conditions, illness, injury, group dynamics, availability, or other unforeseen incidents. Logistics Arrival Airport City: Venice, Italy (VCE) Pick Up Location: Rendezvous Hotel Meeting Time: 10am on Day 1 Departure Airport City: Venice, Italy (VCE) Drop Off Location: Venice Rendezvous Hotel Return Time: Depart at any time after 3pm on Day 8 Optional Add-Ons: Limited Single Room Upgrades are available at booking. If you wish to transfer onward, please reach out. We would love to help! You will receive a Travel Guide with all the rendezvous hotel, packing, and additional information you’ll need to prepare for your epic trip. We require a minimum of 5 Explorer Chicks for this trip. Please confirm your trip is guaranteed before booking airfare. Activity Level Rated 3 – ACTIVE This trip is rated a 3 – Active because you’ll take on 6 back-to-back days of hiking, a Via Ferrata and eBiking. You’ll spend one day riding hard tail mountain eBikes on mixed surfaces. No eBike experience is necessary. If you can ride a bike, then you can ride an E-Bike. It is recommended to spend time on a bike before your trip to “break in your butt.” The Via Ferrata is a fun, challenging jaunt in the mountains. It involves hiking and scrambling up rock faces with the assistance of a built-in cable system. Those with a fear of heights will feel extra challenged. But you got this. Daily Activities: Day 1: Hiking, 2.5 hours, 3.5 miles. 1,000′ Gain. Easy. Day 2: Hiking and Via Ferrata, 5-6 hours, 3 miles, 1,000′ Gain. Moderate+ Day 3: Hiking, 4 hours, 4 miles. 850′ Gain. Easy. Day 4: Hiking, 4-5 hours, 5 miles. 1650′ Gain. Easy+ Day 5: Hiking, 5-6 hours, 6.5 miles. 2300′ Gain. Moderate Day 6: E-Bike, approximately 18 miles. Moderate Day 7: Boat Ride + swimming. Easy. Please consider your ability to meet the physical demands very seriously. It is for the safety of both you and our group. All Explorer Chicks will be required to sign an Acknowledgement of Physical Demands as part of their waiver upon booking. Read more about our Activity Levels. What's Included Lodging 1 Night in a mountain hut. Shared open dormitory style sleeping arrangements. Shared bathrooms. Showers (unreliably) available at an extra cost. 2 Nights in a luxury hotel and spa in the town of Colfosco in the heart of the Dolomites. Rooms will be varied in size with differing views of the surroundings and will be assigned at random. Shared 2 per room. En-suite bathrooms in each room, Wi-Fi, hairdryer, and satellite TV. Restaurants and spa on site. 1 Night in our second and more rustic mountain hut. Shared open dormitory style sleeping arrangements. Shared bathrooms, linens provided. 1 Night in a boutique hotel in the picturesque town of Ortisei. Shared 2 per room. En-suite bathrooms in each room, Wi-Fi, and satellite TV. Pool, spa, gym and restaurant on site. 2 Nights in a boutique hotel overlooking Lake Garda. Shared 2 per room. En-suite bathrooms in each room, Wi-Fi, hairdryer, air conditioning, and satellite TV. Spa and restaurant on site. Activities All activities and entrance fees as outlined in the itinerary Mountain Hut hikes include luggage transfer E-Biking includes hard-tail mountain e-bike, helmet, support, and luggage transfer Gratuities for all excursions Meals All meals as indicated in itinerary: B-7, L-7, D-5 Gratuities for included meals Practical Professional leadership team with a local guide and Explorer Chick Guide Gratuities for local guides A detailed Travel Guide with everything you need to know for your trip The freedom to enjoy your vacation and mindlessly wander! Not Included Airfare Airport Transportation Alcoholic beverages Travel Insurance Meals exclusive of itineraries Costs for additional activities Gratuity for your Explorer Chick Guide Explorer Chick reserves the option to modify trip itineraries at the discretion of your tour director as necessary due to weather, conditions, illness, injury, group dynamics, or other unforeseen incidents. Let's Do This Starting From $5299 Book Now Save $300 with our Early Bird Discounts! Just book at least 6 Months in Advance! Discount is automatically applied. Non-Refundable Deposit: $300 due at booking to secure your spot Book with Confidence Your wanderlust doesn’t have to wait. Our payment plans make booking your dream trip easier than ever. The best part? Zero additional fees. Payment Plans We want nothing more than for you join us. However, we understand emergencies do occur that may cause you to cancel your reservation. Cancellation Policy To protect your travel investment and your hide, we recommend purchasing travel insurance. Receive a no-hassle, online quote in less than 2 minutes. Trip Insurance Questions about Italy? Name(Required) First Name Last Name Email(Required) Enter Email Confirm Email Send us your Dolomites questions!(Required)EmailThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. In Her Words Sarah N. ★★★★★ Fantastic experience. I will definitely book another adventure! Lauren and Cara are the best guides!Wendy S. ★★★★★ Went on the Boots and Roots Gatlinburg Hike. I was hesitant as I have never done anything like this before, or even traveled alone to a destination. Let me say I am so thrilled the I went! This experience was more than I could have imagined. So glad I stepped out of my comfort zone and did this. I now cannot wait to book another trip. Thank you, Explorer Chick for such a great experience!Norma S. ★★★★★ This was a wonderful trip with Explorer Chicks. The guides were experienced and took great care of our group. This was s great way to experience the beauty of Utah. I enjoyed every minute. It was well planned and so worth the cost.Thank you to our guides Katie and Christina, you're the best!Alexandria K. ★★★★★ Joined Explorer Chick for Zion and Bryce Canyon. Kirstie and Steph took amazing care of the group and made sure we had a blast. They made sure we all got epic photos of ourselves and kept us well fed. It was great to not worry about any planning: everything was taken care of.Amy M. ★★★★★ Kirstie and Katie were great on the Zion trip. Everything was planned and done well. Adjustments had to be made due to park closures, but it didn’t phase them, and figured out plan B easily. They were very knowledgeable of the area. They both went out of their way to make the best experience possible and helped you continue when you were not sure you could.Adelia K. ★★★★★ I can only speak in superlatives when describing this trip! I came home with an empowerment afterglow that would scare both bears and men. Per usual, I was worried I would be problematic, holding back the group, dragging everyone behind, and causing the rest of the group to mumble under their breath about this woman who "shouldn't be here." In my terror, I trained by walking two miles five days a week with ankle weights. I added in stair running the last month (just ten stairs up and down ten times.) While I am relieved I trained (it came in REAL handy) I couldn't have been more wrong about group dynamics. Our guides Christina and Katie created a sense of camaraderie among us, supported each of us in incredible ways that produced an experience that I suspect will not be forgotten by any of us. Our group included women in their 30's to "almost* 70 and all body types. We laughed and snorted and sang and encouraged and overcame and we all probably thought we were going to die at one point or another- BUT WE DIDN'T. If you are considering travel with Explorer Chick, just do it. Train, know what you're getting into, but push yourself to do it. You won't regret it.damara M. ★★★★★ I recently returned home from my first EC trip-Zion and Bryce Canyon. As I expected it was a FANTASTIC time! The weather wasn't the greatest- but I lived! And I used every piece of clothing/equipment that I brought! Kirstie and Christina did a great job of leading our group and pivoting when we couldn't do the narrows. They found a less traveled trail that challenged us but was do-able for all. Food was good-trail lunches and food by EC was yummy, went to 2 restaurants that were pretty good too. When I go on my next trip I will definitely take less personal snacks. You should be fine as long as you are not a picky eater. I plan on traveling 1-2 times in 2025 with EC. They make it soooo easy-show up with some base training, a good attitude, and be ready for a FANTASTIC TIME!!!Christine C. ★★★★★ My first trip with Explorer Chicks was the Virginia Wilderness Survival 101. I went solo and it was an amazing experience. This is the first time I've ever done anything like this and I'm so glad I did. Our guide, Kara, was absolutely wonderful. She was knowledgeable, well organized, and made the trip organization so easy. I loved spending time with other women who were out for an adventure. We shared stories and enjoyed being outdoors together. I can't recommend Explorer Chicks enough and can't wait for my next adventure (hopefully Yosemite Backpacking!).Jennifer L ★★★★★ This was a transformative experience. The Explorer Chick had the itinerary planned beautifully and my guides, Kirstie and Christina were also a pivotal part of the success of my trip. They both were confident and humble and had a wealth of knowledge and training that helped me trust the process and take healthy risks that I'd never taken before. They were always prepared, patient and flexible and knew exactly how to kindly manage the various personalities (and wonderful!) on our trip. The description of the trip matched the experience so there were no surprises (except for all of us having to be flexible regarding Mother Nature's weather plans). The food was excellent - no frills but exactly what we all needed and everyone on the trip expressed happiness with our meals. Before I'd decided to go on this trip I read mostly good reviews but some mediocre but non-specific ones. For a moment, they gave me pause but I decided to try it out anyway - I am so glad I did. This was a fabulous company and the trip was one I will never forget. I went knowing no one and the women on that trip, like me, were looking to explore, try new things and laugh. We had a GREAT time. I would definitely do it again.Laura H. ★★★★★ I went on the VA Wilderness Survival/Triple Crown weekend. I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect and was a little nervous but it exceeded every expectation I had. Our guide, Kara O’Dea was exceptional. She was sweet, knowledgeable and such a calming presence. If any of us got nervous about what we were going to do, she talked us through it and encouraged us in the best way. We slayed our Triple Crown, built fires and shelters, practiced knots, brushed up on our wilderness first aid, learned elbow strikes and how to get out of choke holds, played with Sunny the amazing guide dog, developed a girl crush on Dina (the woman who runs the school) and met/ hiked with some incredible women. All while retreating at the end of the night to a cozy lodge in the woods.. It was fun, hard, exhausting and inspiring. Thank you Explorer Chick Adventure Co.!Carolina S. ★★★★★ Red River Gorge Backpacking Workshop:I was looking for a trip to experience and learn more about backpacking. I can do research all day but nothing beats real life hands-on experience! Our guide was Amy, and she did an amazing job at answering all of our questions and teaching us. She made the experience feel effortless to plan, easy to arrive and have fun. The hike itself is moderate, achievable with some preparation and determination. Bonding with women of all ages who share a passion for travel and nature is always a plus! I would recommend this trip to anyone looking to get into backpacking.The views are stunning too, did not know this gem was in KY.Amanda ★★★★★ Cannot say enough wonderful things about my trip to Belize with Explorer Chick!! Wonderful activities that make you push your limits, the sense of pride in yourself is so strong. Our wonderful fearless leader Guide Jayme had our back throughout the trip & was so well organized & flexible with details. And last but definitely not least the group of fearless women that I met, adore & continue to keep in contact with! If your thinking of booking with EC, don’t wait, go for it!Jen R. ★★★★★ Take the trip! It’s an amazing time surrounded by a community of women. I’m already planning my next adventure!Robin R. ★★★★★ There are no words to really explain the outstanding trip to Uganda!There was everything from seamless planning of accommodations to transport both in air and ground. More than this, was the camaraderie that this group displayed! We supported each other , and had a complete blast!! Nicki our guide is passionate about what she does and it shows, she was fun, and is a total package leader! The hikes and trekking for the animals especially the chimpanzees and gorillas was so DAMN amazing! Had to pinch myself so many times! I was in Africa! Not just in Africa, but having my dreams come to life about seeing the beauty and all the creatures! If you are hesitating about this trip STOP. Book it. Hike in the jungle, get wet, be a dirty girl!! Live life!!Accommodations and food were unreal!Lisa B. ★★★★★ If you prefer to work really hard and spend lots of time and energy planning a trip and dealing with the headache of navigating, finding good places to eat and fun things to do all on your own then this is not for you. Now if you prefer to show up and have amazing people guide you and cover every detail so you don't have to and love every minute of it, then this is definitely for you! As a solo traveler I was warmly welcomed (with a margarita!), met some amazing women and had the adventure of a lifetime. It would not have been possible without our brilliant guides Lauren & Amanda on the Smoky Mountain Boots & Roots Hiking Trip. This being my first time I would not hesitate to book another trip. Amazing experience!! 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