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 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. Note: if the thought of heights makes your knees go weak, you 1000% don’t have to do the via ferrata. You’ll have the option to relax, explore on your own, go shopping, or enjoy some free time. And, If the whole 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 What to Pack Check out our recommended hiking gear for all trips. You’ll receive a complete packing list in your Travel Guide upon booking; note that trips may require additional specialized items. 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 6 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 (read our tipping guidelines here) 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 $5,799 Book Your Dolomites Trip 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 Questions about Italy? Book a call with our Destination + Guest Experience Manager, Amy, or fill out the form below. Name(Required) First Name Last Name Email(Required) Enter Email Confirm Email Send us your Dolomites questions!(Required)CommentsThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. In Her Words 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. 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