2.5 weeks in the italian Alps: Epic hikes with City visits before & after
Our Itinerary
Day1: Transportation day - flight to Venice
Day2: Transportation day - drive from Venice to Val Gardena, the Dolomites
Day3: Piz Duleda Hike
Day4: Hike to Rifugio Puez
Day5: Hiking around Seceda
Day6: Rainy rest day in Val Gardena
Day7: Hike to Ciampioni with Sassolungo peaks view
Day8: Hiking in Val di Funes
Day 9: Piz Boé Hike and drive to Cortina d’Ampezzo
Day10: Rest day in Cortina d’Ampezzo
Day11: Hiking in Val Fiscalina, through viewpoint of Tre Cime de Lavaredo
Day12: Via Ferrata to Rifugio Novolau and hiking around Cinque Torri
Day13: Hike to Lago de Sorapis
Day14: Rest day in Cortina, cable car to Faloria area
Day15: Hike to Croda da Lago
Day16: Transportation day - drive back Venice/ Train
Day17: Venice
Day18: Transportation day - flight back to Oslo
Our experiences
Planning the perfect 2.5-week Italian Alps hiking adventure for our family, including my parents and aunt, all in their 60s, along with my husband and me, was a delightful but fun challenge. We kicked off our journey with 1- 2 days in the water city of Venice, soaking in the culture, savouring local cuisine, and enjoying the surreal floating view with sunset. My parents and aunt arrived 1 day before us, hence they had more time to adjust to time difference and relax a bit after a long flight.
From there, we ventured to the stunning Val Gardena in the Dolomites for 6 days, where the breathtaking Geisler peaks (Odle group) offered us endless opportunities for hiking, relaxation, and indulging in alpine charm. We picked and planned our hikes the day before usually depending on the weather condition, group members’ ability, and hike difficulties. During our 6 night stay in Val Gardena, we had 5 hikes, 1 rest day. The hike we did are Piz Duleda, Rigugio Puez, Seceda and surrounding area, Ciampioni with Sassolungo peak veiw, and Val di Funes to Rigugio Genova. I will include more detailed information for each hike in a separate blog later on.
Our next stop was Cortina d'Ampezzo, another 6-day stay that combined outdoor adventure and more hiking. Right before driving to Cortina d’Ampezzo we did another beautiful hike to Piz Boé, the highest mountain (3152m) in the Sella group. We embarked on in total of 4 exhilarating hikes through the stunning Dolomites landscapes, each offering its own unique views and challenges. Here we visited Val Fiscaline throught view point of Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Cinque Torri, Lago di Sorapis, and Croda da Lago.
To balance the adventure, we dedicated one full day to exploring the charming town, wandering through its small streets, shopping, and making up for all of our energy loss with delicious local cuisine. We also treated ourselves to a half-day of relaxation by taking the cable car up to Faloria, where we strolled around and soaked in the panoramic views without breaking too much of a sweat.
To wind down, me and my husband spent the final 2 days back in Venice after dropping my family off at the train station where they head to the Milan, the city of fashion, to enjoy 3 more days of shopping, amazing Italian food, and big city vibe.
Thoughts & Considerations
This was our second time visiting the Dolomites. We were more experienced in picking hikes and knowing our limit. Having a long enough stay ensured us to have the flexibility of having rest days and adjusting to weather conditions. In general, it was still demanding to hike so much, almost 1000m elevation gain and loss with distance ranging between 15-20km, but we all loved it and would love to revisit.
I would definitely recommend:
Having longer stay because hiking takes time and that’s how you see the most beautiful views
Staying more days in one area for rest days and save time on driving around
Make good use of cable car, if you don’t mind the price. It will help you save time and strength, but make sure to check the time table. You don’t want to miss the last ride.
Train and get fit. There are hikes for every level, but you need to be fit enough to walk around all day.
Dress and prepare properly. Weather can change at anytime and the loose, rocky terrain may be challenging for some.
