Climb mountains, gaze at the stars from an alpine refuge, and make new, life-long friends as you challenge yourself to explore new horizons.
Climb mountains, gaze at the stars from an alpine refuge, and make new, life-long friends as you challenge yourself to explore new horizons.
Join Sunshine and a small group of outdoor enthusiasts for the hiking tour of a lifetime.
A tour designed for the type of person that feels most alive when they are outdoors or in the mountains; the idea of this journey is to immerse yourself in the wonders of the Pale Mountains: step by step, trail by trail, and peak by peak.
Travel along with Sunshine through the best of both the eastern and western Dolomites. Over the course of eight nights and nine days you will make new friends as you climb through some of the most beautiful mountains in Europe, go whitewater rafting through turbulent meltwaters, spend the night in a mountain refuge, and enjoy the unique blend of cultures particular to Northern Italy.
While this tour is not for the armchair-admirer of nature, don’t be dismayed: you will also have time to relax and take in the view. There will be some long hikes and hard walking, but you will also enjoy making cheese, tasting local wines, riding up to peaks in a cable car, and relaxing for an afternoon at a mountain spa. Pack your boots and don’t look back, because this is a trip that you’ll remember for the rest of your life.
June 15 - 23, 2024
After arriving to Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) we'll take a bus from the low plains around Venice and ascend the mountains to the the charming town of Moena in the Fassa Valley. We'll check into our family-run hotel in the center of the town and have time to freshen up before the tour orientation led by our expert alpine guide. In the evening we'll hop back on the bus and shuttle up the mountain to a tavern overlooking the valley. This will be the first of many shared meals together and an opportunity to get to know our traveling companions. After dinner we'll walk back down the mountain or take a stroll through the town before settling in for the night.
Walking: light, 2 miles
Bus transfer: 2 hours
Today we'll shake off sleepiness and jet lag as we walk around the San Pellegrino Pass. This light hike will be a good chance to gauge your physical fitness and prepare for longer walks in subsequent days. We'll make our way up to the typical mountain farm of Malga ai Lach, where we will make cheese and have lunch. In early afternoon we'll take our bus to Cavalese where we'll don wet suits and safety equipment to paddle down the Avisio River. In the evening we'll return to Moena where we'll dine together.
Hiking: 4 hours
Elevation: +/- 1,300 ft
Bus time: 2.5 hours
After breakfast we'll take our bus to Val di Funes where we'll enjoy a longer hike up to the Puez-Odle Nature Reserve. The round-trip hike will take about five hours, but we'll stop at a refuge at 2,000 meters elevation where you'll have free time to rest and take lunch. After the descent we'll ride the bus to a winery for a cellar tour and wine tasting of the Alto Adige grape varieties. Tonight we'll share another big Italian meal together.
Hiking: 5 hours
Elevation: +/- 1,960 ft
Bus time: 3.5 hours
After two days of long hikes and white-water rafting we'll have a free morning to catch up on rest and explore Moena. In the afternoon we'll take the local bus to Pozza di Fassa where we'll be treated to a spa experience of hot and cold mineral-water pools and a sauna. Additional (optional) massage treatments will also be available for those that really need to loosen up!
Bus time: 30 minutes
This morning we'll say goodbye to Moena and take the bus to Ortisei. From here we'll reach Seceda with the help of two cable lifts. From here we'll go by foot to Col Raiser where we'll be free for lunch and to hike up to the Seceda Ridgeline. In mid-afternoon we'll take the bus to Sella Pass where we'll make a two-hour hike up to the isolated refuge of Plattkofelhütte. We'll spend the night in the large, dormitory-style rooms of the refuge where we'll have another traditional mountain meal.
Hiking: 3 hours
Elevation: +/- 700 ft
Bus time: 2.5 hours
This morning we'll have a hardy breakfast in our cozy mountain refuge before starting on of the most breathtaking walks in the Dolomites: a 5-6 hour route around Sassolungo and Sassopiato. Sassolungo literally means "long stone" -- you'll understand how fitting the name is as you hike around this giant massif. The entire route offers rewarding views where we'll make periodic stops to rest.
After free time for lunch we'll board our bus again and move on towards Cortina d'Ampezzo and the eastern Dolomites. We'll check into our hotel in the early evening and have another fine Italian meal together.
Hiking: 6 hours
Elevation: +/- 2,000 ft
Bus time: 2 hours
After breakfast we'll take our bus to the nearby Rifugio Auronzo. From here we'lll set out on a hike around one of the most iconic formations in all of the Dolomites, the Tres Cime di Lavaredo, or the three peaks of Lavaredo. We'll enjoy a rest and a packed lunch prepared by the hotel before continuing on through the narrow trails of Cadini di Misurina. After more than seven hours navigating mountain trails we'll take the bus back to Cortina where we'll be free for the evening.
Hiking: 7.5 hours
Elevation: +/- 1,900
Bus time: 1.5 hours
On our last full day we'll visit two of the Dolomites greatest treasures: lake Sorapis and lake Braies. After breakfast we'll take our bus to Tres Croci Pass where we'll embark on the long hike up to Lake Sorapis and Rifugio Vandelli where we'll stop for a prepared lunch. From here we'll return to Tres Croci and bus to Lago di Braies and explore the surroundings.
This evening we'll share the bitter-sweet feeling of our final night after growing so close together as a group. We'll laugh as we look back at all the memories we've formed in such a short period of time. Toasts will be made to new friends and new achievements.
Hiking: 6.5 hours
Elevation: +/- 1,640
Bus time: 3 hours
This morning we'll have an early breakfast at our hotel before checking out and take the bus back to Marco Polo Airport. Your guide will be available in the morning to answer questions and help with subsequent travel arrangements. At the airport we'll each continue on our own journeys until the next adventure begins.
Bus transfer: 2 hours
For further questions don't hesitate to reach out to us directly.
Roundtrip flights (USA - Venice) are not included in the tour price. We recommend using Skyscanner or Google Flights to search for international flights.
This tour is confirmed and travelers may purchase flight tickets upon making their deposit. We recommend leaving the USA on Friday, June 14th in order to arrive in Venice (VCE) on June 15th, but you may wish to arrive earlier in order to adjust to the time change. Since the tour will end on Sunday, June 23rd you should book your departure flight for this day. Please avoid early departures (before 8:00 am) as we will first need to make the two-hour bus trip from Cortina to the airport before you catch your flight.
On June 15th we will provide two airport transfers between 12:00 pm and 5:00 pm to Moena--where we'll stay for the first 4 nights.
On the morning of June 23rd we will also provide a transfer from Cortina to Venice Airport.
US citizens are currently not required to apply for a visa in order to enter the European Union.
The deposit is $1,000 and is fully refundable within 30 days of payment.
Yes, payment plans are available as long as full payment is made by the start of the tour. Once you have paid the deposit, write to explore@alitheatravel.com or respond to the tour confirmation email to request a custom payment plan.
Sunshine will be an active participant throughout the tour (including all of the hikes), but we will also have a certified local guide for the entire journey. Sunshine will, of course, document and film most activities, hikes, and hotels.
Sharing a room with a travel partner can help lower the accommodation costs. If you wish to share a room with a fellow, same-sex traveler, you can choose this option upon reserving your spot and paying a deposit. We cannot guarantee matching each person with a roommate, but we will do our best. Single occupancy rooms will always incur the single supplement fee.
Sure thing. Sign up and send us a note. We'll make sure you room together.
This is a full itinerary that visits many of the highlights of the Dolomites in just eight days. Whenever possible your guide will provide time to relax and enjoy a glass or have a conversation with new friends. Day four has been designed as a rest day, but we also encourage you to take the time to explore Moena independently.
All activities except for the optional Via Ferrata are included in the cost of the trip. All breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 7 dinners are included, but you will want to bring spending money for souvenirs and for meals and snacks not included in the itinerary.
Except for a few trail sections, the walking and hiking itself will not be that challenging. In terms of sheer time spent on the trail, however—up to 7 hours some days—you should have the endurance and stamina not only to complete, but to enjoy, the long hikes.
If you are comfortable walking a maximum of 10-12 miles on flat terrain in one day then you should be physically prepared for the hiking on this tour.
The average mileage per day will be approximately 7 miles, which is not excessive, but trail hiking is more difficult than flat terrain.
For further questions don't hesitate to reach out to us directly.
Roundtrip flights (USA - Venice) are not included in the tour price. We recommend using Skyscanner or Google Flights to search for international flights.
This tour is confirmed and travelers may purchase flight tickets upon making their deposit. We recommend leaving the USA on Friday, June 14th in order to arrive in Venice (VCE) on June 15th, but you may wish to arrive earlier in order to adjust to the time change. Since the tour will end on Sunday, June 23rd you should book your departure flight for this day. Please avoid early departures (before 8:00 am) as we will first need to make the two-hour bus trip from Cortina to the airport before you catch your flight.
On June 15th we will provide two airport transfers between 12:00 pm and 5:00 pm to Moena--where we'll stay for the first 4 nights.
On the morning of June 23rd we will also provide a transfer from Cortina to Venice Airport.
US citizens are currently not required to apply for a visa in order to enter the European Union.
The deposit is $1,000 and is fully refundable within 30 days of payment.
Yes, payment plans are available as long as full payment is made by the start of the tour. Once you have paid the deposit, write to explore@alitheatravel.com or respond to the tour confirmation email to request a custom payment plan.
Sunshine will be an active participant throughout the tour (including all of the hikes), but we will also have a certified local guide for the entire journey. Sunshine will, of course, document and film most activities, hikes, and hotels.
Sharing a room with a travel partner can help lower the accommodation costs. If you wish to share a room with a fellow, same-sex traveler, you can choose this option upon reserving your spot and paying a deposit. We cannot guarantee matching each person with a roommate, but we will do our best. Single occupancy rooms will always incur the single supplement fee.
Sure thing. Sign up and send us a note. We'll make sure you room together.
This is a full itinerary that visits many of the highlights of the Dolomites in just eight days. Whenever possible your guide will provide time to relax and enjoy a glass or have a conversation with new friends. Day four has been designed as a rest day, but we also encourage you to take the time to explore Moena independently.
All activities except for the optional Via Ferrata are included in the cost of the trip. All breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 7 dinners are included, but you will want to bring spending money for souvenirs and for meals and snacks not included in the itinerary.
Except for a few trail sections, the walking and hiking itself will not be that challenging. In terms of sheer time spent on the trail, however—up to 7 hours some days—you should have the endurance and stamina not only to complete, but to enjoy, the long hikes.
If you are comfortable walking a maximum of 10-12 miles on flat terrain in one day then you should be physically prepared for the hiking on this tour.
The average mileage per day will be approximately 7 miles, which is not excessive, but trail hiking is more difficult than flat terrain.
A $500 deposit is required to reserve your spot. All deposits and discounts (if applicable) will be applied to the total tour price. Deposits are refundable within 30 days of payment.
