Dolomites

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival day

Arrive in San Candido (also known as Innichen), check in to your hotel and then have a wander round the attractive centre before your first taste of the local cuisine.

Day 2 - San Candido Circuit

Starting off on the south side of the “Pusteria”, the woodland track (full of orchids in July) climbs steadily through woods with pretty views. After lunch at a restaurant in Versciaco (if desired), the second part of this walk is extremely pretty with wonderful views over the Pusteria and the Dolomites beyond. (Medium-hard: 4 hrs walking (allow 5¼ hrs), 12 km (7½ miles), CUSs 670m)

Alternative: You can shorten the walk (and make it easier) by using the valley bus (see timetables with walkers pack).

Day 3 - San Candido to Drei Schuster Hütte

The first part of this walk is along the river Rienza out of San Candido and then up through the woods past the Bagni di San Candido. Here there are two options – an easier walk for when the weather is inclement and the main route, which most of you will follow for the better views. After a climb of almost 600 metres, you will emerge above San Candido on a good track that gently undulates high above the Val Camp di Dentro, with wonderful views across the valley to the 3000m+ peaks of the Punta dei Tre Scarperi.  (Medium-hard: 4 hrs walking (allow 5¼ hrs), 11 km (7 miles), CUSs 860m, or use chairlift at start to gain height – Easy-medium: 2½ hrs walking (allow 3¼ hrs), 6 km (4 miles), CUSs 510m).

Day 4 - Drei Schuster Hütte to Misurina

You’ll need a good breakfast before tackling the steep uphill on narrow paths to the Tre Cime at 2400 metres (note: this is rightly one of the most famous and most accessible mountains in the Dolomites, so for an hour or so you will most definitely not be alone). After lunch, your path leaves the crowds behind and descends swiftly to the stunning col of the Forcella Arghena (maybe stop along the way at Malga Langealmhütte for a glass of fresh milk from their herd). This is the perfect Alpine meadow, with added WW1 trenches for the historically inclined. The descent from the col is by the original WW1 track built to supply the trenches – running through meadowed woodland and eventually deeper forest before emerging above Misurina. Wonderful views throughout this secluded corner of the Dolomites. (Hard: 7 hrs walking (allow 9¼ hrs), 17¼ km (11 miles), CUSs 1150m). For less experienced walkers – take the easier alternative via San Candido with bus/taxi to start (Medium: 3¼ hrs walking (allow 4¼ hrs), 10 km (6½ miles), CUSs 530m) or ride whole way.

Day 5 - Rifugio Citta di Carpi Circuit

Today’s walk takes you through a lovely forest with plenty of rhododendron, and heads gradually uphill until it reaches the amazingly-sited Rifugio di Città di Carpi. Linger here awhile for the panoramic views and a little off-piste exploration (your maps show plenty of tempting paths), before descending back to Misurina via the Col de Varda hut (in case you’re in need of further refreshment) and then continuing the rest of the way on foot, or by chairlift if you’ve had enough. (Medium-hard: 4½ hrs walking (allow 6 hrs), 13 km (8 miles), CUSs 750m)

Alternatives: We recommend taking a trip to the Monte Piana 1st World War Museum. There’s a regular jeep service that can take you there and back – ask your host for details and see leaflet in your pack. www.montepiana.com. Pay locally.

Day 6 - Misurina to Cortina

Today’s walk begins with an easy walk along a wide cycle track just to get you warmed up. You then join a lovely woodland path that ascends (quite gently after the first short haul) to Ponte Rondvoi. It’s a short walk along the road before rejoining a woodland path that takes you past Mussolini’s antitank defences and then onto the Passo Tre Croci.

For a pre-lunch refresher Bar Son Zuogo at the pass has a very short season and does not seem to open in June or after mid-September. Malga Larieto is an excellent lunch option (until September) and time should be allowed for a stop here.

The prettier walk is definitely the second half, which is on mainly narrow wooded and mountain paths with a long highly panoramic section. It climbs briefly but is broadly level for the panoramic section and then descends approximately 600 metres, sometimes fairly sharply. Its views of the Cortina bowl offer a fitting climax to your holiday walking. (Medium: 6½ hrs walking (allow 8¾ hrs), 18¾ km (11½ miles), CUSs 565m, or with lift halfway Easy: 3½ hrs walking (allow 4¾ hrs), 9½ km (6 miles), CUSs 140m)

Day 7 - Lagazuoi Circuit

An absolute gem of a walk, combining some of the best views the Dolomites has to offer with the chance to visit the open air First World War museum at the summit and its trenches, tunnels and huts carved into the mountain.

Following a transfer by bus to the Falzarego Pass, you soon leave the hordes behind (they take the more direct track up the mountain) and join a pretty path with lovely views across to 5 Torri. Explore the extensive remains of the Italian military hospital before joining a military road that climbs to Rozes. The landscape definitely changes as you reach the Col de Bos – dramatic summits and valleys, littered with trenches and other remains of the bloody conflict.

The final climb to the refuge at Lagazuoi looks impossible but don’t shirk it – you ascend the ridge in gentle zigzags and can soon explore the huts, tunnels and trenches the Austrian army used. Save time for a much-deserved refreshment in the refuge before taking the cable car back down to Falzarego Pass and the bus back to Cortina. A very satisfying day. (Medium-hard: 3½ hrs walking (allow 4¾ hrs), 8 km (5 miles), CUSs 820m)