Family-Friendly Hiking in Northern Italy's Dolomites Mountains

Take your kids far away from TV, texting, and Facebooking, and into the very real wonderland of the Dolomites! On this new adventure, the whole family will stretch their bodies and minds while having a ball in one of Europe's most magnificent playgrounds. Kids will love exploring the many trails and tunnels, and adults will appreciate the finest hiking in the Italian Alps. Cable cars and gondolas transport tired little—and big—travelers to some destinations, and the entire trip is vehicle-supported.

We'll enjoy the colorful blend of Italian and German cultures and cuisine. Our guides are highly experienced in both hiking the Dolomites and traveling with children. We'll stay in intimate hotels and charming mountain inns that provide an unforgettable experience, especially for kids who enjoy a slumber party atmosphere. This adventure is reserved exclusively for families to ensure the most fun for everyone!

Activities

6 days easy to moderate hiking on uneven, rocky terrain; 2 days easy to moderate Via Ferrate; 2 days optional easy mountain biking; 1 day optional Adventure Park.

Minimum age is 10.

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

• Create life-long family memories and friendships among the Dolomites' incredible natural and cultural wonders!
• Designed for parents and children to hike together, with flexibility for longer or shorter hiking options, and lots of guide support!
• Fun optional activities include scenic gondola rides, mountain biking, Adventure Parks, and the Via Ferrate!
• Quality time together in the outdoors for the whole family!

Duration: 8 days Start Location: Venice End Location: Venice

BRIEF Itinerary

• Day 1 : Arrive in Venice – Transfer to Cortina d’Ampezzo

  Arrive at the Venice airport, and transfer to Cortina d’Ampezzo, our base for the next two nights. Nestled in the heart of the Dolomites, Cortina is a picture-perfect atmosphere for the whole family. Its reputation for great winter skiing earned Cortina the distinction of hosting the 1956 winter Olympics, and in the summer it attracts hikers and mountain climbers who challenge the rocky faces of the nearby mountains.The remainder of the afternoon is yours to relax or explore the streets of this charming town.

• Day 2 : Tre Cime di Lavaredo

  Start with a scenic transfer to the Rifugio Auronzo (7,650'), before hiking around the Tre Cime di Lavaredo and Monte Paterno, one of the most impressive mountain landscapes in the Dolomites. We'll slowly make our way to the Rifugio Locatelli (7,800'), one of the most popular mountain rifugios in the Dolomites. Here we’ll enjoy a relaxing lunch while gazing at the stunning north faces of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo. Kids can have fun exploring the “open air museum.”

   

  From the rifugio we'll continue on under the north faces of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo to the Rifugio Auronzo, where our van awaits to transfer us back to our hotel.

• Day 3 : Passo Falzarego

  Transfer to Passo Falzarego and board a cable car which takes us on a breathtaking 2,000' ascent to the Rifugio Lagazuoi. From here we hike amidst spectacular views to the entrance of the historic WWI tunnel “Galleria del Lagazuoi." With flashlights beaming, both kids and adults will get a thrill out of leading the way down this tunnel, passing impressive panoramic landscapes to the Passo Falzarego, a high mountain pass.

   

  After lunch we’ll walk up to the Cinque Torri, a phenominal landscape of five natural towers, or we can enjoy a more relaxing route to the top on a scenic chair lift ride. This is a fun place for investigating WWI ruins, and for exploring the headquarters of the mountain artillery unit.

• Day 4 : Averau Via Ferrata or Hike to Rifugio Nuvolao

  We’ll have two options today:  The first is to embark on the Averau Via Ferrata.  This ferrata begins with a short ascent, past a chimney and up the 190-foot lined path to the crest, where the views are simply magnificent. From atop the peak, we can gaze around at the breathtaking panoramas from Monte Pelmo to Antelao, Civetta, Sorapis and even Tofana di Rozes. Once we’ve taken in the incredible sights, we'll return along the same route.

   

  The second option is hike to the Rifugio Nuvolao.  The original rifugio dates back to the late 1800's, and once belonged to the Alpine Club of Cortina, but the Austrian artillery destroyed it during the 1915-18 conflict. The present day hut was built in 1930. This cheerful refuge boasts a terrace looking south onto the Marmolada, the Pale di San Martino, Civetta, and the wild Monti del Sole. After lunch we'll descend on the southern path before winding southeast across loose rubble beneath Nuvolau. We'll then pass beneath the soaring Ra Gusela point (6,906'), a short distance above Passo Giau (7,336').

• Day 5 : Passo Giau – Around Lastoni & Croda da Lago Massifs

  Today we'll hike around Lastoni di Formin and Croda da Lago massifs. From the Rifugio Passo Giau, we'll hike up to Forcella Giau (7,785'), then descend to Lago de la Bastes (7,470'), continuing on the famous Alta Via N.1 to Forcella da Lago (7,470'). We'll then stop at the Rifugio Croda da Lago where we can gaze out at the pristine lake while enjoying our lunch. From here we’ll meander down through the forest to Pezie di Paru, stopping along the way to take in superb views of the Cinque Torri and Tofana di Rozes massifs.

• Day 6 : Hike to the Pralongia Plateau – Corvara

  Walk to the Pralongia Plateau, and enjoy a marvelous 360° view of the Marmolada – the “Queen of the Dolomites” – the mighty Sella Massif, the Lavarella and Conturines mountains, and the fascinating spires of the Puez-Odle group. We’ll then have an moderate hike to the Rifugio La Fraina for lunch. Afterwards, we'll head down to the village of Corvara. Corvara’s fun, laid-back atmosphere caters to families looking for that essential European experience.

• Day 7 : Corvara – Via Ferrata Piz da Lech or Other Optional Adventures

  Today we’ll take a gondola to the Rifugio Franz Kostner al Vallon, where the Via Ferrata Piz da Lech begins. This is a short Via Ferrata of easy-to-moderate difficulty with great rewards: a panoramic view of the Valle Mezdi. We’ll then descend to Corvara on the gondola.

   

  For travelers wanting something a little more challenging, we can transfer to Passo Campolongo (6,150’) and hike up to the Rifugio Bec de Roces. From here, we’ll continue our ascent, passing Bec de Roces (7,107’) and Piz Boe (10,915’), before descending on a path leading to the Rifugio Franz Kostner al Vallon (8,334’). After lunch at the rifugio, we’ll continue downhill along Lago Boè and through the woods to Corvara (5,143’).

   

  Other optional activities today include an Adventure Park, or mountain biking.

• Day 8 : Departure

  Transfer to Venice for homeward-bound flights.

• 

  Hotel Franceschi

  Cortina d’Ampezzo

  The Franceschi Park Hotel sits on the grounds of a magnificent private park and is surrounded by pleasant and relaxing gardens. Conveniently located within walking distance of the center of town, the hotel offers spacious and elegant rooms furnished in the typical Ampezzan style. Guests will enjoy delicious homemade meals made by the owners themselves, and an array of amenities such as tennis courts, a sauna, solarium, Turkish bath, and Jacuzzi.

• 

  Hotel Table

  
  

Properties shown are representative of the accommodations we use on this trip, may not be inclusive of all accommodations we use, and are subject to change.

Expert leadership is the key to an exciting, unforgettable experience. Our trips feature gifted leaders for whom leading trips is a true vocation. Besides showing you wonders you’d never find on your own, they make sure everything runs smoothly and safely without a hitch. They are knowledgeable about all aspects of your trip, and take great pleasure in sharing their insights with you. More than just guides, they positively elevate your experience by being teachers, companions, and the best of friends. You’ll be in good hands with them every step of the way.

• Alberto De Giuli

  Alberto De Giuli, a fully certified UIAGM/IFMGA mountain guide, was born in the small town of Padova, Italy. After receiving his degree in economics from the University of Venice; he decided to pursue his true passion, to guide in the mountains. He currently lives in Arabba, which is in the heart of the Dolomites. Alberto has spent several years guiding groups on climibing, hiking, trekking, and skiiing adventures. He truly enjoys showcasing the Dolomites to everyone!

• Giulia Monego

  Guilia Monego is a professional skier and adventure enthusiast. Her passion for skiing and the mountains has led her to work as a ski instructor, complete in many alpine ski races and events to leading hiking trips throughout the Dolomites. Whether she is leading a ski expedition in Patagonia or China to photography trips to British Columbia, she is at home at the mountains.

• Luca Gasparini

  Luca Gasparini is an enthusiastic bilingual professional mountain guide. The mountains and outdoors has always been a part of his life. He started skiing at seven years old, rock climbing and ice climbing at age 19. Luca is living in the Dolomites working as a mountain guide in heli skiing, ski touring, off-track-skiing, ski safaris, ice climbing and snow shoeing in winter and rock climbing, trekking, canyoning and mountaineering in summer.

• Marica Fave

  Marica Fave is grew up in Campitello in the Fassa Valley. She started skiing at age 3 and ski racing at age 6. Since then, she has been a part of the mountains ever since. While on Ski teams, she traveled through out Europe, North America and Canada. In 2006 she became a certified mountain guide and has been leading trips for Mountain Travel Sobek for many years. She has guided in Italy, France, Switzerland and India.

• Karin Pizzinini

  After being high school science and chemistry teacher, Karin Pizzinini decided to pursue her two big passions: travel and photography. Now she works both as an art director, making documentaries about Ladin arts and culture, and as a hiking guide in her beloved Dolomites, where she grew up and lives. She is a year-round outdoor enthusiast - enjoying telemarking and ski touring in the winter, hiking, rock climbing and climbing glaciers in the summer. She used to compete in cross country skiing, cycling and ski touring, where she has achieved the title of Italian champion. Karin says her mission is transmitting knowledge, be it as a teacher, a guide, a film director or a writer. Guiding trips through the beautiful scenery where she lives, and on trips around the world, enables her to share her enthusiasm with her groups, which is certainly one of the things she likes best.

photo credits: Agustina Lagos Marmol and Marcello Cominetti