Overview
A week of winter walking in the Dolomites through the iconic landscapes of majestic, craggy peaks, which are draped in a wonderful white cloak through the winter months. Walk in the snowy shadow of the UNESCO-listed Tre Cime di Lavaredo, which envelop the valleys of Sesto and Braies where you get to walk on safe, and relatively easy winter trails. On this trip, you also get to trek up to the summit of Strudelkopf, also known as Monte Specie (2,307m), from where you get great views of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo peaks and many more. Rental equipment (snowshoes, crampons, trekking poles) is available on request.
- Tre Cime di Lavaredo (Three Peaks of Lavaredo)
- Monte Specie (2,307m)
- Prato Piazza (2,000m)
- Val Campo di dentro
- Lago di Braies
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Dobbiaco/Villabassa
Arrive at your hotel in either Dobbiaco or Villabassa, in Val Pusteria. If time allows, visit the local sights such as Lago di Dobbiaco, or try the local South Tyrolean cuisine in one of the nearby restaurants.
- Accommodation: Apparthotel Germania, Hotel Rose or similar in Dobbiaco or Villabassa
Day 2: Rifugio Tre Scarperi | 15km
After breakfast, take a transfer to the starting point of today’s route. Walk through snowy larch meadows as far as Rifugio Tre Scarperi, located in Val Campo di dentro. Try the local speciality, warm Apfelküchlein, whilst taking in the views of the imposing Punta dei Tre Scarperi and Torre dei Scarperi, before catching the public bus to Sesto (payable locally).
- Walking for the day: 15km ↑550m
- Accommodation: Hotel Strobl or similar in Sesto
Day 3: Alpe di Nemes and Malga Klammbach circular walk | 14km
Today’s walk starts with impressive views of Croda dei Toni directly ahead, and Punta dei Tre Scarperi to your right. Follow the route over Passo Monte Croce, heading through the alpine pastures of Alpe di Nemes, before reaching Malga Klammbach. After a break and a refreshment, follow the trail back to Passo Monte Croce and continue on towards your accommodation in Sesto.
- Walking for the day: 14km ↑375m ↓375m
- Accommodation: Hotel Strobl or similar in Sesto
Day 4: Ponticello – Malga Stolla – Prato Piazza | 6km
After a transfer to Brückele Hotel, near Ponticello, follow the trail along Stolla stream, winding through the valley. Reach Malga Stolla, where the mighty Croda Rossa d’Ampezzo (3,146m) towers behind it. Continue walking along the valley until it opens up and the trail leads onto a plateau, known as Prato Piazza.
- Walking for the day: 6km ↑500m ↓230m
- Accommodation: Hotel Hohe Gaisl or similar in Prato Piazzo
Day 5: Prato Piazza – Monte Specie – Prato Piazza | 10km
Starting from Prato Piazza, follow the route to the summit of Monte Specie (2,307m). Today’s ascent provides panoramic views of the surrounding peaks, including Croda Rossa d’Ampezzo and Croda del Becco. From Monte Specie, the trail offers some of the most dramatic views over the Dolomites, extending to the peaks of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, the Cadini group, the Tofane group, Cristallo and Marmolada (known as the Queen of the Dolomites).
- Walking for the day: 10km ↑325m ↓325m
- Accommodation: Hotel Hohe Gaisl or similar in Prato Piazza
Day 6: Braies – Lago di Braies – Villabassa/Dobbiaco | 12km
After a transfer to the walk’s starting point in Braies, follow the route through the wooded Valle di Braies, before coiming toLago di Braies. The lake is certainly a highlight of the tour, nestled in the valley between trees with a backdrop of snowy mountains. Continue walking to Malga Foresta, stopping for a break before taking the public bus back to Villabassa or Dobbiaco (payable locally).
- Walking for the day: 12km ↑625m ↓325m
- Accommodation: Apparthotel Germania, Hotel Rose or similar in Dobbiaco or Villabassa
Day 7: Misurina – Rifugio Auronzo – Villabassa/Dobbiaco | 14km
Take a transfer to Misurina, where today’s route begins, surrounded by mountains. Start the walk, quickly reaching Lago d’Antorno then follow the path along the mountain road up to Rifugio Auronzo (2,333m). This is located on the southwest side of Tre Cime di Lavaredo, the famous Three Peaks of Lavaredo. Stop for a break on the terrace of the mountain hut, taking in the views over the Dolomites. Take a return transfer back to your accommodation in Villabassa or Dobbiaco.
- Walking for the day: 14km ↑675m ↓675m
- Accommodation: Apparthotel Germania, Hotel Rose or similar in Dobbiaco or Villabassa
Day 8: Departure
Departure from Dobbiaco or Villabassa after breakfast, or extend your stay with an extra night.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of small, locally-owned hotels, B&Bs and traditional guesthouses (some with a sauna and/or an indoor pool). They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms.
Click to view sample accommodation
- Apparthotel Germania (Dobbiaco)
- Hotel Rose (Villabassa)
- Hotel Strobl (Sesto)
- Hotel Hohe Gaisl (Prato Piazza)
Accommodation is subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included on all days. When no restaurant location is available en route, lunches and snacks can either be bought from local shops or packed lunches can be pre-ordered from your hotel the night before. Dinner is included every evening at your accommodation.
Difficulty and terrain
This tour is rated easy to moderate and is suitable for both less experienced walkers and seasoned hikers. The routes follow marked trails and wide paths, with daily walking distances ranging from 6-15km. A reasonable level of fitness is required to get the most out of the tour, with daily elevation gains ranging from 325-675m (read more about difficulty grades). Rental equipment (snowshoes, crampons, trekking poles) is available on request.
We strongly advise you to only follow marked trails and never try to shorten the path through unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed route notes and maps and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed information on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
When to go
This trip is available from the beginning of January until the beginning of March and can start on any Wednesday, Saturday or Sunday. The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates, meaning you can start your trip on any date during the season.
The average temperatures during this time period range from -5-1C, and January to March is the time of year with the most snowfall. Rapid weather changes are possible during the day. For more information, see our blog on the Best time to go to Italy.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended airports for this tour are Innsbruck Airport (INN), Treviso Airport (TSF) and Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE).
By train or bus
- If you are able to travel to Italy without flying, this holiday is reachable by rail, with railway stations in Villabassa and Dobbiaco. For more details, see the national rail operator Trenitalia or use the Omio planner above
- From Innsbruck Airport: take the bus from the airport to Innsbruck Hbf (main station) and then the train (3h 45mins), changing in Brennero and Fortezza
- From Venice airports: from Treviso Airport, take the line A bus to Treviso main station and then the train to Venice Saint Lucia. From Venice Marco Polo Airport take the line 35 bus to Venice Saint Lucia. From Venice Saint Lucia train station take the train (5.5h), changing in Verona and Fortezza. For more information, see the national rail operators DB (Germany), ÖBB (Austria) and Trenitalia (Italy), or use the Omio planner above
- Parking: free parking facilities (unattended) are available for the duration of the tour at a nearby public parking area
- Airport transfers are available on request
Inclusions
Included
- 7 nights accommodation
- 7 breakfasts and 7 dinners
- Luggage transfers to next accommodation (one piece per person, max 20kg)
- Transfers according to the itinerary, including morning transfers to the walks’ starting points on day two, four, six and seven, as well as a transfer at the end of day seven
- Detailed tour materials, including maps, route notes and additional information about the area
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Lunches, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable locally)
- Any items not explicitly listed as included
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- We regret that this tour is not open to solo travellers
- Extra nights in Villabassa or Dobbiaco are available on request
- Rental equipment (snowshoes, trekking poles) is available on request
- Airport transfers are available on request
