Spectacular hikes in the Dolomites
Recommendations for hikes in the Dolomites
Tour guide Anne Grethe LOVES the Dolomites, and here she provides some hiking tips from this fantastic area:
Over the past 10 years, I have been on several hikes in the Dolomites both as a tour guide and on my own – i.e., either alone, with my husband and children, or as a couple's trip.
Now I would love to share some of my hiking tips with you out there – whether you go on your own or want to join me and Expa Travel on some of our trips to the Dolomites.
Wild & Beautiful
The Dolomites have something unique about them. Something wild and beautiful that draws me back time and time again. I feel a bit like the caterpillar in the story "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" because, yes, as the text says: I never get enough of the view and just want more and more of it!
That is exactly why I go back year after year, sometimes even several times a year! And I look forward to it just as much every single time, and truly enjoy myself when our guests fall just as in love with the mountains as I am. Jaws dropping, comments like "this is like walking in a fairy tale" and "is it really possible for it to be this beautiful". That’s when I really enjoy myself!! Sharing this with others and seeing their reactions is a dream job. I am lucky!
Ancient seabed
Previously, the Dolomites were called Monti Pallidi – the pale mountains – but later the mountain range was named the Dolomites after the French geologist Dolomieu, who was the first to describe this type of rock. He also discovered that the Dolomites were an ancient seabed and that to this day, you can actually find fossils from millions of years ago that prove this.
Special flora
Despite the fact that the Dolomites can look like dry, pointed peaks, the flora is vast. Around 3000 different plants grow here, and the colors of the flowers are much more intense than at home. You can easily get overwhelmed by the vibrant colors and the fact that flowers can grow right out of a cliff face. This is, of course, due to all the limestone in the rock. Unfortunately, I am no flower expert, but I have learned that many species have "Alpe" (Alpine) in their names; Alpine rose, Alpine violet, Alpine buttercup, you name it! That makes me sound professional anyway 😀
As you wander across one of the many, lovely green meadows that appear on the hike, you can at times feel like you are in the middle of the musical "The Sound of Music". It does something to you, just look (and listen) to these lovely ladies I had with me on a Dolomite trip 🤣
Tre Cime
It is difficult to choose just one favorite hike among all the possibilities available in the Dolomites, but one I particularly like is the hike around Tre Cime / Drei Zinnen.
I start by taking a bus from Cortina d’Ampezzo to Auronzo where I begin my hike. There are several daily departures.
I always take the longest route around the peaks, as it gives me the opportunity to have lunch at my favorite mountain hut; Büllelejoch/ rifugio Pian di Cengia. A small, but very cozy hut located at 2,528 meters above sea level. Eating here allows you to avoid the long queues at the large 'Tre Cime hut' where most people stop for lunch. I recommend avoiding that one during the high season.
The entire hike is about 16 km, taking around 5 hours, give or take. Here there are plenty of opportunities for many Kodak moments, and to enjoy! Because you MUST remember to enjoy!
You walk in relatively flat terrain at the beginning and get to see the backside of the famous Tre Cime mountains. They can probably be called Italy's answer to Preikestolen and Trolltunga in terms of the number of tourists during the season. This is also part of the reason why I choose the long loop that fewer tourists take. It gets somewhat steep up and down at times, but do not lose your breath as it is usually the altitude that makes breathing a bit heavier (at least, that is what I think 😀).
When you arrive at the front of Tre Cime, you must take your time to walk around this area. Feel free to wander among the pointed peaks there, as well as up to one of the caves to get those iconic pictures from within.
Cadini di Misurina
Since you are already in this area and have more energy left, feel free to also take the relatively easy walk from Rifugio Auronzo and further over to the well-known Cadini di Misurina. You will see the signs from the front of the hut. Follow these down, up, and across. Well worth the 'effort'. About 1 hour of easy walking.
Sassolungo
Another hike where you get to see a lot of green, many flowers, and at the same time these sharp limestone-formed mountains is the hike around Sassolungo.
Take a bus from Val Gardena up to Passo Sella, and feel free to start by taking the "telephone booth" cable car
(you are 'pushed' into the cabin while it's moving and pulled out at the top) from there up to the Toni Demetz hut. Approx. 2700 meters above sea level – then you are standing between Sassolungo/Langkofel and Sassopiatto/Plattkofel.
Take a look around and enjoy the wild landscape before taking the lift back down and starting the hike around the mountain group.
Follow the relatively wide trail/gravel path towards Rifugio Salei and then Rifugio Friedrich August. Eventually, you will get fantastic views of the Sella Ronda, Marmolada (the highest mountain (3,343 m) in the Dolomites), Valle di Fassa, Canazei, Rosengarten Alpen, and Seiser Alm.
I recommend lunch at rifugio Sasso Piatto/Plattkofel hut, which is located about halfway through this loop. Very good food and service here.
The hike after lunch offers fantastic views over the green and flower-covered Seiser Alm.
When you reach the fork up towards the Langkofel/Sassolungo hut, take the trail further towards Monte Seura. From there, you can take the lift back down to Santa Cristina or you can complete the entire loop further towards Rifugio Comici and Passo Sella.
An 'after-hike' drink at one of the local huts/pubs is a must and sooooo deserved.
These are just some of my favorites in the Dolomites. There are sooooo many more hikes and things to do that I could recommend in these favorite valleys of the Dolomites! I will have to write about more of them eventualy.
Good to know about the Dolomites
Some tips worth noting are:
Always carry your European Health Insurance Card just in case…
There isn't mobile coverage everywhere, but if you should have an accident, remember that the mountain huts usually have an emergency phone. Speaking from experience!
In any case, whether you go alone or not, bring a first aid kit – pack the essentials in a waterproof bag.
Have enough water with you.
Bring both cash and cards – not all mountain huts have network coverage.
Even though the Dolomites have many sunny days, you are after all moving in the high mountains, so dress according to the weather!
Good shoes with a solid sole are a must – personally, I use shoes with a Vibram sole.
Sunglasses and sunscreen are a must regardless of the weather since the limestone has the same reflective effect as snow – especially on the eyes.
You simply must try the various local dishes at the huts – at least the famous dessert pancake Kaiserschmarrn!!
Don't be afraid to use the languages of the valleys – here they speak Italian, German, and Ladin – the still living, ancient local language of the valleys. Hence, signs are often in three languages. Almost everyone speaks some English anyway. Feel free to learn a few local phrases, the locals really appreciate it : -)
Apfelschorle is a local non-alcoholic thirst quencher that provides energy for further hiking. The alcohol is best enjoyed after the hikes!
There is so much to do and so little time!! So just do it – either alone or with us at Expa Travel!!
PS!! We are happy to customize a trip for YOU and your travel group, but we also offer group trips with others. See more about this in our program.
Have a great trip from all of us at Expa Travel AS