Brenta Dolomites & Lake Garda, Aug. 2026

Day 1Travel Day / Transport to Madonna di Campiglio / Overnight at Rifugio Graffer

After arrival in Bergamo, there will be a transfer from the airport to the mountain village of Madonna di Campiglio. A short stop along the way for a light lunch (not included).
Once arrived in Madonna di Campiglio, you will meet the local mountain guides who will show you around the mountains for the next three days. You repack so that what you need for these days goes into your small backpack. You leave your larger luggage at the hotel you will be staying at later this week.
Then, we take the mountain lift up to Rifugio Graffer, where you check in. The local guides give a brief briefing and review of the program for the next few days, before a shorter "warm-up hike" in the area around the mountain lodge is on the schedule.

Gathering around the dinner table before turning in for the night (included).

Day 2Hike with Via Ferrata / Overnight at Rifugio Brentei

An exciting day awaits! You eat breakfast, pack your bag, and head towards the next mountain lodge. Magical views along the way.
The hike is mostly on trails. Despite many of the mountain peaks around you being over 3100 m.a.s.l., today's stage stays at roughly the same altitude the whole way: between 2000 – 2500 m.a.s.l.

Along the way, you test several Via Ferratas, where you are challenged a bit regarding heights. The mountain guides conduct a thorough briefing before each Via Ferrata and climb together with the group. The Via Ferratas you climb are relatively simple technically and therefore require no prior knowledge. However, it can be helpful to be somewhat comfortable with heights. Just enjoy the surroundings; it is beautiful wherever you turn.

Lunch, which means your packed lunch (included), is enjoyed at a suitable spot along the way, most likely at a mountain lodge.

After a full day in the mountains, you arrive at the newly renovated Rifugio Brentei and are assigned your sleeping place.
Afterhike and relaxation before a well-deserved dinner in very special surroundings (included). I reckon everyone will sleep well tonight, full of fresh mountain air, a sense of achievement, and wonderful experiences.

Day 3Hike in the Brenta Dolomites / Overnight at hotel in the mountain village of Madonna di Campiglio

After a good breakfast and a cup of coffee, you and your local guide go through today's route. You have several choices and choose a trail based on the weather, but also on the experiences made the previous day.
The plan is to hike up some of the surrounding mountain passes where you can see over to the next valley. There are several mountain lodges in the area and several different Via Ferratas.
If there are many of you, the tour leader might split the group in two, where those who want can try a new Via Ferrata, and the rest of the group chooses a route without Via Ferratas. The groups will, of course, meet for lunch (packed lunch, included).
Whichever route you choose, you will eventually make your way down past some spectacular waterfalls on the way to the parking lot in Vallesinella. From there, you take the local bus for the last few kilometers back to Madonna di Campiglio (not included).

In the afternoon, we are back in "civilization" and check in at our hotel in town.
Afterhike and time for some relaxation at the hotel before a joint dinner in the hotel's restaurant (included).

Day 4Cinque Laghi Hike

Today, you take the Cinque Laghi gondola up to 2000 m.a.s.l. Now you are on the "other" side of the mountains and get a fantastic view of the Brenta Dolomites that you hiked in during the past days.
On today's hike, you pass five beautiful mountain lakes – Cinque Laghi. A hike on nice paths with panoramic views all the way.
Expect the hike to take about 4-5 hours before ending at the top of the Pradalago mountain lift.
Lunch today is not included.

Today, the afterhike will be at the top of the mountain lift, on the terrace with the best view!

Eventually, you take the lift back down to the town for some time on your own before a joint dinner in the hotel's restaurant (included).

Day 5Transport to Torbole / Free day with opportunity for sun and swimming

You check out of the hotel and pack your luggage into the transfer bus that takes you down to Lake Garda (included). A journey of about two hours.

After checking in to your hotel in Torbole / Riva del Garda, you have the rest of the day on your own. Perhaps a refreshing swim in Lake Garda tempts you, or just some relaxation on the beach.
The town of Torbole is right next door to Riva del Garda. A lovely pathway along the beach links the towns together (approx. 3.5 km). Many possibilities with cozy restaurants and shops for shopping for those who wish.

Lunch and dinner on your own today (not included).

Day 6Excursion with boat, mountain lift, and hike to Monte Baldo

This day, you choose between participating in activities or just relaxing in Torbole.

For those who wish to do activities, the day starts relatively early. After a delicious breakfast at the hotel, we walk together down to the harbor to take the first boat departure over to the library town of Malcesine. A great boat trip of about 40 minutes. In Malcesine, you take the mountain lift all the way to the top of Monte Baldo, nearly 1800 m.a.s.l. The view on the way up is incredibly beautiful, and once at the top, you can see all of Lake Garda and the mighty landscape around it. From lakes to the Brenta Dolomites and the glaciers there.

Starting from the mountain lift, there are several nice hiking trails that follow along the mountain ridge. The plan is to walk for about two hours before returning to the mountain lift and a joint lunch at the top restaurant (not included).

Then you take the mountain lift back down to Malcesine, where you can spend some time in the cozy little town before taking the boat back to Riva del Garda. A wonderful day with a boat trip, a mountain lift with spectacular views, and a hike at 1800 m.a.s.l.
(The ticket for the boat trip and mountain lift is not included).

This is the last day with the tour guide from Expa Travel.
We gather at 19:30 for departure to a farewell dinner at a cozy, local restaurant (included).

Day 7Hike to the "mountain chapel" Santa Barbara above the town of Riva del Garda

After a relaxing and delightful breakfast, it's time for today's excursion – on your own.
You follow the promenade along the lake all the way to the old town of Riva del Garda. This is where the path starts that takes you all the way up to the tiny mountain chapel Santa Barbara high up on the mountain slope. Strange place to place a chapel, but there is a wide and nice path all the way from the lake to the chapel. A great hike, with many vertical meters.
Once at the top, it is a Kodak moment, little effort for a lot of view!

Lunch on your own, not included. Perhaps you take it in one of the many restaurants in Riva del Garda. In the square, in one of the beautiful small streets, or along the shores of Lake Garda.

On the way back from Riva del Garda, you might stop at the beach for a swim in the lake. Wonderfully cooling.

Dinner on your own (not included).

Day 8Departure

Breakfast before checkout and a joint transfer to the airport.

The program is preliminary, changes may occur. Expa Travel AS reserves the right to correct spelling errors/currency changes.