Custom travel to the Dolomites

The Dolomites are one of the world's most beautiful mountain ranges, UNESCO-listed since 2009, where pink limestone peaks rise like cathedrals above tender green meadows, emerald lakes, and villages with slate roofs. This region in northeastern Italy (Trentino-South Tyrol and Veneto) is a world apart: people speak Italian, German (South Tyrol), and Ladin (an ancient Romance language), eat both canederli (Tyrolean knödels) and spaghetti, and sleep in wooden refuges nestled at 2,000 m. From Tre Cime di Lavaredo (Europe's most iconic three peaks) to Lake Sorapis, from Sass de Putia to Val Gardena, every valley is a wonder.

Highlights

• Tre Cime di Lavaredo: the iconic 3 peaks (UNESCO)
• Cortina d'Ampezzo: the pearl of the Dolomites
• Val Gardena, Alta Badia, Val di Funes: iconic valleys
• Alpine lakes: Sorapis, Braies, Carezza, Misurina
• Ladin and Tyrolean cuisine (canederli, schlutzkrapfen, strudel)
• Alpine skiing in winter, hiking and via ferrata in summer

Sample itineraries

When to go

The Dolomites are visited in two seasons. Summer (mid-June to mid-September): refuges and cable cars open, ideal hiking, pleasant temperatures (15-25 °C in valleys, 5-15 °C at altitude). Mid-July to mid-August is high season (book 4-6 months in advance). September offers magnificent autumn colors (golden larches). Winter (December to March): world-class alpine skiing, negative temperatures (-5 to -15 °C), excellent snow cover (1-3 m). December-January (Christmas/New Year) and February (carnival) are the peaks. Shoulder seasons (May, October-November) should be avoided, many structures closed.

• High summer (Mid-July – mid-August), Alta Via 1 trek, Tre Cime, alpages, summer festivals
• Summer and golden autumn (June and September), Golden larches in Sept (lärchgold), ideal hiking
• Ski winter (December – March), Sellaronda, Cortina ski, Alta Badia, Christmas markets
• Off seasons (May and November), Lower valleys only, Bolzano, Bressanone

Practical information

The Dolomites are a very safe region. In the mountains, classic precautions: appropriate equipment (hiking shoes, warm clothing even in summer, it can snow in July at 3,000 m), very changeable weather (check dolomiti.org), offline maps app (Komoot, Outdoor Active). For via ferrata, kit mandatory (lanyard, harness, helmet), UIAGM mountain guides recommended. In winter, winter tires mandatory from November to April in South Tyrol. Altitude rifugi book 4-6 months in advance for July-August. Some German words useful in South Tyrol (grüss gott = hello, danke = thank you).

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time for the Dolomites?

Summer, from mid-June to mid-September, is hiking season: refuges and cable cars open, pleasant temperatures of 15-25 °C in the valleys and 5-15 °C at altitude. Mid-July to mid-August is peak high season, to be booked 4-6 months ahead, especially for the Alta Via 1 trek's refuges. June and September are our favorite hiking periods: very pleasant climate (12-22 °C), far fewer crowds, and in September the golden larches (the famous lärchgold) offer magnificent autumn colors. Winter, from December to March, is ski season, with negative temperatures (-5 to -15 °C) and excellent snow cover (1-3 m); December-January (Christmas and New Year) and February (carnival) are the crowd and price peaks. Absolutely avoid May and November: these are the off seasons, when many refuges, cable cars, and hotels close between seasons, leaving only the lower valleys like Bolzano or Bressanone accessible.

How long for the Dolomites?

Allow at least 7 days for our most concentrated itinerary, Essential Dolomites: 4 nights in Cortina d'Ampezzo as a base for the Tre Cime di Lavaredo loop and Lake Sorapis, then 2 nights in Val di Funes or Bressanone for the iconic Sass de Putia view. To combine several valleys, Cortina, Val Gardena, and Alta Badia, with their different moods and gastronomy, plan for 10 days. The legendary Alta Via 1 trek, 120 km and 8 days of refuge-to-refuge walking between Lago di Braies and Belluno, also needs about 10 days total including travel. For a ski trip, 7 days is usually enough: 3 nights in Cortina for the Tofana ski area, then 3 nights in Alta Badia for the Sellaronda and its starred gastronomy. Under 5 days, it's better to focus on a single base, Cortina, to avoid losing too much time on mountain roads between valleys.

What budget for a custom Dolomites trip?

For 7 to 10 days at Comfort level, 3-4★ Tyrolean boutique hotels in the valleys (Cortina, Ortisei, San Cassiano) and altitude refuges for an eventual trek, rental car, and 3 guided experiences (Tre Cime, via ferrata, or skiing), expect from €1,500 per person, excluding international flights. At Premium level (8-12 days), you stay in exceptional alpine hotels like the Rosa Alpina in San Cassiano, the Hotel Cristallo in Cortina, or the Adler Spa in Ortisei, with a private French-speaking UIAGM mountain guide and gastronomic dinners (Alta Badia has 8 Michelin-starred restaurants for just 6 villages); budgets start at €2,800 per person. At Exclusive level (10-14 days, fully bespoke), it's 5★ hotels like the Rosa Alpina, Forestis, or the Adler Mountain Lodge, with heli-skiing possible and dinners at starred tables like St. Hubertus (3★) or La Stüa de Michil (1★): expect from €5,500 per person. On top of this come international flights, between €200 and €500 per person for a Paris-Venice or Paris-Innsbruck round-trip in Economy.

Do I need a visa for the Dolomites?

No visa is necessary for French, Belgian, Swiss, or other European Union citizens: Italy is part of the Schengen area, and a valid ID card or passport is enough. For British, American, and Canadian citizens, no visa is required either for a tourist stay up to 90 days per 180-day period, but a valid passport is needed. The currency is the euro, as in France, avoiding any currency exchange. In the mountains, always keep an ID document on you, notably for access to certain cable cars or for an overnight refuge stay, where registration is sometimes requested.

Do I need to be an experienced hiker?

No, the Dolomites offer itineraries accessible at every level. The Tre Cime di Lavaredo loop, the massif's most iconic hike (10 km, 4-5 h, only 200 m elevation), is accessible to families with children from age 8, as are the walks in Alpe di Siusi, Europe's largest alpine pasture. Many cable cars also reach panoramas at 2,500-2,700 m without any walking effort. For the Alta Via 1 trek, however, expect 8-15 km and 700-1,200 m of elevation per day over 8 consecutive days: good fitness and a habit of regular hiking are needed, but no climbing technique. For via ferrata, mandatory kit (lanyard, harness, helmet) and ideally a UIAGM mountain guide are required, especially on historic World War I routes like the Lipella or Tomaselli on the Tofana.

How do I get around in the Dolomites?

A rental car is by far the most practical option in the Dolomites: valleys are connected by winding alpine roads, and distances are deceptively long, Cortina-Bolzano for example takes 2.5 h via the passes. The most practical arrival airports are Venice (2 h drive from Cortina), Innsbruck (1 h from Bressanone), as well as Verona, Milan, and Munich for cheaper flights. Trains connect gateway towns like Bolzano and Bressanone, followed by slower regional buses to the valleys. In winter, winter tires are mandatory from November to April in South Tyrol, and chains are sometimes needed after snowfall. To get around at altitude, the many cable cars are covered by a Dolomiti Superski pass in winter or a Dolomiti Skipass summer pass in some areas.

What's the difference between Cortina, Val Gardena, and Alta Badia?

Cortina (Veneto, Italian-speaking): the chicest and most touristy, Olympic skiing, access to Tre Cime. Val Gardena (South Tyrol, Ladin/German): authentic, wood carving, Alpe di Siusi. Alta Badia (South Tyrol, Ladin): the most gastronomic (8 Michelin stars), Sellaronda, skiing.

When to see the enrosadira?

At sunset, in clear weather, especially in summer (the phenomenon is more marked in July-September). Best spots: Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Sass de Putia, Tofane, Cinque Torri. The reddening lasts 15-20 minutes, prepare your camera.

How to book altitude rifugi?

Rifugi book 4-6 months in advance for July-August, essential for the Alta Via 1 trek. Average rate: €50-80 per person in dormitory half-board, €80-130 double room. Generally open from mid-June to mid-September.

Are the Dolomites suitable for a family trip?

Absolutely, from 6-8 years old. Tre Cime loop accessible to families, many cable cars, family trails in Alpe di Siusi, marmot watching, swimming lakes. Excellent family hotels. In winter, perfect for learning to ski (schools everywhere).

How to pay in the Dolomites: card or cash?

Bank cards are accepted almost everywhere, hotels, restaurants, ski lifts, including in small resorts. Keep some cash in euros, however, for the more remote rifugi, which sometimes have only an unreliable payment terminal due to limited internet at altitude, as well as for small purchases at alpine pastures (a local cheese lunch at a malga is often paid in cash, expect around €15 per person). Italy is part of the eurozone, so no currency exchange is needed if you're coming from France, Belgium, or another eurozone country.

What should I pack for a Dolomites trip?

Even in summer, pack warm clothing and a waterproof jacket: it can snow in July above 3,000 m, and mountain weather changes very quickly. Well broken-in hiking shoes are essential, along with high-protection sunscreen (radiation is stronger at altitude). For via ferrata, the technical kit (lanyard, harness, helmet) is generally provided by your UIAGM mountain guide. An offline maps app like Komoot or Outdoor Active is very useful for hikes, as network coverage is limited in some valleys. In winter, pack warm, waterproof ski clothing, ski equipment is easily rented at every resort. Finally, a few German words are useful in South Tyrol (grüss gott for hello, danke for thank you), even though Italian and English are largely enough.