Dolomites Epic Italian Adventure - Fri, Sep 5 2025

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Dolomites Epic Italian Adventure


The Basics:
Event Type:Adventure
Event Location: Dolomite Mountains, Italy
Date(s) & Time:Fri, Sep 5 2025  7:00 am >> Sun, Sep 14 2025 5:00 pm
Registration Opens: Tue, Nov 12 2024 7:00 pm
Registration Cut Off: Mon, Sep 1 2025 6:00 pm
Event Duration:9 Days 10 Hours
Difficulty Rating:D5: Difficult (Exploratory)
Pace:Moderate
Trip Leader(s):
Lisa Maldonado
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Member Cost:$25.00/Person (See Detailed Cost Info Below)

Participant Info:
Who's Invited: Members Only, 21 And Older Only
Maximum Group Size:12
Minimum Group Size:2
Number Registered So Far: 12 / 30 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)
Are Dogs Permitted: No

Note: This is an "EXPLORATORY" trip. This means that there are parts of this trip, or perhaps the whole trip, that is new to your Trip Leader(s). However, they are confident that this will not be an issue.
This note is here so that you can make an informed decision. When a Trip Leader isn't personally familiar with a trip, there is an increased chance of things not going as planned and you need to be prepared. The Trip Leader may have additional details in the itinerary.

Itinerary:

The Dolomite Italian Alps have been on my bucket list for awhile. Lets make it happen. These Magestic Mountains are located in Northern Italy. Just a 2 hour car ride from Venice. They are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Flying into Venice or Milan are great options. We will rent cars to make it easy for hiking. You must have an international Drivers License to drive in Italy. This is easy to obtain at AAA.

We will most likely need 3 or 4 rental vehicles and drivers on this event.

Our group will stay at a hotel in Cortina Di Ampezzo for the first 5 nights. Hotel Des Alpes on the eastern side of the Dolomites.

https://www.hoteldesalpescortina.it/en/home-en/

The cost for 5 nights will be 5580 Euro. Plus a vat tax of 210 Euro for 5 nights.  482.50 euro per person

We will then move over to the western side of the Dolomites. Val Gardena will be our next home base at a hotel. I am hoping to book Hotel Portillo Dolomites 1966 for a total of $7476 . $623 per person. Tax will be calculate and aditional. I need to have a roster of names to book this hotel and deposit. Upon sign up I will give the names. 

https://www.portillo-dolomites.it/en/

 

Hotels are going fast in both these areas. I need to get a deposit in ASAP.

You must have solid recent D4 experience to join this event. It is posted as D5 due to the altitude change and consecutive days of hiking. Everyone signing up will be placed on the wait list until Leaders evaluate your hiking experience. You must be adaptable and compromising on this adventure. The Itinerary is packed with events. We will try to accomplish all the listed activities. Hikes or Itinerary may change due to time or weather. Some hikes can not be done in the rain due to slippery rocks. It is important that you are on time in the morning to start our adventures. 

Day 1  September 5th: Arrive in Dolomites: Get checked in to accomodations. A short hike Tofanan de Mezzo. This is a very short trail of 0.2 miles but steep. We will gain 180 feet by scrambling over rocks.  Good hiking boots are a must. The view of the mountain range and village below is said to be spectacular. We will explore the small down of Cortina d'Ampezzo. For Sunset we will do a short hike to Lago di Limides. The hike is just under 2 miles with 350 feet of elevation gain. This website has some pretty photos of the lake: https://thephotohikes.com/lago-di-limides-hike/

After driving back to town we will have a leisurly dinner.

Day 2 September 6th: Lake day will be a great way to acclimate to the elevation.: We will start out at Lago Di Braies. This is a stunning hike. We will hike 2.3 miles around the lake. Accent 330 feet  D2. Second lake will be an hour drive. Lago di di Sorapis. This hike will be about 7.2 miles with an ascent of 1520 feet. D4 hike. Moderate to stenuous. This is a very popular hike.

Day 3 September 7th: Tre Cime di Lavaredo and Cadini di Misurina Panoramic Viewpoint

 D5 hike. There is a 30 euro  fee per car to enter this park.

We will begin with the viewpoint. The distance will be 2 miles and 669 elevation gain. It is an out and back trail leaving from Auronzo Refuge. The Tre Crime di Laveredo trailhead is in the same parking lot.

The distance will be 7 miles. Elevation gain 1958 feet. This is a solid D4 hike. This hike is on of the most popular in Dolomites. This is a loop trail with a few detours to see alpine lakes and unique view points. A must do hike

Day 4  September 8: Hike Cinque Torrri + Rifugio Averau and Rifugio Nuvolau. Distance will be almost 4 miles with an assent of 1530 feet. D3 approaching D4 Due to the elevation gain in a few miles.

Day 5 September 9th: is a rest day. We will explore a few local villages with charm. I am open to ideas but suggest we visit Belluno and Feltre  Italy. Feltre is known as the vertical village. It is in the heart of the Dolomites National Park. We will visit an archaeological area in the churchyard. The small village has a fortress that overlooks old town called Alboino Castle. Belluno is a larger town than Feltre. Belluno has italian charm of colorful architecture. We will explore this medival town and all its charm.

Day 6 September 10th: We will hike Lagazuoi to Falzarego Pass in the morning. A cable car will transport us up to Lagazuoi. This will be a downhill walk of 2.5 miles. It is rated as easy. Decent will be 2500 feet. D2. We will then drive to the other side of the Dolomites. We can stop in Bolzano for lunch. This is jaw dropping beautiful village. In the afternoon we will do a short hike caleed Seceda. It is a stunning view point. This hike is a 1 mile loop gaining 360 feet of elevation. It is raited as easy. At some point today our group will stop at Santa Magdalina Church for a photo op. This church is the promo photo for this event. We move on this day to Western side of the Dolomites

Day 7 September 11th: The Adolf Munkel Weg trail is a point to point hike that runs along Odle/Geisler Mountains. There are a few rifugios to visit for coffee or a snack along the way. We will have lunch at one of the rifugios. This is a 6 mile loop gaining 1500 feet. D4. The afternoon will be free time or an optional activity

Day 8 September 12th : Piz Boe is an easy summit to 10,000 feet. Ther will be a 360 degree view of the Dolomites This hike is 3.3 miles but we gain 1410n feet. It is a solid D3 . If energy and time maybe we can rent bicycles for the afternoon.

Day 9 September 13th: We are saving the most strenuous for last. Puez-odle Altopiano is our longest hike of the trip. The views will be our reward. This requires a cable car to the top. We will hike up and down a few peaks. This will be a 10.6 mile hike with 2800 feet of elevation gain. Go at your own pace. point to point hike Solid D5 hiike.Day

10 September 14th: Get packed up and ready to go home. Return rental cars.


Required Items to Bring:

Passport ( Must have an expiration date over 6 months from this event date)

International Drivers Permit from AAA if driving ( Costs about $25)

Good hiking boots

Layers of clothing ( some days will be warm. It might get chilly on the mountain peaks.

Spending cash for food and beverages

Reusable water bottle or bladder

Rain coat

A great attitude and sense of adventure

 

 

Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.

Hiking poles

Camera

Water bladder

Power converter

Hat or Cap


How to Get There:
Event Directions:

Fly into Venice or Milan. Drive to Cortina d Ampezzo.Check into our Hotel Des Alpes.


Notes:

Please Paypal, Zelle or Venmo me a $600deposit by November 16th. You will be moved to waiting list if deposit is not made. I really dislike asking to be paid on time. Please make timely payments. Hotel rooms are going fast. We don’t want to miss out

PayPal : Lisa@email4life.com

Zelle and Venmo: 770-500-7980

Drivers will pick up the cars at the airport or surrounding area. We will coordinate flights. Some people might be traveling in Europe a few days before the event. We will find a meeting spot such as Cortina di Ampezzo to be picked up. There is public transportation to this town. 


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     - No partial payments. All registrants must pay the posted Member Cost regardless of any agreement you may have with any party involved in the event.

     - Read the event description carefully for additional information, and contact the trip leader(s) with any questions.

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Cost & Payment:
Member Cost:$25.00/Person
Cost Includes:

The AOC fee is $25 paid directly to the club through paypal. I need the deposit ASAP to secure our hotels. Pay Lisa through Zelle, Venmo or PayPal. Deposit is due on November 16th That adds up to $600 per person deposit. Remaining balance  of  approximatly $600 (Could be a little more or less dp=epending on Euro Conversion) is due on Febuary 1st. Hotels will total 13,680 depending on Euro conversion at the time. I am estimating about $1200 per person. 

I am estimating that car rentals will be about $300 per person if we have 4 in a vehicle. We will pay the drivers directly for gas and tolls.

We will decide on Lunch and dinner spots. Rifugios have lunch available on some of our hikes. Cash is required at many. Carry some cash on hikes.

Gas money is not included and must be paid to the driver

Airfare is not included.

Payment Cut Off:Payment must be received by the AOC on Mon, Sep 1 2025.
Make a Payment:Click here for the details. PLEASE PAY AFTER YOU HAVE SIGNED UP BELOW.

Cancellation/Partial Attendance:   Please review the AOC cancellation policy.
*Note:

Members who need to cancel will only be refunded if another member takes your spot. $25 AOC fee is paid directly to AOC. The $25 will not be refunded in the event of member cancellation. Think of it as a club donation.

$25 AOC is definitely non refundable.