Trip Overview

Signoras, andiamo! Hike the Italian Dolomites, sleep in a cozy mountain hut, enjoy Italian cooking classes, meet local shepherds and cheesemakers, and walk through fields of alpine flowers as you taste mountain life high in the Dolomite Mountains in summer 2020!

Let’s go ladies! You land in Venice, Italy then head straight to the Italian mountain village of Pesariis, the “Town of the Clocks” (population 178). You’ll enjoy a beautiful organic evening meal prepared by your hosts, and in this warm farmhouse setting, get to know your women travel companions and get excited about your hiking adventure in Italy’s scenic Dolomites.

Your hiking tour in Italy begins with a full-day hike to the peak of Mount Coglians (9,122 feet) where, on a clear day, you can see Austria! Stop at the trailside Marinelli Hut for a fortifying lunch and then descend to enjoy unstructured time in the late afternoon exploring Pesariis.

For a delicious recovery day, enjoy a private cooking class and learn regional Italian specialties and recipes using local fruits and vegetables you’ve picked from your host’s organic garden! Then you’ll take a light afternoon hike up to ramble among the historic stone buildings of piccolo Stavoli di Orias. Imagine what everyday life is like high in the mountains as you feast your eyes on views of green Italian valleys far below. Later, visit an artisanal workshop producing harpsichords of fine local woods before sharing lunch with a local family in the tiny village of Vuezzis.

The next three days are spent in Cortina d’Ampezzo. You’ll crown your hiking adventure with a day-long trek on the Tre Cime Loop, hiking around the three most majestic peaks of the region for sweeping views. That evening, visit the Helmut Üllrich Astronomical Observatory on Col Druscié at an elevation of 6,000 feet. Search for planets using their powerful telescopes, then enjoy an experience that has mesmerized humans for millennia: contemplating the cosmos under a night sky dense with twinkling stars. The next morning, start out early for a spectacular overnight in the remote Sasso Piatto hut and a trekking class in via ferrata, a method of traversing vertical trails. On the descent, visit Malga Sasso Piatto, an artisanal mountain cheese farm. You’ll join the morning milking with their shepherds, learn about making these mountain cheeses, and sample their delicious aged products for a true hands-on experience! Spend the next two nights in Moena, an Italian village with maximum charm and that is 100% car-free.

Take a drive to Bolzano on your last full day to view the 5,000 year old iceman, Ötzi, discovered nearby and on display! Now that you and your intrepid friends have hiked the heights of the Dolomites, you’ll have a new appreciation of his lifestyle and fate.

Return to the bustle of Venice for a guided tour and a farewell dinner along the city’s quaint backstreets and canals. The mountain views, the villages, the fresh air, the warmth of the Italian people – while everyone in your group may have different “favorite moments,” you’ll all agree that hiking through Italy’s Dolomite Mountains was made all the better by the company of women.

Main Attractions

  • Enjoy making and tasting delicious homemade Italian cooking with local families
  • Explore on foot, tiny villages and farms set high in the Dolomite mountains among green fields and great drifts of summer flowers
  • Hike to the Tre Cime, looping around the three most majestic peaks of the region
  • View the 5,000 year old iceman, Ötzi
  • Learn how to make delicious artisanal mountain cheeses at a local farm and participate in the milking process

What You'll See and Do

  • Archaeology
  • Architecture
  • Cooking Class
  • Cultural Exploration
  • Hiking
  • Historical Sites
  • Local Delicacies
  • Natural History
  • Photography
  • Sightseeing
  • Spa Element
  • Walking
  • Women-To-Women Exchanges
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If you're curious about this trip, we would be happy to answer any questions you might have.

Call us ~ 1.800.804.8686
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Trip Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive in Pesariis
You will be picked up at the Venice airport by your guide. Start your journey across the countryside and learn from your guide and about the other intrepid women in your group on this two and a half hour drive.

Enjoy a lively welcome dinner as you get to know your fellow travelers this evening. Share stories and learn about why each woman in your trip is excited to explore the Dolomites! Savor the recipes made from local ingredients.
Dinner

Overnight: Farmhouse Sot la Napa

Day 2

Pesariis
Head out early to start the hour-long drive to the trailhead of Mount Coglians.

Start your hike to the peak of Mount Coglians. The path will start in pine woods, and as you near the peak, it will open up into pastures. It will take between four and five hours to climb to the top of the mountain with 4,700 feet of elevation gain.

After enjoying the view at the top of Mount Coglians, descend 2,300 feet in about an hour and a half to the Marinelli Hut, where you will have lunch. The hut is famous for its cuisine, and a delicious stop after your morning’s accomplishment.

Continue your descent after lunch. You’ll hike another 2,400 feet down in about an hour and a half. Drive back to Pesariis.

Enjoy dinner on your own this evening.
Breakfast, Lunch

Overnight: Farmhouse Sot la Napa

Elevation gain: 4,700 ft

Hiking: 7-8 Hours

Day 3

Pesariis
Spend some time exploring a woman-owned orchard which is locally known for its organic products. The woman who owns it uses the ingredients she grows in her restaurant as well as sells them to the locals. Learn about how she grows her vegetables and fruits.

Take a cooking class with ingredients straight from the orchard. This will be a journey through time – the kitchen has a lot of history, and the recipes have been handed down from generation to generation. Enjoy the creations you’ve made for lunch with your new AdventureWomen friends. Cap off your meal with a house-made grappa.

This afternoon, head out on a gentle hike towards Stavoli di Orias. You’ll hike for about an hour and a half, which will help work out any soreness from yesterday! Imagine life here high on the mountainside as you feast your eyes on the green Italian valleys far below.

Enjoy dinner on your own this evening.
Breakfast, Lunch

Overnight: Farmhouse Sot la Napa

Elevation gain: 500 ft

Hiking: 2.5 Hours

Day 4

Pesariis to Cortina d’Ampezzo
Meet two harpsichord makers at a local workshop. Learn about all of the stages of harpsichord construction, starting with the selection of wood and finally learning about the decorations they choose.

Join a local family for lunch in their home – a typical alpine chalet. The couple hosting you are remarkable; the woman is a fabulous cook, and her husband is a sommelier, so you will have an opportunity to learn about food and wine pairings.

After lunch, drive for two hours to Cortina d’Ampezzo. Enjoy a walk through the narrow local streets to help you learn your way around town. You’ll have some free time to explore or relax before enjoying a lively dinner as a group.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Hotel Ambra Cortina

Day 5

Cortina d’Ampezzo
After a 45-minute drive, start your hike of the Tre Cime Loop. The hike is on moderate terrain, and will take you around some of the most panoramic spots in the Dolomites over four or five hours. Enjoy a picnic lunch along the way.

Take the afternoon to explore Cortina on your own. Do some shopping, spend some time at a café, indulge in a glass of wine with your new friends, or just relax at your lovely hotel. Enjoy dinner on your own.

If you have the energy, after dinner head to the Helmut Ullrich Astronomical Observatory. This experience is unforgettable. Soak in the panoramic view of the stars and planets under a natural cupola at an elevation of almost 6,000 feet.
Breakfast, Lunch

Overnight: Hotel Ambra Cortina

Elevation gain: 500 ft

Hiking: 4-5 Hours

Day 6

Cortina d’Ampezzo to Sassolungo
Pack just a few things into an overnight bag for today; you’ll leave your main luggage behind as you overnight in a mountain hut!

Drive about two hours to the start of the trail at Pian de Frataces. Tighten your boots and head uphill! You’ll start your hike on an amazing natural terrace that takes you through a fir and larch forest dotted with typical wooden huts and barns. After reaching the peak of Col Rodella at 8,150 feet, descend to a mountain hut for a fortifying lunch. Total hiking time is 4-5 hours with 2,300 feet of elevation gain.

For those who are interested, you can embrace the challenge of trying a Via Ferrata, a protected climbing route, as part of a class with a professional guide. Via Ferrata is a trail built with a steel cable rail fixed to the rock, metal steps, ladders, suspension bridges, and zip wires. Learn to traverse and climb like a pro!

Finish your hike on a panoramic path along the plateau and reach the Sasso Piatto hut, where your group will spend the night. Spend some time before dinner swapping stories about your adventures on the Via Ferrata this afternoon!
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Sasso Piatto Hut

Elevation gain: 2,300 ft

Hiking: 4-5 Hours

Day 7

Sassolungo to Moena
Wake up to an amazing view of the Dolomites. If you’re up early enough, walk to visit a nearby malga, or mountain dairy, to see the morning milking and meet the shepherds to learn about artisanal cheese making. Make sure to sample the product!

Walk across alpine pastures and then through forests down to the charming village of Campitello di Fassa. Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant, including some of the regional specialties – canederli, gulash, and strudel!

Explore the lovely town of Moena this afternoon. Stretch your legs, poke around in some local shops, or just sit and enjoy a coffee.
Breakfast, Lunch

Overnight: Hotel Central

Elevation gain: mostly flat

Hiking: 2-3 Hours

Day 8

Moena
Drive about two hours to the charming town of Bolzano. Explore on foot, learning about the town center, visiting the local cathedral with its Gothic bell tower and the Piazza Walther, home to characteristic wooden houses with amazingly detailed decorations.

Visit the local archaeological Museum, where you can explore the exhibits. The main attraction here is Ötzi, a mummy of a 5,000-year-old man found in the Similaun glacier near the Italian-Austrian border.

Enjoy lunch on your own in Balzano today. Head back to Moena where you can try a small local restaurant for dinner on your own with a few of your new friends!
Breakfast

Overnight: Hotel Central

Day 9

Moena to Venice
Say goodbye to charming Moena as you start the final leg of your journey, a three-hour drive to Venice.

Check in to your hotel and then enjoy lunch on your own in Venice.

Walk from the hotel to the famous Piazza San Marco and then take the Vaporetto to Tessiture Bevilacqua. Enjoy a private visit to a fabric workshop to see the third generation of women producing these precious fabrics which are still shipped to the most important Royal Houses of the world.

Enjoy a delicious farewell dinner. The mountain views, the villages, the fresh air, the people – everyone in your group may have different “favorite moments,” but you can all agree that hiking through the Dolomites was made all the better in the company of women.
Breakfast, Dinner

Overnight: Palazzo Barocci

Day 10

Depart Venice
Say goodbye to your new AdventureWomen friends as you transfer to the airport for your flights home.
Breakfast

If you're curious about this trip, we would be happy to answer any questions you might have.

Call us ~ 1.800.804.8686
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Traveling to Italy



Arrival/Departure Information

June 18 Departure

Arrive: Arrive in Venice, Italy (VCE) on June 18, 2020 before 9:00am.

Depart: Depart Venice, Italy (VCE) on June 27, 2020.

July 16 Departure

Arrive: Arrive in Venice, Italy (VCE) on July 16, 2020 before 9:00am.

Depart: Depart Venice, Italy (VCE) on July 25, 2020.

We are happy to help you make your flight and travel arrangements. Please contact us at:

(800) 804-8686 or (617) 544-9393
email: info@adventurewomen.com

If you’d like to do anything prior to or following the AdventureWomen trip, we’d be delighted to help you arrange any trip extensions you’re interested in.

Note: The recent trend in travel is for travelers to finalize their plans much closer to departure time than was customary in the past. While we try to be as flexible as possible booking last-minute registrants, we must release hotel rooms two to three months prior to departure! Please keep this in mind when making your travel plans.

Passports and Visas

Citizens of the United States must have a passport valid for six months beyond your travel dates and a minimum of two blank facing pages. If you do not have a passport, please apply now!

Activity Level

We rate this trip as High Energy. Our High Energy adventures are designed for women who enjoy more of a physical adventure and crave being on the go! You should be prepared for itineraries that include (but are not limited to): a full day of biking on rolling terrain, hiking 5-8 miles on moderate to steep trails, being active at high altitudes, whitewater rafting, or skiing. Please note that this is a general description of what you might encounter; for specific details about your trip, please consult the itinerary.

We strongly recommend training before your trip (with your doctor’s permission!) to make the most of your adventure. We have a partnership with FitForTrips, a company that will design an individualized fitness plan for you with this itinerary in mind. Best of all, AdventureWomen guests get a 25% discount with the code FITWOMEN. Learn more at: https://fitfortrips.com/ partners/adventure-women/

You should come with a flexible, adventurous, and enthusiastic spirit, and a wonderful sense of humor that adventure travel requires.

Health Considerations

Make an appointment with a travel clinic. There are no immunization requirements for travel to Iceland, however your local travel clinic may have recommendations for you based on your age, health, and past vaccination history.

For more health information, go to www.cdc.gov/travel and navigate to the page about Italy.

Money

The currency of Italy is the Euro. ATMs will be accessible throughout the trip, and credit cards can be used in most places, though Visa and MasterCard are more often accepted than American Express.

Gratuities are included in your trip cost.

How to Register

Call the AdventureWomen office at (800) 804-8686 to determine space availability and register for this trip. We can complete your registration, including taking your credit card deposit over the phone.

If you prefer, you can register online by clicking “Sign Up for this Trip” on the trip page.

Please be sure to read the AdventureWomen policies before registering!

Forms and Final Payment

Once you book, you will need to fill out and return to AdventureWomen:

  • Information Form
  • Booking Conditions Form
  • Copy of Flight Information
  • Copy of Issuing Page of Passport (photo page)

Final payment is due to AdventureWomen in a cash form (check, money order, or wire transfer). A maximum of $1,500 per person can be put on a credit card, which includes your deposit.

June 18 Departure Final Payment Date: March 20, 2020

July 16 Departure Final Payment Date: April 17, 2020

If you're curious about this trip, we would be happy to answer any questions you might have.

Call us ~ 1.800.804.8686
Email Us
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What's Included

Included

  • All hotel accommodations throughout the trip
  • All meals as listed in the itinerary
  • All ground transportation
  • Activities as listed in the itinerary
  • English-speaking guides throughout the trip
  • Water during all drives
  • Gratuities
  • One AdventureWomen Ambassador

Not Included

  • International airfare to and from Italy
  • Optional activities as listed in the itinerary
  • Meals not specified in the itinerary
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Fees for passports, visas, or immunizations
  • Cost of hospitalization or evacuation
  • Items of a personal nature

If you're curious about this trip, we would be happy to answer any questions you might have.

Call us ~ 1.800.804.8686
Email Us
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Accommodations

Farmhouse Sot la Napa
Farmhouse Sot la Napa is in a home built in the 1600s that has been lovingly restored, turning it into a welcoming mountain farmhouse. Enjoy staying in the comfortable rooms and dine in the on-site restaurant which has original frescos and local stone floors, and hosts a typical “fogolar” (open fireplace).

Hotel Ambra Cortina
Hotel Ambra is a gem in the historic heart of Cortina, looking out on Monte Faloria, while the magnificent Tofana de Rozes provides a stunning backdrop, and the town’s belltower rises in between. The hotel and its rooms celebrate nature, cinema, theater, and fashion.

The Sasso Piatto Hut
The Sasso Piatto Hut boasts beautiful 360° views of the Dolomite peaks of Sassopiatto, Marmolada, Sass Pordoi, Sciliar, among others. Here at 7,500 feet, a paradise opens up to you: surrounding the hut is Europe’s largest Alpine pasture, where calves and sheep graze. The views of the Dolomites are stunning, the mountain air is clear, the natural landscape fascinating, and the peace and quiet is refreshing.

Hotel Central
The Hotel Central has direct views into the central square of Moena, a wonderful village in the Dolomites. Stay comfortably in the heart of the village, where you can enjoy exploring the area which is only open to foot traffic in the evenings.

Palazzo Barocci
The Palazzo Barocci is a historic building every bit as beautiful and atmospheric as you’d expect a former Venetian palace to be. Originally home to Teatro Sant’Angelo, known for hosting Vivaldi and Goldoni’s operas, the building has been conserved and renovated; during the renovation, the original floors and frescoes were uncovered and are now preserved for generations to come. The hotel enjoys a prime location in the city, overlooking the Rialto Bridge and the Grand Canal, and is the perfect base from which to discover the city’s charms.

If you're curious about this trip, we would be happy to answer any questions you might have.

Call us ~ 1.800.804.8686
Email Us
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What to Bring

The weather in the Dolomites in the summer is typically sunny. At lower elevations, temperatures range from 50°F - 80°F, and at higher elevations from 30°F - 70°F. There is a possibility of rain showers.

You can have laundry done along the way, or wash it by hand. We recommend planning on doing laundry when you are staying somewhere for two nights or more.

Clothing and Gear

  • Duffel bag or small suitcase
  • Daypack (should be large enough to carry one full change of clothing, spare layers, a packed lunch, and water)
  • Rain cover for daypack
  • 1 pair hiking poles (must be carried in checked bag)
  • 2-3 short sleeve shirts (quick dry recommended)
  • 2-3 long sleeve shirts (quick dry recommended)
  • 2-3 pairs of hiking pants
  • 1-2 pairs of shorts
  • 1-2 sets of nicer clothes for Venice
  • 1 medium weight fleece sweater/jacket
  • 1 down/synthetic insulated jacket
  • Gore-Tex/waterproof jacket
  • Gore-Tex/waterproof pants
  • 1 pair gaiters
  • Comfortable walking shoes
  • 3-4 pairs hiking socks
  • Hat for sun protection
  • 5-7 pairs underwear
  • 2-4 sports bras
  • Sleepwear
  • Bathing suit

AdventureWomen Essentials

  • Travel documents (passport, airline tickets, money)
  • 2-3 spare passport photos in case your passport is lost or stolen
  • Write down/print out travel insurance number
  • Locks for your suitcase/duffel bag
  • Travel alarm clock with spare batteries
  • Headlamp or small flashlight with spare batteries
  • Binoculars (8x40/42 models are excellent choices; center focus models are easiest)
  • Digital camera, memory cards, battery charger
  • Power adapters/power bank
  • Sunglasses, case, and strap
  • Spare glasses, contact lenses, cleaner, saline, etc.
  • Money belt or neck pouch
  • Your AdventureWomen water bottle
  • Sunscreen and lip balm with SPF
  • Mosquito repellent
  • Hand wipes/hand sanitizer
  • Toothbrush/toothpaste
  • Soap, shampoo, and conditioner
  • Small packet of tissues
  • Tampons and panty liners (avoid plastic applicators)
  • Earplugs: We recommend Mack’s Pillow Soft White Moldable Silicone Snore Proof Earplugs. Available at most drugstores or at www.earplugstore.com
  • Assortment of stuff sacks and Ziploc bags
  • 1-2 bandanas/Buff
  • Reading material/journal and pens

Personal First Aid Kit

  • Prescription medicine you usually take
  • Personal epi pen (if you need one, don’t forget to pack it!)
  • Bandages, gauze, Ace bandage, blister prevention
  • Antiseptic wipes/spray
  • Antibiotic ointment
  • Cotton-tipped applicators
  • Oral rehydration tablets/packets
  • Antidiarrheal medication
  • Mild laxative
  • Antacid
  • Cold remedies
  • Ibuprofen/acetaminophen
  • Eye drops
  • Tweezers, scissors (travel size), safety pins

If you prefer to buy a complete kit, we recommend the Smart Travel first aid kit.

If you're curious about this trip, we would be happy to answer any questions you might have.

Call us ~ 1.800.804.8686
Email Us
Browse Detailed Itinerary

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