The Dolomites for Walkers, a walking tour by Walking Softly Adventures. This trip is designed for those seeking less difficult walks and gentle hikes in one of the most spectacular mountain settings on the planet!

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5 The peaks of the Odle Geisler dominate the Val di Funes, one of the most beautiful settings in the Dolomites.

NEWS! The Mountain Hiking Holidays website is now live! Walking Softly's hiking trips are now offered under the "Mountain Hiking Holidays" brand name. You can access information about our hiking trips at the Mountain Hiking Holidays website at www.MountainHikingHolidays.com. Until April 2009 you'll also be able to access information about our hiking trips right here at the Walking Softly website.

NEW TRIP!
July 17-22, 2009
Plan your arrival in Bolzano, Italy for July 16
Plan your departure from Bolzano for July 23

Printable version of itinerary

If you are an aficionado of the high mountains but prefer gentler walks rather than strenuous hikes, this trip is designed for you! Each day, enjoy a walk that's between three and six miles long with an average elevation change of five hundred feet. Based on the knowledge gained over more than a dozen years of leading trips to the Italian Dolomites, we have selected for you the best and most scenic walks in this most magnificent range of mountains on the sunny side of the Alps! Our favorite villages, meadows, and mountain views are on the menu. Evenings are spent in small family-run hotels. The Ice Man exhibit in Bolzano, wine-tasting, and a castle visit round out your experience in the Dolomites.

Looking instead for a mountain hiking trip in the Dolomites? Perhaps our Best Hikes in the Dolomites is right for you!

Day 1
Overnight in Bolzano
Breakfast & dinner included
Begin the day with a visit to the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology (Museo Archeologico dell’Alto Adige) which documents the early history and pre-history of this region of the Alps from 15,000 BC to 800 AD. Explore four floors of exhibits including the museum’s highlight: Otzi the “Ice Man.” Found west of Brenner Pass in the Otztal Alps on the Austrian/Italian border this unique glacier-preserved mummy is estimated to be 5,300 years old. The excellent state of preservation of the organic components of the Iceman’s clothing and equipment provides a wealth of information about life during the Early Copper Age. This afternoon, stroll the cobblestoned lanes of the pedestrian-only core of Bolzano on your own, or opt for wine tasting and/or a visit to a local castle.

Day 2
Overnight in Bressanone
Breakfast included
Travel by vehicle to the Val di Funes, an alpine valley northeast of Bolzano and the birthplace of Reinhold Messner, one of the most celebrated mountain climbers of our time. Stroll the quiet farm lanes of the village, walk up to a classic photo spot where you'll enjoy a stunning view of a village church backdropped by the peaks of the Odle Geisler. Feel yourself relax into the centuries-old rhythms of the rural Alps. Lodge tonight in a small family-run inn.

Day 3
Overnight in the Val Gardena
Breakfast & dinner included
Today’s walk traverses one of the most expansive high country meadowlands in the Alps--the Alpi di Siusi, or Seiser Alm, in German. After traveling by vehicle from the Val di Funes, ride an enclosed cablecar from the town of Ortisei in the Val Gardena to the Alpi di Siusi, and select a short or moderate stroll through rolling, flower-filled meadows that offer 360 degree views out to the skyscraping peaks that surround the meadows. Spend the night in a comfortable small hotel in the heart of the Alpi di Siusi.

5 The Sassolungo ("Long Stone") rises above the medaows of the Alpi di Siusi.

Day 4
Overnight in the Val Gardena
Breakfast & dinner included
Another cable car ride whisks you to the Mastle Alm, where a short walk rewards you with views of serrated peaks and possibly a sighting of edelweiss! If you wish for a longer walk, continue across the meadows passing farmer’s huts where you can taste fresh milk, homemade soup, or apple strudel. Continue descending along well-made tracks and paths to Col Raiser where another cable car ride brings you back to the floor of the Val Gardena. Lodge at an inn run by three generations of the same family. Enjoy views of peaks, meadows and a castle from the hotel’s front door as well as from its indoor pool.

Day 5
Overnight in the Val Gardena
Breakfast & dinner included
Select a nearly level stroll in the neighboring Vallunga ("Long Valley") hemmed in by limestone cliffs, or choose a longer walk along the route of the Val Gardena's old narrow-gauge railroad. This "rails to trails" path connects the three principal villages of the valley and provides walkers with views of flower-filled meadows, towering peaks, waterfalls, and alpine chalets decorated with hand-painted murals and festooned with geraniums cascading from window-boxes. Return by vehicle to your hotel.

Day 6
Overnight in the Val Badia
Breakfast & dinner included
Journey to the neighboring valley known as the Val Badia. Choose a short walk through meadows and forests from one village to the next, or enjoy a four mile walk from Passo Gardena to your hotel in Colfosco, 1,600 feet below. Overnight at a small locally-run hotel and enjoy a farewell dinner celebrating your week in the northeastern Italian Alps. Your breakfast tomorrow morning is included as is a transfer back to Bolzano (estimated arrival time of 12:00 noon).

Other Details about this Trip

Trip Dates: July 17-22, 2009
Price: $3,495
Single Room for entire trip: $250. Single accommodations are subject to availability and may be limited.
Meeting Point: Hotel in Bolzano (Bozen), Italy on the morning of July 17. We suggest you plan your arrival in Bolzano for July 16. The nearest large international airports are in Munich, Germany and Milan, Italy. Flights to Innsbruck, Austria and Venice, Italy are also available. Rail service is available from each of these cities to Bolzano, a small city on the doorstep of the Dolomites.
Departure Point: Trip services end officially in Colfosco, Italy after dinner on July 22. However, your lodging for that evening and your transfer to the Bolzano train station on the morning of July 23 is included in the price of the trip. Estimated arrival time in Bolzano on July 23 is 12:00 noon. Please plan your departure from Bolzano for some time after 12:00 noon.
Accommodations: Six nights in hotels with private bath. Six breakfasts and five dinners are included. Note: Your accommodations in Bolzano on the evening of July 16 are not included in the trip price.

Printable version of itinerary

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