Family Friendly Hikes in Italy's Dolomites Mountains

Take your kids far from TV, texting, and Twittering and into the very real wonderland of the Dolomites! On this new adventure, the whole family will stretch their bodies and minds while having a ball in one of Europe's most magnificent playgrounds. Children will love exploring the many trails and adults will appreciate the finest hiking in the Italian Alps. Cable cars and gondolas transport tired little - and big - travelers to some destinations, and the entire trip is van-supported.

The whole family will enjoy the colorful blend of Italian and German cultures and cuisine. Our guides are highly experienced in both hiking the Dolomites and traveling with children. We stay in intimate hotels and charming mountain inns that provide an unforgettable experience, especially for kids who will enjoy the slumber party atmosphere. This adventure is reserved exclusively for families to ensure the most fun for everyone!

Activities

6 days easy and moderate hiking on uneven, terrain with use of some ladders.

Minimum age is 8.

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

• Create life-long family memories and friendships among the Dolomites' incredible natural and cultural wonders!
• Enjoy a variety of hikes among spectacular landscapes, followed by relaxing evenings in family friendly hotels and inns
• Plenty of optional activities - easy gondola rides, rock climbing, and more challenging treks - to keep everyone in the family happy!

2011 PRICES
$3,795 (10-16 members)
$4,095 (6-9 members)
$4,295 (4-5 members)
$600 single supplement

Bring the Kids!
$500 discount available for children ages 8-11

Duration: 8 days Start Location: Venice End Location: Venice Best time to go: July

Itinerary

• Day 1 : Arrive in Venice – Transfer to Cortina d’Ampezzo

  Arrive in Venice, Italy, and drive to the alpine resort village of Cortina d'Ampezzo, your base for the next two nights.

• Day 2 : Sorapiss – Rifugio Vandelli Traverse

  Hike the northernmost edge of the Sorapiss, home to lively legends and wild chamois mountain goats. Transfer to Passo Tre Croci (5,920') to follow a WWI trail with spectacular vistas and massive ancient sharks fossils.

• Day 3 : Cortina – WW1 Tunnels – Via Ferrata Col dei Bos

  After hiking to Col dei Bos, we explore Galleria del Lagazuoi, a fascinating WWI museum carved into the mountains. Overnight in a traditional alpine rifugio.

• Day 4 : Open Air Museum of the Cinque Torri

  Choose between easy hikes in the history-rich Cinque Torri area followed by optional rock-climbing. Overnight in a charming mountain rifugio.

• Day 5 : Cinque Torri – Livinallongo del Col di Lana

  Trek down to Castello di Andraz, an ancient castle overlooking the Livinallongo Valley, offering some of the Dolomites' most amazing panoramas.

• Day 6 : Hike the Pralongia Plateau

  Walk up to Pralongia Plateau for a 360° view of the Marmolada - the "Queen of the Dolomites," followed by a leisurely lunch and a hike down to Corvara village, our home for the next two nights.

• Day 7 : Corvara – Via Ferrata

  Travel by gondola to Via Ferrata Piz da Lech for an easy-to-moderate hike, or a more challenging trek to Piz Boe (10,915'). Return to Cortina for our farewell dinner.

• Day 8 : Departure

  Transfer to Venice for homeward-bound flight.

• 

  Hotel da Beppe Sello

  Our hotel is located below the imposing Tofane group, about 700 mt from Cortina’s centre. We will be pleased to welcome you in our sunny rooms and let you experience enchanting views and relaxing accommodation in summer and in winter alike. Our homely restaurant offers typical local specialities and a varied selection of dishes from the international cuisine. Completely renovated in 1995, all 13 comfortable rooms come with bathroom, TV set and balcony.
• 

  Hotel Table

  
  

Properties shown are representative of the accommodations we use on this trip, may not be inclusive of all accommodations we use, and are subject to change.

Expert leadership is the key to an exciting, unforgettable experience. Our trips feature gifted leaders for whom leading trips is a true vocation. Besides showing you wonders you’d never find on your own, they make sure everything runs smoothly and safely without a hitch. They are knowledgeable about all aspects of your trip, and take great pleasure in sharing their insights with you. More than just guides, they positively elevate your experience by being teachers, companions, and the best of friends. You’ll be in good hands with them every step of the way.

• Giulia Monego

  Guilia Monego is a professional skier and adventure enthusiast. Her passion for skiing and the mountains has led her to work as a ski instructor, complete in many alpine ski races and events to leading hiking trips throughout the Dolomites. Whether she is leading a ski expedition in Patagonia or China to photography trips to British Columbia, she is at home at the mountains.

• Luca Gasparini

  Luca Gasparini is an enthusiastic bilingual professional mountain guide. The mountains and outdoors has always been a part of his life. He started skiing at seven years old, rock climbing and ice climbing at age 19. Luca is living in the Dolomites working as a mountain guide in heli skiing, ski touring, off-track-skiing, ski safaris, ice climbing and snow shoeing in winter and rock climbing, trekking, canyoning and mountaineering in summer.

• Marica Fave

  Marica Fave is grew up in Campitello in the Fassa Valley. She started skiing at age 3 and ski racing at age 6. Since then, she has been a part of the mountains ever since. While on Ski teams, she traveled through out Europe, North America and Canada. In 2006 she became a certified mountain guide and has been leading trips for Mountain Travel Sobek for many years. She has guided in Italy, France, Switzerland and India.

• Karin Pizzinini

  After being high school science and chemistry teacher, Karin Pizzinini decided to pursue her two big passions: travel and photography. Now she works both as an art director, making documentaries about Ladin arts and culture, and as a hiking guide in her beloved Dolomites, where she grew up and lives. She is a year-round outdoor enthusiast - enjoying telemarking and ski touring in the winter, hiking, rock climbing and climbing glaciers in the summer. She used to compete in cross country skiing, cycling and ski touring, where she has achieved the title of Italian champion. Karin says her mission is transmitting knowledge, be it as a teacher, a guide, a film director or a writer. Guiding trips through the beautiful scenery where she lives, and on trips around the world, enables her to share her enthusiasm with her groups, which is certainly one of the things she likes best.

• Alberto de Giuli

  Alberta De Giuli was born in the small town of Padova. After receiving his degree in economic from University in Venice; he decided to pursue his true passion and start guiding in the mountains. He lives in the Arabba which is in the heart of the Dolomites. Alberta has spent years guiding groups on adventures in climibing, trekking and skiiing. He enjoys showcasing the Dolomites to everyone - both the young and the not-so-young.

photo credits: Agustina Lagos Marmol and Marcello Cominetti