Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Corvara in Badia - Cortina D'Ampezzo
100% customisable for you
It’s time to make your way to the airport for your two-hour flight to Verona. Upon touchdown, pick up your trusty hire car and buckle up for the drive towards Castelrotto (which will take just over two hours). Enjoy the ascent into the Dolomites (soundtracked by our destination-specific playlist), winding past lush green valleys and towering rock formations en route.
Arrive at the hotel, where you’ll be staying for the next three nights, and then spend some time getting to know this pretty mountain village. The day ends with your first taste of local cuisine, a hearty blend of Italian and Austrian flavours that’s great fuel for outdoor adventures.
This morning, take a scenic forty-minute drive to Bolzano, nestled in a verdant valley among mountains and vineyards. Discover this charming spot through a private gourmet tour, exploring the historic centre and tasting one of the region’s best-loved products: Speck Alto Adige IGP. This dry-cured, lightly smoked ham is a South Tyrolean delicacy, and particularly tasty alongside a glass of local wine. Learn about its origins and how it’s made during your guided tour, which blends both history and ham for a unique experience that foodies will love.
Appetite appeased, return to Castelrotto, where you can spend the afternoon at your leisure. Known as Kastelruth in German, this village in the heart of the Dolomites was once part of the Austro-Hungarian empire, lending it a beguiling blend of Italian and Germanic influences.
This evening, enjoy more local flavours at dinnertime before heading to bed ahead of another busy day tomorrow.
Set today aside for an excursion into the great outdoors. One option is to drive around thirty minutes to Renon, where otherworldly earth pyramids reach towards the sky from the plateau below. While the pyramids may look like something from an alien planet, there’s an earthly explanation for their existence. Each cone-shaped pillar is formed by deposited clay shaped by centuries of mountain rain; the biggest and most impressive have taken thousands of years to grow. There are three viewpoints where you can admire these spectacular steeple-like formations, so cameras at the ready for some extra-special snapshots.
Alternatively, lace up your walking boots for a hike in Alpe di Siusi. This is the largest high alpine pasture in Europe, where mountain peak panoramas meet meadows carpeted with wildflowers. There are scenic trails aplenty, so you’ll certainly have earned this evening’s dinner after a few miles in the mountains.
Enjoy a final breakfast in Castelrotto before hitting the road towards the next destination on your itinerary: Corvara in Badia. The drive takes around an hour through spectacular alpine scenery and brings you to your home for the next four nights. Back in the 1930s, this village at the foot of the mighty Mt. Sassongher was home to Alta Badia’s first ski school and Italy’s first ski lift. Many decades later, it remains a popular spot for winter sports, and is also a haven for hikers in spring and summer.
Check in to your hotel and take a stroll around Corvara to get your bearings, before celebrating another special stop on your journey with dinner in a local restaurant.
Indulge in a hearty continental breakfast of local produce this morning before the day’s activities. Once you’re fully fuelled, drive forty minutes to the Puez-Odle Nature Park, part of the UNESCO-protected Dolomites, to begin a hike. Start your epic adventure at Passo Gardena, a mountain pass offering stunning views of the jagged Italian peaks. From here, you’ll take on a seven-and-a-half mile hike up to the Passo Cir, following a wider trail leading to the Forcella Ciampai Pass. We recommend stopping for a tasty sandwich at the Rifugio Puez, where lunch comes with a side of spectacular views.
After a pit stop, either retrace your steps back to the car, or extend your hike along another scenic trail. We can help you plan the perfect route, tailored to however far you’d like to walk. Afterwards, return to Corvara for a very well-earned meal, recounting your journey over dinner and drinks.
Indulge in another filling breakfast with all the frills this morning (you know the drill), as a second spectacular hike is on the cards today. Make sure to don your hiking boots and lather on the sun cream before you set off…
First, drive to Capanna Alpina, a restaurant that sits on the edge of Fanes-Sennes-Braies Natural Park. From here, your guided hike begins with a steep, one-hour-long ascent to Col de Locia. Take in the fairytale-like valley, with vibrant green pastures, glistening lakes and jutting mountain peaks, as you hike up and down the trail for around three hours. Stop at Rifugio Fanes for a hearty lunch before being guided back down the mountain towards Capanna Alpina. This hike should take around six hours, covering ten miles. Then it’s back to the hotel for a hot shower or bath to soothe those tired muscles, before your final night in this special spot.
A leisurely breakfast is on the cards this morning, as there’s no rush to be anywhere. It’s your final full day, and how it’s spent is up to you. We suggest choosing your own trail and making the most of the alpine air. Head to Sorapiss Lake for incredible aquamarine-hued water, Lago di Limides to see the magical mountains reflected in the lake or Cinque Torri for iconic rock formations. Take a funicular up to a mountainside restaurant for a late lunch before ambling back down, or learn about this region’s role during the First World War at the Museum of the Great War. If you’re feeling adventurous, you could tackle a via ferrata (a climb that traverses steep rock secured with fixed cables or ladders) with a private guide.
End your Dolomites adventure on a high with a nourishing mountain-made meal and raise your glasses to a delightful trip.
This morning, savour a final breakfast at your hotel, feasting on locally sourced produce one last time before bidding the Dolomites a fond farewell and embarking on the descent to Verona. It’ll take around three hours in the car to reach the airport for your flight later today. Leave enough time to pick up any last-minute souvenirs before boarding the short two-hour flight home. Once back in the UK, keep the holiday blues at bay by feeding your newfound appreciation of nature. While it might not be the Dolomites, hiking the British countryside isn’t so bad…
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local Concierges
