Girls Adventure Club: Dolomites

What to expect:

A crossing through the heart of the Rosengarten was my first trek in the Dolomites and ever since I have been hooked on this beautiful mountain range. The hiking is easy, the views are incredible, and the huts are gorgeous and cosy. The food is the best I ever had on a trek in the Alps, which is a combination of typical South-Tyrolian cuisine with Italian flavours. I put together a route that combines my favourite huts and paths into a feel-good trip that is filled with incredible views and culinary delights.    

Physical requirements:

The 5 sections of the trek vary in length from 8 to 12 kilometres and in altitude gain  from 300 to 900 meters. On average, we hike about 4 hours each day (not including breaktime) mostly on narrow hiking paths in the mountains. You should be sure-footed and have a solid fitness level, yet there are no technically difficult sections on the route.

Service included:

• Organised hiking by a qualified mountain guide
• A group of max. 8 guests (min. 4 guests)
• 2 hotel nights in Bolzano in shared rooms
• 4 hut nights  in shared rooms or dormitories
• 2x breakfast, 4x vegetarian half-board
• Public transport from Bolzano to the start and from the end of the trek

Extra costs on tour:

• Transport to Bolzano
• Dinner on the first and last evening in Bolzano
• Lunch and beverages during the trip

Accommodation:

In Bolzano we stay in shared rooms in a 3-star hotel, which is right next to the main station. The huts are simple mountain huts, and all offer shared rooms, which are shared with other hikers if we don’t fill all beds and the hut is fully booked. One hut only offers simple dormitories that are shared with other hikers. All huts have shared washing facilities, and some huts offer showers at additional cost. The huts serve buffet-style continental breakfast and a set vegetarian three-course dinner. Many huts offer (at least) one vegan dish by now and the huts aim to cater for dietary restrictions. However, it is not always possible given their simple facilities and remoteness of their location. If you have any dietary requirements, please communicate them in advance.

Travel:

It is possible and highly recommended to travel to Bolzano by train. The hotel and meeting point in Bolzano is within walking distance from the main station. Bolzano is a 2- and 3-hour train ride from Venice and Innsbruck, where the nearest airports are located. Parking is not available at the hotel. I will travel by train only and am more than happy to assist with booking tickets. Please  get in touch!

Programme:

Day 1 – Arrival
We meet at the hotel in Bolzano, where we'll also spend our last night, so extra luggage can be stored at the hotel during the tour. There is a pre-tour briefing and discussion of the packing list in the afternoon, once everyone has arrived, and a joined dinner in the city centre in the evening. 

Day 2 – Rifugio Sandro Pertini (2300 m)
12 km, ↑ 900 m, ↓ 150 m, 4.5 hrs 
We ascend from Wolkenstein passing through forest until the hut of Sochers. From here the treeline ends and we hike over rocky open terrain around the impressive peak of Langkofel (3181 m). We pass Rifugio Comici and continue to the Sella pass on the famous Sellaronda. From the pass it is a gentle uphill to Rifugio Sandro Pertini.

Day 3 – Antermoiahütte (2497 m)
12 km, ↑ 700 m, ↓ 450 m, 4.5 hrs
We hike high above the Duron Valley on a narrow hiking path through green alpine meadows until its end, where we descend. From here another narrow hiking path winds up to Ciarejoles at 2279 meters, where the rocks start dominating and the trees and meadows disappear. Following the path uphill we get to Pas de Dona and soon to Rifugio Antermoia, which lies beautifully at a lake.  

Day 4 – Schlernhaus (2457 m)
12 km, ↑ 850 m, ↓ 900 m, 5 hrs
We pass the lake and hike up to the Antermoia pass followed by a steep descend to Rifugio Passo Principe. Here we turn north and follow the path to Tierser Alpl, where we can stop for lunch. After we walk over the Schlern high plateau until we reach Schlernhaus. In the afternoon we hike up to the peak of Petz (2563 m).

Day 5 – Tschafonhütte (1737 m)
8 km, ↑ 300 m, ↓ 1000 m, 3 hrs
We descend from the Schlern to the hut of Malga Sassel. From here a narrow path goes through a gorge. Soon we turn southeast onto a narrow hiking path that goes fairly levelled through forest until it climbs up to Tschafonhütte. After lunch the peaks of Hammerwand and Völsegg may appeal for an afternoon hike.

Day 6 – Unteraicha (630 m)
10 km, ↓ 1150 m, 3.5 hrs
Our way down leads us through beautiful vineyards, and we stop at one of the wineries for lunch before we take a bus back to Bolzano.

Day 7 – Departure
We finish our hiking week over dinner the night before. Everybody can meet up for breakfast, yet you can start your travel home at any time today.

Note that our hiking days may differ from the described programme due to weather and path conditions or the physical ability of the group.