We are explorers, wanderers, travelers, nomads. We strive to project the authenticity of places we visit through honest words and visuals. Enjoy!
Tre Cime, Sesto Range, Dolomites
In the summer of 2024, we spent two months traipsing around the Italian Dolomites. It’s a vast territory along the northeast border of Italy, full of valleys and resort towns, via ferrata and bike trails, lakes and high mountain passes, multi-day hiking trails and refugios. It’s Mother Nature’s Disneyland, with something for everyone and an endless feast for the eyes. Along with the rest of Europe, we visited during July and August - the only two months of the year when the Alps are (mostly) free of snow. The weather was perfect, with endless days of abundant sunshine and the rare passing shower.
We did not significantly plan ahead for this adventure. This gave us maximum flexibility, but sometimes limited options for lodging. Unlike many of our other excursions, traveling for two months in the Italian Dolomites was by no stretch of the imagination “cheap” or “low budget”. For us, it was a once-in-a-lifetime DREAM experience.
The posts below are organized by the Base Towns and Valleys in which we anchored ourselves for a week or more, along with budget and logistics details. We also grouped all the Multi-night treks, Via Ferratas and memorable Day Hikes we did over two months. ** Check back often as I continue to update in 2025. **
We did not plan ahead for our two month adventure in the Italian Dolomites, which ran counter to everything we had read prior to our trip…
Dobbiaco (aka Toblach) in Pusteria Valley, South Tyrol, was our base town while exploring Tre Cime National Park, Lago di Misurina, Lago di Braies, and more...
Ortisei in Val Gardena was our base town while exploring Puez-Odle National Park, with numerous via ferrata options, day hikes, and renowned sites such as Seceda and Alpe di Siusi…
Vigo di Fassa in Val di Fassa was our base town while exploring Catinaccio-Rosengarten Nature Park. We did two multi-night treks, tackled a ton of via ferrata, and day-hiked at Lake Carezza…
Alpe di Siusi is good for the eyes and good for the soul! It’s a “must” when visiting Val Gardena in the Italian Dolomites. Gentle trails offer relaxing day hikes across Europe’s largest alpine meadow…
From Seceda, Sass Rigais is the highest of the Odle-Geisler peaks. We combined a hike across Seceda with a climb to 10,000 feet on via ferrata Sass Rigais…
VF Pitla Gran Cir climbs high above Passo Gardena for expansive views of Puez-Odle, Sella Group, and Sassolungo. For a longer day, combine with a hike up neighboring Gran Cir…
Col Rodella is a small hilltop at Passo Sella with 360 degree stunning views of iconic mountains: Sella Group, Sassolungo, Marmolada… The via ferrata on the backside is short and fun!
Unlike other via ferrata routes in the Dolomites, VF Oskar Schuster wasn’t built for troop movement; rather, it was built for fun and adventure! One of our favorite courses!
Belluno, Veneto, on the eastern side of the Dolomites is off the beaten path. A day hike from Berti Hut along the Belvedere Creston Popera loop is worth leaving South Tyrol to enjoy…
Via ferrata Nord Croda Rossa is rated 2B. While not technically difficult, it is a long and aggressive climb to the stunning summit of Croda Rossa di Sesto…
Via ferrata Strada degli Alpini was built by Italian forces, who carved through sheer limestone cliffs to create a narrow foot path from Forcello Giralba to Passo della Sentinella….
Prato Piazza is a high-altitude alpine meadow in Fanes-Sennes-Braies National Park. Great day hikes and an excellent vantage point to behold some of the Dolomite’s most spectacular peaks…
Loop Trail #19 from Lago di Braies wildly exceeded expectations. We escaped the lake-side crowds with a heart-pumping hike to high Alpine pastures…
Our first hike in the Italian Dolomites set an exceptionally high bar! We hiked from Val di Rienza up to Locatelli Hut and then Path 101 to Tre Cime…
We spent 5 nights trekking in Rosengarten, exploring its summits, passes, via ferrata and rifugios. Rosengarten is renowned for its blazing sunsets…
Fantastic 5 nights in the east region of Tre Cime Nature Park, a little off the beaten path. We did via ferratas Strada degli Alpini and Nord Croda Rossa…