Hiking in the Dolomites

This escorted walking holiday with Explore Worldwide takes you through the striking landscapes of the Dolomites, from the emerald waters of Lake Braies to the high ridges straddling the Italian-Austrian border. Starting from Dobbiaco, a quiet Alpine town where Austrian food predominates, the route balances alpine meadows, pine forests and WWI relics with vigorous walks and local buses.

Walks vary from the 14-kilometre circuit around Lake Braies, beneath sheer cliffs and deep green waters, to the higher climbs on Mt Elmo where bunkers and lookout posts mark old frontline positions. One day offers a gentler alternative with a cycle ride to Lienz, mostly downhill, or visits to mountain museums, including Reinhold Messner’s in Brunico or the Iceman museum in Bolzano. A highlight day loops the famous Tre Cime de Lavaredo, following quieter trails past WWI defences without the crowds.

Evenings are spent at the Hotel Tschurtschenthaler, a modest family-run 3-star place in Dobbiaco’s Old Town with far-reaching mountain views. This holiday makes space for steady walking, local history and an occasionally elusive marmot keeping watch from the rocks.

New to Italy? Our Italy guide has the practical essentials: money, plugs, visas and when to go.

These are the places the trip visits, in order. Explore Worldwide publishes the day-by-day itinerary on its own site.