HIKING IN THE DOLOMITES

The starting point of our adventure will be the iconic lagoon city that has dazzled curious travellers for centuries. Arrive in Venice in your own time and make your way to the first hotel of our trip. Settled in, and perhaps having strolled across a bridge or two, we’ll convene this evening for a welcome dinner at an authentic local restaurant – the perfect setting to get to know your fellow explorers and our Local Insider.

Before heading up into the mountains, it would be rude not to get acquainted a little better with the Floating City. After breakfast we’ll head out on a guided walking tour of the city. A local expert will help you navigate the city’s labyrinthine alleys, canals and bridges, so that in the afternoon, when you have some free time, you’re less likely to get lost on your solo explorations!

Time to leave the city behind! After breakfast we’ll transfer to the charming town of Valdobbiadene, on the southern fringes of the Dolomites. As we near our destination you’ll quickly notice that this is a luscious wine region, blanketed in rich green vineyards and separated only by charming medieval towns. The region is colloquially known as the Prosecco Hills, so naturally our first stop will be at an underground winery and villa. We’ll tour the site before sitting down for a mini tasting session of the area’s finest bubbly, accompanied by classic north Italian hams and cheeses, and followed by a lunch of pasta or risotto. Oh, and no meal in this part of the world is complete without an indulgent slice of tiramisù. Appetite thoroughly satisfied, we’ll head further north into the Dolomites proper as we head to our hotel in the gorgeous ski town of Cortina d'Ampezzo.

So we’ve given you a hint of Venetian culture and fuelled you up with fizz and cheese, now it’s time to really get to grips with the Dolomites on our first mountain hike of the trip. There’s only one place to start here, and that’s Drei Zinnen, AKA Tre Cime di Lavaredo, AKA the Three Peaks. This iconic trio of towering rock structures are the poster boys of the Dolomites, and you’ll get to enjoy them from just about every angle as we loop around the three peaks on a four-hour hike. We’ll set off fairly early, so will be done early in the afternoon, giving you plenty of time to recover at the hotel and further explore Cortina d'Ampezzo.

It isn’t just the snowy peaks that make the mountains of northern Italy so easy on the eye, it’s also the intense blue waters of its spectacular alpine lakes. One of the most beautiful bodies of water in this part of the country is Lago di Braies. From the perfectly still, rich blue-green waters of the lake itself to the epic snow-dusted peaks it reflects, and the dense pine forests lining its borders, this place looks just like a Bob Ross painting. Our morning is dedicated to this serene mountain spot, as we embark on another four-hour hike, before returning once more to Cortina d'Ampezzo.

After breakfast this morning we’ll start to make our way out of the Dolomites, first traversing the splendid ski valley of Val Gardena. Jaw suitably dropped after the first leg of our journey, we’ll stop off in Riva del Garda, a pretty waterside town on the shores of Lago di Garda, Italy’s largest ​​lake. We’ll have a short tour of the town and some free time for lunch before winding south alongside the waterfront to the town of Garda itself. After another short tour we’ll leave the lake behind for our final destination, one of Italy’s most picturesque and historic cities, Verona. After check-in at the hotel you’ll have the rest of today to explore at your own pace – perhaps stroll the streets and keep an eye on the balconies to see if there’s a Juliet out looking for her Romeo.

It’s our last full day in Italy! Having really raised our step count up in the Dolomites, we’ll embark on a slightly gentler walk this morning as you get a guided tour of Verona. The city is characterised by its orange-tiled rooftops, pretty piazzas and epic 1st-century amphitheatre, found right in the heart of town. Spend the rest of the afternoon as you wish, before we reconvene one last time for a farewell dinner at the hotel. It’s the perfect chance to reminisce on a glorious Italian adventure over a glass or two of fizz.

Sadly, our time together has come to an end, but in just over a week of Italian exploration you’ve discovered two magical cities, got fizzy with it in the Prosecco Hills and embarked on two epic hikes in the Dolomites, not to mention the waterside views of Lake Garda. After one last hotel breakfast this morning our trip comes to an end. The question is, are you heading home, or continuing your adventures someplace else?