Dolomite hiking & lodging

We have done this a couple of times after hiking in Switzerland. It is easier to get to Val Gardena, Val Badia, and Alpe di Siusi by train an dbus than cortina. There are grreat hikes from any of these base, but my favorites would probably be up on alpe di Siusi: the hike to Bolzanohütte and the hike around Sasso Piatto with a stop at Toni Demetz hut: http://www.tonidemetz.it/index_eng.html. We started at Saltria and rode a lift up (I think the Florian lift) an dpicked up the Friedrich-August Weg to Passo Sella. Ride the little gondola up to Toni Demetz hut and hiked back through the lunar landscape to the florian lift for return. Here are some more hike suggestions for this are: http://www.seiser-alm.it/en/mountains-and-hiking/ There is no "town" up on Alpe di Siusi but lots of hotel choices. Or you can stay in one of the taowns in Val Gardena and reach this area by lift from Ortesei.

Lola,
You are awesome! Thank you for the tips and website addresses. We will look into your suggestions. If you think of anything, please add it. Thanks again!

Lola, I checked out the Toni Demetz website you recommended. BEAUTIFUL! I'm checking into the hotels to see if they have a room. Where did you go hiking in Switzerland? Any you would recommend there? As I mentioned in my original posting, we were planning on going to Interlaken area (Muerren, Wengen) but we're flexible. We've found that it's a rather lengthy train ride from n. Italy to Switzerland (and vice versa). Thanks again for your help!

Hi Geoffrey, we have hiked in a number of areas in Switzerland, including the Berner Oberland and the Valais region. At what point in your trip are younvisiting Switzerland? Are you flying into and out if Italy? If so, the Switzerland would fit on your way from the Dolomites to the Ligurian coast. You could head into Switzerland from Milan. And you are correct that the Berner Oberland region is hard to reach from there, or at least takes a long time. It would be much faster, and just as rewarding in terms of great hiking, to visit a village in the Valais, specifically Bettmeralp. This is a car free village perched high above a valley. Hiking trails lead to the Aletschgletscher, the longest glacier in Europe. Check out photos at Www.bettmeralp.ch This town is just a short hop and cable car ride from Brig, north of Milan. It is one of our favorite hiking places, yet under the radar for most Americans, so you won't hear of it on this board ( except from me!)

Lola, you are a valuable resource! Thank you so much! We will look in to your suggestion. We actually fly into Paris and out of Rome.

The area around Cortina is a huge ski area. There are hundreds and hundreds of places to stay in small towns all over the place. Skiers will take a lift up and ski down to a small town, take another lift up and ski down to a different town. They'll do this all day long and take a bus back to their original town. Maybe you could take some ski lifts up and hike the ski trails down the mountain. (I wouldn't want to hike up the Dolomites, as they're too steep and too rough.) You might see if you can find a hiking tour in the region. They have the resources to handle luggage, etc. and book you into comfortable B&B's or hostels at night. I think it'd be an absolutely great experience.

Thank you, David, for your information. We will research that, too.