Please sign in to post.

Dolomites (Post-Hike) Help

Posted by on

Hello,

My wife and I are doing the first five days of the Alta Via 2, ending our hike in Passo Fedaia, and then spending the night in Malga Ciapela so that we can take the cable car up the Marmolada. We did not want to do the entire Alta Via 2 as we feel like 5 nights will be perfect and would like to mix up the trip (not just hut to hut hike for our entire trip). We'd but up for spending another night or two in various huts as one day/night hikes.

After the Alta Via 2 section we have six nights before we fly out of Venice (September 11-17). I'm looking for advice on how to spend that time. Planning has been a bit tricky since getting to/from the area isn't particularly easy by public transportation, and we will not have a car.

One idea I have looked at is taking buses to Belluno so that we have access to a train station (and/or car rental). Another option is to work our way north through Arabba, Corvara, and over to the Val Gardena area before taking a bus to Bolzano where we could take a train back to Venice.

My wife and I love smaller mountain towns with access to hiking/trail running/gondolas, etc, so we're thinking about spending the rest of our time in one or two Dolomite towns, or even trying to explore Slovenia. Any suggestions on where we should go or what to see? We are an active couple in our late 30s, and don't really enjoy lounging around on our trips.

Thanks for any and all help!!!
-Drew

Posted by
3398 posts

The Marmolada is one of the best gondola rides in Europe...white knuckle stuff! Stunning views.
My favorite hut in the Dolomites is the Langkofelhutte...it's very old with thick stone walls and fluffy, down comforters! Great food too. It's easy to get to for a one night stay. The location is spectacularly rugged, nestled on a rocky scree between several stone peaks. If you are feeling adventuresome you can climb the trail behind the hut and use some of the steel ladders and spikes to do a little low-level climbing and enjoy the amazing views!
Do spend time in the Val Gardena and go up onto the Seiser Alm...some of the best views in the area and the best part of the mountains IMHO.
You may already know this but if you join the Club Alpino Italiano you get a better rate at the refugios and it can also make it easier to get a reservation.
Have a great time!

Posted by
3 posts

Thank you! This is exactly the type of advice we're looking for. That hut looks great. By chance, have you spent any time in the following towns: Caprile, Arabba, Canazei, or Corvara? In order to get to that area by bus we'll need to connect in some of these towns, depending on which way we go. Just curious if any of them are worth a night?

Thanks again!

Posted by
11852 posts

have you spent any time in the following towns: Caprile, Arabba, Canazei, or Corvara? In order to get to that area by bus we'll need to connect in some of these towns, depending on which way we go. Just curious if any of them are worth a night?

We've only been to San Cassiano, and I can tell you the public transportation over there, and between the Alta Badia and Bolzano, is in my opinion, a bit tedious. A friend who stayed in San Cassiano said it took her some ridiculous combo of 2 buses and a train and 3-4 hours to get to Bolzano so she could get her train to Roma. We stay in the Val Gardena and it is an easy trip to Bolzano to get your train.

The Alpe di Siusi is well worth hiking in, and you could stay at a rifugio up there and then two or three nights in the valley (I recommend Ortisei above all) and also day-hike in the Puez-Odle. Seceda is marvelous.

Posted by
3 posts

Thanks for the replies, the advice really helps. We were just looking to head in the right direction and I think spending our remaining time in the Val Gardena area makes the most sense. A combination of day hikes and one or two single nights in huts sounds ideal. I'll open that bus schedule when I can clear some room on my hard drive :).

It looks like we can get to Ortisei from Malga Ciapela with several bus combinations in around 4 hours. I don't mind the travel time, and maybe we can work it out that we spend some time in connecting towns having lunch or a beer or just exploring around a bit.

Thanks again!

This topic has been automatically closed due to a period of inactivity.