Am at the start of planning a trip to include 5 - 7 days trekking hut to hut in the Dolomites and a 3 - 5 days in Venice and/or some other town. I will be with 2 - 6 friends all in our 50s with intermediate level backpacking experience. 3 of us have done the demi tour of Mt. Blanc. Any suggestions are welcome. Am wondering if I need to avoid any national holidays like Republic Day in June or Ferrogosto in August?
Posted by
Los Angeles
4916 posts
there was a fairly sizable thread about the Dolomites recently, did you search?
Also consult the two "F" guidebooks for more info.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17601 posts
That is a tough trip to plan, as summer is not the best time for Venice---too hot for my taste. Going in fall, you can avoid the heat ( but not all the crowds, even then). So two years ago, we arrived at a compromise--we spent the last week of September in the Dolomites, and then went to Venice for October ( yes, the whole month). That actually worked out perfectly. The weather in the Dolomites was similar to what I had previously encountered the in last week of August, on two different trips. Each trip involved some rain but mostly very nice weather. (Actually one of the August trips involved thunderstorms which forced us to retreat from a high plateau where we planned to go mountain biking). And by October 1, Venice was very pleasant ( it was again this year).
Of course there are no guarantees on the weather in mountain areas. Also you will find some of the lifts and Refugio's closed by late September, so it may take careful planning. The bonus is it will not be crowded.
As for planning, the best book for hiking the Dolomites is not one of the "F" books (Fodors or Frommers) but the Cicerone guide " Walking in the Dolomites" by Gillian Price. Amazon has it ( as well as her book on " shorter walks" in the Dolomites, which is more geared to day hikes instead of hut-to-hut treks.
Have fun; both are beautiful places to which I happily return.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Thanks for the perspective on Venice in summer - something to consider when deciding on a regional cultural addendum to our Dolomite's experience. Also, thanks for the suggestion of the Cicerone guide. I just received the "Trekking" version. I will have to dig a little more on the cultural leg,
Posted by
18 posts
Hi, I missed this thread while I was posting my topic about the Dolomites. I am going the first week of June and it seems like many of the rifugios are not yet open...? Is it bad weather at that time or something? thanks :)
Posted by
Long Beach, California, USA
3398 posts
Really truly Venice is amazing to look at but miserable to be in during the summer months. The Dolomites on the other hand...spectacular weather especially in July IMHO. You can easily hike the Dolomites especially if you've hiked around Mont Blanc and Chamonix.
To book into refugios I suggest that you join the Club Alpino Italiano. It will get you better prices and easier booking in the refugios. This page should help you. Hiking in the Dolomites is SO easy...you ride the chair lift of gondola up and then you hike. There are some very difficult trails but they are easily avoided. You'll find them to be very similar if not flatter and even a bit better maintained than the ones in the French Alps. The refugios themselves are wonderful...great food and interesting people to talk with!