Highlights
- Begin your tour in the charming small city of Bressanone/Brixen
- Hike past fields of wildflowers, deep pine forests, charming mountain huts and picturesque villages
- Admire the dramatic jagged peaks formed by fossilized coral reefs
- Enjoy hearty and delicious Tyrolean-Italian fusion cuisine
- Explore the picturesque villages of the Val Gardena and Val d’Ampezzo
- Tour the remains of WW I bunkers and tunnels and learn about the area’s fascinating history
- Experience authentic South Tyrolean cuisine, from dumplings and strudel to hearty pastas
- Learn about the traditional Ladin culture, who even have their own language
Trip price includes
- 7 nights in 3 and 4-star hotels
- 7 breakfasts and 5 dinners
- all visits and transfers as per itinerary
- gondolas and chairlifts as per itinerary
- at least 1 bilingual guide to accompany you throughout the week
Not included
- all lunches
- drinks other than water at meals
- anything not mentioned in the inclusions
ITINERARY
Day 1: Independent arrival in Bressanone
Make your way to the delightful city of Bressanone (or Brixen in its German form), which is accessible by train from Milan, Venice and Innsbruck. Its history goes back thousands of years as it lies at the confluence of two rivers and is on an important route through the Alps. Take some time this afternoon to wander the colorful streets and admire the Medieval-Baroque architecture. Overnight Bressanone.
Days 2-4: Arrival and Hiking around Ortisei
Head into the Dolomites mountains this morning for scenery so spectacular it’s been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site! Take chairlifts and buses to start the hikes and enjoy the fresh air at altitudes upwards of 2,500 m (8,200 ft). Hike past spiky limestone massifs with towering pinnacles that jut up into the sky. Stop for lunches at welcoming mountain huts that offer some of the best pastas and soups we’ve ever had! Top it off with a piece of pie and an espresso and you’re good to go for another few hours. Relax post-hike at the hotel pool or with a soak in the spa. We dine together again every evening. 3 nights Ortisei.
Days 5-7: Transfer and Hike around the Val d’Ampezzo
See the scenery shift as we head east into the Veneto region but the views are no less dramatic. Hike around the Cinque Torri (the “Five Towers,” a group of vertical rocks that draw rock-climbers from around the world) and the nearby Nuvolau peak. Explore the open-air WWI museum which bears witness to the harrowing battles that were fought here in trenches and tunnels. Our other hikes take you through vast meadows and pine forests in an unspoiled natural protected area. Relax back at the hotel sauna before dinner. 3 nights Cortina.
Day 8: Tour Ends
Your tour ends this morning with a 2-hr transfer to the international airport in Venice. Let us know if you’d like us to schedule a few days here for you!
CONTACT US FOR A MORE DETAILED ITINERARY
We also have tours in the less-visited Val di Funes and Rendena, including a new easier version!
Prices indicated are usually for a minimum of 6 people (some tours may be different, see each tour page for specifics) and are for our basic itinerary based on double occupancy. A "single supplement" covers hotel prices only, we apply no extra fees. Departures with fewer people or with upgraded hotels will have a higher price. We can organize private departures for any number of people but prices vary depending on number of participants. Please contact us for details!
Payment & Cancellation Policy
Payment: A non-refundable deposit per person is requested when you sign up to reserve your place on the tour. Full payment is requested 90 days (sometimes 100 days) prior to departure.
Cancellation fees: Up to 90 (or 100) days before departure your full deposit will be retained or -- depending on the tour -- you can transfer it to another trip with us within a year of the date of cancellation.
After that the following fees apply:
89 - 60 days before departure: 33% of the trip price per person
59 - 31 days before departure: 50% of the trip price per person
30 - 15 days before departure: 75% of the trip price per person
15 - 0 days before departure: 100% of the trip price per person
Jim & Carol –
We do a lot of hiking and travel. My girlfriend and I wanted a challenging and beautiful hike through the Dolomites with charming Tyrolean accommodations. Our itinerary with Manu provided all that and more. She made the trip even more enjoyable with her easygoing attitude and deep knowledge of the region. Every day was more beautiful than the last. The Dolomites are some of the most beautiful mountains in the world. We will go back next summer and definitely use Wild Sage. Highly recommend!
Kim W. and Alan S. –
What an amazing tour! Full of challenging hikes, incredible postcard views, unusual upland flowers, pretty alpine towns, delicious Tyrolean-Italian foods, and fascinating geological and human history, all to a soundtrack of cow bells, marmot chirping, and waterfalls. Manu is a kind and patient guide, whose love of the Dolomites is evident. Her enthusiasm for the place was definitely instilled in us, and we’d love to go back.