Ms Kelly says...
An excellent break, well catered for and looked after.
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The small village of Villabassa close to the Austrian border and sandwiched between the spectacular, jagged limestone peaks is the perfect base for this Dolomites walking week. From here we enjoy an excellent choice of routes with the opportunity to relax in comfort at the end of a day's walking.
We venture into the Fanes-Sennes and Dolomiti di Sesto National Parks for great views of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo. Along the way we also visit numerous open-air museums, reflecting the status of these imposing mountains as the frontline of the fighting between Italy and the Austro-Hungarian Empire in WWI.
Start at the Hotel Adler in Villabassa.The leader will give a short briefing to give an overview of the week ahead and give you any useful information.
The ideal start to visiting this vast area is a walk straight from the hotel through the very pretty, flower-filled Braies Valley. We walk through small villages and farmland until we reach the magnificent Lago di Braies, one of the 297 glacial lakes in the area. It is certainly one of the most beautiful thanks to being surrounded by jagged peaks that are reflected in the extraordinary mirror-like surface of the lake. We follow the route of 'SS hostages', the leaders of 19 countries who were freed after the First World War by the inhabitants of Villabassa.
Approx. distance 14km, 650m ascent, 255m descent.
Today we explore high pastures and ridges along the Austrian border. We walk steadily exploring the meadows under the ridge of Knieberg. We have great views towards the Rotwand and Monte Popera. Later afternoon we visit Alpe Nemes hut where we could enjoy a drink and a home made apple strudel.
Approx distance 14-16km. 6-700m ascent, 6-700m descent.
We start the walk at 2000m altitude walking amongst beautiful wildflowers and ascends to the summit of Strudlekopf (2307m). We stop at the Durrenstein hut in the early afternoon to check the local Kaiserschmarren speciality. On a clear day, from the summit, we can enjoy views of the Tre Cime, Monte Piana and Monte Cristallo.Approx. distance 15km. 500m ascent, 1000m descent.
A free day to relax in the hotel's wellness centre or take a self-guided cycle ride around this wonderful area. Alternatively, you can make your way to Bolzano to visit a museum dedicated to Oetzi, the 5000 year-old 'iceman' whose remarkably well-preserved body was found in 1991 high on a glacier on the Austro-Italian frontier. Or you could journey to the attractive provincial capital of Lienz in Austria; or closer to the cosy town of Brunico.
We enjoy a memorable walk under the famous 'Three Chimneys', or Tre Cime di Lavaredo (or Drei Zinnen in German). Set amid one of the classic mountain groups of this area, our walk around these impressive peaks is certainly a highlight of the week.
Approx distance 18km, 550m ascent, 1100 descent.
To complete the week, we take the amazing estern approach route up Monte Piana. After 600m ascent we find ourselves upon the flat-topped mountain surrounded by some of the most impressive scenery in the Dolomites. It is the site of an open-air museum dedicated to the First World War where trenches, dugouts and shell craters can be seen amongst the many alpine flowers. On our return, we have time to spot the brilliant blue gentians, alpine white edelweiss and bright saffron that create a beautiful scene around Lake Misurina, thanks to the beautiful pink of the limestone rock.
Approx distance 15km, 700m ascent, 800m descent.
The tour ends in Villabassa.
This single-centre holiday is based at the following hotel. If you'd like to extend your stay here, or upgrade your room, just let us know at the time of booking.
To find out more call our sales team on 1-800-267-3347 or email usa@exodustravels.com
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An excellent break, well catered for and looked after.
