Example schedule
Day 1 ~ Arrival
Private transfer from the airport (Venice (VCE) or Innsbruck (INN) – other airports available on request) to the Dolomites. Arrive at your chosen luxury hotel. Depending on when you arrive, you may have time for a hike or to explore the surroundings.
Days 2-4 ~ Heli-Hiking
In the morning of day 2, meet your UIAGM/IFMGA professional mountain guide for a trip briefing and orientation.
At 9:30am each morning, you will enjoy a flight by helicopter over the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Each afternoon you will return to your hotel by private car transfer or by helicopter (additional cost).
Two different hikes are detailed below for you to choose from, depending on the length of your trip. Want to stay longer? We can to provide additional hikes to more areas that are helicopter accessible.
Hiking Option 1 ~ Rifugio Tissi – Coldai Lake
This morning, experience a 20-minute helicopter flight transfer to Rifugio Tissi, from where you will start a wonderful hike to Lago Coldai (Coldai Lake, (2,143m / 7,031′), followed by a descent to Passo Staulanza (1,773m / 5,817′), just below the Pelmo Massif (3,168m / 10,393′).
Not only will you enjoy the food at this lovely setting, but also the authenticity and ambiance of a mountain rifugio experience. Built in 1968, Rifugio Passo Staulanza is completely furnished in wood and recalls the old Dolomitic tradition with an earthenware stove, fireplace, and the typical “stube” – traditionally a room in a farmhouse made entirely of wood, where the stove was located and cooking took place. You’re likely to encounter locals and travelers from all over the world – enjoying a meal or a snack or beverage here. (4-5 hours hiking.)
Hiking Option 2 ~ Marmolada, Queen of the Dolomites
At 3,342 meters (10,965′), the mammoth Marmolada is the highest mountain in the Dolomites, and one of the last remaining glaciated massifs. This stature rightly deserves its appellation “Queen” of the Dolomites – even though it is composed principally of limestone, and not dolomite! Marmolada was once the diving line between Italy and Austria, the border running along its highest crest, and as a consequence its icy reaches saw plenty of action in World War I; today it provides some of the most spectacular hiking and WWI history experiences on earth.
This morning, take another scenic helicopter transfer, today to Rifugio Falier (2,074m / 6,804′), under the south face of the Marmolada. From here, enjoy a fantastic hike with your guide around the Marmolada Glacier. You will also be able to ride three legs of the cable car to the top of the north face of the Marmolada Glacier, from where you can admire superb views of the Dolomites. At the summit, there is a small museum of WWI that can be visited. (4-5 hours hiking.)
Day 5 ~ Depart
Breakfast and transfer to the airport for departure.
OR EXTEND YOUR ADVENTURE!
You’ve come all this way, why not stay a little longer? There are fantastic extensions that you can enjoy before or after your trip in the Dolomites. Explore Venice, Verona, Lake Garda, Florence, or Milan, or any of the many other magical places found throughout Italy. There’s no more perfect way to recover from jet lag upon arrival, or delay your return to reality at the end of your trip!
Trip itinerary may vary based on weather conditions, fitness levels and abilities of participants, and/or the recommendations of your guide.