The Dolomites, Italy
Sept. 14 to Sept. 21, 2024
On Sale Now - 2 Rooms Left
Dolomites: Fall 2024
8 Days / 7 Nights
Arrival Day: Sept. 14, 2024
Suggested Airport: Venice, Italy (VCE)
Suggested Arrival time: 9:00 am
Meet Up Location: Venice Intl. Airport
Departure Day: Sept. 21, 2024
Suggested Airport: Venice, Italy (VCE)
Suggested Departure Time: 1:00 pm
Drop Off Location: Venice Intl. Airport
Overview
Our first group trip to the Dolomites in September 2023 was favored with picture-perfect weather, fun adventures, and amazing cuisine and lodging. This year's tour promises more of the same but with new and exciting twists for the beginning and end. We are substituting Riva del Garda for Venice for our first night stay to allow us more time to enjoy Lake Garda before we ascend to the mountains. We are substituting Verona for Prosecco Road for the last night stay to introduce this great and often overlooked Italian city. We have limited the trip to 12 guests and added an additional night so that we can experience the best of what Northeast Italy has to offer; the charm of the Italian lakes, the majesty of the Dolomite mountains and the historic setting of Shakespeare's most romantic plays, Verona.
Important Note Regarding the Level of Physical Activity: Some folks have been concerned about the amount of physical activity required by hiking in the Dolomites. Rest assured a guest can visit all of our planned summits without hiking, as we use cable cars to ascend (& descend) the mountains. Each day we provide a variety of options for activities appropriate for all levels of fitness. Also our hotel participates in the Val Gardena Active Program that offers cultural experiences, such as: Forest Energy Walks, Outdoor Yoga, Cooking Class for Dumplings and Strudel, and Outdoor Workshops for Geology, Wild Life Spotting, Traditional Wood Carving and more. This trip is your vacation, and all our scheduled activities are optional. We are going to be in beautiful locations that can be enjoyed in many different ways.
Click on the Photo Below for a Slide Show of the Trip's Highlights
Where our Italian adventure begins
Where history, cuisine & romance blend into an amazing experience.
What's Included
What’s Included in the Price:
* 8 Days & 7 Nights at Hand-Selected 4-Star Hotels
* All Hotel Taxes & Gratuities
* Meals: 6 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches & 7 Dinners
* All Group Meal Gratuities
* Welcome Happy Hour in Riva del Garda
* Rides on Lake Garda Ferry & Mt. Baldo Cable Car
* Group Stroll on Meadows of Alpe Resciesa
* Guided E-Bike Tour: Alpe di Siusi
* Guided Hike: The Secada Ridgeline
* Guided Hike: The Sassolungo Group
* Guided Wine & Food Tour of Verona
* Local Guide Fees, Entrance Fees, Lift Tickets, Taxes and Gratuities for All Scheduled Group Activities
* Full-time experienced guides/drivers who are with you throughout the trip, to handle behind-the-scenes logistics and to help with anything you need. (i.e. Toby & Tricia)
* All Local Transportation Needs Including Two Rental Vans
* Airport Meet Up & Drop Off Services
What’s Not Included in the Price:
* Air Travel to Venice's Marco Polo Airport (VCE)
* Select Meals: 1 Breakfast and 5 Lunches
* Any Optional Tours and Activities Not Included on the Trip Itinerary or the Val Gardena Active Program.
* Misc: Souvenirs
* Alcoholic Beverages
* Travel Insurance (Highly Recommended)
Accommodations
Our trip has (6) Double Rooms in each of our (3) fabulous 4-Star hotels. Please use the gallery below to become familiar with the rooms and amenities at each of the properties.
Dolomites Room Package
On Sale Now - 2 Rooms Left
Double Occupancy - $3,895.00 per person
Single Occupancy - $5,095.00
Click a Photo Below for a Slide Show Describing Each Hotel's Amenities & Rooms
First Night Stay Saturday, Sept. 14
5 Night Stay Sunday, Sept.15 to Thursday, Sept. 19
Last Night Stay Friday, Sept. 20
How To Book Your Room
Deposit Policy:
All Rooms are allocated on a first pay - first serve basis. A $700.00 non-refundable deposit is required for every trip participant. Deposits from both room occupants must be received before a room is allocated. These deposits guarantee your room reservation until the Final Balance Payment Deadline. An email invoice is sent at your request, and it allows you to pay by credit / debit card via our PayPal account.
Payment Options – Final Payment Deadline: June 15th, 2024
All trip packages must be paid in full by June 15th, 2024. Retreat participants have the option of paying the entire balance at the time of deposit to receive a $100.00 discount. Alternatively, participants can sign up for an installment plan at the time of deposit by using a credit / debit card. This plan automatically pays the balance due with monthly automated installments that are completed on or before June 15th, 2024. Beyond this deadline, the reservation may be cancelled, the deposit(s) forfeited, and the room may be allocated to the wait list and/or put back on sale.
Cancellation Policy:
In the event you must cancel your trip, your entire payment will be refunded less the $700.00 deposit, if your cancellation is made before June 15th, 2024. Should you need to cancel after this date, for whatever reason, we will not be able to provide a refund or credit. No partial refunds or credits will be given for participants who arrive late or depart early on the trip. For this reason we recommend that all retreat participants purchase travel insurance that allows for trip cancellations.
Travel Insurance: Strongly Recommended
We strongly recommend the purchase of travel insurance in the case of any unexpected events or changes to your plans before or during your trip. Please review all policies carefully to ensure you get the coverage you want, including: trip cancellation or delay, personal property loss, medical treatment and emergency medical evacuation. The policies that offer "Cancel for Any Reason" benefits often require that you purchase this insurance within two weeks of your trip's first expense, i.e. the deposit.
Squaremouth.com - A Great Website To Compare & Shop for Travel Insurance Policies
Daily Itinerary
Day 1 - Saturday, Sept. 14: Arrival Day & Lake Garda - Drive from Venice Airport to Lake Garda - Visit and lunch in picturesque Limone Sul Garda - Take a lake ferry to our home for the night, Riva del Garda - Check in to Du Lac et Du Parc Grand Resort - Relax at the resort's spa or swimming pool - Enjoy a welcome toast and dinner in Riva del Garda
Day 2 - Sunday, Sept. 15: Malcesine & Mt. Baldo - Breakfast at Du Lac et Du Parc Grand Resort - Relax at resort or explore Riva del Garda in the morning - Check out of resort and take a short drive to Malcesine - Take a cable car to the top of Mt. Baldo for lunch above Lake Garda - Walk along the ridgeline for additional views and to watch paragliders take off - Drive from Malcesine to Ortisei in Val Gardena - Check in and have dinner at Hotel Niblea
Day 3 - Monday, Sept. 16: Ortisei Village & Alpe Resciesa - Breakfast at Hotel Niblea - Morning visit and lunch in the mountain village of Ortisei - Afternoon ride on the funicular train up to the meadows of Alpe Resciesa (2,200 meters) - Enjoy your first views of Dolomite mountains; Sella Massif, Marmolada and Sassolungo - Take a short and easy .5 mile hike to the Resciesa Mountain Hut for a drink on their sunny terrace - After the Resciesa Mountain Hut, you have the following options based on duration & level of difficulty 1. Shortest & Easy Option: Retrace the .5 hike back to the funicular train for a ride down to Ortisei or 2. Longer & Easy/Moderate Option: Extend your visit by hiking the Resciesa Trail loop for an additional 1 hour before riding the the funicular train back down to Ortisei - Alternative activities for this day include: 1. Participate in any tour/class offered by the Val Gardena Active Program or 2. Explore any of Val Gardena's towns via a great local bus system or 3. Take the day off and relax at Hotel Niblea or in Ortisei - Return to Hotel Niblea for an afternoon spa visit and/or pre-dinner cocktails - Dinner at Hotel Niblea
Day 4 - Tuesday, Sept. 17: Guided E-Bike Tour of Alpe di Siusi - Breakfast at Hotel Niblea - Take the Ortisei Gondola to Alpe di Siusi, Europe's highest alpine meadow (2,350 meters) - Enjoy our guide's description of the mountain peaks in view and the history of Alpe di Siusi - After the Alpe di Siusi presentation, you have the following options based on duration & level of difficulty: 1. Shortest & Easy Option: Set out on a short self-guided hike on Alpe di Siusi with a lunch at a nearby alpine hut and a return to the gondola for a ride back down to Ortisei or 2. Longer & Easy/Moderate Option: Enjoy 3 hour guided e-bike tour around Alpe di Siusi with lunch at an alpine hut and a downhill ride back to town - Alternative activities for this day include: 1. Participate in any tour/class offered by the Val Gardena Active Program or 2. Explore any of Val Gardena's towns via a great local bus system or 3. Take the day off and relax at Hotel Niblea or in Ortisei - Return to Hotel Niblea for an afternoon spa visit and/or pre-dinner cocktails - Dinner at Hotel Niblea
Day 5 - Wednesday, Sept. 18: Guided Hike of the Seceda Ridgeline - Breakfast at Hotel Niblea - Take the Funivie Seceda (cable car) from Ortisei to the Seceda Mountain Station - Hike 10 min. uphill to the Famous Seceda Viewpoint (2,500 meters) with our local tour guide - Enjoy our guide's description of the mountain peaks in view and the history of Val Gardena - After the Seceda Viewpoint, you have the following options based on duration & level of difficulty 1. Shortest & Easy Option: Enjoy an easy 35 min. self-guided hike looping back to the Seceda Mountain Station with a stop at the Baita Sofie Hütte for lunch, drinks, sunbathing and to watch the paragliders. This option includes a cable car ride back down to Ortisei. 2. Medium & Easy/Moderate Option: Continue with the guided hike for 1 hour to the Rifugio Firenze for lunch. After lunch enjoy an 1.5 hour self-guided hike looping back to the Seceda Mountain Station. This option includes a cable car ride back down to Ortisei. 3. Longest & Moderate Option: Continue with the guided hike for 1 hour to the Rifugio Firenze for lunch. After lunch enjoy an 2.5 hour guided hike down the mountain to the village of Santa Christina. This option includes a local bus ride back to Ortisei. - Alternative activities for this day include: 1. Participate in any tour/class offered by the Val Gardena Active Program or 2. Explore any of Val Gardena's towns via a great local bus system 3. Take the day off and relax at Hotel Niblea or in Ortisei - Return to Hotel Niblea for an afternoon spa visit and/or pre-dinner cocktails - Dinner at Hotel Niblea
Day 6 - Thursday, Sept. 19: Guided Hike of the Sassolungo Group - Breakfast at Hotel Niblea - Drive from Ortisei past Selva to the Sella Pass - Take the famous Telecabina Sassolungo gondola called the "coffin car" to the Toni Demetz Hut sitting in the Sassolungo fork (2,685 meters) - Enjoy our guide's description of the mountain peaks in view and the history of Sassolungo - After the Toni Demetz Hut, you have the following options based on duration & level of difficulty: 1. Shortest & Easy Option; Without any hiking, jump back on the Telecabina Sassolungo to go back down and return to Ortisei or Hotel Niblea 2. Longest & Moderate Option: Continue with the guided hike for 3+ hours down the moderately technical descent of Sassolungo This option includes a local bus ride back to Ortisei. - Alternative activities for this day include: 1. Take a Toby Tour by van to visit the famous churches of Val di Funes: Santa Maddalena Church, and San Giovanni Church in Ranui 2, Participate in any tour/class offered by the Val Gardena Active Program or 3. Explore any of Val Gardena's towns via a great local bus system 4. Take the day off and relax at Hotel Niblea or in Ortisei - Return to Hotel Niblea for an afternoon spa visit and/or pre-dinner cocktails - Dinner at Hotel Niblea
Day 7 - Friday, Sept. 20: Verona - Breakfast at Hotel Niblea - Drive from Ortisei to Verona - Enjoy a Guided Food & Wine Walking Tour of Verona - Check in to Relais Balcone di Giulietta - A Farewell Toast in the Empty Courtyard of Giulietta - Our Final Dinner in Verona
Day 8 - Saturday, Sept. 21: Departure Day to USA or Other Destination - Breakfast in Verona - Drive from Verona to Venice Airport
Need More Information? Please Contact Us
If you have questions regarding the room reservation process or you require additional information about the trip, please don't hesitate to reach out to us for answers. Just send us an email, and we will get back to you within 24 hrs. to provide whatever information you may need.
