Hiking Dolomites Nature Park

Day 2: Villabassa/Dobbiaco – Pragser Tal/Valle di Braies – Plätzwiese

(ascent approx. 1.100 m, descent approx. 580 m / approx. 6-7 hours or Variant: ascent approx. 790 m, descent approx. 0 m / approx. 4-5 hours)

Your hiking holiday starts by the idyllic lake Pragser Wildsee, which fascinates the sightseer with the crystal clear turquoise waters of the lake. Here you get a first impression of the Pragser Tal; with its dark-needled coniferous forests and the whitewashed walls of the mountain rocks, it counts to the pearls of the Dolomites. The way leads you to the alpine pasture Rossalm and then to Plätzwiese.. Beside calm and nature you encounter here also a panoramic view: In the vastness you can see the mountains Cristallo, Tofana and the world-famous Drei Zinnen (Three Peaks). Leisurely walkers have the possibility to choose a variant for the first stage, at which they are taken to the guesthouse Tuscherhof and start their walk from there. Following the river Stolla they pass the guesthouse Brückele, the homonymous hut Stolla and rock paintings (cases of erosion, which are produced by the constant influence of water and the different composition of the rock) to get to the Plätzwiese.

Day 3: Plätzwiese – Strudelkopf or Dürrenstein

(Strudelkopf: ascent approx. 360 m, descent approx. 360 m / approx. 3-4 hours or Dürrenstein: ascent approx. 850 m, descent approx. 850 m / approx. 4-5 hours)

Starting point of today’s stage is the alpine pasture Plätzwiese, which together with the mountains Hohe Gaisl and Kreuzkofelgruppe counts as the most treasured and revered hiking areas in the country; the charismatic magnetism of the unusual flora and natural lakes, have an enthralling charm on the discerning visitor. The bizarre and fascinating fables according to legends of the ancient tribes of Fanes Empire are relevant here. In the Nature Park Fanes-Sennes-Prags, the largest nature park in the Dolomites, you can make your choice between two options. Starting at the Plätzwiese depending on the variant you reach either the Strudelkopf (short variant) or the Dürrenstein (longer variant). Both options offer you a spectacular view on the Hohe Gaisl, the Drei Zinnen (Three Peaks), the Tofana and the Monte Cristallo peak.

Day 4: Plätzwiese – Knappenfußtal – Gemärk/Cimabanche – Cortina d‘Ampezzo

(ascent approx. 0 m, descent approx. 460 m / approx. 1.5-2 hours or variant: ascent 610 m, descent approx. 1.300 m / approx. 6-7 hours)

You hike through the high plateau of the Plätzwiese and descend through the Knappenfußtal to Cimabanche – the frontier between South Tyrol and Belluno. Here are two possibilities to continue: either the direct way using the public transport to Cortina d’Ampezzo or the longer variant to the hut Ra Stua and under the Col Rosa to Cortina d’Ampezzo. Your today’s destination, the former Olympic city, impresses with its unique location in the middle of famous Dolomite peaks.

Day 5: Circular track or cablecar Faloria

(cablecar Faloria - ticket incl.; Long variant: ascent approx. 270 m, descent approx. 1.150 m / approx. 5 hours; Dolomieu Trail: ascent approx. 100 m, descent approx. 990 m / approx. 3-4 hours; roundtrip Cortina: ascent approx. 650 m, descent approx. 640 m / ca. 4-5 hours or Cinque Torri: ascent approx. 570 m, descent approx. 350 m / 3,5-4 hours)

The panorama of the starting point of this stage is quite simple and stunning. The giant rocks of the Ampezzo Dolomites reach into heaven; the Monte Cristallo and the Cristallogruppe, the Tofana and the Fanesgruppe are the leading actors of this spectacle. There are two options for the day: the longer one leads you towards Forcella Faloria and the shorter one is following the Dolomieu Panoramic Trail. Both of them are heading towards Passo Tre Croci. The descent to Cortina is equal for both routes. Let yourself be enchanted by the natural beauty of the fascinating environment of the impressive Dolomite peaks. If you don‘t want to take the cable car, you can take a nice circular walk around Cortina.

Day 6: Cortina d’Ampezzo – Rifugio Auronzo Hut – Drei Zinnen (Three Peaks) – Drei Zinnen (Three Peaks) viewpoint

(ascent approx. 120 m, descent approx. 1.000 m / approx. 3.5-4.5 hours or variant round tour Three Peaks: ascent approx. 350 m, descent approx. 350 m / approx. 3–4 hours)

By bus you get to to the Auronzo Hut, situated directly below the world-famous rock massif of the „Three Peaks“. The imposing peaks, which were fiercely fought over as part of the front between Italy and Austria-Hungary during the mountain war in the First World War, are probably the best-known rock formation in the Dolomites. From here you hike leisurely down the Rienz Valley to the Dreizinnenblick and return by bus to the starting hotel of your hiking tour in Dobbiaco/Villabassa. For the more leisurely, there is the option of walking around the famous Three Peaks and returning by bus from the Rifugio Auronzo to Dobbiaco/Villabassa. (Ticket not included in the price).

Day 7: Hochpustertal (Villabassa or Dobbiaco)

Individual departure from Hochpustertal/Alta Pusteria or possibility to extend your stay.

By car: on the motorway Brenner/Brennero (A22) to Brixen/Bressanone – take the exit “Brixen-Pustertal”, then along the valley Pustertal/Valle Pusteria (SS49) to Niederdorf/Villabassa or Toblach/Dobbiaco, depending on the location of your hotel or drive along the Felbertauernstraße to Lienz in Eastern Tyrol (Austria) and then further into Italy through the valley Pustertal/Valle Pusteria to Toblach/Dobbiaco or Niederdorf/Villabassa, depending on the location of your hotel.
By train: take the train from Innsbruck over the Brenner/Brennero to Franzensfeste/Fortezza. Change trains for the Pustertal/Valle Pusteria - Lienz and get off either at Niederdorf/Villabassa or Toblach/Dobbiaco depending on the location of your hotel. Timetable available on: www.deutschebahn.de, www.oebb.at, www.trenitalia.com.
By plane: Low cost flights are available to Innsbruck airport, „Sant’ Angelo - Antonio Canova“ airport in Treviso and/or to the „Marco Polo“ airport in Venice. On request, we can organise transfers from the airport to the starting point of the cycle tour.

Hotels 3***, partly 4*** category.
Attention: Tourist tax – if requested – has to be paid on the spot!

Free and unguarded parking facilities for the duration of the hiking tour at a nearby public parking area.

We suggest travel insurance.

Yes you can bring your dog on this tour. Please let us know at the time of booking (it helps to know what kind of dog it is).

This is an easy and accessible hiking tour through well-marked trails. It is suitable for anyone in good basic physical condition and climbing experiences are not necessary.