Italy
Choose Your Pace: Hiking in the Italian Dolomites
Program No. 23844RJ
Explore the Italian Dolomites at a pace that’s right for you as you hike through stunning landscapes, historic villages and fascinating natural history.
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Protecting the Environment
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10 days
9 nights
17 meals
8B 2L 7D
1
In Transit to Program
In Flight
2
Arrive Venice, Transfer to Selva di Val Gardena, Orientation
Selva di Val Gardena
3
Col Raiser, Rifugio Firenze, Ciaulanch Lake & Juac
Selva di Val Gardena
4
Easier: Edelweisstal :
Challenging: Puez Odle National Park;
Selva di Val Gardena
5
Bolzano and Ortisei
Selva di Val Gardena
6
World War I Route
Selva di Val Gardena
7
Novacella Abbey, Ladin Museum, Geology
Selva di Val Gardena
8
Easier:Passo Sella-Citta’ dei Sassi :
Challenging:Sassolungo
Selva di Val Gardena
9
Venice city walk, overnight Veneto
Veneto Region
10
Departure
In Flight
At a Glance
Dotted along the Northern border of Italy, the Dolomites — one of Italy’s Alpine ranges and a UNESCO World Heritage Site — are spectacular in both their 11,000 foot peaks and their lush green valleys. Lace up your hiking boots and join our experts for an active exploration of this incredible landscape, following trails to charming villages and museums to learn more about the natural and human history of the mountains. Visits to Puez Odle Nature Park, Ciaulanch Lake and Bolzano offer opportunities to delve further into this history, including lectures and discussions on fossils and Ötzi, a Tyrolean glacier mummy dating from the Copper Age. Discover the magnificence of the Dolomites firsthand on this active learning adventure!
Activity Level
Outdoor: Choose Your Pace
Each day, choose a hike based on your desired level of challenge and pace. The hikes range from 5-9 miles on varied terrain. Elevations up to 7,000 feet.
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
What You'll Learn
- Tailor your learning adventure with the hikes that are right for you by selecting one of two different levels of hiking difficulty.
- Experience historic tunnels and trenches dug by Italian soldiers to defend the country’s border during World War I.
- Explore the 12th Century Novacella Abbey, home to Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque and Rococo architecture, and taste the wine the monks make there.
Suggested Reading List
(22 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Choose Your Pace: Hiking in the Italian Dolomites
Program Number: 23844
South Tyrol: A Minority Conflict of the Twentieth Century
German History professor Rolf Steininger offers an overview of the tumultuous history of the South Tyrol, and its intergration into Italy after WW1
Walking in Italy's Val Gardena
A comprehensive summary of 23 "easy" walks in-and-near the Val Gardena towns of Ortisei, Selva, and Santa Cristina, as well information on when to visit, how to get around and sample itineraries
The Alpine Corps on the Dolomite-Front, 1915: Myth and reality
The author’s investigation offers a realistic assessment of the circumstances under which the German Alpenkorps operated in South Tyrol during WW1
The Sunny Side of the Alps: Year-Round Delights in South Tyrol and the Dolomites
Hofmann delves into the culture and history of the Dolomite region and brings the land and its people to life.
Beneath a Scarlet Sky
Highly acclaimed novel based on the real life story of Italian teenager Pino Lella, who spied on the Nazis and helped Jewish refugees escape across the Dolomites and into Switzerland during WW2
Iceman: Uncovering the Life and Times of a Prehistoric Man Found in an Alpine Glacier
Fowler relates the fascinating story of the discovery of and controversy surrounding the frozen corpse of a prehistoric man found in the Tyrolian Alps.
Italy in Mind
A terrific collection of some of the best literary writing on Italy, including pieces by Melville, Lawrence, Henry James, Mary McCarthy and many others.
Reinhold Messner: My Life At The Limit
Born in the Dolomites, Messner is a mountaineering icon. In this book he discusses his life and achievements with journalist Thomas Hüetlin
The Italians
Italy correspondent for The Economist Hooper explores Italy -- its baffling contradictions, unique character and contemporary culture -- in this illuminating portrait.
Eva Sleeps
This historical, romantic novel set against the backdrop of the South Tyrol, takes us on a journey through the region's troubled past & political turmoil, as seen through the eyes of Eva. The novel is a bestseller in Italy.
Italy, A Traveler's Literary Companion
Not just a literary companion, this anthology is also a who's who of contemporary Italian writers who capture the spirit, history and allure of the country.
The Dolomites and their Legends
A collection of ancient folk tales, myths and legends, offering a glimpse into the traditions of the Ladin people
Ötzi, the Iceman: The Full Facts at a Glance
Ötzi expert Angelika Fleckinger summarizes research unearthed about Ötzi’s life and death, and uncovers riveting facts and photos about one of the greatest historical discoveries in Europe.
La Bella Figura, A Field Guide to the Italian Mind
Italians themselves love this guide to the Italian character, which addresses their never-ending passion for beauty, disorder and high emotion. The book opens with a snapshot of Malpensa Airport, then moves on to Tuscany, Rome, Naples and Sardinia.
Beneath the Mountain
Atmospheric and engaging thriller, set in a small mountain community in the majestic Italian Dolomites.
Photographing the Dolomites
The author shares advice and tips on the Dolomites, with information on photography, shooting techniques and some of the best sites of the area.
Walking in the Dolomites
A comprehensive walker's guide to the Dolomites geared to a wide variety of difficulty levels. Illustrated with photographs and maps.
The Food of Italy
Evocative of Italy and its diverse cuisine, this classic book, organized geographically, offers a cook's tour of the country. It's a well-informed and wonderful culinary guide.
Alpine Flavours: Authentic recipes from the Dolomites, the heart of the Alps
80 traditional recipes from the Tyrol, including beautiful photographs of the Dolomites region and its inhabitants
Italy, A Short History
Elegantly written, generous and informative, this compact book takes in the sweep of Italian history from the Roman Republic through the Renaissance, World War II and up to the present.
Medusa, An Aurelio Zen Mystery
Aurelio Zen mystery series; in this novel, our detective investigates a mysterious corpse in a long-abandoned military tunnel in the Dolomites.
The White War: Life and Death on the Italian Front 1915-1919
A detailed examination of the little-known conflict between Italy and Austria-Hungary during WW1. Thompson explores the complex nature of a war in which nearly 750,000 Italian troops were killed in savage, hopeless fighting on the stony hills north of Trieste and in the snows of the Dolomites.
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