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THE ITINERARY COLLECTION
ITALY / THE DOLOMITES

An Eight-Day Dolomites Itinerary from Ortisei to Cortina

A cable car up. A trail through the meadows. Lunch with a view that makes you forget to check your phone.

Eight days focused on the Dolomites, using Ortisei and Cortina d’Ampezzo as bases for ridgelines, alpine meadows, lakes, and time to recover.

Explore the itinerary
Alisha and Matt together on a Bora Bora beach

A trip from Alisha & MattPlanned with couples in mind.

A mountain trip with room for lunch.

YOUR TIME8 days, including arrival

YOUR BASESOrtisei + Cortina d’Ampezzo

TRAVEL STYLELifts + hikes + scenic drives

BUILT-IN BREATHERA flexible final mountain day

THE TRIP, IN A FEW WORDS

Two bases.
A whole lot of mountains.

Start in Ortisei for Seceda, Val di Funes, and Alpe di Siusi. Then move to Cortina by way of the mountain passes and Cinque Torri.

The second half pairs Lago di Braies with Tre Cime di Lavaredo, then leaves a day flexible for the weather or a slower finish. This route stays in the Dolomites; the onward journey to Tuscany is outside the guide.

See how the route fits together ↘
A LITTLE ORIENTATION

Ortisei first.
Cortina next.

Use Ortisei for the western outings and Cortina for the eastern mountains. Allow four nights in each area if keeping the final flexible day; arrange onward travel separately.

ROUTE DIAGRAM · NOT TO SCALE
OrtiseiSeceda + village time
Val di FunesChurches + Geisler Alm
Alpe di SiusiMeadows + bike outing
CortinaCinque Torri + lakes + Tre Cime
EIGHT DAYS · TWO MOUNTAIN BASES · ONWARD TRAVEL SEPARATE
BEFORE YOU CHOOSE

Planning your Dolomites stay

Use the two bases

Ortisei serves Seceda, Val di Funes, and Alpe di Siusi. Cortina serves the eastern mountain and lake days. Decide on the complete night pattern before adding the final flexible day or onward journey.

Choose the actual walk

The Tre Cime day uses an out-and-back toward the Locatelli area. Check the exact marked route, ascent, current conditions, and return instead of assuming a full circuit or an easy photo stop.

Keep access and weather together

Confirm lift operation and the current vehicle arrangements for Zans, Lago di Braies, and Rifugio Auronzo. Use the last flexible day to move an outing rather than adding another demanding hike.

THE ROUTE AT A GLANCE

Your Dolomites route and overnight stays

DayRoute or focusOvernight
1ORTISEI · ARRIVALGardena Grödnerhof Hotel & Spa.
2SECEDA · CASTELROTTO · ORTISEIGardena Grödnerhof Hotel & Spa.
3VAL DI FUNES · GEISLER ALMGardena Grödnerhof Hotel & Spa.
4ALPE DI SIUSI · ORTISEIGardena Grödnerhof Hotel & Spa.
5SELLA PASS → PORDOI → CINQUE TORRIGrand Hotel Ampezzo, Cortina area.
6LAGO DI BRAIES · CORTINAGrand Hotel Ampezzo, Cortina area.
7RIFUGIO AURONZO · TRE CIME DI LAVAREDOCortina d’Ampezzo; choose the same base or another local stay.
8CORTINA · OPTIONAL PASSO GIAUCortina d’Ampezzo before your onward journey.
THE PLAN

Your Dolomites itinerary, day by day

Open a day for the details. Keep the whole route close.

8 days · two basesA ROUTE TO MAKE YOUR OWN
DOLOMITES · THE ROUTE
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DAY1

Settle into Ortisei.

ORTISEI · ARRIVAL

Keep the first afternoon for getting to your base, checking in, and taking a short look around town.

  • Arrive in OrtiseiFit the afternoon to the travel leg you arrange into the mountains.
  • Check in at Gardena GrödnerhofUse the hotel as the base for the next three outings.
  • A first village strollVia Rezia and the pedestrian center are on a village walk.
  • Dinner in townTuronda Pizza Bistrot is the arrival-evening idea.

WHERE YOU’LL SLEEP
Gardena Grödnerhof Hotel & Spa.

DAY2

Seceda, with a village afternoon.

SECEDA · CASTELROTTO · ORTISEI

A lift-assisted morning at Seceda, followed by lunch and a shorter outing around Castelrotto.

  • Ortisei–Furnes–Seceda liftsCheck operation and the ticket you need for the outing.
  • Seceda viewpointsChoose marked paths that suit your group. Fermeda is an optional extra if operating and included in your arrangements.
  • Lunch at Baita SofieThe mountain hut is a lunch option. Confirm current arrangements.
  • CastelrottoWalk around Piazza Kraus and the lanes near the bell tower, then return to Ortisei.
  • An easy eveningLeave time for the hotel. Anna Stuben is the restaurant idea in this route.

WHERE YOU’LL SLEEP
Gardena Grödnerhof Hotel & Spa.

DAY3

Church views and a mountain hut.

VAL DI FUNES · GEISLER ALM

Give the morning to the valley viewpoints, then choose a walk toward Geisler Alm.

  • Santa MaddalenaUse permitted parking and marked walking access to reach the viewpoint.
  • San Giovanni in RanuiThe small church is another photo stop in this route; respect access boundaries.
  • Zans & the walk to Geisler AlmChoose a marked route from Zans after checking current trail information. Decide between a more direct walk and a longer loop before leaving.
  • Lunch in the meadowLeave time for Geisler Alm rather than treating it as a quick turnaround.
  • Chiusa, if timeA shorter old-town stroll fits on the return. Ustaria Da Checco is a dinner option back in Ortisei.

WHERE YOU’LL SLEEP
Gardena Grödnerhof Hotel & Spa.

DAY4

A day in the alpine meadows.

ALPE DI SIUSI · ORTISEI

Take the lift up, explore at your own pace, and keep the afternoon lighter.

  • Arrange the bike outingConsider Sport Gardena. Choose equipment and a route with the rental team.
  • Lift to Alpe di SiusiConfirm bike transport and lift operation as part of the day’s arrangements.
  • Meadow viewpointsThe plan includes Belvedere Alpe di Siusi and Malga Sanon. You do not need to complete a long circuit to enjoy the outing.
  • Lunch at Mont SeucThe restaurant near the upper lift station is one lunch option.
  • Return to OrtiseiKeep the afternoon for the hotel, a walk, or rest before changing bases.

WHERE YOU’LL SLEEP
Gardena Grödnerhof Hotel & Spa.

DAY5

The scenic move to Cortina.

SELLA PASS → PORDOI → CINQUE TORRI

Make the transfer a day of its own. The roads, stops, and chairlift outing need room.

  • Sella PassStop at a permitted viewpoint. Friedrich August Hütte is an optional walk and pastry stop.
  • Pordoi PassPause for the mountain views before continuing east.
  • Cinque TorriTake the chairlift if operating, with lunch at Rifugio Scoiattoli.
  • Choose a walk around the towersExplore the rock towers and open-air history sites. Use current marked routes.
  • Check in at CortinaEl Brite de Larieto is the dinner stop.

WHERE YOU’LL SLEEP
Grand Hotel Ampezzo, Cortina area.

DAY6

A morning at Lago di Braies.

LAGO DI BRAIES · CORTINA

Keep the lake as the main outing and the afternoon open for Cortina.

  • Lago di BraiesCheck current vehicle access and parking before leaving your base.
  • A rowboat, if operatingBoat rental is an optional addition. Check current operation and queues before deciding how much time to spend on the water.
  • Walk by the lakeChoose the amount of lakeside walking that fits your group and current conditions.
  • Back to CortinaRistorante de LEN is a lunch option; the afternoon leaves time for the hotel and a town stroll.

WHERE YOU’LL SLEEP
Grand Hotel Ampezzo, Cortina area.

DAY7

Tre Cime gets the day.

RIFUGIO AURONZO · TRE CIME DI LAVAREDO

Keep the main walk as the priority. Treat Cadini as a separate optional decision, not something you have to squeeze in first.

  • Arrange access to Rifugio AuronzoConfirm current road and parking arrangements for your vehicle.
  • Walk toward Rifugio LavaredoFollow the marked route with your day’s conditions and walking plan in mind.
  • Forcella Lavaredo & the Locatelli areaContinue toward these views before turning back.
  • Return the same wayReturn along the chosen approach rather than assuming you will complete the full circuit. Leave enough time for breaks and the drive back.
  • A quiet afternoon in CortinaRest after the walk. Al Camin is a dinner option.

WHERE YOU’LL SLEEP
Cortina d’Ampezzo; choose the same base or another local stay.

DAY8

Keep one day flexible.

CORTINA · OPTIONAL PASSO GIAU

Use the final day for a weather swap or a slower finish. There is no need to earn another view before heading home.

  • Weather buffer firstMove an earlier outing here if conditions required a change.
  • Passo Giau, if you want another driveChoose a permitted viewpoint and leave time to enjoy it.
  • Lunch near CortinaBaita Resch is an option to consider; check current reservations.
  • Town time or the hotelCorso Italia, a short stroll, or a quiet afternoon all suit a recovery day.
  • Arrange onward travel separatelyThe Dolomites-only route ends here, without adding the longer drive south.

WHERE YOU’LL SLEEP
Cortina d’Ampezzo before your onward journey.

MAKE ROOM FOR THIS

The walk gets you here.
Lunch can take a while.

Geisler Alm is one of the reasons to give Val di Funes a day. Plan the walk for your group, then leave room for a hut lunch and the view across the meadow.

A GOOD PLACE TO LAND

Where to put your feet up.

Places to stay along the route.

A PLACE TO LAND.
A BASE TO EXPLORE.
ORTISEI · FIRST FOUR NIGHTS

Gardena Grödnerhof Hotel & Spa

An Ortisei base for Seceda, Val di Funes, and Alpe di Siusi, with afternoons left for the hotel between outings.

Find it on the map
CORTINA AREA · SECOND BASE

Grand Hotel Ampezzo

A Cortina base for the eastern mountain days. Choose accommodation for the full stay and confirm the property, room, and arrival arrangements directly.

Find it on the map

Allow enough Cortina nights for the lake, Tre Cime, and final flexible day. Choose your property and room for the whole eastern segment before arranging onward travel.

A NOTE FROM ALISHA & MATT

Go up.
Look around.
Leave some room.

There’s a lot you could do here. The useful part is choosing the outings that fit your pace, then keeping enough flexibility for mountain weather.

Alisha & Matt
01

Put the weather before the sequence.

Swap mountain days around the forecast and current lift operation. The flexible Cortina day is there so one change doesn’t force the entire route to unravel.

02

Check access before the early start.

This route arranged access for Zans, Lago di Braies, and Rifugio Auronzo. Recheck the current booking system and vehicle requirements before driving out.

03

Choose the walk, not just the photograph.

Val di Funes, Tre Cime, and the optional Cadini viewpoint have different demands. Check marked routes and conditions locally, and choose for your group’s experience and comfort with exposure.

BEFORE YOU GO

A few good questions.

Does this include the drive from Slovenia or on to Tuscany?

No. Day 1 begins with arrival in Ortisei, and the guide finishes in Cortina. Arrange the longer travel legs separately.

Do we need to hike every day?

No. Seceda and Alpe di Siusi use lifts as part of the outing, and the plan includes village time and a flexible final day. Choose how much walking to add.

Is Tre Cime a full loop in this plan?

This route uses an out-and-back toward the Rifugio Locatelli area. It does not require the full circuit. Check the exact trail, ascent, conditions, and return time before setting out.

Is Lago di Sorapis included?

It was marked as unlikely in this route, so it is not a scheduled day here. The final day stays flexible rather than adding a demanding hike by default.

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