Luxury Dolomites to Lake Garda Walk 6D5N (Majestic Mountains & Italy’s Largest Lake), Fully Guided

TWO HIKING OPTIONS:
Level 1, Approx. 3 km (2 miles), Elevation gain: 183m (600 ft)
Level 2, Approx. 6 km (4 miles), Elevation gain: 366 m (1200 ft)

On the first day of the trip, meet your tour leaders at 11 a.m. outside the main entrance of the Bolzano-Bozen train station in Bolzano, Italy. Ensure you arrive dressed in your hiking clothes and bring your luggage and a daypack containing your rain gear and anything else you may want for the day's hike (your luggage will be transported to our first night's accommodations).

Welcome to Italy! Following our meeting in Bolzano embark on a scenic 45-minute drive to Welschnofen where you’ll enjoy a beautiful gondola ride up to the Catinaccio Hill range in the Dolomites. The word "Dolomites" was coined from Déodat de Dolomieu, the name of the French geologist to first define the kind of carbonate rock that is prevalent in these mountains.

Once we are further up, enjoy breathtaking vistas of towering rock formations on the way as we proceed to enjoy a hearty lunch at a rifugio (mountain refuge). After taking a break and refueling, hike along an excellent trail offering awesome panoramic views of Bolzano in the valley below as you pass through meadows and skirt the Catinaccio Alps.

Afternoon finds us at the Romantik Hotel Turm, A 13th-century hotel with Tyrolean-style décor and delicious regional cuisine prepared by owner and celebrated chef Stefan Pramstrahler, who also welcomes us to your home. Spend time relaxing in the pool or sauna before gathering for a welcome reception and a sumptuous dinner featuring regional specialties.

After dinner, a special treat is planned for those in the mood to explore the hotel's premium wine cellar. This stunning space was carved out of rock and was once the prison for a 13th-century courthouse. A visit to this historic cellar is truly a rare opportunity to join in a one-of-a-kind grappa tasting offered by the cellar.

THREE HIKING OPTIONS:
Level 2, Approx. 8 km (5 miles), Elevation gain: 457 m (1500 ft)
Level 3, Approx. 11 km (7 miles), Elevation gain: 457 m (1500 ft)
Level 4, Approx. 11 km (7 miles), Elevation gain: 610 m (2000 ft)

This morning, we begin our first full day hiking in the Dolomites just in front of our hotel. Enjoy a preview of the days to come as you hike through the breathtaking alpine scenery with the Schlern massif, a recognizable icon of South Tyrol, towering overhead. Hike up pristine routes and wander through abundant gardens of roses, delphiniums, foxgloves, and berries enroute before stopping for lunch at the welcoming Tuffalm Hut.

After lunch, hike to the tranquil Völser Weiher, a tiny lake fed by a spring and framed by fir trees, a perfect place to relax over a coffee or gelato by the water's edge. Feeling adventurous, you can dip your toes in the lake's chilly water, or just plunge right in like the natives do! Be sure to stop and take in the brilliant views of the expansive Eisack River Valley and beautiful green fields on the way back to Völs Am Schlern.

We head back to the hotel where you enjoy an array of relaxing spa services. You can take a steam bath scented with flowers, relax in the pine sauna, refresh in the pool or try a massage with grapeseed oil (spa treatments are at own expense.)

Come evening, enjoy a wine tasting in the renowned Tyrolean Prösels Castle, which dates back to the 1200s. With our appetites piqued, we join a quick shuttle ride to experience an authentic Tyrolean feast featuring a special dinner at our local friend Martha, and her husband's home.

THREE HIKING OPTIONS:
Level 2, Approx. 8 km (5 miles), Elevation gain: 91 m (300 ft)
Level 3, Approx. 11 km (7 miles), Elevation gain: 122 m (400 ft)
Level 4, Approx. 16 km (10 miles), Elevation gain: 396 m (900 ft)

Today, we shuttle from the Dolomites to the sunnier climate of the Italian Lakes. Soak up the expansive views across the mountains covered in green scrub and a lush glacier valley along the way. We move down to Lake Garda's shoreline, where we'll be staying for the remainder of the week. We continue to explore on foot at Nago, a charming village perched above the glittering waters of Lake Garda. We descend to the shoreline through the quaint town of Torbole and go westward towards Riva del Garda, another lakefront town in Trentino, following in the footsteps of the Venetians and notable visitors like Goethe.

Choose your adventure this afternoon following a filling meal of regional delights. Either take a stroll around the charming Old Town of opulent Riva, add a loop around the majestic Monte Brione on the way, or continue to our next hotel for some relaxation time.

Enough hiking for the day, we move ahead to Limone on your preferred route, either in a shuttle or through a ferry across the tranquil waters of the lake. En route, you may see some limonai, or terraced lemon groves, bordering the steep hills above the lake where the sun shines brightly on cypress trees and the old walls.

Based on your energy level, we continue either by van or on foot to arrive at our hotel for the night. The opulent EALA My Lakeside Dream, an extravagant hotel opened by the Risatti family of hoteliers in 2021, the hotel is perched on a rich plot of family land surrounded by mesmeric panoramic vistas, boasting stylish modern amenities and stunning communal places like the elegant spa and luxe plunge pool promising total relaxation.

Make yourself comfortable in your well-appointed room before opting for a hearty dinner at your leisure tonight.

THREE HIKING OPTIONS:
Level 2, Approx. 8 km (5 miles), Elevation gain: 457 m (1500 ft)
Level 3, Approx. 14 km (9 miles), Elevation gain: 488 m (1600 ft)
Level 4, Approx. 16 km (10 miles), Elevation gain: 701 m (2300 ft)

This morning, after a hearty breakfast, we take a shuttle to Pieve, the biggest and the most popular of the eighteen hamlets in Tremosine. We go on a long walk today, to discover a handful of these charming, sun-drenched villages and their pastoral surroundings while also sampling their tasty goat cheese. We ascend to a nearby agriturismo (working farm and retreat), where we take a break for a tour and sampling local delicacies, before joining a delightful picnic.

After lunch, you can either take the shuttle back to the hotel or follow the loop on foot back to Pieve. The renowned "Da Gemma" restaurant and bar in Pieve offers breathtaking views of the cliffs that border the lake. A perfect spot to stop for a gelato or other refreshments before returning to EALA. Alternatively, if you are interested in more adventure, join your leaders on a side trip along the lakeside to the curious town of Campione.

There is plenty of time to engage in afternoon activities once back at the hotel. EALA, which takes its name from the old Celtic word for the swans that float over the lake, is a real world in itself, boasting an array of contemporary amenities, with a comprehensive spa menu for those who are ready to unwind and a private swimming beach on the lake to satisfy those who are so inclined to activities. Here, there's something for everyone to revel in.

Your guides drop you off in Limone to enjoy dinner your way in the evening. Stroll along the winding streets of the old village while listening to the lovely sound of adjacent water lapping on the way.

THREE HIKING OPTIONS:
Level 2, Approx. 5 km (3 miles), Elevation gain: 396 m (1300 ft)
Level 3, Approx. 8 km (5 miles), Elevation gain: 640 m (2100 ft)
Level 4, Approx. 16 km (10 miles), Elevation gain: 1097 m (3600 ft)

After enjoying a delectable meal with a view of the gentle lake this morning, meet your leaders and head down to the hotel's boat dock. Together in a small boat, Roberto and Cristiano, our new friends, will take us back to Riva del Garda, where we embark on our adventure for the day. As we walk through the scenic landscape, we marvel at its beautiful allure and catch sight of a gorge and waterfall that feed into the lake.

Our route starts near the harbour in Riva and follows the renowned Ponale Road, which was hewn directly out of the cliffside in the middle of the 19th century and is now only used by recreation lovers such as hikers, cyclists, and others.

Pregasina, a hilltop community that is a well-liked stopping point for the region's active tourists, is our final destination for today. We will take a stop and enjoy a filling lunch together before we continue on our adventure. Long-option hikers will continue ascending through a deciduous forest to a lookout point with magnificent views over Limone and the southern reaches of the lake before returning to Pregasina and taking a shuttle to the hotel. While others who have had enough for the day can relax over a longer lunch and take the shuttle directly to the hotel.

Back at the hotel, we join a farewell dinner of delicious Italian cuisine. We make a toast to our week spent discovering some of Italy's best landscapes, both on and off the celebrated paths, while sipping a drink with a lake view.

Level 2, Approx. 5 km (3 miles), Elevation gain: 183 m (600 ft)

On our final day of hiking, we follow two of the lake's well-known pathways immediately above the EALA property. First, we board the Sentiero del Sole, or Path of the Sun, which meanders around the slope and has plenty of benches to take in the spectacular views we've had all week.

Later we tour the renowned Lake Garda bike route, Ciclopedonale sul Garda, and gather at the hotel to say our goodbyes before boarding a private coach for Verona, where our journey comes to an end.

NOTE: This itinerary is provided as an example only – prevailing conditions and local arrangements may cause variation.