In the Shadow of the Dolomites Tour

Immerse yourself in the culture of the mountains on the 15-day small group tour of the Dolomites and their surrounds.

29 August – 12 September 2024 – FULLY BOOKED

AUD 9,690 per person (double/twin-share)
AUD 10,890 per person (solo traveller)

The Dolomites offer some of Europe’s most spectacular mountain scenery, with sheer rocky cliffs, deep and narrow valleys and green alpine plains. This tour allows you to explore the mountains and valleys themselves and some of the towns, cities and rural regions that have developed “in the shadow” of this massive mountain range. You’ll experience first-hand the cultural differences that make this corner of Italy so interesting to explore. We’ll dip into areas of the South Tyrol or Trentino Alto Adige and the Veneto.

We start the tour in the Prosecco Hills, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2019, in recognition of its unique geography and viticultural traditions. We venture into the Dolomites proper, staying in San Candido, a perfect departure point to explore the scenery and culture of the mountains. After this, we move to the Tyrol region, staying in the city of Merano to explore the area of Italy that retains its Germanic identity from its time as part of the Austro-Hungarian empire. And lastly, we will stay on the shores of the beautiful Lake Garda, fed by the snow and glaciers of the mountains that encircle it.

Highlights

Private visits and tastings with local producers throughout the tour, including at wineries, a cheese producer and an olive oil producer
The opportunity to immerse yourself in the breathtaking scenery of the Dolomites with cable-car rides, gentle walks and scenic drives
Our visit to Ötzi the Iceman and the charming town of Bolzano
Staying in the pretty city of Merano and exploring its elegant city centre
The trip over the border to Switzerland to visit the Abbey of Saint John of Müstair
The Castel Thun and the pretty scenery of the Val di Non
A day on Lago di Garda visiting some of its most picturesque towns
Excellent quality, authentic meals in restaurants that focus on local specialities with excellent local wines

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Itinerary

Day 1 – 3 The Prosecco Hills
Our tours begin with three nights based in the Prosecco hills. There will be visits to pretty towns like Asolo and Valdobbiadene and the UNESCO World Heritage Villa Maser, created by Palladio and Veronese.
There will be plenty of opportunities to explore the vine-clad hills of the area, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2019 in recognition of the unique landscape and agricultural traditions. And plenty of opportunities to try the wine – cin cin!
Staying: deep in the Prosecco hills surrounded by vines.

Days 4 – 7 The Dolomites
The tour stays in the quaint and lively town of San Martino di Castrozza, a perfect point from which to explore the beautiful scenery of the Paneveggio-Pale di San Martino Nature Park.
You’ll experience breathtaking mountain scenery, with opportunities for gentle mountain walks and excellent mountain cuisine!
Staying: San Martino di Castrozza

Days 8 -11 The Tyrol
We move from the Dolomites to the Tyrol region, staying for four nights in the historic spa town of Merano. From Merano, we visit the city of Bolzano and the museum dedicated to the 5,000-year-old mummy of a copper-age man nicknamed Ötzi. We also enjoy a day exploring the pretty as a picture Val Venosta and slip across the border into Switzerland to visit the Carolingian abbey of St John of Müstair.
Staying: Merano

Days 12-15 Lago di Garda
Our last few days are spent on and around Lago di Garda, staying in the town of Riva del Garda, situated at the lake’s northern tip. From Riva, we visit an olive oil producer (Lake Garda is the most northern place in the world where olives are cultivated), the town of Trento and spend a day on the lake itself, visiting some of the pretty towns that cling to its shores.
Staying: Riva del Garda

What our clients say about travelling with Italian Tours

“We very much enjoyed travelling with Luca and a small group of fellow guests … in northern Italy. It was clear from the outset that considerable preparation had gone in to selecting experiences that combined to provide an excellent picture of the Piedmont and Valle d’Aosta regions. We enjoyed fine local food and wine, visits to small farms and wineries where we met the owners and toured the facilities, the varied geographies from rolling hills to towering alpine peaks, the magnificent lakes and the complex history of the region. The local guides and the transport were top class. By staying for several nights in each of four lovely accommodations, we avoided constant packing, which made for a nice, relaxed pace. Finally, a big thank you to Luca for his care and attention to detail and his commitment to ensuring that all his guests were well looked after and were really having a great time.”