Immerse yourself in the culture of the mountains on the 15-day small group tour of the Dolomites and their surrounds.
28 August – 11 September 2025
AUD 10, 370 per person (double/twin-share)
AUD 12, 170 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
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 the Dolomites tour
“The Shadow of the Dolomites tour was marvellous. Luca is a wonderful, knowledgeable tour leader, and the sightseeing activities, scenery and 12 fellow travellers all made for a great 15 days. Being only 12 people, plus a leader who enjoyed being part of the group for aperitivi and all meals, made it very inclusive.
Food, wine, and accommodation were top-class, and the relaxed pace of the tour suited the age of the participants! I will certainly recommend Luca and Philippa’s tours, as I have done already to my friends and family.”
Kaye 2024