Most US travelers will depart home on this day. We highly recommend arriving as early as possible to give you time to relax.  To enhance your stay, we can offer pre-trip hotel rooms at L’Albereta Relais & Chateaux, or you can add on our pre-trip concierge service for a custom itinerary design.

Benvenuto in Italia!  Arrive at the airport and a private driver will whisk you away for a scenic 1h30m drive to a beautiful vineyard setting near Lake Iseo, home to our 5-star Relais & Chateaux hotel, L’Albereta.  Meet up on the magnificent dining terrace for our welcome lunch and raise a glass of Franciacorta, the local bubbles, with our Soirée friends old and new--chin chin to a sublime trip to come!

Take a walk in the picturesque vineyard located on the hotel grounds, then embark on our private boat tour to discover Lake Iseo and its islands, only a short drive away.  We adore Iseo for its natural beauty and because this lesser-known gem remains less crowded than its larger siblings, Lake Como or Lake Maggiore.

The evening is yours to unwind and combat jetlag with a relaxing spa treatment or take a dip in the pool before dinner on your own. The resort's gourmet restaurant offers a delectable menu of local and international cuisine or order up room service.

Make our way to lovely Lago di Fiè to stroll along a tranquil lakeside path that leads into a forested trail hugging the base of the Sciliar massif.  Our walk ends at the base of a gondola which links the valley town of Siusi to Europe’s largest alpine meadow, the Alps of Siusi—our destination. This plateau, set between 1,800 m and 2,300 m, is surrounded by the Catinaccio massif, Sasso Piatto and Sasso Lungo peaks and is the equivalent of 8,000 soccer fields! It is connected to the town of Siusi by gondola, so cars can only access the Alpe di Siusi during limited hours ensuring a tranquil and low-traffic environment.

It is here, in Siusi, where we will hop on the gondola and soar up to our new home for the next three nights, the The Alpina Dolomites.  A luxurious five-star resort in Alpe di Siusi, The Alplina Dolomites features elegantly furnished rooms, a spa, indoor/outdoor pools, saunas, wellness treatments, and two restaurants. With glorious mountain views, it's an ideal retreat for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts.

Once settled into your room, treat yourself to a dip in the indoor/outdoor pool while enjoying the dramatic view from your alpine perch.   Meet for dinner at our hotel’s Mountain Restaurant & Stuben.

Fortified by a copious breakfast buffet, we set out for a full day of exploring around the majestic Sciliar plateau and Sassopiatto.  We start by taking the nearby gondola at Spitzbühl to help us gain some altitude without the effort.  This morning’s hike is gently undulating, traversing 3 miles and taking approximately 1h45 minutes across open meadows with superb views, weather allowing, of Sciliar and Catinaccio Dolomite massifs. 

Our efforts are immediately rewarded at our lunch stop, the picturesque mountain hut Rauchhütte, where the dumplings and views are equally memorable.

If the free-flowing beers at lunch have you hankering for a poolside snooze, the walk back to our hotel is quite easy. We will not judge!  Those hankering for more trails, continue onto the hamlet of Saltria, where we catch a chairlift for a swift ascent into the high alpine air for the afternoon’s explorations. Our route offers shady forest trails, open meadows, and vistas of the Fassa and Duron valleys, with the impressive backdrops of the Gruppo del Sassolungo and Sassopiatto.  Following the well-made path (often shared by grazing, bell-ringing milk cows) our walk leads back to Saltria for a short ride home. No matter what route you choose, you're sure to encounter extraordinary views and a day well-spent in this magical corner of Italy.

Dinner on your own this evening – we suggest our hotel’s Alplina Chalet Grill and Bar, where the menu includes steaks, Mediterranean classics, and tasty gourmet pizzas.

This morning, we invite willing hikers to join us on a panoramic trail supporting gorgeous views of the valley towns of Castelrotto, Ortisei and Santa Cristina along a path that loops 360 degrees. We’ll learn about the wide range of flora, much of which is protected, and hear tales of the mythical ‘witches’ benches we’ll pass by along our route.

An alternative activity would be to see the famous Tre Cime mountains up close during a 50-minute helicopter ride packed with views and thrills.  This would be an additional add-on, but a heli v’lot of fun!  Let us know if you like help arranging this ride of a lifetime!

For lunch, we make our way to the nearby a farm-to-table family-run restaurant in the mountains serving everything homemade from the cheese to the colorful flower-filled salads.  

This afternoon is at leisure, and we highly recommend a self-indulgent wallowing in the resplendent Como Shambhala Spa at our hotel. Spanning a whopping 21,500 square feet, the Spa is fronted by a generous 72 foot-long, glass-fronted pool in which to do proper lengths. Then swim outside to be massaged by warm jets of water while inhaling pine-scented air. There’s an airy yoga room with daily classes; treatments rooms with expert masseuses, a huge sauna area, with six different steam and sauna pods; and softly lit chilling spaces on which to lie on rocking loungers.

Dinner this evening is on your own—perhaps this is a great night for room service.

Today we make our way from the Alpe di Siusi to the Alta Badia region of the Dolomites, taking in views of the sublime Gardena Pass along our route.  Our first stop is the charming mountain town of Ortisei where we hop on our first gondola of the day, riding to the summit, “Seceda”, at 2,500 meters.  From here, explore the Rasciesa (or Resciesa) plateau on foot, and admire it’s jagged 2,300 meter crest that dominates Ortisei.  It acts as the dividing line between Ladin-speaking and German-speaking areas.

Lunch will be on your own in Ortisei with free time to explore and shop.

The striking scenery continues as we depart Ortisei, descend to the resort town of Selva di Val Gardena, and hop a ride by gondola back up to the high peaks. Now, at the top of the Gardena Pass, descend by gondola, directly to the town of Colfosco (or Corvara*), our home for the next three nights.

Here you can observe the traditions of ancient Ladin culture in the region's architecture and cuisine. You'll notice the street signs are written in three languages: Ladino, German and Italian. The Ladin language is officially recognized as a minority language in parts of the Dolomites.

Politically the Südtirol (South Tyrol) area was part of Austria before World War I. You'll find unique mountain scenery with villages rich in ancient traditions and a mixture of Italian, Ladin, and Austrian heritage.

Enjoy dinner together in a gourmet restaurant.

*Still selecting, see Hotel Accommodations Section for more information.

This morning, we take a 1-hour scenic drive to the Marmolada glacier for an epic three-part gondola ride and exploration.  Declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2009, the Marmolada is the highest peak in the Dolomites at 10,968 feet. An important battlefield in the World War I between 1915 and 1917, the Marmolada has highest museum in Europe, remembering the war and the many soldiers who fell fighting in this challenging terrain. The glacier is the only one in the Dolomites and offers a unique glimpse into the region's geological history.

Enjoy lunch at typical local mountain restaurant along the way.

In the late afternoon, relax back at our hotel and enjoy its impressive amenities, including the indoor/outdoor pool and spa.

This evening, for dinner on your own we suggest one of the many superb options at La Perla such as Michelin-starred La Stüa de Michil, where the leather-bound wine list alone runs to more than 180 densely typed pages or the bistrot next door where you can enjoy a cocktail from a red leather booth while live music plays before and after dinner.

This morning, we explore the Pralongia Meadow with spectacular 360-degree views, including the Gardena Pass and the Conturines and Puez-Odle massifs.  Spot the recently visited Marmolada Glacier sparkling in the distance.

Just when you thought the views and food couldn’t get any better, we take one more gondola journey ascending from the village of Corvara to the Piz Boè Alpine Lounge located at 7500 feet.  You will understand how our fine dining destination KELINA received a nod from the Michelin guide, complete with astounding views and perhaps the best bread in the world. 

Enjoy the late afternoon and evening at leisure.  You may find Dana buying Christmas ornaments and drinking beer in the village bar.  Meanwhile, Tim can be found lounging by the pool with views of the mountains, reading a good book.

This morning, we say good-bye to the Alta Badia and make our way to the upscale ski resort town of Cortina d’Ampezzo, made famous from hosting the Winter Olympics in 1956. They will host it again in 2026! 

The route itself is filled with fascinating stops, including a small WWI museum packed to the brim with local memorabilia.

Our Great War journey continues at Lagizuoi, where we take a gondola up the mountain for a sightseeing excursion that includes a WWI “open air museum,” to discover tunnels, bunkers, and old barracks. Not far away, we take one more gondola to the top of Cinque Torre (meaning five towers) and tuck into a rifugio lunch. Yes, the rock formations look like five towers and yes, there will be more massive views.

Just a half an hour drive away, we check into our luxury Hotel de Len located in the center of charming Cortina, making it easy to explore the town on your own this evening. 

We have left the late afternoon and evening unscheduled to take advantage of Cortina’s elegant shops, restaurants, and superb Alpine scenery.  And if you are not gondola-ed out, consider soaring up to Tofana if the skies are clear to see the town’s Olympic ski run.

Dinner on your own. If you are out on the town, we recommend Il Vizietto, a cute local restaurant with great house-made pasta and fresh salads, only a short stroll from our hotel.  Our hotel also has a very nice restaurant.

Private transfer to see the Tre Cime di Lavaredo – probably the most famous landmark in all the Dolomites and also part of the world history of mountaineering – the first routes were climbed in the 1930s. From our lakeside vantage point, you will see 2 of the 3 “Cime”.  To see all three, we suggest taking a helicopter ride, let us know if that is of interest to you!

From Lake Misurina, we will take the gondola to Col de Varda at 2,120 meters.  From there, we will set off on a walk that takes advantage of the exceptional views of the Cadini mountains and avoids the masses of crowds hiking the traditional route around nearby Tre Cime. Enjoy a slightly challenging hike of about 1h 15 minutes, looking out for wild strawberries to snack on along the way.  Our goal is the Carpi rifugio, a perfect stop for lunch where you can taste local specialties such as canederli (a Tyrolean dumpling) or goulash (a beef soup or stew). Wash it all down with the local “ski water” a refreshing non-alcoholic spritz with raspberry and lemon.  After lunch, we retrace our steps back to the starting point (again around 1h15 minutes) and head back to Cortina.

Non-hikers will have another opportunity take an optional helicopter ride to see the Tre Cime, or gondola up to the top of Tolfana if you missed the opportunity the day before.

This evening, we will gather for an exquisite farewell dinner raising one final glass of Italian bubbles to our Soirée—it has been splendido!

After one last morning strudel, meet our private driver for a leisurely 2.5 hours drive south to Venice Marco Polo Airport.  That final ride down the mountain passes while watching the peaks fade away in the distance may pull those heartstrings—till the next time bella Italia…arrivederci!