Organised Walks & Via Ferrata with Collett's

Alpine Flower Walks and Painting too...

Your stay in the Dolomites will surely be enhanced by our own walkers, Via Ferrata specialists, wildflower enthusiasts and watercolour tutors. Five days a week (not Wednesday or Saturday), they organise wonderful days out and you can join any of them as much or as little as you like at no extra cost. Simply drop into 'Office Hour' and arrange to take part in whatever takes your fancy. *It is important that you understand the status of our Organised Walks & Via Ferrata, so please refer to notes at the bottom of this page under the subheading 'at your own risk'.

This is what we offer five days a week to all our guests. They are all free of charge, optional and available to you whether you are staying in Arabba, Corvara or Pedraces:

Office Hour

Each early evening (except Thursday) before dinner, we hold 'Office Hour'. It is more relaxed than its name suggests and some people just drop in for a sociable drink. Here you can join up for the following day's organised itineraries for walking, via ferrata, wildflower walks and painting. You can browse through maps and ask questions.

If planning an independent itinerary, we will happily help and advise. We can also book other mountain pursuits for you, such as paragliding, white water rafting, horseriding or our Glacier Treks and itineraries.

Office Hour is ideal for meeting like-minded people in a sociable atmosphere and this often has positive repercussions. Often people team up for a day out as a result of dropping in.

Ultimately, you do exactly as you please, we are available to help, but careful not to interfere. If you prefer to organise your days independently, we will leave you to your own devices. Itinerary ideas and information are always at hand at Office Hour (see below) and in our chalets.

being independent

For people who prefer to be independent and do their own thing, on your arrival you can obtain an Ideas & Information File, which will be invaluable to you. It will provide you with easy access to numerous magnificent proposals. In it, we have documented over 30 wonderful high and medium/low level walks, over 20 Via Ferratas, several 'Drives and Days Out', bike rides etc. under headings, such as 'Five Easy Walks', 'Five Classic Via Ferratas', 'Five Ideas for a Rainy Day' etc.

...route Laminates can be borrowed from us either at office hour or from our resort offices

In addition, a Route Laminate corresponds to each of the proposals documented in the Ideas & Information Files. This is a small laminated A5 version of your chosen walk, Via Ferrata etc., which you can borrow from us. It is easy to carry and less bulky than the 'I&I' File. It contains the relevant section of map as well as the route description and other useful details. Route Laminates can be borrowed from us either at Office Hour or from our resort offices.

Our hosted Chalets

Warm Hospitality & Good Food
Comfortable en suite bedrooms & wonderful views

A Collett's hosted chalet should be right at the heart of a successful holiday. Whilst the chalets themselves enjoy superb locations, wonderful views and comfortable en suite bedrooms, we endeavour to create an atmosphere inside them that is relaxed, informal and sociable. During your holiday, the chalet is your home - if you prefer to stay in during the day with a good book, relax and make yourself at home, helping yourself to complimentary tea, coffee or something from the bar.

Throughout your holiday, you can depend on the hospitality, attention to detail and intimate local knowledge of our welcoming hosts and resort staff. Whilst being careful not to interfere, it is their job to put you first and prioritise the success of your stay. You will often see them around and about in the chalets and also each evening at Office Hour and, if invited to do so by you, they will be happy to help you organise memorable days out or you can join them on their own organised itineraries.

In the chalets, we serve an excellent three course dinner with wine each evening except Wednesday. Dinner is one of the focal points of the day and the atmosphere is perhaps at its warmest when a party of like-minded guests eat, drink and chat together after an invigorating day in their stunning surroundings, sharing the various experiences of the day, whether they be walkers, climbers, painters or flower enthusiasts.

Breakfast is served from 8am to 9am and is semi-continental. Packed lunches are available to all our chalet guests and you pay for these locally using what we call the Red File. This is the chalet's Honesty Book and it is used to record your house account, which would typically consist of packed lunches and any drinks you take from the chalet's informal bar. See Accommodation in Arabba, Corvara & Pedraces

Our Day Off in the Dolomites

Our day off in the Dolomites is Wednesday. Breakfast is served and packed lunches are available too, but dinner is not served. This gives you a chance to eat out and we will be happy to recommend a local restaurant. Also, there is no Office Hour.

at your own risk

Over the years, our Organised Walks, Via Ferrata and Office Hour have evolved to become a popular part of our unique holiday product. Nevertheless, in these days of litigation, it is important you understand the relationship between you and us in this respect.

Our aim is to offer you the opportunity to walk (or VF) in a sociable group of like-minded people on magnificent routes you might not otherwise discover during your stay with us.

Our Walks & VF Organisers have varying degrees of mountain experience, but they are not qualified guides and you join them at your own risk as a member of an autonomous group, in which each member owes a duty of care to each other.

In other words, whilst our Walks & VFs Organisers are trained in line with a Health & Safety Policy based on risk assessment and recognised mountain safety procedures, our Organised Walks & VFs actually have the same status as a group of friends venturing out on their own independent adventure.

If you would like to read about mountain safety and our procedures with regard to Organised Walks & VF, you can refer to notes from our Guest Handbook by clicking here. We send a Guest Handbook and a 1:25,000 map to everyone who books a holiday with us. We will ask you to sign a disclaimer in relation to the above, a copy of which is available here.

• Wildflower Walking Holidays
  Low Level Valley and 'static' alpine flower walks beneath the famous towers of Dolomitic Limestone.
  Five days a week
• Self Guiding for Independent Walking
  Extensive information and excellent material is available to all our guests
  so that people who prefer to walk independently can benefit from our unrivalled local knowledge.
• Low and Medium Level Walking Holidays
  Low Level Valley and trail walking beneath the famous towers of Dolomitic Limestone.
  Five days a week - Arabba, Corvara & Pedraces.
• High Level Walking Holidays
  Spectacular all day itineraries in the valleys and on the peaks in the world's most unique mountain range.
  Five days a week - Arabba, Corvara & Pedraces.
• Via Ferrata
  Consist of a range of protected scrambling routes.
  Comprised of skilfully installed fixed cables, ladders and gorge-spanning bridges
  Five days a week - Arabba, Corvara & Pedraces.
• First World War walks with Collett's
  Join a fascinating and spectacular war walk with Isabelle Johnson, a local war historian.
  Five days a week