The Sella Grand Tour
Price
From £1250
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22 June 2024
–
14 September 2024
A Self Guided Walking Holiday in the Central Dolomites
Country
Italy
Grade
Easy / Moderate
Duration
7 Nights
Style
Self-Guided
Type
Village-to-Village
Price
From £1250
This self-guided hiking holiday offers the breathtaking scenery of the Central Dolomites at a more relaxed pace.
Explore the Pralongia Plateau, Val di Fassa, Rosengarten group, Alpe di Siusi, Val Gardena, and Puez-Odle Natural Park, all ending at the monumental Sella massif (3152m). Enjoy evenings in the comfort of Tyrolean villages, experiencing the charm of this region. Our perfected hiking routes in the Alta Badia, a UNESCO World Heritage site, showcase unspoilt alpine villages and wildflower meadows beneath dramatic Dolomite peaks. The Alta Badia is particularly stunning at sunrise and sunset, when the Enrosadira lights up the massifs in pink, red, and violet.
With comprehensive maps and route notes, you’ll self-navigate effortlessly, while staying in comfortable, traditional accommodations each night. This holiday is perfect for those that want the adventure of walking point-to-point through the Dolomites, but fancy more creature comforts in their accommodation choices.
Take a look through this page for everything you need to know about our village-to-village Sella Grand Tour walking holiday and when you’re ready, click the ‘Enquire’ or ‘Book Now’ buttons, complete the information and let our skilled enquiry team help you make this holiday a reality.
Gallery
At a glance
Dates
22 June to 14 September 2024
(You can start any day)
Price
£1250 (£1350 in August)
Grade
Moderate
Expect to walk for 3 – 4½ hours per day, with between 125m – 665m ascent and 600m – 1200m descent each day
What’s included
B&B Accommodation in Corvara on your first and last night
All Accommodation Bookings (breakfast and dinner included)
Return Airport Transfers from Venice Marco Polo on Saturdays and Wednesday only
(Private transfers are also available for a supplement – contact us for more details)
Holiday Pack with comprehensive route notes, maps & more
Excess baggage storage in Corvara
Please note that packed lunches and refugio showers (which cost €3-6) are not included.
Travel
This holiday begins and ends in Corvara high in the Alta Badia. The best option for this holiday is to fly into Venice Marco Polo airport and join a Collett’s transfer (included, Saturdays and Wednesdays only) which departs at 3pm. Getting home, Collett’s transfers leave Corvara early in the morning and your return flight must depart after 11am.
Private transfers are also available on any day from Venice Marco Polo, Treviso or Innsbruck – please contact us for more details.
Alternatively catch the Cortina Express (bus) from Venice to Corvara, or the train to Brunico which is a short bus or taxi ride from Corvara.
Fly/driving and self-driving are also popular. If you plan to hire a car, please click here for a competitive quote.
Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrive
Travel to the Dolomites. If you arrive on a Saturday or Wednesday, join a free airport transfer from Venice Marco Polo (3pm) to Corvara. Private transfers are also available on any day for a supplement – please contact us for more details.
Overnight: Guesthouse or chalet in Corvara (B&B).
Day 2 - Corvara to Arabba, via the Pralongia Plateau
Route Statistics: 13.3km, 292m ascent, 644m descent
With a lift from the village of Corvara to the Pralongia Plateau, you’ll start the route with sweeping panoramic views of the area’s towering peaks. Along a comfortable, well-established track you’ll find many welcoming rifugios for lunch and coffee breaks, and your descent will bring you through the picturesque forests overlooking the Livinallongo Valley. One of the day’s highlights is the huge peak of Monte Civetta, seen here at its very best – beautifully framed by the landscape. You’ll end the day in Arabba, a small resort village that’s preserved all the charm of its historic mountain roots.
Overnight: Hotel in Arabba
Day 3 - Viel dal Pan, the Marmolada, and the Val di Fassa
Route Statistics: 6.3km, 125m ascent, 241m descent
The lift out of Arabba offers breathtaking views of the Marmolada, the highest mountain of the Dolomites. From here, the route skirts beneath the Portavescovo ridge before joining onto the gentle contours of Alta Via 2. At the end of the day, two cable car lifts will take you down to the centre of Canazei, a popular village that’s known for preserving traditional alpine customs and festivals.
Overnight: Hotel in Canazei
Day 4 - Sassolungo and the Rosengarten
Route Statistics: 11.7km, 665m ascent, 621m descent
Today’s route is all about the iconic shape and majesty of the Sassolungo group, a true must-see in the region. A wide track winds past Sasso Piatto, and then along the edge of the Alpe di Siusi, one of the largest areas of alpine meadow in Europe. You’ll also enjoy the stunning pink-hued vistas of the famed Rosengarten group before spending the night nestled high in the mountains, in an authentic rifugio.
Overnight: Rifugio Tierser Alpl
Day 5 - The Alpe di Siusi
Route Statistics: 13.3km, 424m ascent, 596m descent
Crossing the Alpe di Siusi gives an unforgettable day of walking, with bursting meadows and an extensive network of paths and tracks. This is a true walkers’ paradise, punctuated by many charming rifugios offering traditional hospitality. At the end of a route that showcases the Sassolungo and Puez-Odle Massifs you’ll arrive in Ortisei – a village well known for artisanal wood-carvings, and a truly delightful place to explore.
Overnight: Hotel in Ortisei
Day 6 - Seceda and the Puez-Odle Natural Park
Route Statistics: 11km, 283m ascent, 1182m descent
Today’s walk begins with a long lift ride out of the village, which accesses some truly breathtaking terrain on the northern edge of the Dolomites. Moving along a huge natural bowl formed by the Puez-Odle Massif, the route follows picturesque paths through open meadows. A few stops along the way will allow walkers to revel in the superb views back toward the Alpe di Siusi plateau. The day ends in Selva, the highest village in Val Gardena, and an area renowned for wooden sculpture.
Overnight: Hotel in Selva
Day 7 - Selva to the Alta Badia
Route Statistics: 9.3km, 166m ascent, 888m descent
Today, a final lift takes you to Passo Gardena and the panoramic windows of Rifugio Dantercepies – a wonderful place to stop for an early coffee. From here, the route stretches along the side of the valley towards Corvara. Today’s highlights include the village of Colfosco and its picturesque church, and, in Corvara, an opportunity to sample the very best strudel in the Dolomites!
Overnight: Guesthouse or chalet in Corvara or Badia (B&B)
Day 8 - Depart
If you depart on a Saturday or Wednesday, join a free airport transfer back to Venice Marco Polo or private transfers are available any day. See Travel for more information.
Accommodation
On this trip, your first and last night will be spent in Corvara in a nearby village guest house. The rest of the itinerary is based on half-board, en-suite accommodation in village guest houses or small hotels, and one night of half-board dormitory-style accommodation in the Rifugio Tierser Alpl. Private rooms are available in the Rifugio Tierser Alpl, at a supplement of £20 per person (subject to availability – please request at the time of booking).
Need to Knows
Terrain – Walks on this route only use waymarked and signposted routes on established trails. This trip avoids the loose, rocky terrain that often features on higher altitude paths.
Breakfast & Dinner – Breakfasts are generous and usually buffet-style; dinner is ordered from a set menu, usually with at least 2 choices for each course. The cuisine is hearty and favours local dishes – providing ideal fuel for days out on the mountain.
Lunch – packed lunches can be purchased at all accommodations along the trek, except in Corvara, where supplies are easy to source locally.
Booking Conditions – be sure to read our full terms and conditions here before booking.
At Your Own Risk – please read the important notes here.
Travel Advice – check your government’s travel advisory for up-to-date information and advice about your destination. For UK citizens, check the latest Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advice here.
Passport & Visa – any questions should be directed to the relevant embassy of your destination country; find out more here. It is your responsibility to be in possession of a full passport, valid for your chosen destination.
Travel Insurance – having adequate and valid travel insurance is a condition of booking with us. Details of our insurance partner, Campbell Irvine, are here.
Health Information – You should carry either an European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) Neither is an alternative to adequate travel insurance. For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice and https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/
ABTA – Independent travel advice and help is always available from ABTA by calling 020 3117 0599 or visiting www.abta.com.
