Season – 25 Jun to 15 Sep
Join Walks or Self-guide
Season – 25 Jun to 15 Sep
Location & Views – Haus Valentin is perched impressively just above Badia in a tranquil and glorious location. It’s all very idyllic and charming here. Awe-inspiring views characterise every holiday at Haus Valentin with the towering Santa Croce peak (3,026m) and Fanes massif looming large on the other side of the prettiest of valleys. At sunset, its flame-red walls make an awesome backdrop to the village.
It is 5 minutes on foot to the village and 15 minutes to the adjoining village of San Leonardo, which is also enchanting. It is a pleasant 750m walk to the Santa Croce chairlift, which carries you over gorgeous alpine pastures and traditional farmsteads to a paradise for moderate and high level walkers. At Haus Valentin, we have fabulous access from the door to exquisite tracks and trails, including picturesque riverside walks up the valley towards Corvara.
The Hotel – Haus Valentin is a real Collett’s favourite, a Tyrolean hotel with 15 comfortable en suite bedrooms, some with balconies. A modern exterior hides the welcoming ‘home from home’ feel inside. Beds are Austrian Twins (2 single beds in a double frame – which can be separated if preferred). We have a mix of doubles, triples and singles. The spacious bar and dining area is the perfect engine room for relaxed enjoyable evenings with like-minded guests. It has such a warm character, which is enhanced by the presence of our hospitable Walks Team. From the bar, French windows open on to an extensive sun terrace overlooking the village and it is a joy to sit out here drinking in a mesmerising view.
The Team – Haus Valentin is hosted by a friendly and enthusiastic Collett’s Walks Team with extensive local knowledge. They are painstakingly-recruited people who set us apart from the rest and ensure your well-being throughout the holiday. On the domestic and cooking side, the hotel is managed (and owned) by our very dear friends, the Saning family – Cristina, Rainer & Melanie – with whom we have been working since 2001. With so many guests returning here year on year, Cristina and her family have become good friends with many of them.
Covid-19 – Haus Valentin is big enough to have your own space, yet small enough to get to know people easily, certainly a good ‘off the beaten track’ choice while Covid features in our lives. You can look forward to your holiday at Haus Valentin in the knowledge that Cristina is well versed in the special procedures and sanitising disciplines demanded by Covid. Collett’s will also have its protocols and naturally we will be asking all guests to ‘buy into’ the regime deemed necessary to keep Covid at bay, thereby allowing all guests to relax.
Buon Appetito! – Each morning you can venture into the mountains after a good semi-continental breakfast. On your return, there will be complimentary tea, coffee and cake – or you can buy something stronger from the bar. Nearly all Collett’s guests at Haus Valentin will be staying half-board. A fabulous 3 course dinner is provided by Cristina (owner of Haus Valentin) and her kitchen team each evening of the week except Tuesdays, our local day-off. After Office Hour at around 7.30pm, guests move from the bar to the dining room and enjoy dinner together at shared tables. Cristina provides each guest with 0.25l of house wine on a complimentary basis; thereafter, wine can be purchased from the bar and put on your house account.
Office Hour – This is when guests plan their days over an informal pre-dinner drink. Like Bracun up the road in Corvara, Haus Valentin’s bar and sun terrace provide the perfect location for this popular Collett’s institution. Enjoy sociable evenings with everything planned for the following day.
Return to the accommodation page – The Classic Collett’s Walking Holiday – Italian Dolomites
Any Questions? Speak to someone with extensive knowledge of our walks and destinations.
Call 01799 513331 or enquire here or use the messenger service – bottom right.
Your stay will surely be enhanced by our own walkers, the Collett’s Walks Team. You can join them and other guests day to day on stunning walks – except Wednesdays, our local day-off. Simply wander along to Office Hour each early evening and choose the walk that takes your fancy – see ‘Planning your days at Office Hour’ below. Our walks take place in a relaxed and easy-going atmosphere. Armed with a packed lunch (available to you at €6 each), we set out at about 9am and, depending on the itinerary, return to the village in the mid or late afternoon, allowing you time to relax after the walk, maybe over a drink on the terrace or a stroll into the village. Here are the walks we offer on a daily basis:
Some days – or every day even – you might prefer to self-guide. The knowledge of the Collett’s Walks Team is available every evening at Office Hour, where, over maps and a pre-dinner drink, you can chat with them about walks that take your fancy. They will help you create a succession of appropriate and wonderful self-guided walks. You will come across members of our Walks Team throughout your stay and they will always be happy to help you and answer any questions.
Self-guiders can also refer to our invaluable ‘Ideas & Info’ files, which feature many walks of all grades, from idyllic riverside or meadow strolls to challenging and dramatic high trails. For each walk we give the duration, ascent, degree of difficulty and the relevant section of map. You can also borrow on a daily basis an easy-to-carry Route Laminate for each itinerary. The files also contain numerous Via Ferrata options, scenic drives, places of interest, bike rides, ideas for rainy days (as if!) and other days out.
In all our destinations, Office Hour takes place each early evening (except Wednesdays) at your accommodation or within easy walking distance of it. Over maps and a relaxing pre-dinner drink, you can chat with our own walkers about the following day’s organised walks, one of which will surely tempt you, whether you are a low level stroller or a high level adventurer. If you fancy self-guiding, our team will offer you many inspirational ideas along with relevant route information. Our ‘Ideas & Info’ files reflect our extensive local knowledge, featuring up to 40 wonderful walks of all grades. We have something for everybody, from the easy and idyllic, to the hard and awesome.
Our ‘Ideas & Info’ files also include details of 25 Via Ferrata routes for climbers, 15 scenic itineraries for road cyclists and 10 brilliant challenges for mountain bikers, not to mention scenic drives and other days out.
In early season flower enthusiasts can chat with our own flower walkers at Office Hour and glean all the details for their organised flower walks. Similarly, in August, Dr John Scanlon attends Office Hour and he will enthusiastically explain the allure of his spectacular World War I walks. We can also help you with all the alpine activities that are available locally through third parties, with whom we work closely. These include horse-riding, paragliding, sport climbing, mountain biking etc.
Office Hour is nothing like as formal as its name suggests. Whilst it is a most popular and effective feature of a Collett’s Holiday, it is also entirely optional and many guests just drop in for a sociable drink with other guests. Flower lovers might compare photographs and gather around digital cameras to identify species. Walkers might busy themselves mulling over trails, from the idyllic to the awe-inspiring. Adventure seekers might plan Via Ferrata excursions. Either way, another memorable day in the mountains takes shape, leaving you to enjoy the evening with everything sorted for the next day.
This is an outstanding area for wildflowers and it is one of life’s great pleasures to walk among them. Throughout June and July you can join our own flower walkers on free and optional daily excursions (not Wednesdays or Saturdays) into the profuse flower meadows and other places where classic and rare species flourish. Over the years we have documented the locations of the classic and rare species and this invaluable knowledge grows each year, providing so much pleasure for flower enthusiasts.
The Dolomites present a slightly different geology from the main alpine chain and many rare species are at their best here, notably Campanula morettiana, Eritrichium nanum, Paederota bonarota, Papaver rhaeticum, Potentilla nitida, Ranunculus seguieri and the very beautiful Physoplexis comosa. Some of the most renowned floral sites in the Alps are the nearby Bindelweg, Belvedere, Pordoi, Sella Massif and Val Gardena. Habitats vary from vivid and profuse upland meadows teeming with orchids and wildflowers to rocky outcrops where countless alpine gems thrive in the most perfect of settings.
In spring, as the snow retreats to the highest peaks, crocuses and hepaticas appear and the flower season begins. By mid June, the alpine pastures are smothered in startling colour – the yellows of the arnicas, geums and poppies – the pinks, mauves and reds of the soldanellas, daphne, primulas andrhododendrons -the stunning blues of the campanulas and gentians and, in its high mountain home, the ‘King of the Alps’, Eritrichium nanum. July enhances this botanical array with edelweiss, lilies, potentillas and orchids, creating a truly floral paradise under a high summer sun.
Click here for our Summer 2019 Wildflower Report.
The intermediate walker and gentle stroller will thrive on the many waymarked paths, which wend their way at low and medium altitude between picturesque hamlets. You can enjoy the spectacular scenery in many different ways, perhaps meandering casually for two or three hours on riverside tracks and through wildflower-strewn meadows, or by venturing a little higher on to the woodland trails, upland pastures, and occasionally the lower rocky reaches of the massifs themselves. Many of these routes were originally hunting or smuggling trails.
Welcoming mountain huts, known as rifugios, are dotted around this extensive network of numbered paths, each one with its own sun terrace, where walkers soak up their magical surroundings over well-earned refreshment. Some people come here with specific intentions: fossil collectors love the region’s rich geology; artists and photographers try to capture their own visions of these unique mountains; bird and wildlife observers can admire a diverse range of fauna and, whilst spotting a pair of golden eagles is fortunate, sightings of buzzards, chamois, deer and the comical marmots punctuate these idyllic days out.
It is hard to think of anywhere in Europe that offers trekkers such good access to sensational high trails and protected paths. Rich in variety and wow factor, it is all on our doorstep. Expect to be mesmerised. From Corvara and Badia, you can venture on foot into both the Puez Odle and Fanes national parks on walks of a lifetime. Just to the south of Corvara the valley reaches its terminus and here we are towered over by the colossal flanks of Monte Sella, a natural plinth, monumental in size and splendour, where you might easily spend a week without repeating the same walk.
Further afield, yet still within easy access, there is Cristallo (3221m), Tofana (3244m), Lagazuoi & Cinque Torre (2800m) with its World War Tunnels and Open-air WWI Museum and, of course, the Marmolada, our highest peak at 3343m. The rifugios are a special part of trekking in the Dolomites at higher altitudes. The welcome is warm, whilst the food and refreshment are excellent and affordable. Opening on a seasonal basis, they vary from timbered huts to stone lodges. They offer unforgettable panoramas from their sun terraces. Some are close to chairlifts and cable car stations, others are remote, perhaps sitting where two trails cross. Finding the rifugios is easy, as there are good trail signs at regular intervals. In these high and remote places, a heart-warming sense of camaraderie always seems to prevail amongst walkers.
Protected paths will surely get the adrenalin going. They are the very simplest form of the Via Ferrata (Grade 1a) and they exist because of the exceptional physical nature of the high Dolomitic terrain. Fixed cables assist walkers on ledges, while bridges precariously span spectacular gorges to keep you on the move. These routes are breathtaking and on them you will access places and witness landscapes that will stay with you forever. Like certain Via Ferrata, some protected paths are old troop paths from the First World War. The principal areas of interest are Lagazuoi and Cinque Torri, both theatres of war between 1915 and 1918.
Via Ferrata in the Dolomites is a key attraction and we are in the greatest concentration of Via Ferrata in the world. Originally built to assist military movements during WWI, Via Ferrata are protected scrambling routes, comprised of fixed cables, ladders and gorge-spanning bridges, which assist your ascent of dramatic massifs, after which you can walk on to a nearby rifugio or descend back to the start via a path.
You can do the Via Ferrata of your choice as and when you please, although you should be well prepared, vertigo-free, sure-footed, reasonably fit and aware of alpine dangers. Collett’s offers extensive support for self-guided Via Ferrata. We host a dedicated Via Ferrata Office Hour each evening (except Wednesdays) offering information and opinions on numerous exciting local routes.
You can browse our Ideas & Info Files, which detail up to 25 local Via Ferrata and on a daily basis you can borrow a Collett’s Route Laminate, which will correspond to the route of your choice. We keep up-to-date weather reports, which are essential for planning. At our Via Ferrata Office Hour you will meet other enthusiasts and it is not uncommon for guests to team up to do mutually attractive itineraries together.
We can also help you with quick and hassle-free kit hire from both Corvara and Badia and we can introduce you to local mountain guides, should you prefer the security of their expertise. A hire car is recommended, as routes are generally off the beaten track. Guides are not cheap, but they do provide transport and kit.
Whatever your walking interests, however fit, if you can’t find the information you are looking for call 01799 513331, send us an enquiry or click help below to chat to us online.
Calculate price of stays of more or less than 7 days on a pro rata basis.
All prices include everything you need to self-guide on up to 40 magnificent local routes from easy to challenging including daily support from our Walks team each evening at Office Hour (not Tuesdays, our day off) .
Deposit – £100 per person – Balance due 8 weeks prior to departure.
Our Day Off – Tuesday – No Office Hour.
Chalet Hotel Bracun |
Half Board | £950 |
| Bed & Breakfast | £775 | |
Chalet Hotel Haus Valentin |
£895 | |
Hotel Melodia |
Comfort room | From £995 |
| Panoramic Suite | From £1195 | |
Hotel Panorama |
Panoramic View | From £1195 |
| Panoramic Suite | From £1495 |
All half-board prices are per person per week based on two people sharing a twin or double room.
Half-board includes 7 nights bed and breakfast. Dinner on the following basis:
Haus Valentin – 3 courses with complimentary wine – 6 nights, not Tuesdays
Bracun – 3 courses – 6 nights, not Tuesdays, wine excluded
Melodia & Panorama – 4 courses each evening. Wine excluded.
Self-catering |
Standard | £550 |
| Superior | £575 |
All apartment prices are per person per week and include all utilities, bed linen and towels.
Discounts are available for apartments for 4 or more – contact us for details.
Return to the accommodation page – The Classic Collett’s Walking Holiday – Italian Dolomites
Any Questions? Speak to someone with extensive knowledge of our walks and destinations.
Call 01799 513331 or enquire here or use the messenger service – bottom right.
If you are not sure whether you will need a car, then give us a call on +44 1799 513331 and we can help you decide. You can also refer to notes on Seasons, Services & Transport in the Important Information section of this page. Generally, having a car offers you access to everything featured in our brochure / website – e.g. places of interest, Bolzano, Cortina and certain locally-supplied activities. You might also want the flexibility of a car on your days of travel – or in low season when local transport services can be limited. That said, such is the access to walks, the Dolomites is one of our recommended destinations for non-drivers and it is possible to have a superb holiday in the Dolomites without a car. For example, at least one of our daily organised walks will cater specifically for people without a car. To this extent, we often use public transport to good effect for certain organised walks. If you intend to self guide extensively or do regular self guided Via Ferrata, then a car is more or less essential.
For the record, you can hire a car or get a quote for holiday insurance at on our Travel Extras page here where you can also obtain details on ferries, airport parking and airport hotels. Prior to your holiday you will be able to access our guest information leaflet with useful arrival instructions, directions for drivers, packing suggestions and other helpful tips to help you hit the ground running.
Saturdays, Sundays, Tuesdays & Thursdays
Return Transfers to the Dolomites at £80 per person – with reductions for groups.
Journey Time to Corvara – 3hrs
Collett’s offers transfers to the Dolomites from Venice & Treviso airports on Saturdays, Sundays, Tuesdays & Thursdays at a cost of £80 per person.
We depart Venice Marco Polo at: 15.00
We depart Venice Treviso Airport at: 15.30
Please note:
1. Please pre-book with us – at time of booking or shortly after, once your travel plans are finalised.
2. Private Taxi – a taxi transfer at an approximate total cost of €230 can be arranged if your party would prefer a more immediate transfer after landing.
3. Larger Parties – if you are a party of 4 or more, we charge £60 per person return.
4. Bikes – £25 per bike. Pre-booking essential.
5. Free Transfers for Children – when 1 adult pays full fare
1. An early start – Home-bound transfers will leave between 06.00 (earliest) & 10.00 (latest) with exact time being dependent on the earliest flight time of guests departing on that day.
2. We will confirm the exact transfer time 3 weeks prior to your holiday, but be prepared for an early start.
3. Do not book a home-bound flight that departs before 11am – we cannot offer you a transfer if your flight home is prior to 11.00.
Our closest airports are Venice Marco Polo and Venice Treviso. It is cheapest for you to book the flights online directly with the airline as early as possible. Latest prices with internet-based airlines are often below £100 and were rarely more than £180.
Who flies where can change very quickly so consider visiting www.skyscanner.net for an overview of current low fare services. As always, to get the best prices it’s always best to book as far in advance as possible.
See the Fly-Drive tab for more information on flights.
Fly-driving is popular and most of our guests choose this option. Having a car in the mountains gives you complete flexibility during your stay and also on your days of arrival and departure. It guarantees access to everything that is featured in our brochure and if you get a rainy day, a car will allow you to visit numerous places of interest (including several attractive alpine towns) that are within easy driving distance of us.
The journey from our nearest airports is simple. Driving conditions are good and motorists are civil – the spectacular surroundings tend to remove the need to hurry.
From Venice, Treviso and Innsbruck you can be with us in under 3 hours. Other popular destinations for fly-drivers are Verona, Milan, Brescia, Bergamo and Munich, which are 4 to 5 hours from us.
Our closest airports are Venice Marco Polo and Venice Treviso . If you are going to fly-drive, you can consider other airports such as Verona, Milan, Innsbruck and Munich. It is cheapest for you to book the flights online directly with the airline as early as possible. Latest prices with internet-based airlines are often below £100 and were rarely more than £180.
Who flies where can change very quickly so consider visiting www.skyscanner.net for an overview of current low fare services. As always, to get the best prices it’s always best to book as far in advance as possible.
Fly-driving is popular and most of our guests choose this option, if you need any help or advice please call us on +44 1799 513331.
Having a car in the mountains gives you complete flexibility during your stay and also on your days of arrival and departure. It guarantees access to everything that is featured in our brochure and if you get a rainy day, a car will allow you to visit numerous places of interest (including several attractive alpine towns) that are within easy driving distance of us.
If a stay with Collett’s is part of a bigger holiday itinerary, then it is easy to arrange one way car hire. (although a one-way drop off fee may apply, which is payable locally). If you require a People Carrier or a 9-seater, book early.
Collett’s have teamed up with Car Trawler in order to offer you car hire from all the big name brands (as well as some of the lesser known local suppliers), at some of the most competitive prices available anywhere on the internet. All we ask is you give our car hire a try before making your final decision – you may well be pleasantly surprised by what we can offer you. Fill in the details in the form below and the search engine will open up in a new tab or window.
If you need any help or advice please call +44 1799 513331. Cartrawler deals direct with all customer service issues, and their Helpdesk number is 0207 043 9764.
Self-drivers should allow 12-15 hours from Calais. We have good directions through Germany, avoiding the road tolls in France via Innsbruck and the impressive Brenner Pass crossing from Austria into Italy. You may want to include an overnight stop en route, although with more than one driver it is feasible to do the journey in one stint. We reccommend P&O Ferries for crossings from Dover to Calais or use the Channel Tunnel. We are able to offer discounts on P&O Ferry bookings – call us for details.
With people increasingly using train travel to move around Europe, here are some notes that might be helpful. If you need any help or advice or have any questions regarding how to use Trains to get to the Dolomites from the UK please call us on +44 1799 513331.
The train route to Venice goes via Paris.
Fairly soon you will be able to book trains from any major UK railway station to Venice Mestre or Venice Santa Lucia via the Eurostar website. Currently, however, you can only book from London through to Venice which can be done at www.eurostar.com
Other options include booking London/Paris using www.eurostar.com and then using www.raileurope.co.uk to book the second leg from Paris to Venice. See www.seat61.com/Italy.htm for details of travelling to Venice by train.
Unless you are staying in (or visiting) Venice, our advice is to disembark at Venice Mestre (every train stops there).
From here, you can hire a car or jump on a bus. They make the 15 minute bus trip to Venice Marco Polo Airport about every 30 minutes. We can arrange an airport transfer from Venice Marco Polo – See the details in the accordion above.
Many of our guests spend time in Venice before or after their stay. If this is something that appeals to you, click here for more details about hotels in Venice.
Please refer here for any further information concerning your walking holiday in the Dolomites. If you have any further questions that aren’t covered here, please feel free to get in touch by calling +44 1799 513331 or make an accommodation enquiry here.
You join us on our organised walks at your own risk, responsible for your own safety, as part of an autonomous group, in which each member has a duty of care to each other.
You will be asked to sign a disclaimer in this respect. This is an explanation of the status of our organised itineraries whether they involve walking, snowshoeing or skiing. We refer to such itineraries as organised, not guided. They are available on a basis of goodwill so that you might enjoy an itinerary you might not otherwise discover. They are nothing more than an opportunity to go out in beautiful scenery in company. It is a fact that mountains, mountainous areas and activities undertaken in them are associated with personal injury and death. By coming to such areas, you are exposing yourself and your party to the possibility of personal injury or even death. In such an event, Collett’s will not be held responsible for your interest in mountainous areas and your involvement in mountain pursuits, which can occasionally have tragic consequences.
In these days of litigation it is important you know that every time you (and each member of your party) join us on an organised itinerary you do so at your own risk as part of an autonomous group, in which each member of that group has a duty of care to the other. This is no different from the responsibilities you have on a casually arranged weekend walk with friends or family in the UK. Our hosts all have experience of the mountains, some more than others. Some have qualifications relevant to mountain activities, but they are not qualified mountain guides. We recruit and train our outdoor staff in line with a Health & Safety Policy, which is based on risk assessment and recognised mountain safety procedures.
Not being professionally responsible for you on organised itineraries does not mean we ignore safety, nor does it make us exempt from owing a duty of care to each person who joins us on an organised itinerary. Your safety is paramount and we therefore take our own measures to maximise safety. We do this in line with legal requirements pertaining to duty of care. We apply Codes of Practice to the procedures carried out by our outdoor staff. We assess, manage and communicate risk. We try to make people aware of the importance of mountain safety and to highlight their responsibilities when part of a group.
Our Codes of Practice should not really be taken into consideration by you when deciding to join an organised itinerary, for at the heart of our procedures are basic mountain safety measures, which should be undertaken by every individual when preparing for a day in the mountains. Finally, during your stay you act at your own risk on any ideas, information and opinions you might acquire from our hosts or from material prepared by us to help you get the most from the area. Thank you for your understanding on all of the above.
There is generally a period at each end of the season when local services (e.g. certain bus routes, lifts, local businesses, mountain huts, suppliers of activities) are closed. The Italian Dolomites is in low season until mid June and thereafter there are more services and activity right through to mid-September with a delightfully vibrant high season crescendo in early mid August when Italy is on its national holidays. Whichever dates you choose within our season, seasonality has a minimal bearing, as we offer our full programme of organised walks throughout. In all our destinations, the tranquillity of early season is accompanied by an exquisite profusion of flora.
Collett’s has vehicles in each of its destinations but it is simply not possible for us to provide all our guests with transport to and from our organised walks. Naturally, on occasions we might use local transport or cable cars to good effect (notably in the Austrian Alps and the Italian Dolomites, where local services and facilities – and the number of walks that you can do from the villages themselves allow us to do many wonderful walks without using a car.
If you decide to have a car with you, you will be able to join all the organised walks of your choice, whilst simultaneously being free to visit places of interest or partake in an alpine activity that might be supplied by a third party a short drive away. Our destinations are majestic; driving conditions are generally excellent and every journey should be a pleasurable part of your day. Naturally, having a car also gives you complete flexibility on your days of arrival and departure.
You can have a great walking holiday in the Dolomites without a car. There are many walks from the doorstep and also, with the use of local lifts and public transport (cheap and reliable), we ensure that one or more of our organised itineraries will always suit non-drivers. Sometimes, for example, a bus will take us to a mountain pass, from which a stunning walk takes us back to the village. We have therefore created excellent walk options for guests without their own transport. In resort, we also operate a guest car share system, which works well, but can occasionally fall short of guaranteeing your participation on a certain organised itinerary for which transport is required. Obviously, whenever possible our own vehicles help, but they are often committed to airport transfers or elsewhere. Of course, having a car guarantees (1) your participation in each and every organised walk, (2) access to all featured places of interest and activity suppliers and (3) flexibility on your days of arrival and departure. For regular self guided via ferrata, having a car is almost essential. Collett’s sends directions to your destination about 3 weeks before your holiday.
Wednesday is our day off in the Dolomites. There are no organised walks nor Office Hour. However, there is always somebody to meet and settle in new arrivals. Breakfast is served as normal. Dinner is not provided in our chalet hotels and guests have an opportunity to eat out locally. As for the hotels Melodia & Panorama, dinner is available as normal.
We are happy to cater for ‘special’ dietary requirements and minor intolerances (vegetarian, gluten free etc.) Our kitchens are of a domestic standard and we endeavour to maintain good food preparation practices.
However, due to the limited size and specifications of these kitchens we would advise anyone with a ‘severe food allergy’ which, represents a health threat, serious or otherwise, that we cannot guarantee that traces of some commonly used ingredients (such as nuts, mushrooms etc.), will not make their way into meals, which are not meant to contain such ingredients. Our booking conditions require all guests to inform us at the booking stage of any matters concerning diet or allergies. However, if your intolerance or allergy represents a health threat of any sort, we would strongly recommend that you are carrying the necessary medication during your stay with us.
Our offices are open today from 9am to 5.30pm. To book, please call +44 1799 513331, Or click here to make an enquiry. We will reply within 24hrs. Or 48hrs at the weekend.
Queries relating to passports or visas should be directed to the Italian embassy:
Tel. 0207 7312 2200 www.amblondra.esteri.it
For general information on EHIC cards and healthcare whilst travelling visit:
www.bit.ly/HealthcareAbroad
For pre-travel information visit www.gov.uk/knowbeforeyougo
Or use the ABTA information line on 020 3117 0599 or visit www.abta.com
We recommend you buy a good insurance package at the time of booking (or certainly prior to purchasing flights or booking ferries etc.), so that you are covered in the unlikely event of you having to cancel for an ‘insurable’ reason.
For more information on Walking Holiday & Travel Insurance – Click here
You join us on our organised walks at your own risk, responsible for your own safety, as part of an autonomous group, in which each member has a duty of care to each other.
You will be asked to sign a disclaimer in this respect. This is an explanation of the status of our organised itineraries whether they involve walking, snowshoeing or skiing. We refer to such itineraries as organised, not guided. They are available on a basis of goodwill so that you might enjoy an itinerary you might not otherwise discover. They are nothing more than an opportunity to go out in beautiful scenery in company. It is a fact that mountains, mountainous areas and activities undertaken in them are associated with personal injury and death. By coming to such areas, you are exposing yourself and your party to the possibility of personal injury or even death. In such an event, Collett’s will not be held responsible for your interest in mountainous areas and your involvement in mountain pursuits, which can occasionally have tragic consequences.
In these days of litigation it is important you know that every time you (and each member of your party) join us on an organised itinerary you do so at your own risk as part of an autonomous group, in which each member of that group has a duty of care to the other. This is no different from the responsibilities you have on a casually arranged weekend walk with friends or family in the UK. Our hosts all have experience of the mountains, some more than others. Some have qualifications relevant to mountain activities, but they are not qualified mountain guides. We recruit and train our outdoor staff in line with a Health & Safety Policy, which is based on risk assessment and recognised mountain safety procedures.
Not being professionally responsible for you on organised itineraries does not mean we ignore safety, nor does it make us exempt from owing a duty of care to each person who joins us on an organised itinerary. Your safety is paramount and we therefore take our own measures to maximise safety. We do this in line with legal requirements pertaining to duty of care. We apply Codes of Practice to the procedures carried out by our outdoor staff. We assess, manage and communicate risk. We try to make people aware of the importance of mountain safety and to highlight their responsibilities when part of a group.
Our Codes of Practice should not really be taken into consideration by you when deciding to join an organised itinerary, for at the heart of our procedures are basic mountain safety measures, which should be undertaken by every individual when preparing for a day in the mountains. Finally, during your stay you act at your own risk on any ideas, information and opinions you might acquire from our hosts or from material prepared by us to help you get the most from the area. Thank you for your understanding on all of the above.
Wednesday is our day off in the Dolomites. There are no organised walks nor Office Hour. However, there is always somebody to meet and settle in new arrivals. Breakfast is served as normal. Dinner is not provided in our chalet hotels and guests have an opportunity to eat out locally. As for the hotels Melodia & Panorama, dinner is available as normal.
There is generally a period at each end of the season when local services (e.g. certain bus routes, lifts, local businesses, mountain huts, suppliers of activities) are closed. The Italian Dolomites is in low season until mid June and thereafter there are more services and activity right through to mid-September with a delightfully vibrant high season crescendo in early mid August when Italy is on its national holidays. Whichever dates you choose within our season, seasonality has a minimal bearing, as we offer our full programme of organised walks throughout. In all our destinations, the tranquillity of early season is accompanied by an exquisite profusion of flora.
Collett’s has vehicles in each of its destinations but it is simply not possible for us to provide all our guests with transport to and from our organised walks. Naturally, on occasions we might use local transport or cable cars to good effect (notably in the Austrian Alps and the Italian Dolomites, where local services and facilities – and the number of walks that you can do from the villages themselves allow us to do many wonderful walks without using a car.
If you decide to have a car with you, you will be able to join all the organised walks of your choice, whilst simultaneously being free to visit places of interest or partake in an alpine activity that might be supplied by a third party a short drive away. Our destinations are majestic; driving conditions are generally excellent and every journey should be a pleasurable part of your day. Naturally, having a car also gives you complete flexibility on your days of arrival and departure.
You can have a great walking holiday in the Dolomites without a car. There are many walks from the doorstep and also, with the use of local lifts and public transport (cheap and reliable), we ensure that one or more of our organised itineraries will always suit non-drivers. Sometimes, for example, a bus will take us to a mountain pass, from which a stunning walk takes us back to the village. We have therefore created excellent walk options for guests without their own transport. In resort, we also operate a guest car share system, which works well, but can occasionally fall short of guaranteeing your participation on a certain organised itinerary for which transport is required. Obviously, whenever possible our own vehicles help, but they are often committed to airport transfers or elsewhere. Of course, having a car guarantees (1) your participation in each and every organised walk, (2) access to all featured places of interest and activity suppliers and (3) flexibility on your days of arrival and departure. For regular self guided via ferrata, having a car is almost essential.
With your own car or a hire car you will be able to join all the organised walks of your choice, whilst simultaneously being free to visit, local places of interest a short drive away. Our destinations are majestic; driving conditions are generally excellent and every journey should be a pleasurable part of your day. Naturally, having a car also gives you complete flexibility on your days of arrival and departure. Collett’s sends directions to your destination about 3 weeks before your holiday.
We are happy to cater for ‘special’ dietary requirements and minor intolerances (vegetarian, gluten free etc.) Our kitchens are of a domestic standard and we endeavour to maintain good food preparation practices.
However, due to the limited size and specifications of these kitchens we would advise anyone with a ‘severe food allergy’ which, represents a health threat, serious or otherwise, that we cannot guarantee that traces of some commonly used ingredients (such as nuts, mushrooms etc.), will not make their way into meals, which are not meant to contain such ingredients. Our booking conditions require all guests to inform us at the booking stage of any matters concerning diet or allergies. However, if your intolerance or allergy represents a health threat of any sort, we would strongly recommend that you are carrying the necessary medication during your stay with us.
Our offices are open today from 9am to 5.30pm. To book, please call 01799 513331, Or click here to make an enquiry. We will reply within 24hrs. Or 48hrs at the weekend.
Queries relating to passports or visas should be directed to the Italian embassy:
Tel. 0207 7312 2200 www.amblondra.esteri.it
For general information on EHIC cards and healthcare whilst travelling visit:
www.bit.ly/HealthcareAbroad
For pre-travel information visit www.gov.uk/knowbeforeyougo
Or use the ABTA information line on 020 3117 0599 or visit www.abta.com
In Corvara & Badia, we believe we are at the heart of the world’s most dramatic and beautiful mountains. Over the years it has been a genuine pleasure to watch the reaction of our guests as they arrive and are awe-struck by their surroundings. The close harmony of startling and monumental rock formations with the enchanting alpine valley landscapes of wildflower-strewn pastures and picturesque Tyrolean villages is as enchanting as it is staggering.
With their explosive shapes and unique colours, the Dolomites are the crown jewels of the Alps. At every turn you are stopped in your tracks by their sheer magnificence. We know you will share our appreciation of this natural splendour. It is a paradise for walkers, flower enthusiasts, artists, photographers, Via Ferrata and alpine enthusiasts or anyone seeking out the tranquillity of an idyllic alpine retreat.
The unspoilt Tyrolean villages bewitch you on a human scale with wooden chalets in a landscape of wildflower-strewn pastures, while the colossal natural monuments, which are the Dolomites, tower above you; castles of rock, which soar to the sky as if frozen in mid-explosion.
The Dolomites lie in Italy’s northernmost region, the Trentino/South Tyrol, which borders Austria and Switzerland to the north. To the south are the alluring historical cities of Venice and Verona. Geologists believe they were heaved up by great movements in the earth’s crust 50 million years ago when Europe and Africa collided. Since then the actions of ice and water have carved them into overwhelming sculptural forms. More recently history has shaped the area. After WWI, the area passed from Austria to Italy. Mussolini failed to italianise the region and the area now thrives on the harmonious co-existence of the Austrian and Italian cultures in a region where Latin meets Germanic.
Add to these cultures, the influence of a modern mountain-dwelling community with an enlightened, yet conservative approach to tourism and the result is a unique atmosphere of character and charm in a place, where there is lots to see and do.
The Alta Badia in the central Dolomites is one of the most beautiful valleys in the Alps. Unsurprisingly, the area acquired UNESCO World Heritage status in 2009. The valley wends its way below majestic peaks to Monte Sella (3152m), a glorious and colossal plinth, which typifies the drama created by the proximity of amazing rock formations and idyllic alpine valleys. It is home to our chalet hotels, hotels and apartments. We are in the villages of Corvara, which boasts superb access to numerous walks of all grades, as well as Via Ferrata, locally-supplied alpine activities and places of interest. Whatever you choose to do, you’ll soon be glad you came.
Corvara has a stunning backdrop of startling rock formations. These glow rose pink at sunset, as if on fire. This mystical phenomenon is the Enrosadira and is arguably at its best in September. People gaze in awe from the valleys, which by contrast are characterised by wildflower-strewn pastures, woodland and sleepy hamlets, where the window boxes of old farmhouses overflow with colour.
Don’t agonise over where to stay. The Natural Parks in which we walk are easily accessed from all of our accommodation options. For non-drivers, there are regular buses between local villages and they are also joined by a riverside track and several higher woodland trails. Whichever accommodation you choose, you will have good access to walks, fantastic views, idyllic flower meadows and easy woodland trails, where you can meander at leisure.
For high level walking, trails leave Corvara for the high rocky terrain of the Puez Odle and Fanes National Parks, which spectacularly dominate the valley and offer countless, dramatic itineraries.
Corvara is the principal village of the Alta Badia and has two gondolas, one to the Pralongià Plateau at 1980m for easier and moderate walks, the other to the eastern turrets of the Sella at 2152m for amazing high level walks and also two Via Ferrata. It has a variety of shops, cafés and many sports facilities, including skating, a swimming lake, climbing wall, golf, tennis, archery etc.
The fact that I keep coming back to Haus Valentin shows how much I enjoy my holidays there.
Because it is a relatively small family run guesthouse there is a feeling of intimacy and friendliness that would not be possible in a hotel. The food is excellent and necessarily plentiful for hungry walkers.
Above all it is the enthusi(Read more...)
The staff were great and all worked hard to ensure the customers had a great time. Max, John and Becky all stood out as people I’d happily recommend.
Excellent - we had a great time and so appreciated the care and attention of the staff and the great information for our hiking. Collett's have a variety of options for hiking daily and knowledge of the area!
We stayed in both a hosted chalet in Badia before our hut to hut and in a hotel following in Corvara - the above rating apply (Read more...)
Thank you for a great holiday. The transfer from the airport was friendly and efficient, enabling four strangers to bond immediately and form a friendship grouping that lasted the whole week. A great welcome at the bar - such friendly staff and a much appreciated complimentary beer. The walks were all very well organised and led, wit(Read more...)
This is my second visit to Collett’s in Italy. First time with the missis, second with my mate, both times I’ve had a great time. The staff are always helpful, there is a joint interest with all the customers so there’s very much a family type atmosphere, the food and accommodation has been great and the office hour is great for hints(Read more...)
A week with Collett's in the Dolomites staying at Haus Valentin. Well organised, friendly and well priced. What’s not to like. 3rd time with Collett's and absolutely no reason we won’t use them again.
This was our second year at Pension Angelo and once again we throughly enjoyed ourselves. It is stunning area with plenty of varied routes. This year we didn't do Colletts-arranged scheduled walks but organised the days ourselves. Nevertheless the team were very helpful in advising us and helping us sort out our days. We can't praise (Read more...)
Friendly and helpful staff when first called. Reasonable prices and good/flexible walking itinerary. Receieved a very warm and friendly welcome from a great group of Collett's staff - very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. We had a very enjoyable holiday. Your staff at in Corvara were excellent
We enjoyed our holiday thank you. The social aspects of our holiday were unexpectedly good.
We met a wide variety of very nice people in both Haus Valentin and Chalet Angelo and the communal tables (and plenty of wine) made for very convivial evenings.
We love the dedication by all your staff helping us through the detail of walks and alternatives. Huge thank you Max, Adele, Henry, Helen, Ben, Kate. Thank you everyone - just fab, so friendly and dedicated.
Our 2nd holiday with you, so good last time! Keep up the great work!
Googled walking holidays and found you! The great thing about this holiday was it enabled us to do more challenging walks than we would have done if we had been organising walks ourselves and this was extremely enjoyable and satisfying. Very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable staff, and stunning scenery.
I was with a group and Collett's was discovered by one of our members. We all liked staying in one chalet and hiking out form there as well as having a variety of levels of difficulty to choose from.
The young staff at Haus Valentin was most excellent. They were fun, friendly, prepared, on time, knowledgeable and able to converse eas(Read more...)
The staff were fantastic, with a special mention for Max, Helen and Adele, all of whom were great guides and wonderful company. Previous customer having had excellent experience in the past!
Great value. I was doing self guided. I didn’t feel like I needed to pay a ton to know which trails to take!
I have a great track record with Collett's - I've always had excellent holidays with Collett's.
We joined a hiking group in Victoria, BC, Canada early in 2019. Twice heard folks on the trail talking about Collett's in very positive terms. The second time the people were talking about how they were going to the Dolomites walking with Collett's. The style of the tour, with the choice of going on walks or on our own, with office ho(Read more...)
We would especially like to thank the guides and Ali and Alex who were organizing all details from Haus Valentin. Each one of the guides was friendly, fun, knowledgeable, and amazingly talented. Their experience in the mountains and with the local culture made the trip and each hike a success.
Collett's Mountain Holidays gave the int(Read more...)
Once again we have had a great holiday in the Dolomites staying At Chalet Angelo. You really have a great team all of whom go out of their way to ensure each person has a great holiday. The food was outstanding and office hour a great oportunity to meet other guests. With a great range of walks on offer I took advantage and walked alm(Read more...)
Me and my two sons had the best five days ever in the Dolomites, The organization was spot on , punctual and helpful. We stayed at Chalet Roch in Corvara , very clean and comfortable. The only thing we missed was the tea/ coffee making facilities in the room, that would have been great after a long wet walk! That’s only a minor point(Read more...)
We booked a 2 night, 3 day 'difficult' hut-to-hut trek with Collett's and had a great time. The whole trip was well orgnaised and we loved the rifugios. Materials (maps, FAQs, etc) were provided well in advance.
Everything about my Collett's holiday was incredible... from the service level I got when booking my trip by phone, to the quality of the chalet and food, and most of all the people who work there... who were all utterly fantastic.
I was recommended to Collett's by another hiking company, who said they are the best... and best-priced(Read more...)
We had a fantastic week with Collett’s in Chalet Angelo. The staff were really helpful (Max in particular) and the food was super (Tom). The accommodation was lovely and the views across the valley from the balcony each evening were amazing.
We had great weather and managed to get out and climb 5 via ferrata during our week, including(Read more...)
I was part of a group of a recent 10 day walking holiday in Corvara. Via Ferrata was a "taster" for me and a thrilling experience. I would thoroughly recommend this holiday:)
The weather was great in August 2019. Collett's staff were excellent. They were very friendly, mature, experienced and well-equipped with people's & communicatio(Read more...)
This was an excellent trip and coming back to work has been really tough this week however we do have several hundred pictures to edit and look back on! Everything went really smoothly your maps were clear and the Rifugios excellent although as a non meat eater I may well have consumed my body weight in cheese in various forms! Thanks(Read more...)
Office Hour is a great idea - informative and fun. The most amazing thing about Collett's is what a remarkable group of truly exceptional young people you employ. They couldn't have been more friendly, helpful or obliging, and they were intelligent and fun as well.
Another brilliant Collett's Walking Holiday - we have done skiing several times and this is our second walking holiday.
The package hasn't changed over the 18 years we have been customers. There is NO selling of 'extras' in resort unlike other operators.
The operation is slick
The OUTSTANDING feature is the young people (and one or (Read more...)
The level of information provide before booking was outstanding and it was clear that the company really knew what it was doing. As the only vegetarian staying at the Chalet I was very well catered for by the chefs who provided some lovely vegetarian alternatives for me.
I will be returning for another holiday
Amazing views, amazing walks, amazing team (Tom, Max, Becky, Alex, John, Caroline, Ali and everyone else involved were awesome). From the moment I arrived to the moment I left the team made me feel so at home and loved it (best holiday I have had in a very long time) nothing was too much trouble and even after very long days the guys were brill...
My daughter and I had a great time. The scenery and wildflowers were wonderful. Length and difficulty of the hikes was just right. I am recommending to friends.
This was our second holiday with Collett's to Corvara. This time there were 3 generations of our family. The booking system was easy and we sought advice from your office in helping to decide what accommodation would suit us best. The youngest at 8 and 3 enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere in the chalet. We gave feedback on the activities(Read more...)
