Self Guided Walk in the Dolomites

Itinerary: 

Day 1. Arrival in Hochpustertal (Niederdorf/Villabassa or Toblach/Dobbiaco
Individual arrival at the hotel in Hochpustertal. Free, unguarded public car park near the hotel.

Day 2. Villabassa/Dobbiaco - Pragser Tal/Valle di Braies - Plätzwiese
Your hiking holiday starts by the idyllic lake Pragser Wildsee, which fascinates the sightseer with the crystal clear turquoise waters of the lake. Here you get a first impression of the Pragser Tal; with its dark-needled coniferous forests and the whitewashed walls of the mountain rocks, it counts to the pearls of the Dolomites. The way leads you to the alpine pasture Rossalm and then to Plätzwiese. Beside calm and nature you encounter here also a panoramic view: In the vastness you can see the mountains Cristallo, Tofana and the world-famous Drei Zinnen (Three Peaks). 

Leisurely walkers have the possibility to choose another option for the first stage, at which they are taken to the guesthouse Tuscherhof and start their walk from there. Following the river Stolla they pass the guesthouse Brückele, the homonymous hut Stolla and rock paintings (cases of erosion, which are produced by the constant influence of water and the different composition of the rock) to get to the Plätzwiese. B/-/-
Option 1: Ascent: approx. 1100 m in altitude / descent: approx. 580 m in altitude / approx. 6-7 hours
Option 2: Ascent: approx. 800 m in altitude / descent: approx. 0 m in altitude / approx. 4-5 hours

Day 3. Plätzwiese - Strudelkopf or Dürrenstein 
Starting point of today’s stage is the alpine pasture “Plätzwiese”, which together with the mountains “Hohe Gaisl” and “Kreuzkofelgruppe” counts as the most treasured and revered hiking areas in the country; the charismatic magnetism of the unusual flora and natural lakes, have an enthralling charm on the discerning visitor. The bizarre and fascinating fables according to legends of the ancient tribes of Fanes Empire are relevant here. In the Nature Park “Fanes Sennes Prags”, the largest nature park in the Dolomites, you can make your choice between two options. Starting at the “Plätzwiese” depending on the variant you reach either the “Strudelkopf” (short variant) or the “Dürrenstein” (longer variant). Both options offer you a spectacular view on the “Hohe Gaisl”, the “Three Peaks”, the “Tofana” and the “Monte Cristallo” peak . B/-/-
Option 1 walking: 3 h-4 h, ascent / descent: +360 m / - 360 m
Option 2 walking: 4 h-5 h, ascent / descent: +850 m / - 850 m

Day 4. Plätzwiese - Knappenfußtal - Passo Tre Croci - Cortina d'Ampezzo
You hike through the high plateau of the Plätzwiese and descend through the Knappenfußtal to Cimabanche - the frontier between South Tyrol and Belluno. Here are two possibilities to continue: either the direct way using the public transport to Cortina d'Ampezzo or the longer variant to Ospitale and Passo Tre Croci. Possibility to shorten the route with the cable car Son Forca (not incl.). B/-/-
Option 1 walking: 1,5 -2 h, ascent / descent: + 0 m / - 460 m
Option 2 walking: 5,5 - 6 h, ascent / descent: + 650 m / - 840 m

Day 5. Circular Track or cablecar Faloria (Ticket incl.)
The panorama of the starting point of this stage is quite simple and stunning. The giant rocks of the Ampezzo Dolomites reach into heaven; the Monte Cristallo and the Cristallogruppe, the Tofana and the Fanesgruppe are the leading actors of this spectacle. There are two options for the day: the longer one leads you towards Forcella Faloria and the shorter one is following the Dolomieu Panoramic Trail. Both of them are heading towards Passo Tre Croci. The descent to Cortina is equal for both routes. Let yourself be enchanted by the natural beauty of the fascinating environment of the impressive Dolomite peaks. If you don‘t want to take the cable car, you can take a nice circular walk around the Cinque Torri. B/-/-
Option 1 walking: 5 h, ascent / descent: + 270 m / - 1150 m
Option 2 walking: 3 h-4 h, ascent / descent: + 100 m / -990 m
Option 3 walking: 3.5 h-4 h, ascent / descent: + 570 m / -350 m

Day 6. Cortina d'Ampezzo - Three Peaks viewpoint - Three Peaks - Fischleintal
In the morning, you take the public bus to the Three Peaks viewpoint. From there, you hike across the Rienzböden and through the Rienztal valley up to the Three Peaks, the landmark of the Dolomites and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You then continue hiking to the famous Dreizinnenhütte. From there, the route takes you below the Paternkofel, which was fought over in the First World War (the legendary mountain guide Sepp Innerkofler lost his life here), into the Fischleintal valley. From the Fischleintal valley, you take the bus to Toblach. Alternatively, you can hike from the Three Peaks viewpoint up to the Three Peaks and the Rigufio Auronzo and from there take the bus to Toblach. B/-/-
Option 1 walking: 5 h-  5.5 h, ascent / descent: + 950 m / - 960 m
Option 2 walking: 4.5 h - 5 h, ascent / descent: + 1020 m / - 120 m

Day 7. Departure
Individual departure or possibility to extend your stay. B/-/-

Necessary equipment: sturdy walking boots and walking socks, a small rucksack, a water bottle with at least 1 litre capacity, sunglasses, sunhat, sun cream, rainwear, insect repellent.