Verona and Dolomites walking tour: Verona to Cortina

The seven beautiful walks during the tour are straightforward, following well-marked and well-maintained paths with no dramatic climbs or descents (we usually take cable cars to the start of the high walks) and follow good tracks across alpine meadows to the valleys below.  On the way we stop at mountain huts along the way for breaks and lunch (even for an occasional mid-morning capuccino). In some cases it is possible to shorten the walk or to opt out and join the walkers for lunch. Gradings for the individual walks are on the itinerary - click the link for each day to see the details.

The accommodation is in lovely 4-star hotels: in Verona a classic hotel (Maria Callas stayed here) in the pedestrian precinct, around the corner from Piazza delle Erbe; in the valleys we stay in spacious Tyrolean-style, family-run hotels; and in Cortina d'Ampezzo in a new, luxurious 4-star hotel surrounded by forest and fields, a short walk from town.

Food, of course, is one of the highlights of the trip. The people of the Dolomites are extremely proud of the produce of their beautiful territory (fruit, vegetables, cheeses, hams and a wide variety of breads etc) and the local cuisine is a fascinating combination Italian and Austrian cooking. The Alto Adige/Sud Tirol is particularly famous for its high altitude white wines.  Wine is included with each meal.

Born in Sicily and raised and educated in Australia, Carmelina returned to Italy for a brief visit in 1992 and has been there ever since. After 15 years of working in tourism throughout Italy (including stints running boutique 5-star hotels in Tuscany and the Italian Alps as well as managing and tour-guiding for several American and English walking companies) Carmelina returned to her native Sicily, setting up home near Cefalu. Carmelina has been with Hidden Italy since 2010.  Click here for an introduction to Carmelina.

"Carmelina is a wonderful and generous guide.  We really felt her enthusiasm and passion for her country and feel that she really wanted us to share all those emotions.  ...she had friends in every town and was greeted so warmly .... her popularity was evident."