Upon arrival at Venice Airport, drive to Cortina d’Ampezzo, a charming town set in the foothills of the Dolomite mountains.  Check in to Hotel Cristallo – your luxurious home for the next two nights – then enjoy the rest of your day at leisure.

Today, embark on a personalised hiking excursion in the Dolomites. Your focus is the Tre Cime di Lavaredo (Three Peaks of Lavaredo), an iconic outcrop of pinkish stone mountains. During the hike, learn from your guide about the local flora and fauna, the dramatic landscape around you and the traditions of the local Ladin culture. You may wish to lunch at a typical mountain hut, where you can sample delicacies such as canederli, spatzle, polenta and speck in a convivial setting. Then continue your guided journey in the mountains. 

Your next port of call is the quaint mountain village of San Cassiano. En route, drive through rural villages to Lake Braies, known as the ‘pearl of the Dolomite lakes’. Continue towards Brunico, where a cable car will whisk you up to the sunny plateau of Kronplatz to admire views that sweep from the Dolomites to the Rhaetian Alps. Stop by the high-altitude MMM Corones mountaineering museum, founded by world-famous climber Reinhold Messner, before descending by ski lift for the last leg of your journey to San Cassiano. Arrive in time to check in and unwind. 

Alongside your expert alpine guide, enjoy a day combining hiking and history. Discover how the region of Cinque Torri and Mt. Lagazuoi became the stage for fierce conflict between the Alpini (Italian mountain troops) and the Kaiserjäger (Austro-Hungarian light infantry) during World War I. At the Great War Open-air Museum, witness first-hand the tunnels, shelters and ‘via ferrata’ (‘iron paths’) by which soldiers transformed Mt. Lagazuoi into a 20th-century fortress. You may also wish to visit the picturesque Rifugio Lagazuoi, a mountaintop lodge promising guests spectacular panoramas of the Dolomites alongside a platter of tasty local delicacies.

Enjoy a half-day excursion alongside an expert alpine guide, exploring the geological wonders of the Puez-Odle National Park. Part of the Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage Site, this park boasts a fascinating geology. Tackle a variety of terrain, from challenging lunar-like landscapes strewn with boulders to gentle paths cutting through flower-speckled meadows. Hike past pretty alpine huts and follow the trails up into the mountains. Then reward yourself with a mouth-watering lunch in a mountain hut, before continuing your journey. Return to your hotel to spend the afternoon at leisure.

After five nights immersed in the crisp air and captivating scenery of the Dolomites, it’s time to go. Return to Milan Airport ahead of your flight home.