Discover Italian Dolomites Trail Running Guided

We’ll meet at our hotel in Ortisei. Before dinner, we’ll gather for an overview of the week’s route, covering daily routines, and reviewing gear for each day’s adventure. There will be time for a discussion about the trip, expectations, and what life is like for us on the trail, in the villages, and at high mountain huts. 

We start by using a funicular railway to take us straight up to 2100m (6890 ft) where the vista is magnificent, with beautiful views of the Val Gardena and the Sassolungo mountain group – we’ll get to see where we’ll be trail running over the ensuing days! From the top funicular station, we’ll follow the trail to the summit cross of Resciesa, passing a charming ancient chapel along the way. We’ll gain a broad ridge, with panoramic views unfolding from the wide gentle trails traversing the mountainside. We‘ll then head to Passo de Brogles, where we’ll stop for a break with another great panorama.

Next, we descend on a gentle single track through pine forest into the Anna Valley, to reach Furnes, where we’ll take a cable car back down to Ortisei to save our legs for the spectacular week of running still to come!

To start the day, we’ll take a cable car to Alpe di Siusi. The largest expanse of Alpine pasture in the entire Alps, Alpe di Siusi is criss-crossed by trails. We start by mostly descending through beautiful scenery to Saltria, where we can take a break at a rifugio. From here we begin our climb up to the Zallinger pastures, passing a 165-year-old neo-gothic chapel next to a family-run mountain restaurant serving delicious Tyrolean specialities. Then, it’s time for a final push up to our overnight stay, the Plattkofel Hut, where we’ll enjoy a beautiful evening high in the mountains. With private rooms and hot showers, it’s one part comfortable inn, one part mountain hut. Due to its remote location, your bag will not be available tonight. We’ll need to “fast pack” a few pounds of additional personal gear on today’s run.

Leaving Plattkofelhütte, we’ll head back into the mountains on a section of beautiful single track running. The route traverses the edge of the Sassolungo massif, crossing immense scree slopes that the locals call “rock gardens.” The massif is a horseshoe shape, and we run and then hike uphill to the magnificent cirque within, ringed by towering peaks. Right in the middle is the spectacularly placed Rifugio Vincenza, where a break for coffee and cake feels obligatory! After refueling at the hut, we’ll continue our journey under the steep north face of Sassolungo to reach our destination of Ciampinoi, where we’ll take in a big view, then hop on the cable car at our leisure, down to the town of Selva to relax at our hotel.

Today there’s the option of a rest day, or an out-and-back run into the impressive Vallunga, or “Long Valley.” This long, deep chasm has been likened to  a mini-Yosemite valley, carved out by an immense glacier during the last ice age. The trough-shaped valley is flanked by 1,500-foot high cliffs on either side. The peaks of the Puez plateau stay in sight as we make our way up the valley towards the huge mountain meadow “Pra da Ri”, our turnaround point for the day. We might spot roe deer and chamois in the meadows on either side of the valley, and if we’re lucky there’s a chance of seeing a pair of eagles known to nest in the area.

Tonight is your chance to explore and choose your own restaurant for dinner in Selva – recommendations provided, or course!

Leaving Selva, we jump on the gondola up to Dantercepies, where we can take in the stunning views. We join a gently descending trail through meadows with views of the towering Sella Massif opposite us. A short climb to Utia Col Pradat brings us to a great restaurant where we can stop for a break. Then it’s time for a winding single track descent through trees to the village of Colfosco, with its famous neo-gothic church, followed by gentle meadow trails into the quiet village of Corvara.

Starting with the lift up to Col Alt, we’ll follow the Alta Badia High Trail, or Panoramic Trail, across broad ridges to reach Rifugio Pralongia, where we’ll take a break. This area was on the front line of the First World War, and there are still signs of the historic battles that took place here. A short climb brings us to the panoramic Stores peak, and then we’ll descend on smooth runnable trails to the hamlet of Sciare, which is a nordic ski destination in winter. After a welcome break here, a taxi will take us to our hotel in the stylish town of Cortina.

We’ll catch a bus up to the chairlift, bringing us to the famous Cinque Torri – or five towers – rock formation. This was another area of conflict during World War I, and we’ll have a chance to explore some of the trench system and learn about the history of this region in the open-air museum. A short run takes us around these impressive rock towers, ending at Rifugio Scoiattoli, which serves traditional local dishes and has fantastic views of the Cinque Torri. After lunch, we have the option of either running back down to the valley or taking a chairlift down to reduce the descent. We’ll catch the bus back to Cortina, where we’ll enjoy a celebratory dinner.

We’ll enjoy a final breakfast together at our hotel before saying our farewells as our tour comes to a close. Those who have opted for the shared transfer to Bolzano will head off together after breakfast.