June 19-26, 2027

Early Summer Dolomites

HIGHLIGHTS

Discover the majestic Dolomites, Italy's original "coolcation" destination

Explore Bolzano & meet Ötzi the Iceman on a guided tour

Walk Europe's largest high-altitude meadow, reached by cable car

Relax in the whirlpools & saunas of a 4-star spa hotel

Enjoy hearty South Tyrolean cuisine in cozy taverns & rustic mountain farmhouses

PRICE

$5899

per person based on double occupancy

$750 pp deposit

Payment plans available

CHECK AVAILABILITY

📅 AVAILABILITY

June 19-25, 2027

⏱ DURATION

8 days

👤 GROUP SIZE

up to 12 guests

🏅 ACTIVITY LEVEL

Easy half-day hikes, optional horseback riding or e-biking – average fitness level

📍 LOCATION

Bolzano/Ortisei/Bolzano

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About This Trip

Trade the rolling hills of central Italy for the soaring spires of the Dolomites. While the rest of Europe starts to wilt in the summer heat, stay cool in mountain valley towns and high alpine meadows. On this 8-day journey through South Tyrol, you’ll move between two distinct bases — the medieval arcades of Bolzano and the Ladin mountain town of Ortisei — with cable cars carrying you up to the meadows and ridgelines where most of our walking happens.

This is a soft adventure, not a trekking trip. Each day centers on one guided activity, leaving real downtime for the spa, the village, or a slow lunch with a glass of wine on a sun-warmed terrace. Expect long views, generous Alpine meals, and a rhythm that lets you settle in. Just like our Umbria tours, we keep the pace manageable, and we work with local partners on the ground — private guides who live in these mountains and know them well.

What's Included?

Private guided tours, hikes & museum visits optional guided e-bike or horseback ride, and a hands-on cooking class

7 nights in handpicked 4-star hotels: Parkhotel Laurin or similar in Bolzano, Hotel Genziana or similar in Ortisei (with full wellness/spa access)

Most meals (with beer or wine), included, dining at cozy taverns & rustic mountain inns

All transfers between hotels & activities, including cable cars

Expert local guides for every activity — people who know the mountains, culture & cuisine intimately.

Daily access to your Ortisei hotel's wellness & spa area, plus our warm Villaggio Tours vibe

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED:

Roundtrip airfare to Italy, travel insurance (strongly recommended), tips for hotel staff, wellness & spa treatments (access is included; treatments are extra), additional meals & drinks not listed in the itinerary, souvenirs and incidentals.

Wendy Y.

5 stars is not enough! Not even close. Liz, along with her family, friends, and other residents of the town, took us on an immersive journey into an authentic Italian experience. Our group was wonderful! I traveled solo, but I left with many new friends.

Wendy Y.

via Google reviews

Pat D.

To Liz, Paolo and their wonderful family, thank you so much for making my dream come true. I couldn't have asked for a better experience. From the food, to the tours and experiences, and enjoying family life, it was a fantastic trip I won't soon forget.

Pat D.

via Google reviews

Louis R.

I can't express what a delight the Villaggio Tours experience is. You are treated to great food, great company, and some of the best Italy has to offer...the people who you meet in your adventures with Liz are all genuine and full of friendship.

Louis R.

via Google reviews

Doug V.

Bravo Liz! I have travelled a LOT. I was afraid I’d be bored spending an entire week in a small Italian hilltop village. I remarked to my wife “I hope there’s good internet.” I didn’t need it. The Villaggio Tours’ immersive experience delivered!

Doug V.

via Google reviews

Kate G.

"I just returned from an absolute bucket-list trip with Villaggio Tours and do not know where to start with my review. It was absolute magic. I have traveled a great deal but what Villaggio Tours has put together is truly a unique, unforgettable, and once-in-a-lifetime experience."

Kate G.

via Google reviews

Carla G.

"We did a cooking class with Liz and her family, and it was truly one of the best experiences I’ve ever had while traveling. Being welcomed into their home, seeing how they cook, and learning new techniques was not only fun but also something we’ll carry with us forever."

Carla G.

via Google reviews

Arlene S.

"The evening dinners with Liz and Paolo's family was the highlight. It was like you see in the movies. The meals were over the top with several types of pasta. Sitting outside in the garden having dinner with the family was the highlight for me. I would highly recommend this experience! We feel like we met our Italian family!"

Arlene S.

via Google reviews

Itinerary at a Glance

Day 1: Welcome to Bolzano, gateway to the Dolomites

You’ll arrive in Bolzano, the capital of the South Tyrol, and a city long-shaped by its position between the Mediterranean world and the Alpine passes. After settling into your hotel, you’ll have time to explore the arcaded streets of the historic center before gathering for a welcome dinner.

Independent arrival to Bolzano hotel (direct high speed trains arrive from Rome, Milan, Florence, Bologna, and Verona, or Innsbruck, Vienna and Munich; station is within walking distance)
Free time to wander the centro storico — arcaded streets where merchants, bishops, and travelers have crossed paths for centuries
This evening, meet Liz in the hotel lobby and head to a historic Bolzano tavern for a hearty welcome dinner

Accommodations: Parkhotel Laurin or similar

Meals: Welcome dinner

Day 2: The Renon Plateau & the Ötzi Museum

This full day pairs sweeping high-meadow views with one of the most remarkable archaeological finds in Europe.

Morning: ascend by cable car with our private guide to Soprabolzano on the Renon plateau, a landscape of forests, meadows, and farmhouses suspended above the city. A gentle walk reveals a quieter, rural rhythm.
Lunch in Soprabolzano
Afternoon: return to Bolzano for a guided visit of the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology, home to Ötzi the Iceman — a Copper Age mummy found high in the Alps and preserved for over 5,000 years.
Dinner on your own tonight — we’ll share a few of our favorite spots.

Accommodations: Parkhotel Laurin or similar

Meals: Breakfast, lunch

Day 3: Transfer to Ortisei & Wellness Afternoon

Today we move from the valley city to our Alpine base in Val Gardena.

Morning transfer from Bolzano to Ortisei, the principal town of Val Gardena and a living center of Ladin language and culture, known for its long tradition of woodcarving.
An introductory walk around town with your guide to get the lay of the land. Lunch is on your own.
Afternoon dedicated to wellness and relaxation, with free access to the hotel spa
Dinner at the hotel

Accommodations: Hotel Genziana or similar (4 nights)

Meals: Breakfast, dinner

Day 4: Walking the Alpe di Siusi

We’ll spend the day on the Alpe di Siusi, Europe’s largest high-altitude meadow. In the summertime, the meadow is alive with wildflowers, buzzing bees, babbling brooks and mooing cows. This is an accessible, cable-car assisted hike designed to minimize elevation change while maximizing views.

After breakfast, we’ll meet our guide for the cable car up to Alpe di Siusi, where wide, grassy paths roll out beneath the Sciliar massif.
We’ll take an unhurried walk with time to enjoy the scale of the landscape and the traditional malghe farmhouses scattered across the meadow.
Open-air lunch at a mountain restaurant along the way.
Return to Ortisei in the late afternoon.
Dinner at the hotel

Accommodations: Hotel Genziana or similar

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 5: Exploring the Valley on e-Bike or Horseback

Choose your mode of transport today, and explore the valley by e-bike or on horseback — either way, you’ll see Val Gardena up close.

Option A: Guided e-bike ride through forest and farmland on quiet paths.
Option B: Guided horseback excursion, a mode of travel deeply rooted in Alpine life.
Lunch on your own, and afternoon at leisure to enjoy Ortisei or the hotel spa.
Dinner at the hotel

Accommodations: Hotel Genziana or similar

Meals: Breakfast, dinner

Day 6: Seceda's High Ridges

On this full day outdoors, we’ll trek to Seceda, one of the most iconic viewpoints in the Dolomites, and have plenty of time to take in the stunning scenery. This is an accessible, cable-car assisted hike designed to minimize elevation change while maximizing views.

After breakfast, we’ll meet our guide for the cable car up to Seceda, where walking trails follow sweeping ridgelines above Val Gardena and the Odle peaks.
Open-air lunch at a mountain restaurant
A relaxed walk back to the cable car for our return to Ortisei.
Dinner at the hotel

Accommodations: Hotel Genziana or similar

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 7: Malga Cooking Class & back to Bolzano

Our final full day brings together Villaggio Tours’ hallmarks: food, place, and people.

After breakfast, we’ll check out of our Ortisei hotel.
Transfer to a traditional malga for a hands-on cooking experience, learning how Alpine dishes are shaped by altitude, season, and local produce.
Lunch at the malga, made from what we just prepared.
Afternoon transfer to Bolzano and hotel check-in.
Festive farewell dinner this evening at a Bolzano restaurant.

Accommodations: Parkhotel Laurin or similar

Meals: Breakfast, malga lunch, farewell dinner

Day 8: Arrivederci, Auf Wiedersehen, a s'udëi

After breakfast, we’ll say our fond farewells (in Italian, German or local Ladin language), and help you transfer to the Bolzano train station. Additional car/van transfer services can be arranged for a surcharge.

Meals: Breakfast