Here is a roadtrip not so far from home that amazed us... As Swiss, we know a little bit about mountains so we could think that the change of scenery is not huge... The landscapes, the sharp mountain peaks, the high altitude meadows... In short we take a lot of eyes and also calves...

To prepare this roadtrip, we had some difficulties to establish a circuit. Most of the bloggers who travelled through these mountains were in van. So for future travelers by car, we would like to make it easier for you to prepare your route. We made a map and detailed the tour by day and not by places to see. Our roadtrip started in Verona, then Nova Levante, Cortina d'Ampezzo, San Candido, Val di Funes, Alpe di Siusi & to finish in Resia near the Austrian and Swiss border.

-> VERONA [ 1 NighT ]

Let's go for our September roadtrip! Our first stop, in order not to do the road in one go, is the romantic Verona! We only spent one evening there, but we will definitely put this city back on our bucket list, because the historical center with its arena, its pedestrian streets and its history... deserve much more... but it was a nice first evening and our first Spritz of the vacations! Cheers!

We stayed in the countryside of Verona, a few kilometers from the center, in a beautiful relay, Relais Corte Guastalla surrounded by greenery & kiwi trees. We were there in mid-September and the 30 degrees, allowed us to still enjoy the infinity pool!

ALTIPIANO DE RENON & PIRAMIDI DI TERRA

Here we go, towards the Alto Adige to discover the Dolomites... We go north to Bolzano. Since it's Sunday, we decide not to visit the center of Bolzano (we'll go back there at the end of our roadtrip). We go directly to the Renon cable car, not far from the center of Bolzano, to go up to Soprabolzano on the Altipiano Del Renon. From there we board the little train that takes us directly to Collalbo. The train ride is very bucolic and the weather of the day allows us to have an impressive view of the dolomites in front. Once in Collabo, a short 30 minute walk along path n°24 takes us to the Piramidi di Terra, the highest in Europe!

If you want to stop to sleep in this beautiful region and you can break your piggy bank a little we recommend the Adler Lodge, we discovered this mini chain of 4 establishments, in the Alpe di Siusi but unfortunately we had already planned our whole itinerary, but if one day we come back to the dolomites, it is certain that we will stay a few nights in one of their establishments.

LAGO DI CAREZZA

Back to the car, direction Val d'Ega, to go to the Lago di Carezza... A beautiful lake just next to the road to the pass, preserved from the bad weather of early 2019 that destroyed the surrounding forest (a really impressive massacre of trees). The lake is worthy of a postcard with the dolomites and the forest as a background and its colors are just incredible... Welcome to the little Canada! We can go around the lake, we advise you to come in the afternoon, the luminosity was magnificent at the end of the day...

After a very busy day, we turn back a few km to take possession of our room in the hotel Stern (nothing special, but clean and welcoming) before going to the Marion Grillstube Steakhouse, where we ate divinely well: tagliatelle with truffles and lamb cooked in front of us on a wood fire, a delight... remember to reserve!

-> CORTINA D'AMPEZZO [ 3 NighTS ]

Today we are going to Cortina d'Ampezzo... But we will make some detours through the Val d'Ega, then the Val di Fassa before taking the Passo Sella, to approach the Sassopiatto & Sassolungo, to finish with the Passo Gardena... A wonderful drive with breathtaking landscapes.

5 TORRI

Before reaching Cortina, we stop at the foot of the 5 Torri. The start of the tour of the 5 Torri is reachable by car through a small mountain road that stops at the refuge of the same name. The walk does not require much effort except for the first 15 minutes. If you want to take it easy, you can take the 5 Torri chairlift that leaves from Passo Falzarego, but be careful with the closing time if you want to enjoy the last sunbeams on the Torri.

The tour of the 5 Torri from the refuge can be done in 1 hour, there is a small climb but it is quickly forgotten before reaching a plateau... We cross these towers, we walk there and we wonder how nature could create such blocks... but there is not only the 5 Torri to contemplate but all the landscape around as well as the so agile climbers who launch themselves to the assault of these monoliths... it hypnotizes us... Can you see them on our pictures?

After another busy day... We finally arrive in our accommodation in Cortina d'Ampezzo, the Dolomiti Lodge Alverà,a magnificent Lodge with a breathtaking view of the Tofane mountains, a modern but mountainous style & a divine restaurant... and the icing on the cake a double upgrade to spend 3 nights in THE Lodge suite! THANK YOU! I recommend you this practical and beautiful address without any restraint...

LAGO SORAPIS

This morning it is left for a beautiful walk of 2 hours going & 2 hours return in direction of the Lago Sorapis... We apprehend (well especially me, Tracy) a little the walk because according to the information which we collected, there would be a passage via ferrata... But well, we launch out and we shall see well! We limit the weight of the bags, especially the bag photo of Marc and we start the walk to the Passo Tre Croci by following the path n°215. The walk starts in a very beautiful forest, then the path narrows and goes along the side of the mountain... there are some nice climbs, but nothing insurmountable and the few passages exposed to the void are manageable for someone who suffers from vertigo like me, it is just necessary to hold on to the cable! oufffffff... I, Tracy, am reassured...

The walk ends again with a beautiful path in the forest before arriving at the magnificent Lago Sorapis! [small drawback, there are many people... being at the end of September, we didn't want to leave too early because of the luminosity, but if you want to limit the number of tourists and depending on the time of the year, get up early].

The Sorapis lake reached at the end of the morning, the light was brilliant and the color of the lake of an incredible milky blue-green... decidedly these lakes in the dolomites are more beautiful the ones than the others...

After having strolled, then picnicked, then walked around the lake for hours, a small stop at the Vandelli hut to get strength, and let's go for the descent... Well, there we regret a little not to have taken our sticks remained in Switzerland... so much the worse... The knees suffer a little but it is not serious the day was magnificent!

TRE CIME DI LAVAREDO

Let's go for the discovery of the emblem of the Dolomites, the Tre Cime di Lavaredo... A walk of about 3h30, but which took us all day, because as usual, we strolled, enjoyed, took pictures and waited for the sun at the end of the day... It is a loop that leaves and arrives from the parking of the Refugio Auronzo, whose access is paying. The path is easy, but there are still 2 beautiful climbs and a big descent! You can do it in both directions, we went in the direction of the Refugio Lavaredo, which we reached quickly and easily before undertaking the first ascent to pass on the other side of the Tre Cime, to then join the Refugio Locatelli with its ideally located position in front of the Tre Cime.

-> SAN CANDIDO [ 1 NighT ]

LAGO LEANDRO & LAGO DOBBIACO

It's time to leave Cortina for the north... Direction San Candido... But some nice surprises are still waiting for us in this day of roadtrip. First of all the Lago Leandro... surprisingly wild but next to the road, its very clear blue-turquoise color is difficult to capture on the screens. To appreciate the beauty of the place, it is enough to park its car and to move away from the road to appreciate all its quietude and its natural landscape...

We arrive then on the banks of the lago di Dobbiaco... another breathtaking lake of an emerald blue-green... Ideal for a picnic break with all these benches ideally located on the path that surrounds the lake... Or go to one of the 3 restaurants that border the northern part of the lake...

After having spent hours again contemplating, walking & photographing... let's go to our hotel for our "usual" end of day SPRITZ... Our hotel is not in San Candido itself but in Versciaco, a village not far away, super cute, with nice chalets at the foot of the ski slopes of the 3 Cime area. Joas Hotel Natura B&B, is modern but surrounded by nature, with a splendid view on the valley... small plus, a SPA-terrace on the last floor. It is besides the 1st regret in the organization of our roadtrip, it would have been necessary to have at least 2 nights here to be able to visit the small town of San Candido & to benefit simply a little more from this splendid place. At nightfall, we walked to Gröber's Hütte to eat traditional dishes... mmmmmm!!!

for the continuation of the adventures... I let you discover the 2nd article “Dolomiti • Grüss Gott - Partie 2”

• it's the holidays... un SPRITZ per favore ! •

Find all our articles on our roadtrips in the Dolomites

Here are the maps we used, because the Lonely Planet Dolomiti (only in Italian) is really not detailed enough. The Tabacco maps are very accurate and useful for off-the-beaten-track walks. They are easily available in Bolzano or on Amazon.