Italy dolomites
Dec 26th, 2014, 10:15 AM
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Italy dolomites
I am looking for suggestions on driving from Varenna,Lake Como to Venice with a side trip to the Dolomites for two nights - could anyone help me with a plan - how is the driving, best place to stay
Dec 27th, 2014, 05:17 AM
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There are basically 3 scenic itineraries:
A. Varenna - Bolzano/Bozen
all the year round:
1. Varenna - Chiavenna - Maloja Pass - Lake Segl - Lake Silvaplauna - Lake Champfer - St. Moritz - Ofen Pass - Mustair Monastery - Meran - Bozen
2. Varenna - Sondrio - Aprica Pass - Edolo (Val Camonica rock drawings http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_Dr...in_Valcamonica ) - Tonale Pass - Male - Mendel Pass - Bozen
in summer only:
3. Varenna - Sondrio - Bormio - Stelvio Pass - Meran - Bozen
B. Bolzano/Bozen - Venice
all the year round:
1. Bozen - Brixen - Toblach - Cortina d'Ampezzo - Calalzo - Vittorio Veneto - Venice
2. Bozen - Cavalese - Predazzo - San Martino di Castrozza - Bassano del Grappa - Venice
in summer only:
Bozen - Val Gardena - Sella Pass - Canazei - Pordoi Pass - Arabba - Falzarego Pass - Cortina d'Ampezzo - Calalzo - Vittorio Veneto - Venice
A. Varenna - Bolzano/Bozen
all the year round:
1. Varenna - Chiavenna - Maloja Pass - Lake Segl - Lake Silvaplauna - Lake Champfer - St. Moritz - Ofen Pass - Mustair Monastery - Meran - Bozen
2. Varenna - Sondrio - Aprica Pass - Edolo (Val Camonica rock drawings http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_Dr...in_Valcamonica ) - Tonale Pass - Male - Mendel Pass - Bozen
in summer only:
3. Varenna - Sondrio - Bormio - Stelvio Pass - Meran - Bozen
B. Bolzano/Bozen - Venice
all the year round:
1. Bozen - Brixen - Toblach - Cortina d'Ampezzo - Calalzo - Vittorio Veneto - Venice
2. Bozen - Cavalese - Predazzo - San Martino di Castrozza - Bassano del Grappa - Venice
in summer only:
Bozen - Val Gardena - Sella Pass - Canazei - Pordoi Pass - Arabba - Falzarego Pass - Cortina d'Ampezzo - Calalzo - Vittorio Veneto - Venice
Dec 27th, 2014, 06:23 PM
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Dec 28th, 2014, 03:44 PM
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Hi jmarks,
If you are traveling in the latter part of June, then you might really enjoy going over the mountains via Sondrio and Mezzolombardo - even though it will take an extra hour to reach the heart of the Dolomiti. Personally I prefer the Alta Badia area of the Dolomiti (around Corvara), but that is because it has fewer chair lifts and other ski infrastructure, and you might want the chair lifts. Once you are in the Dolomiti, you have several options for a scenic trip to Venice, or you can hook up to a highway if the weather suddenly goes bad.
If you are going in the early part of June, you should stick the more southerly highways, and you might want to leave your plans open until you know what the weather is -- which means waiting until you are actually in Italy and can see a short-term forecast. Until summer begins (which really does tend to be after June 20), you can still find snow and lots of mud on the hiking trails, or have views obliterated by spring rains.
If you are traveling in the latter part of June, then you might really enjoy going over the mountains via Sondrio and Mezzolombardo - even though it will take an extra hour to reach the heart of the Dolomiti. Personally I prefer the Alta Badia area of the Dolomiti (around Corvara), but that is because it has fewer chair lifts and other ski infrastructure, and you might want the chair lifts. Once you are in the Dolomiti, you have several options for a scenic trip to Venice, or you can hook up to a highway if the weather suddenly goes bad.
If you are going in the early part of June, you should stick the more southerly highways, and you might want to leave your plans open until you know what the weather is -- which means waiting until you are actually in Italy and can see a short-term forecast. Until summer begins (which really does tend to be after June 20), you can still find snow and lots of mud on the hiking trails, or have views obliterated by spring rains.
Dec 28th, 2014, 04:19 PM
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We had two wonderful days and nights in the Dolomiti, staying in the Alta Badia in the town of La Villa at the Hotel La Majun.
We stopped in Ortisei, taking a small and then a larger lift, and walking (not that easy) down hill to another smaller lift to return. We drove the Gardena and Sella passes and went to Lago di Braies. This was a wonderful trip, and the scenery was incredibly.
We had landed in Venice and trained immediately to Verona, left there for Riva del Garda, and then to the Alta Badia. From there we drove to Venice via Cortina d'Ampezzo. One reason we chose the Alta Badia over Ortisei was that we had to return our car to Venice and the ride was shorter than from Ortisei. We weren't sorry, but there was no real town of La Villa; if you want to town then Ortisei would be better. We spent all of our time outdoors so we were fine, and meals at Hotel La Majun were included and utterly delicious, as well as beautifully presented and served.
Hope this helps.
We stopped in Ortisei, taking a small and then a larger lift, and walking (not that easy) down hill to another smaller lift to return. We drove the Gardena and Sella passes and went to Lago di Braies. This was a wonderful trip, and the scenery was incredibly.
We had landed in Venice and trained immediately to Verona, left there for Riva del Garda, and then to the Alta Badia. From there we drove to Venice via Cortina d'Ampezzo. One reason we chose the Alta Badia over Ortisei was that we had to return our car to Venice and the ride was shorter than from Ortisei. We weren't sorry, but there was no real town of La Villa; if you want to town then Ortisei would be better. We spent all of our time outdoors so we were fine, and meals at Hotel La Majun were included and utterly delicious, as well as beautifully presented and served.
Hope this helps.
