Seeking information about hiking in the Dolomites in September and then going on to explore the Fiuli-Venezia-Giulia region.

Doc - What area will you be staying in the Dolomites?

Steve

Steve:
we are just beginning to figure out how to do 5 to 7 days of hiking in the region, ending up in Cortina, and heading east toward Friulia. Thanks for your reply

I've often wondered why nobody on this forum seems to go to Trentino when in Italy. It is one of the most beautiful regions. A lot of Italians choose it as their winter and summer holiday destination. Excellent wines, good food, not expensive, pretty towns and spectacular scenery. We usually use mezzocorona half way between Trento and Bolzano as a base and go for excursions in the Val di Non, Val di Sole and Alto Adige. Check out www.trentino.to
Friuli is even more out of the beaten track as not even Italians go there much! Udine and Cividale are beautiful towns, the food and wine is fantastic but I don't know about the hiking.

Ah.. The Dolomites!!
A perfect choice in September. Don't miss the Val Gardena region and take the Raschötz lift in Ortisei for a walk to Malga Brogleshütte. There you can continue up to Seceda or walk down to Ortisei again. The full tour takes about six-seven hours.
Ther is a nice walk around the Plattkofel, start with the lift from Paso Sella, about 7hours. A nice tour is also from the womderful meadows on Seiser Alm up to the top of the Schlern mountain,approx six hours
Don't miss the little town Kastelruth southwest of Val Gardena. It's almost as walking in a fairy tale book!

Me again - I just noticed you mentioned September....it may start getting wet, colder and the days will be shorter for good hiking in the Dolomites. May to August would be ideal!

Doc - If you're looking for a base from which to do day-hikes, Val Gardena is hard to beat IMO.

You can base your hikes around which lifts are still open in September. For more info on this beautiful area go to:

www.valgardena.it

Otherwise ... if you're looking for a long-distance hike (- staying in refuges) or something more challenging you might want to look at the Vie Ferrate:

http://www.dolomiti.org/dengl/cortina/ce/ferrate/

The renowned Alta Via 1 starts at Lake Braies - one of the most beautiful lakes in Italy. You could do the first section - Braies to Lagazuoi/Tofane - in 3/4 days and cut down to Cortina from there.

http://www.dolomiti.it/eng/itinerari...e/altavia1.htm

http://www.dolomiti.org/dengl/cortina/ce/ferrate/

Hope this helps ...

Steve

Hello,

Will you have a car or use public transport? The SAD bus system (Sud Tirol Autodienst) is very good, but a car will give you more options for trailheads. Also, do you contemplate a hut-to-hut hike, ending at Cortina? Or one or two village bases with hikes from there?

The suggestions already given---Val Gardena and Seiser Alm, are both excellent. In addition, I would recommend Colfosco in Val Badia, over the pass from Val Gardena.

As for the weather in September, well. . . that is unpredictable. We have been shut out from hiking there even at the end of August. But I suspect it often gets nice again. The on-line newsletter to which I subscribe always mentions fall lodging specials and lovely golden days. But some of the huts may be closed, even for meals.

As for the actual hikes, my personal favorites both originate from Seiser Alm. One, already mentioned, climbs to the Bolzanohutte (refugio) and a little beyond to the summit of Schlern. Instead of cows, as in the Alps, you may find Haflinger horses along the trail. Another lovely and dramatic hike is the circumambulation of Sassolungo and Sasso Piatto, best done as a 2-day trip unless you are a really fast hiker. This one starts from Salteria, at the far end of Seiser Alm.

Throughout this area, German is as commonly spoken as Italian.

Thanks to all of you who replied . I will now try to digest and locate all of your suggestions.
DoctorK

We are going to stay about a week in July- plans not firm but looking at Tarvisio, Cividale, Aquilea. We have found a couple nice looking pensiones near Lago di Fustine but would love recommendations for lodging in Udine or Cividale. Also looking for hiking info if anyone has it.

I just posted a podcast interview about Friuli Venezia Giulia with an agency specializing on trips in that area. You may wish to contact them as well. They are http://www.pansepol.com

Paolo
http://www.italyfromtheinside.com