Hi folks,

Our family are staying on Lake Garda for 2 weeks shortly and we would love to tour around the area but especially the Dolomites - I'm finding it very difficult to get decent information on them. Have any of any suggestions of where to start and what direction (clockwise or anticlockwise)we should take. We are staying at the southern tip of Lake Garda.
Is there anything else we should look out for?
Thanks a mil.

Hello Jenny - not very useful I'm afraid, but we're off to Garda next week - and experiencing the same problem! Hopefully some knowledgeable soul will be along soon. Have a good holiday!

I'm surprised that you're having a problem finding information - are you using the 'search this forum' box? Type in "Dolomites" and you'll find lots of helpful threads.

Your targets in the Dolomites should be the Alpe di Siusi (do you have a good map?), the Val Gardena and the Gruppa di Sella. Exit the A22 Autostrada two exits above Bolzeno and head east. It doesn't matter about which direction - you'll be doing a loop.

The Alpi di Siusi is a gorgeous high Alpine meadow that you'll have to leave your car behind and take a cable car to reach. Allow enough time for that.

I agree with Tuck that there are a lot of threads retrieved with the search of "Garda".

I have never gone ALL the way around Lake Garda (in particular, I don't know Desenzano or any of the "southwest" corner). A good half lap would be to drive up the "east" side to Torre di Benaco abnd cross there, then drive onward via Limone to Riva, nack through torbole, Malcesine and so on.

Citing this off the top of my head, so I hope I have it (more or less) geographically correct.

Curious, your use of the term "southern tip" - - the southern end has a very broad "base", and the northern end very much goes to a "tip" (I'm trying not to get too "anatomically" graphic here!)

Best wishes,

Rex

I agree with the recommendations of Tuck and Rex. I would add that the southern end of the lake has the lovely Sirmione peninsula that is worth visiting. Assuming you are driving, there are 2 or 3 ways you can construct a very nice itinerary through the best of the Dolomites. I like Val Gardena to Passo di Sella, then on to Corvara and back to Vigo di Fassa, then on to Bolzano -- or from Vigo you can go farther south along another loop to Predazzo, then west and north back to Bolzano. You can also go farther east to Cortina and then south to Selva di Cadore and eventually back west to San Martino di Castrozzo -- also a beautiful drive. In any of the "loops" through the Dolomites, it's hard to go wrong. There's spectacular scenery everywhere. Good luck.

Hi Again,

Thanks for the info so far. We're staying in Peschiera del Garda for a fortnight and we will have a hire car. The only map I have at the moment is a Euro Map No.2 (Verona & Lake Garda, Brenner, Parma). We are also using Landmark Visitor Guide to Italian Lakes, do you recommend any other map/book? What's the driving like for someone that normally drives on the left?

Thanks again.

I have the Landmark guide. Thomas Cook publishes a pretty good guide as well. (I got my Thomas Cook guide off of a English website.)

For a map I have the Michelin 9"x12" Spiral Book for all of Italy. For your specific area I'd go to the Touring Club Italiano www.touringclub.it for greater detail (Map #3 TRENTINO ALTO ADIGE).

For years before I eventually went to the UK, I feared driving on the left. You can do it I'm sure!

Staying in Peschiara, you'll be able to easily get to Verona, Vicenza and Mantova. Please do that...

We were recently in Vicenza and a daytrip is worth considering (beautiful town).