okoshi2002

I am back armed with a Touring Club Italiano map of the Trentino Alto Adige region.

You were all very helpful when I came with questions about the Dolomites a while back.

Now I must get down to the specifics of how to drive from Venice to see the best of the Dolomites in 2 days and 1 night, and back to Venice, which I sadly know is too little time.

Please tell me how this sounds-

A27 and N51 from Venice to Cortina

N48 to Passo di Falzarego

N48/N242 to Passo di Sella

N242 to Ortisei and overnight Castelrotto

Return via Alpe di Siusi - what route ?

Or overnight Canazei and return N242/N243 via Val Gardena and Corvara back through Cortina ?

I would appreciate everybodys expert advice. Our goal is to get a nice sampling of the Dolomites- we know we can't see it all on this trip.

Thank you.

Wayne

I've driven throughout that area, and your planned route sounds great. I would take an overnight in Canazei or some other nearby location and drive back through the Val Gardena (my favorite) and Corvara, then Cortina and back to Venice. Be aware that your average driving speed will not be very high -- I would estimate 30-40 mph even without stops.

pja1

Hi okoshi2002,
Your plan sounds pretty good. Just my personal opinion...we didn't really care for Castelrotto, as it's not really in the mountains. Personal favorites to stay would be any of the 3 villages of Val Gardena or in the Val Badia, specificaly La Villa (Val Badia), due to the great Dolomite scenery and the Ciasa Montanara (where we stayed). The area's you'll be driving through is what you're looking for, I believe. If you decide on Val Gardena, my suggestion would be drive from Cortina, Falzarego Pass, up to Val Badia (La Villa, Corvara, Colfosco) and over the Gardena Pass. Return Gardena Pass, Sella Pass (it splits off the Gardena Pass) down to Canazei, Arabba, Cortina and back to Venice.
"Return via Alpe di Siusi - what route?" You can not drive the Alpe di Siusi, as it is not open to through traffic. To see the Alpe di Siusi, I'd take the Mont Seuc cable car from Ortisei.
I totally agree with Wayne about the average driving speed.
www.val-gardena.com
www.alpedisiusi-seiseralm.com
www.altabadia.org
www.montanara.it

Hope this helps.

TuckH

I suggest that you try to devote as much time as you can to the beautiful and unique Alpe de Siusi. Driving around is one thing; getting out of the car is another, and this is the best way "to get a nice sampling of the Dolomites".

okoshi2002

TuckH-

Where would you recommend overnighting in the Alpe di Siusi? What route do you recommend going up and coming back to Venice ?

Pja1-

If we go from Falzarego Pass to la Villa in Badia to overnight, do we then head back down through Corvara, go over Gardena Pass on N243, then to Canazei on N242, Arabba on N48, and back over the Falzarego Pass ?

Wayne-

Yes, thank you for reminding me of the driving conditions.

okoshi2002

I see- the Sella Pass is on the way to Canazei from Gardena Pass.

TuckH

IMO it'd be an ideal scenario to stay overnight in the Alpe di Siusi - something we did not do and certainly wish we had...

Your route up through Cortina is fine and your return would be on the A22 past Bolzano.

pja1

Hi okoshi,
That is what I was thinking. Just so you realize, that's quite a bit of driving, primarily over mountain passes. Take some dramamine! We did a lot of driving like that last year though. I don't know what your tolerence for driving like this is, but I enjoy the scenery and driving the roads. To see the Dolomites with less driving, go as far as La Villa, take the Campolongo Pass south to Arabba and head east again from there. I do agree with TuckH, as the Alpe di Siusi is beautiful. We did not stay in the Alpe di Suisi, but I imagine it's wonderful. My opinion is that anywhere between Cortina D' Ampezzo and Klausen/ Chiusa (on the A22 motorway) you really can't go wrong if your looking for great Dolomite scenery.

paul

okoshi2002

I realize it is a lot of driving- is it an unreasonable itinerary - if we were to drive from Venice through Cortina over the Falzarego Pass up to La Villa where we would overnight.


The next day travel on to Gardena Pass, Sella Pass and through Arabba back to Cortina to drive back to Venice .

It looks like stopping in Canazei is actaully going to take us on a side trip. Perhaps we can bypass Canazei.

I appreciate all the feedback you have given me so far.

pja1

Hi okoshi,
In La Villa we loved staying at the Montanara. Gorgeous place, great buffet breakfasts and fantastic views of the Dolomites from the room balconies. We were just there in Oct. 2006.
www.montanara.it
I didn't mean to say it's an unreasonble trip. If it came across that way, that wasn't my intention.
My point was that you don't need to drive so far (if you don't want to) to experience the Dolomites. Though we loved staying in Val Gardena, Val Badia was absolutely outstanding also (my wife actually preferred it).
If I can be of any other help, just ask. The Dolomite area is one of our favorites.

Paul

okoshi2002

Thanks Paul for the encouragment to continue on as planned.

Is Canazei a side trip as it looks on the map?

Clearly we have to return another trip to see Alpe di Siusi and Val Gardena from the Bolzano approach.

Steve_James

Hi Okoshi - You've already had some great tips.

I'd not sure I'd agree with Paul, however, on staying in La Villa. If you're only in the Dolomites for one night I think Colfosco at the top of Val Badia - or Selva or Ortisei in Val Gardena - would be better choices.

When are you going? If you're there in the summer make sure you make time for a few of the lift rides. It's the only way to see some of the most breathtaking views in the Dolomites.

Lifts not to miss are Lagazuoi (Falzarego Pass), Ciampinoi & Dantercepies (Selva Gardena), Mont Seuc/Alpe di Siusi (Ortisei), Sass Pordoi (Pordoi) ... to name a few.

If you do plan to do some of the lifts you might want to return to Venice on the autostrada from Bolzano to minimise journey time.

Otherwise you could plan an equally scenic alternative return journey through the mountains via San Martino di Castozza/ Rolle Pass - rather than repeating the Cortina route.

I'm not sure Canazei is really worth a detour on such a short trip. Use the time for lifts instead - you won't be disappointed

Hope this helps ...

Steve

pja1

Hi again,
Steve James makes a good point on alternative routes back to Venice. Just my opinion...be it a night in Val Badia, Val Gardena or the Seiser Alm, you really can't go wrong. It's all beautiful.

Paul

okoshi2002

Thank you SteveJames and Paul

Can you tell me what route you recommend if we return through San Martino ?


My husband will be the driver and I know it is always challenging driving in a new area . I thought going up and back through Cortina would reduce the stress, and we can enjoy the Dolomites between Cortina and Val Gardena or Badia.

As you say I'm sure we cannot go wrong lodging in any of these towns .

Realistically, probably would enjoy one or two lift rides at most.

My husband enjoys photography. He would enjoy lodging somewhere he can venture out in early AM or later afternoon for shots.

enzian

Hi okoshi---

If you choose Colfosco for your overnight stop, we liked this place a lot:

http://www.garnidelta.com/1200/inverno/eng/home.htm

It's above the town, with lovely views. There is a lighted walking path into the town for restaurants, etc. Being a "garni", they don't serve dinner. But it's a nice, reasonably-priced, friendly place.

okoshi2002

Enzian

What is a "garni" ?

enzian

"Garni" refers to a small hotel that does not have a dinner restaurant. The rooms are the same as a hotel, and they serve breakfast.

But I just realized---this place (and many other small, family-run places in the Dolomites) have a 3-night minimum. Some even have a week minimum. They are geared toward families who come for skiing or hiking, and spend several days, rather than for tourists passing through.

There are other hotels that take people for one night, however. Perhaps the one Paul recommended in La Villa?

pja1

Hi okoshi,
In case you're interested, here's a lnk to our Dolomite photo's from Oct. 2006.
www.worldisround.com/articles/324504/index.html

Paul

enzian

Gorgeous photos, Paul. There is something about the clarity of the light in the Dolomites.

Where do you end up if you take the Lagazuoi cable car?

pja1

Hey enzian,
"Where do you end up if you take the Lagazuoi cable car?"
The top.
Sorry, couldn't help it.
It's a short cable car ride to the top. Just a couple of minutes. We didn't have the best weather the day we went but...we went anyway.
http://www.dolomiti.org/dengl/Cortin...uoi/index.html

Paul