Hiking the Dolomites – Self-Launched 8-Day Adventure

Make your way to Campitello di Fassa in the Val di Fassa valley. The easiest route from the UK is to fly into Verona, Venice Marco Polo, or Innsbruck (Austria), then take a bus or train connection. From Verona, take the train to Trento (~1hr, ~£10), then a Trentino Trasporti bus to Campitello (~2.5hrs, ~£12). Check into your guesthouse and spend the evening exploring the village, grabbing a pizza or a plate of canederli (local bread dumplings) at one of the village restaurants. Study the hiking map and plan your first trail for tomorrow.

🚌Fly into Verona, Venice, or Innsbruck. Train Verona–Trento ~£10, then Trentino Trasporti bus Trento–Campitello ~£12. Book buses at trentino.trasporti.eu

🛏Guesthouse or B&B in Campitello di Fassa – e.g. Garni Bel Sit or similar (~£35–50/night)

• →Travel to Campitello di Fassa via Verona or Venice by train and bus
• →Check in and settle into your guesthouse
• →Explore the village and grab dinner at a local restaurant
• →Review hiking trail maps and plan the week ahead

Take the Col Rodella cable car from Campitello (buy tickets on the day at the base station, ~£15–20 return). Follow the well-marked trail (path 525/526) along the southern flank of Sasso Lungo towards Rifugio Sasso Piatto at 2,400m. Continue on the high-level traverse and descend into the Val Duron to Rifugio Micheluzzi, from where a shuttle bus (Val di Fassa bus network, ~£3–5) returns you to Campitello. For a more challenging day, circuit the full Sasso Lungo massif anticlockwise (~19km, 6.5hrs). Stop for lunch at one of the rifugios along the route (~£10–15).

🚌Col Rodella cable car from Campitello (~£15–20 return). Val di Fassa public bus back to Campitello (~£3–5). Buy multi-day Mobilcard for valley buses (~£20 for 3 days).

🛏Garni or B&B in Campitello di Fassa (~£35–50/night)

• →Take the Col Rodella cable car up (~£15–20 return)
• →Hike the southern flank of Sasso Lungo to Rifugio Sasso Piatto (moderate: 16km, 4.5hrs)
• →Or tackle the full Sasso Lungo circuit (challenging: 19km, 6.5hrs)
• →Lunch at a mountain rifugio (~£10–15)
• →Return to Campitello by shuttle bus from Rifugio Micheluzzi

Take the public bus from Campitello to Pera di Fassa (Val di Fassa Mobilcard covers this), then ride three chairlifts up to Ciampedie at ~2,000m. From here, hike the high-level traverse through the Roda de Vael area, with panoramic views of the Catinaccio/Rosengarten massif. Stop for a scenic lunch at Baita Marino Pederiva (~£10–15). Descend via the Paolina chairlift and take the bus back to Campitello. For a more challenging option, push south to Passo Vaiolon at 2,561m before returning via Ciampedie.

🚌Val di Fassa Mobilcard bus to Pera di Fassa. Chairlifts to Ciampedie (~£20–25 return). Bus back from Pera to Campitello.

🛏Garni or B&B in Campitello di Fassa (~£35–50/night)

• →Bus from Campitello to Pera di Fassa (included in Mobilcard)
• →Ride three chairlifts to Ciampedie (~£20–25 return)
• →Hike the Roda de Vael traverse (moderate: 11km) or push to Passo Vaiolon (challenging: 12.5km)
• →Lunch at Baita Marino Pederiva (~£10–15)
• →Descend via Paolina chairlift and bus back to Campitello

Take a morning bus towards Lago di Fedaia (check Trentino Trasporti or local taxi share, ~£10–15). From the lake, join the famous Viel dal Pan trail heading west with sweeping views across the valley to Marmolada — the Queen of the Dolomites. Descend to Passo Pordoi and take the cable car up to Sass Pordoi (2,952m) for lunch with views of Piz Boè (~£15–20 return). Take the 'Moonwalk' summit path, then descend by cable car. Continue down to Pecol and take a gondola to Canazei, finishing with a gentle riverside walk or bus back to Campitello. Challenging option: summit Piz Boè at 3,152m.

🚌Bus to Lago di Fedaia (~£10–15). Pordoi cable car (~£15–20). Pecol gondola (~£10–15). Valley bus back to Campitello.

🛏Garni or B&B in Campitello di Fassa (~£35–50/night)

• →Bus to Lago di Fedaia (~£10–15 one way)
• →Hike the Viel dal Pan traverse westward (moderate: 12.5km) or summit Piz Boè (challenging: 16km)
• →Cable car up to Sass Pordoi for lunch and Moonwalk summit path (~£15–20 return)
• →Gondola from Pecol to Canazei (~£10–15)
• →Riverside walk or bus back to Campitello

Enjoy a well-earned rest day. Choose from a selection of optional activities: take a day trip to Bolzano by bus (~1.5hrs, ~£10–15 return) to visit the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology and see Ötzi the Iceman — one of Europe's best-preserved prehistoric humans (museum entry ~£13). Alternatively, hire a bicycle in Campitello for self-guided valley cycling (~£20–25/day rental). Or indulge in a visit to QC Terme Dolomiti spa in Pozza di Fassa (~£35–50 entry) for a relaxing afternoon among steaming outdoor pools with Dolomite views. A supermarket day with a picnic in the meadows is another great free option.

🚌Trentino Trasporti bus to Bolzano (~£10–15 return) or local bike hire in Campitello.

🛏Garni or B&B in Campitello di Fassa (~£35–50/night)

• →Option A: Day trip to Bolzano by bus to see Ötzi the Iceman (museum entry ~£13, bus ~£10–15 return)
• →Option B: Hire a bicycle and cycle the Val di Fassa valley (~£20–25 rental)
• →Option C: Visit QC Terme Dolomiti spa in Pozza di Fassa (~£35–50 entry)
• →Option D: Rest, picnic in the meadows, and explore Campitello village

Take the bus to Vigo di Fassa, then the cable car up to Ciampedie (~£15–20 return). Hike northwest to Gardeccia and then up the stunning Val di Vajolet, dominated by the six dramatic Vajolet Towers rising above you. Stop for lunch at Rifugio Re Alberto or Rifugio Principe (~£10–15) with spectacular views. Return via the same route to Ciampedie or take the optional chairlift descent to Pera. For a challenging day, press on over Passo Antermoia (2,770m) and descend past the glacial Lago Antermoia to Mazzin, catching the bus back to Campitello.

🚌Val di Fassa bus to Vigo di Fassa. Vigo cable car to Ciampedie (~£15–20). Bus from Mazzin to Campitello if taking challenging route.

🛏Garni or B&B in Campitello di Fassa (~£35–50/night)

• →Bus to Vigo di Fassa (Mobilcard or ~£3–5)
• →Cable car to Ciampedie (~£15–20 return)
• →Hike to Val di Vajolet and the iconic Vajolet Towers (moderate: 17km) or over Passo Antermoia (challenging: 19km)
• →Lunch at Rifugio Re Alberto or Rifugio Principe (~£10–15)
• →Return by chairlift to Pera or bus from Mazzin to Campitello

Take the bus to Pozza di Fassa, then ride the gondola and chairlift up towards Col Valvacin (~£20–25 return). Follow the ridgeline across a small peak to Sella Brunech, then climb to L'Aut (2,500m) in the Marmolada range — geologically distinct from the limestone Dolomites, formed by ancient black lava flows. Stop for lunch at Rifugio Ciampac (~£10–15). After lunch, take the gondola back down to the valley and enjoy a gentle riverside walk back to Campitello. For the challenging option, continue over Forcia Neigra (2,508m) to Rifugio Passo San Nicolò before descending to Alba for the bus home.

🚌Val di Fassa bus to Pozza di Fassa. Ciampac gondola and chairlift (~£20–25). Bus from Alba back to Campitello if taking challenging route.

🛏Garni or B&B in Campitello di Fassa (~£35–50/night)

• →Bus to Pozza di Fassa (Mobilcard or ~£3–5)
• →Gondola and chairlift to Col Valvacin (~£20–25 return)
• →Hike the ridge to L'Aut summit (moderate: 11km) or over Forcia Neigra (challenging: 11km with more technical ascent)
• →Lunch at Rifugio Ciampac (~£10–15)
• →Gondola back to valley and gentle riverside walk to Campitello

Enjoy a final breakfast in Campitello and soak in those last Dolomite views before heading home. Reverse your arrival journey: local Trentino Trasporti bus from Campitello to Trento (~2.5hrs, ~£12), then train to Verona or Venice for onward flights. If time allows, stop for a coffee and a slice of strudel in Trento's Piazza Duomo before continuing to the airport.

🚌Trentino Trasporti bus Campitello–Trento (~£12). Train Trento–Verona/Venice (~£10–15). Book at trenitalia.com.

• →Final breakfast and farewell to Campitello
• →Bus from Campitello to Trento (~2.5hrs, ~£12)
• →Train from Trento to Verona or Venice for onward flights (~£10–15)
• →Optional coffee stop in Piazza Duomo, Trento