Self-Launched Iconic Dolomites Hikes: Braies to Misurina
8 days · Dolomites, Italy
Exodus Adventure Travels charges £2,950
No-markup version: ~£600 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched, self-paced version of Exodus's 8-day Iconic Dolomites Hikes, based for a week in the village of Villabassa/Niederdorf in the Hochpustertal valley — right on the Italian-Austrian border. You'll hike the classic routes independently: the walk into Lago di Braies, the high pastures around Kreutzberg Pass and Alpe Nemes, the Strudelkopf summit, the full circuit of Tre Cime di Lavaredo, and Monte Piana's WWI open-air museum. Instead of a guided group, you use the superb South Tyrol public transport network (trains, PostBus/Dolomiti Bus, summer hiking shuttles) and self-booked via-ferrata-free day hikes. Costs are approximate backpacker/budget-hiker rates in GBP.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Villabassa (Niederdorf)
Villabassa / Niederdorf
Fly into Venice Marco Polo (VCE) — the cheapest gateway to this corner of the Dolomites. From the airport take the ATVO/FlixBus or Cortina Express coach to Cortina d'Ampezzo or Dobbiaco (Toblach), then the Pustertalbahn (South Tyrol railway) to Villabassa/Niederdorf station — total journey around 4–5 hrs, roughly £22–30. Alternatively take a train from Venice Mestre to Fortezza and connect onto the Pustertalbahn. Check into a family-run guesthouse or Gasthof in the village (many offer half-board). Spend the evening acclimatising, buying a South Tyrol Guest Card (usually free from your accommodation, giving free valley buses and museum discounts) and picking up hiking maps. Early night before the week's walking.
🚌Flight to Venice VCE, then coach + Pustertalbahn train to Villabassa (~£22–30)
🛏Family-run Gasthof/guesthouse in Villabassa (private room or shared dorm, £20–30 pp)
- →Settle into Villabassa village
- →Collect South Tyrol Guest Card from accommodation
- →Buy local hiking map and plan the week
- →Evening stroll along the Rienza river
Braies Valley to Lago di Braies
Lago di Braies (Pragser Wildsee)
The signature Dolomites lake, best reached on foot to avoid the summer car restrictions. Take the local bus from Villabassa to Monguia/Ferrara or the Braies Valley entrance (free with Guest Card, ~20 mins), then walk the valley trail up to Lago di Braies — around 7–10 km, 2.5–3.5 hrs, gentle gradient. Follow the route of the WWII SS hostages and learn about the 1945 hostage march on interpretive panels. Optionally extend to Malga Foresta/Plätzwiese hut for coffee (1.5 km, ~75 m ascent). In summer, boats can be rented on the lake; in peak season, arrive before 9am to beat crowds (or walk in on the traffic-restricted days). Packed lunch from your guesthouse; dinner back in the village.
🚌Local bus Villabassa–Braies Valley entrance (~20 min, free with Guest Card / ~£3)
🛏Same guesthouse, Villabassa
- →Braies Valley walk to Lago di Braies (~8–10 km)
- →WWII hostage route interpretive trail
- →Optional Malga coffee stop
- →Lake circuit photos
Kreutzberg Pass to Nemes Alm via the Austrian border
Kreutzberg Pass / Alpe Nemes
A high-pasture day along the Austrian border. Take the bus/shuttle towards the Kreuzbergpass (Passo Monte Croce Comelico) area, then hike a loop through alpine meadows and ridges with views to the Knieberg, Rotwand, Monte Popera and the Austrian frontier — roughly 12–14 km, 5–6 hrs, moderate. Stop at Alpe Nemes hut (Rifugio Nemes) for a hearty lunch of speck, cheese and polenta (€12–18). Return via the same or an alternate descent to catch the afternoon bus back to Villabassa. Bring layers — weather turns fast on these exposed ridges.
🚌Bus/shuttle to Kreuzbergpass trailhead (Guest Card / ~£4)
🛏Same guesthouse, Villabassa
- →High pasture loop along the Austrian border (~12–14 km)
- →Visit Alpe Nemes hut
- →Ridge views of Knieberg, Rotwand, Monte Popera
Strudelkopf summit and Dürrenstein hut
Strudelkopf / Landro
A summit day with views straight onto the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Monte Piana and Monte Cristallo. Take the bus to the Landro valley (Val di Landro) and hike up to the Strudelkopf summit (2,307 m) — around 10–12 km, 4.5–6 hrs, gaining ~700–800 m. Break at the Dürrenstein hut for lunch. This is an achievable, non-technical peak on well-marked trails, but check the weather — snow can fall even in September. In the evening treat yourself to a Tyrolean dinner (speck, canederli, strudel) at a local Gasthof, the closest DIY equivalent to the tour's gourmet dinner.
🚌Bus to Landro/Val di Landro trailhead (~25 min, Guest Card / ~£4)
🛏Same guesthouse, Villabassa
- →Summit Strudelkopf (2,307 m)
- →Lunch at Dürrenstein hut
- →Viewpoints over Tre Cime and Monte Piana
- →Tyrolean dinner in the village
Free day: Bolzano, Brunico or Lienz
South Tyrol / East Tyrol
A rest and culture day. Options: take the Pustertalbahn to Bolzano (~2 hrs) for the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology and Ötzi the Iceman (entry ~€13, book online); ride to Brunico/Bruneck (~25 mins) for its medieval centre, Messner Mountain Museum Ripa and castle; or cross into Austria to Lienz (~1 hr) for a coffee-and-cake Austrian day. For a gentler option, rent a bike and circle the Hochpustertal valley (e-bike hire ~£22–30/day) or simply use your guesthouse's sauna/wellness area. Trains run with regional passes and the Guest Card covers many local buses.
🚌Pustertalbahn train day trip (regional ticket ~£10–16 return)
🛏Same guesthouse, Villabassa
- →Ötzi Iceman museum in Bolzano (self-booked ticket)
- →Brunico old town and Messner Mountain Museum
- →Optional Lienz, Austria day trip
- →Optional e-bike hire around the valley
Tre Cime di Lavaredo circuit
Tre Cime di Lavaredo / Auronzo hut
The week's big-hitter. Take the bus to Misurina and the Tre Cime toll road shuttle up to Rifugio Auronzo (Auronzohütte) — the toll road is closed to private cars in summer, and the shuttle costs a few euros. Walk clockwise around the Tre Cime: ~10 km, 4–5 hrs, 400 m of gentle undulation, passing WWI fortifications, trenches, tunnels and commemorative plaques, with stops at Rifugio Lavaredo and Locatelli. Alternatively extend the loop to Rifugio Pian di Cengia or Langalm for a picnic backdrop. Bring a proper picnic lunch — this is the classic self-launched version of the tour's packed lunch on route.
🚌Bus Villabassa–Misurina + shuttle to Rifugio Auronzo (~£8–12 total)
🛏Same guesthouse, Villabassa
- →Full clockwise circuit of Tre Cime di Lavaredo (~10 km)
- →WWI trenches and fortifications
- →Rifugi Lavaredo and Locatelli stops
- →Picnic lunch with the north faces
Monte Piana WWI open-air museum and Lake Misurina
Monte Piana / Lago di Misurina
Head back to Misurina and climb Monte Piana's eastern approach — a plateau that was the site of brutal WWI mountain warfare between Italy and Austria-Hungary. The open-air museum has restored trenches, dugouts, tunnels and memorials, all freely walkable; ~8–10 km, 4–5 hrs with ~500 m gain. Afterwards, walk or bus down to Lake Misurina for an easy lakeside wander among alpine flowers (best late June–July) and a well-earned gelato. Last-night dinner in Villabassa — try the cellar restaurant of a village Gasthof for the traditional Tyrolean experience.
🚌Bus to Misurina (~30 min, Guest Card / ~£4)
🛏Same guesthouse, Villabassa
- →Monte Piana eastern ascent
- →WWI open-air museum: trenches and dugouts
- →Lake Misurina lakeside walk
- →Final Tyrolean dinner in a village cellar restaurant
Depart Villabassa
Villabassa to Venice
Breakfast at the guesthouse, then retrace your route: Pustertalbahn to Dobbiaco/Fortezza and coach or train to Venice airport (~4–5 hrs, £22–30). If your flight is late, spend a couple of hours in Cortina d'Ampezzo for a last Dolomites espresso. Allow at least 3.5 hours of travel before a Venice flight check-in, and consider buying a flexible regional rail ticket in case of delays. Many travellers extend a night in Venice or Cortina to bookend the trip.
🚌Pustertalbahn + coach/train to Venice VCE (~£22–30)
🛏N/A — depart
- →Optional stop in Cortina d'Ampezzo
- →Return journey to Venice airport
Self-launched vs. Exodus Adventure Travels
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Exodus Adventure Travels | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£600 | £2,950 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,350 per person (80%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Exodus Adventure Travels-style trips? Check them out here.~£600
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Iconic Dolomites Hikes: Braies to Misurina cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £600 per person for 8 days in Dolomites, Italy. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Exodus Adventure Travels?+
Yes — Exodus Adventure Travels charges around £2,950 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £600 — a saving of roughly £2,350 (80%) per person.
How long is the Dolomites, Italy trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Dolomites, Italy.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a hiking, adventure, culture trip through Dolomites, Italy, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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