Self-Launched Winter Hiking in the Italian Dolomites

Fly into Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) and make your way to Pescul in the heart of the Dolomites. The most budget-friendly option is the ATVO or ACTV bus from the airport to Venezia Mestre station (~£3), then the Dolomiti Bus regional service toward Selva di Cadore via Longarone and Agordo — expect a journey of around 3–3.5 hours with one or two changes and a total cost of roughly £10–15. Alternatively, a shared shuttle or pre-booked private taxi from Venice to the Val Fiorentina area costs around £50–70 per person if shared among 3–4 travellers (book via Dolomiti Shuttle or similar). Check into your chosen guesthouse or B&B in Pescul or nearby Selva di Cadore. Settle in, grab dinner at a local trattoria, and pick up trail maps from the tourist office.

🚌ATVO/ACTV bus from VCE to Venezia Mestre (~£3), then Dolomiti Bus regional service to Selva di Cadore (~£12). Alternatively, pre-book a shared shuttle for ~£55–70pp.

🛏Guesthouse or B&B in Pescul or Selva di Cadore — options include Agriturismo Al Palaz or similar local B&Bs from ~£35–50pp/night

• →Travel from Venice Marco Polo Airport to Pescul by regional Dolomiti Bus (via Longarone/Agordo, ~£12–15) or shared shuttle (~£55–70)
• →Check in to guesthouse/B&B in Pescul or Selva di Cadore
• →Pick up trail maps and local info from the Selva di Cadore tourist office
• →Welcome dinner at a local trattoria in Val Fiorentina (~£15–20)

Head out from your accommodation and follow the marked trail (Trail 472) through the larch woods of Val Fiorentina toward the Fertazza mountain hut at 6,033 ft, then push on to Rifugio Belvedere (6,830 ft) beneath Monte Fertazza. The route is approximately 7 miles with ~2,300 ft of ascent. Hire snowshoes and trekking poles locally from sport shops in Selva di Cadore or Caprile (e.g. Noleggio Sci Dolomiti) for around £15–20/day. For safety on your first day, consider booking a local alpine guide through the Cortina-based Scuola di Alpinismo or Collegio Guide Alpine Veneto — a shared guided day typically costs £40–60pp. Enjoy a hearty lunch at the rifugio (~£12–18) with spectacular views of Monte Civetta and Monte Pelmo before descending to the hotel in the early afternoon.

🚌Walk from accommodation — trail starts directly from Pescul village

🛏Guesthouse or B&B in Pescul or Selva di Cadore (~£35–50pp/night)

• →Hire snowshoes and trekking poles from a local sport shop in Selva di Cadore (~£15–20/day)
• →Hike Trail 472 through Val Fiorentina larch forest to Rifugio Fertazza (6,033 ft) and Rifugio Belvedere (6,830 ft) — ~7 miles, ~2,300 ft ascent
• →Lunch at Rifugio Belvedere with panoramic views of Monte Civetta, Monte Pelmo, Marmolada (~£12–18)
• →Optional: book a shared local alpine guide via Collegio Guide Alpine Veneto (~£40–60pp)
• →Descend back to Pescul via the same trail — chairlift option available payable locally (~£12)

Take the Dolomiti Bus from Selva di Cadore toward Livinallongo del Col di Lana (approximately 30–40 mins, ~£5). Begin your snowshoe route through the snow-covered forests of Andraz past the medieval Castello di Andraz, climbing the old military mule track to Passo Sief (7,245 ft). This is a more remote and unmarked route in the upper section — strongly recommended to hire a local guide for this day through the Cortina alpine guide association (~£40–60pp for a shared group). Pack a lunch from a local deli or bakery in the morning (~£6–8) as there are no huts along this route. Return to Livinallongo by mid-afternoon and catch the Dolomiti Bus back to your accommodation.

🚌Dolomiti Bus from Selva di Cadore to Livinallongo del Col di Lana and back (~£10 return)

🛏Guesthouse or B&B in Pescul or Selva di Cadore (~£35–50pp/night)

• →Dolomiti Bus from Selva di Cadore to Livinallongo del Col di Lana (~£5)
• →Snowshoe trek through Andraz forests past Castello di Andraz to Passo Sief (7,245 ft) — ~5 miles, ~1,970 ft ascent
• →Book a shared local alpine guide for this remote route (~£40–60pp via Collegio Guide Alpine Veneto or Scuola Alpinismo Cortina)
• →Pack a self-prepared lunch from local deli (~£6–8)
• →Return by Dolomiti Bus to Selva di Cadore (~£5)

This is the most challenging and remote day. Take the Dolomiti Bus or arrange a local taxi to Col de Mèz (roughly 45 mins from Selva di Cadore, ~£8–12 by taxi shared). The high-altitude loop to Forcella Forca Rossa (8,169 ft) via Valfredda and Fuciade is spectacular but exposed — hiring a qualified alpine guide for this day is strongly advised for safety on the final steep push (~£40–60pp). The trail climbs through quiet larch woods, crosses alpine pastures past the Casoni di Valfredda huts, and ascends to the panoramic Forcella Forca Rossa with views of Pale di San Martino, Civetta and Moiazza. Descend via the ridge to a groomed trail through the Fuciade valley. Stop for a well-earned lunch at Malga Fuciade (~£12–18), a charming Alpine dairy hut with a rifugio restaurant, before the easy forest descent back to the start point.

🚌Local taxi or arranged shared transfer to Col de Mèz (~£8–12pp each way)

🛏Guesthouse or B&B in Pescul or Selva di Cadore (~£35–50pp/night)

• →Local taxi or Dolomiti Bus to Col de Mèz (~£8–12pp)
• →Snowshoe loop: Col de Mèz → Casoni di Valfredda → Forcella Forca Rossa (8,169 ft) → Fuciade ridge — ~6 miles, ~2,130 ft ascent
• →Hire a local alpine guide for this exposed high-mountain route (~£40–60pp)
• →Lunch at Malga Fuciade rifugio (~£12–18)
• →Groomed trail descent back through the forest to Col de Mèz

On your final morning, take a local taxi or arrange a lift to the Fedare area below Passo Giau — one of the most photographed mountain passes in the world (taxi from Selva di Cadore ~£15–20pp shared). Follow the well-marked trail westward beneath the towering peaks above Passo Giau, gaining gentle elevation to the ridge with sweeping views of Marmolada, Gran Vernel, and the Pordoi-Sella group. The hike is short (roughly 3 miles, ~720 ft ascent) and ideal for a final morning. Stop for a last Dolomites lunch at Rifugio Fedare (~£14–20) with locally sourced mountain dishes. Afterwards, arrange your return to Venice — the Dolomiti Bus heads back toward Longarone/Mestre (~£15), or pre-book a shared shuttle to VCE for around £55–70pp. Allow at least 3.5 hours for travel to ensure you reach the airport comfortably.

🚌Local taxi to Passo Giau area (~£15–20pp shared), then Dolomiti Bus or shared shuttle back to Venice Marco Polo Airport (~£15–70pp depending on option)

🛏N/A — departure day

• →Local taxi to Fedare area below Passo Giau (~£15–20pp shared)
• →Short snowshoe ridge hike at Passo Giau — ~3 miles, ~720 ft ascent, with iconic panoramic views of Marmolada, Gran Vernel and Pordoi-Sella group
• →Final lunch at Rifugio Fedare with locally sourced Dolomites cuisine (~£14–20)
• →Return to Venice by Dolomiti Bus (~£15) or pre-booked shared shuttle (~£55–70pp)
• →Arrive Venice Marco Polo Airport in time for evening departures