4D/3N - 2020 the Dolomites - Small Group Tours

day 01 Milan-Verona-Canazei-Cortina d’Ampezzo

Depart at 08.30 from Milan (also possible directly from Hotel Mastino in Verona, joining the group at 10.30). Enjoy a short break to discover this beautiful city. This town is known all around the world for its Coliseum called Arena and main symbol as Juliet balcony, which represents the most important love-story of the literature, written by Shakespeare and inspired to real facts of the two enemy Verona families. We’ll visit the old square of the market, Piazza delle Erbe, surrounded by some of the most famous buildings, like Torre lamberti, the City Hall, the tribunal. You will have some free time for lunch. Then, we will head to Cortina d’Ampezzo with route through Val di Fiemme, Val di Fassa and Passo Pordoi, some of the most wonderful valleys of the Dolomites area. This region includes many small villages typical of a mountain setting. We stop in Canazei for a short visit, important place for tourism in all seasons, due to the wonderful view given by this part of Dolomites that call thousands of tourists every month. We arrive in Cortina d’Ampezzo, probably the most renowned one because of its historical importance in Italian summer and winter holidays since the 1950’s. The town is in the middle of a large valley of Boite. Cortina is not only a tourism resort but also the centre of traditional works, as for example, wood manufacturing. Depending on the arrival time, we invite you to a free tasting of two beautiful local products: Trentino apples and speck!

day 02 Cortina-Lake Misurina-Lake Braies-Pusteria & Badia Valleys-Gardena-Giau Pass

Today we travel to Lake Misurina situated in a perfect position amongst the woods and the three peaks of Lavaredo. Continue to Lake Braies, with the water a strange and shining colour blue that’s considered unique in the world, visit Val Pusteria and Val Badia, two of the most typical valleys of the region. Stop in a typical village and enjoy some free time. After lunch, we will cross the Gardena Pass coming back to Cortina through the amazing Giau Pass. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

day 03 Cortina-Falzarego-Costalunga Pass-Lake Carezza-Merano-Bolzano

We will drive through several Dolomite Passes, including Passo Falzarego which is situated in the basin that surrounds Cortina. Between Val di Fassa and Val Gardena, it gives us a marvellous view, both in winter and summer. Continuing through Passo Costalunga, we arrive at Lake Carezza. Stop to have a look at this wonderful Lake. Time is at leisure for lunch (own arrangements). After lunch, we depart to Merano, the second biggest city in the province after Bolzano. Famous worldwide for its Christmas market, Merano is also a charming and amazing cultural and historical centre. Visit of the old town. Second half of the day is dedicated to Bolzano. Important commercial centre in the Middle Age, it has increased its industry productions during the World War. Tourism still represents the first resource of local economy. Visit of Duomo: the Cathedral, with a gothic style, is considered as the symbol of the town; Dominican church, painted with frescos of Bolzano old school. Finally, we’ll visit the main central streets, as Via dei Portici, core of the Medieval town. Rest of the evening free for your personal visits.

day 04 Bolzano-Trento-Milan

Travel to Trento, the city is dominated by the castle, known as del Buon Consiglio, symbol of the House of Habsburg which headed the district for many centuries, Santa Maria Maggiore, built in the XVI century and one of the first works of Renaissance and Gothic age, then to the Palazzo Geremia, a building that representative of the XVI century. Time at leisure for lunch and return to Milan where your tour ends upon arrival.

Inclusions: twin share in quality 3/4* hotels, breakfast daily, deluxe coach, complimentary wi-fi on board, English speaking tour leader (leaving from 9 participants; from 1 to 8 participants, only driver speaking English), small group tour, apples and speck tasting in the Dolomites region, taxes and services, complimentary travel guide.

Hotels: Cortina d’Ampezzo-Villa Neve, Bolzano-Parkhotel Luna Mondschein (or similar)

Excluding: entrance fees, meals, porterage and city tax to be paid directly to the hotels.