Tinted in weathered shades of rose, yellow and gray, the fairy-tale spires and dramatic rock walls of the Dolomites rise in elegantly chiseled shapes of fantastic form, looking every inch like a landscape devised by the gods. And if this isn’t exactly heaven, well, it’s about as close as you can get.
The Dolomites were named after Deodat de Dolomieu, a French geologist who discovered an unusual carbonate rock with foreign properties in 1789. “Dolomite” became the name of both the mineral as well as the mountain range in which he found it. The Dolomites form part of the Oriental Italian Alps and are situated between the Austrian border to the north and the Venetian plain to the south.
Long known as a paradise for rock climbers, the Dolomites are a great destination for fit hikers and bikers as well. Charming hotels in narrow pretty valleys make comfortable “base camps,” from which we’ll venture out each day for an invigorating bike ride along rugged trails.
Wild alpine meadows, deciduous and evergreen woods, high altitude lunar-like terrain soaring peaks, dramatic walls and towering heights alternate with the refined Venitian town of Cortina D’Ampezzo which has preserved the atmosphere that the first English tourists found almost two centuries ago and the South Tyrolean town of Corvara at the foot of impressive Dolomitic rock-walls.
We’ll see by bike the best the Dolomites have to offer, including the majestic Sella and Tofane massifs and some of the most incredible parks in the Dolomites: the Fannes – Sennes – Braies and the Dolomiti Ampezzane Natural Parks. On the trail, you’ll only need to carry a light daypack with the daily essentials (camera, water bottle, jacket, and an occasional packed lunch).