This journey will based around Cortina d’Ampezzo in the North West of the Dolomites.  From our base camp location outside Cortina we will trek for 4 days and will include two classic Via Ferrata ascents – Monte Paterno/Paternkofel (2744m) and Tofana de Rozes (3225m). We will also make a circuit around the world famous Tre Cime/Drei Zinnen.  This will be an adventure journey of some long mountain scrambles, Italian hospitality and legendary Dolomite summits.

Day 1 (Mon) – You will be picked up from Venice airport and driven two hours north through the Dolomite mountains. This is a lovely drive through small Italian villages and our destination is our base camp at Camping Olympia outside Cortina D’Ampezzo.  This is a friendly and quiet campsite surrounded by cool forests.  We will put up tents and cook a meal together.

Day 2 (Tue) – Today is a shorter day to start our journey.  We will begin by the beautiful Lake Misurina (1750m) and walk up for coffee at the Rifugio Col de Varda (2115m), or if you like you can take the chair lift.  We will then have a 2 hour walk/scramble to end our day at Rifugio Fonda Savio (2367m).

Day 3 (Wed) – We will continue through the high mountains following paths and rough roads to ascend Monte Paterno/Paternkofel at 2744m. This is an easy scramble on Via Ferrata cables and takes us over the Austrian/Italian front line from the First World War.  We descend the far side to overnight at the famous Drei Zinnen Hutte at 2405m, where we have a beautiful view of the three towers.

Day 4 (Thu) – This will also be an easier day. We begin by walking around the Drei Zinnen peaks before descending back down to Lake Misurina.  We will drive for about 30 minutes to the west side of Cortina before walking up the trail to the Rifugio Dibona at 2037m.

Day 5 (Fri) – This will be a more challenging adventure day. with a long 1200m ascent of Tofana de Rozes (3225m) following the Via Ferrata Giovanni Lipella, so we will start early.  This is a spectacular scramble and mountain journey.  It is rated a grade 4 Via Ferrata so you will need to be comfortable with steep and exposed ground.  However, it is never too difficult, just long, and you will be safely connected to protective steel cables.  We descend the far side and return to our base camp in Cortina for showers and dinner.

Day 6 (Sat) – We will pack up our base camp and have a return drive south through the mountains arriving at Venice airport around 13.30.