Hi Mel,
Val Gardena and Cortina d’Ampezzo are the most popular areas of the Dolomites. Regardless, it is a good idea to divide your time between the Puez-Odle area and the Ampezzo/Braies/Sexten area. If you stay in Val Gardena, stay in Santa Cristina, or Selva. You could also stay in Alta Badia (La Villa, San Cassiano) rather than Val Gardena.
For visiting Seceda, I think you’d like the Monte Pic-Seceda route.
If you stay in Cortina d’Ampezzo, definitely check out the Tofana di Rozes circuit trail.
If you want to see Tre Cime di Lavaredo a “secret way,” consider hiking the Torre dei Scarperi hike.
If you visit Val di Funes, take a look at the Tullen summit hike, a very quiet peak hike.
Have an amazing trip!
Sabrina
Hi Marc,
Thank you so much!
Have you considered neighboring Alta Badia. Val Gardena and Val Badia are linked by the Südtirolmobil transit system. Use their journey planner to find the best bus connections.
All the best,
Sabrina
What a great site, well done! I am looking to base out of Val Gardena for a few days and then go to a second location for a few days. I will not have a car and was looking for recommendations of where I can go via public transportation (bus), along with which bus route it is.
Grazie,
Marc
Hi Andy,
We haven’t traveled by transit between Lake Garda and the Dolomites, but it looks like there’s a bus from Affi to Bolzano (2 hours), operated by Curcio Viaggi. From Bolzano, you can take a a direct bus to Ortisei in Val Gardena, which is a great base for seeing Seceda and Alpe di Siusi. A car will probably be the easiest.
Good luck,
Sabrina
Hi Lotus,
I would leave your luggage in your hotel in Cortina, before heading to Lago di Braies, and then return to Cortina post-trek. From Cortina, you can take the Cortina Express to Alta Badia. And, if you want to continue to Val Gardena, that’s easy to do with South Tyrol transit.
All the best,
Sabrina
Hi Kinny,
I would stay in Ortisei, if you’re traveling without a car.
All the best,
Sabrina
Hi Ethney,
It’s not great for solo-traveling in terms of a vibrant social scene. However, there are many places where people gather (town squares, mountain huts, etc…).
In terms of safety, many easy-moderate hikes/walks are absolutely suitable for solo adventuring.
Best wishes,
-Sabrina