Dolomites Explorer From Venice

Welcome to Venice! Make your way to our start hotel and settle in. Your first night in Italy's canal city is at leisure for you to explore.

Meet our tour leader and group in the hotel lobby at 8:20 after breakfast. We are then transferred to the iconic Piazza San Marco, known in English as St Mark's Square. From here, enjoy a morning of guided sightseeing. We take in the illustrious Palazzo dei Dogi and see the famous 'Bridge of Sighs'. After our walking tour of the city centre, we enjoy an included light lunch of 'cicchetti' and a glass of prosecco or a spritz. 'Cicchetti' is the Venetian take on Tapas, so where better to sample it than in the heart of the canal city!

After lunch, the rest of the day is free for you to further explore Venice. Perhaps pre-book a gondola ride, or visit one of the city's many galleries or museums. We spend a second night in Venice.

Venice - Asolo - Cortina d'Ampezzo. Departing Venice early this morning, we head to the medieval town of Asolo, nestled amongst the green hills of Treviso. The town's most famous landmark is a splendid fortress, perched on Monte Ricco. From here we enjoy panoramic views of the Old Town, including Piazza Garibaldi, the castle and historic cathedral.

From Asolo, we enjoy a scenic drive through Italy's prosecco region, arriving at a local winery in the heart of this wine-producing region. Enjoy a guided tour of the site and an included tasting of three Valdobbiadene wines paired with a selection of local meats and cheeses.

Our destination for the evening is Cortina d'Ampezzo, known as the 'Queen of the Dolomites'. This famous ski resort boasts incredible views of the Dolomites, a part of the Italian Alps.

Cortina d'Ampezzo - Lake Misurina - Lake Dobbiaco - San Vito di Cadore - Cortina d'Ampezzo. Departing the hotel after breakfast, we can see the three towering peaks of Tre Cime di Lavaredo in the Dolomite Valley before making our way to Lake Misurina, the largest of the region's lakes. Onwards to Lake Dobbiaco, famous for its emerald waters.

Our next stop is San Vito di Cadore, an idyllic mountain village. Here we can see the rugged peaks of Mount Antelao and Mount Pelmo, listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Enjoy the views of mountains, green meadows and dense conifer forests. We then return to Cortina for the evening.

Cortina d'Ampezzo - Lake Braies - Brunico (Bruneck) - Bressanone (Brixen) - Bolzano. Say goodbye to Cortina as we travel first to Lake Braies, home to crystal clear waters and a serene atmosphere. If conditions prevent us reaching the lake, we will instead visit nearby Lake Anterselva and have time for a stroll alongside the shoreline.

Next, we visit medieval Brunico, gateway to the Kronplatz Mountains. Enjoy a walk through the town, home to colourful buildings and a charming Old Town. See the 10th Century cathedral in nearby Brixen and enjoy the fusion of Italian and Austrian cultures. After some time to explore Brixen, we drive to Bolzano for our overnight stay.

Bolzano - Merano - Vipiteno - Bolzano. This morning we visit Merano, the second-largest city in the region after Bolzano, famous for its Christmas markets. Our sightseeing includes the Old Town and you can enjoy free time for lunch.

We make a short stop in Vipiteno, nestled in a picturesque corner of the Alps. There is free time here to wander around the medieval centre, shop for souvenirs and taste some more Alpine specialties.

Returning to Bolzano, we spend some time exploring the city. We visit the elegant Gothic cathedral and wander along the city's main street, Via dei Portici. Bolzano is a vibrant combination of Alpine and Mediterranean influence, and a wonderful place to explore. The evening is at leisure here.

Bolzano - Egna - Trento - Milan. Our final day begins with us following the oldest Italian wine route, passing vineyards, lakes and idyllic mountain villages. Stopping in the village of Egna there is time to explore and perhaps enjoy a glass of local Pinot Noir in the pedestrianized centre.

We visit Trento next, a city dominated by the Castello del Buon Consiglio. This 13th Century castle is an emblem of the powerful House of Habsburg, which dominated this region for many centuries. Visit Piazza Duomo to see the magnificent Cathedral of Saint Vigilius and enjoy free time for lunch before we make our way to Milan. Here our tour comes to an end.