A loop through the Dolomites

Route description

From Bolzano, head east through the Val Pusteria to Lago di Braies, an emerald lake below sheer cliffs, with rowing boats and a flat path around the shore. In high summer, road access is restricted and may require advance booking, so check before you go or take the bus. A mountain campsite in Dobbiaco is close by.

From Dobbiaco the road runs south past Lake Misurina to the toll road up to the Auronzo hut, the starting point for the easy trail that loops around the Tre Cime di Lavaredo. The three limestone towers are the symbol of the Dolomites, and the loop takes a few hours on a good path.

Descend to Cortina d’Ampezzo, a mountain resort ringed by peaks, and take the road over Passo Giau, a 2,236 m pass with tight hairpins and a wall of peaks at the top. Come at sunrise, when the light is best and the road is quiet. A mountain campsite near Cortina makes a good overnight stop.

The return to Bolzano follows the SS48 west over the Falzarego and Pordoi passes and then down through the Val di Fassa. The passes are usually snow-free from June to October, but they are busy with cyclists and motorbikes in summer, and the hairpins are tight for long vehicles.