Dolomites Alpine Rock

We hear ourselves telling people all the time that the Dolomites are the friendliest range on Earth, but it’s true: Nestled into the heart of the Alps near the border of Italy and Austria, the Dolomites are a world of breathtaking vistas, sunny stone, endless mountains, wildflowers, cappuccinos and streudel with no crampons or ice axes in sight. If you can imagine a sunny, green alpine wonderland with fantastically shaped rock towers, deep valleys and picturesque views all around, that’s the Dolomites. And the climbing's incredible!

Come join us in one of the best alpine rock climbing venues on the planet. This course is perfect for anybody looking to master the skills necessary to climb longer routes safely and efficiently, whether they’re in the alpine, the desert or anywhere in between. All you really need is a love of climbing and a willingness to learn, and we can handle the rest.

CLIMBING IN THE DOLOMITES

Whether you climb 5.4 or 5.14, the walls of the Dolomites have you covered. The climbs we’ll be on are all pure rock routes, but with an inarguably alpine feel.

We’ll move between skills sessions and climbing routes of all sizes with the goal of making you an efficient, competent and confident climber on multi-pitch rock. With small groups, short approaches, light packs and rock shoes, we can concentrate on the freedom of moving on stone. From ridges to roofs, faces, and slabs, from casual to severe, and from one pitch to forty (not kidding!), the Dolomites have it all.

If you feel comfortable climbing 5.8-5.10 in the gym, this trip is going to be perfect for you. Unlike the cracks of Yosemite or the tiny holds of Smith Rock, Dolomite limestone tends to be a little - well, either more fun, more straightforward, or both.

Each day we’ll head out in small groups and we’ll make sure you’re paired with climbers and climbs that match your ability so you don’t have to worry about being held back or pushed too far. Our expert guides will help you through the training and skills you need both on the ground and on route.

Our low ratios are what make this program unique. For instructional day we will pair up to three climbers per guide, while multi-pitch days will be strictly two climbers per guide to maximize your learning and give you the best experience of these incredible mountains.

FOOD & ACCOMMODATIONS

We’ll start our trip in the enchanting city of Venice - yes, that Venice! With the nearest major airport to the Dolomites, Venice is the perfect jumping off point for our trip, and we’ll be staying at the lovely Hotel Moresco, just a short walk from all of the famous sights of the city. If you’ve never visited before we recommend a few days to explore on either end of our trip. After a night in Venice we’ll head to Cortina d’Ampezzo (or more commonly just Cortina).

A picturesque Italian mountain town in the heart of the Dolomites, Cortina is the perfect hub for exploring mountains. We’ll enjoy the comfort of the Hotel Ambra Cortina, and with a range of fantastic bakeries and restaurants from pizzerias to wine bars and Michelin-starred fine dining, eating and drinking in Cortina is as much fun as it sounds.

In addition to our lovely hotels, we’ll also spend a night in one of our favorite mountain huts, the Rifugio Scoiattoli. Scoiattolo means squirrel, and the hut was built by a local mountain guide and member of the famous Scoiattoli Cortina climbing club. Sitting beneath the iconic Cinque Torri, these days the refuge is more like an alpine hotel than anything else, complete with showers, comfy beds and delicious food. It also has the most incredible views on the planet, and is about a ten minute walk from the climbs.

We like to try hard, but we also like to relax and live well, so we’ve hand-picked our favorite hotels, restaurants, bakeries and snacks to give you a taste of it all.

WHAT'S INCLUDED:

Low-ratio, personalized guiding from internationally-certified IFMGA Mountain Guides with local expertise
Group climbing equipment
Seven nights’ accommodation in luxury hotels and mountain huts
Daily breakfasts at hotels in Venice and Cortina
Welcome dinner and drinks in Cortina
Transportation to and from all climbing and cultural outings, including lift passes in and around Cortina
Daily gourmet lunches for climbing
Breakfast and dinner at the Rifugio Scoiattoli (Vegetarian and gluten-free meals are available, but celiacs or those with dietary restrictions may find huts challenging.)
Farewell dinner and drinks in Venice

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED:

Travel Protection
Airfare
Airport transfers (As Venice is a city entirely without cars, a €40 fixed-rate taxi ride and a sub-five-minute walk are the easiest way to reach the hotel.)
Personal climbing equipment (we will send a list of what's required)
Dinners for three nights in Cortina
Personal snacks while climbing
Bottled water, soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, snacks or extra food in the hut
Personal climbing equipment
Ability to control the weather (In a worst-case scenario we may have to change plans completely due to weather and conditions, but we’ll do our best!)
Gratuities for your guides
Any additional COVID requirements that may come up such as testing before we leave Italy (although we will organize and communicate any additional requirements)

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Ability to hike three miles over varied terrain while carrying a 15 lb backpack
Ability to do 20 squats
Ability to top rope 5.9 in the gym without taking or falling
Must know how to top rope belay
Must be 18 years of age or older
*Please note that it is mandatory for all participants to be fully vaccinated prior to attending this trip.

ROOM SELECTION & PRICING:

Private room $4,895 (Total of 4 available)
Bed in shared room $4,650 (Total of 6 available)
Please note that private rooms are not available in the Rifugio Scoiattoli, but we will have our own small rooms shared only with other trip participants.
The shared rooms have two beds per room. If you want to share a room with a friend each of you will need to book a "bed in shared room" and note who you would like to share with in the "special instruction" section at checkout.

The Schedule

Day 1: Benvenuti a Venezia!

You get yourself to the Marco Polo Airport in Venice and you’re almost there. A fixed-rate taxi ride (€40) will take you to the Piazzale Roma, which is as far as you can get by car in vehicle-free Venice. From there you’ll be less than a five minute walk from the gorgeous Hotel Moresco, itself just a short walk from the famous sights of this magical city. You’ll be on your own for the evening to explore, and your only job will be to find something tasty for dinner and to try to get some sleep.

Day 2: To the Mountains

We’ll officially start the trip with breakfast at the hotel before we load up for the two and a half hour drive to Cortina and our home for the week, the gorgeous Hotel Ambra Cortina. You’ll have the afternoon to relax, settle in and explore a little before we head out to a welcome dinner for our first taste of some of the dishes that make the region famous.

Day 3: Trad Climbing Workshop

We’ll start the day right with some proper Italian coffees and a breakfast buffet before we head out for a day of trad climbing instruction. We’ll start on the ground and will cover the basics of building a solid trad rack and selecting the right gear for different situations, and we'll practice gear placements for lead protection and anchors. We'll also talk about how to put those into action on leads, and we'll practice building anchors for top-rope and multi-pitch climbing using a variety of gear and equalization methods. After a day on the rock we’ll head back and let you loose for the evening.

Day 4: Multipitch Workshop

We’ll repeat our routine with breakfast before heading out to climb again. We’ll spend the morning near the ground working on a variety of skills and workshopping anchors and transitions for both up and down. We’ll practice moving groups of two and three in and out of anchors, working on belay techniques, efficient multipitch ascending and descending, and tips for fast and clean rope and station management. We’ll also dive into safe and effective tactics for multipitch rappels and how to get off routes quickly and securely, and we’ll once again finish up on the rock before coming back to town.

Day 5: Multipitch Climbing: Instructor-Led Climbing Day

After another great breakfast, we’ll head out in small teams of two climbers and a guide to climb. This day is meant to be pure fun as our guides lead you up a collection of Dolomites classics, but it’s also a chance for you to put all the skills you’ve learned into action on a world-class alpine rock climb. With our small teams, we can literally climb anything we want, from the Tre Cime di Lavaredo to the Tofana di Rozes, and you’ll have a world-class guide to ask questions and help you along the way.

Day 6: Optional Student-Led Climbing

This will be the culmination of everything you’ve learned so far, with a focus on getting you into the lead. We’ll once again start with breakfast before driving up to the Cinque Torri to climb for the day. The towers of the Cinque Torri (Five Towers, though there are actually more like nine) offer a huge array of routes from one or two pitches to five or six, making them the perfect place to practice leading, multi-pitch climbing and technical descents. We’ll help you through from planning and prep to execution before spending the night at the gorgeous Rifugio Scoiattoli, where a warm bed a three-course meal will be waiting for you. And don’t worry - if you’re not feeling ready to lead, you can always take the day to work on skills or go big again with your guide.

Day 7: Out of the Mountains and Back to Venice

After a great breakfast at the hut, we’ll hike the twenty minutes back down to the vans and drive back to Venice. We’ll spend another night at the Hotel Moresco, and go out for one last farewell dinner.

Day 8: Heading Home

Unfortunately all good things must come to an end, and you’ll have to go home. A short journey from hotel to airport should have you on your way. Of course we recommend staying a few days to relax, but that one’s up to you.

MEET YOUR GUIDES

Giulia Monego

IFMGA Mountain Guide / Superwoman

IFMGA Mountain Guide / Superwoman

A local through and through and our expert in all things Italian, Giulia was born in Venice and fell in love with the mountains sliding on snow in the Dolomites. She grew up as a ski racer, then switched to competing on the Freeride World tour, and is one of only a handful of women to complete the IFMGA certification in Italy. Giulia lives in Chamonix, France and works, skis and climbs full time. These days she even loves warm rock almost as much as cold snow, and can’t wait to bring her local knowledge to our programs in her old stomping ground.

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