Photography in the Italian Alps: an Artistic Journey into the Heart of the Dolomites

Arrival in Alta Badia on your own (private transfer on request) and check into your hotel.
Located in a large valley surrounded all around by the gorgeous peaks of the Dolomites, Alta Badia is truly the “heart of the Dolomites.” Geographically in the South Tyrol (Südtirol), this area was part of Austria prior to the First World War. Here you’ll find unique mountain scenery with villages rich in natural beauties and ancient traditions, witness the simple everyday life of the local people (the “Ladini”), as well as the customs and traditions of the ancient Ladin culture.
In the afternoon meet with your photographer guide for a trip briefing and orientation, route maps and everything necessary for your  adventure in the Dolomites.

In the morning take ta private transer to Badia (1,324m / 4,344') and take the chairlift to Santa Croce Sanctuary (2,045m/6,709'). These meadows are famous for the spring flowers in bloom which are simply spectacular. We will visit the little church and the typical, wood-coated, stube enjoying lunch here with fantastic views of the spires of Puez-Odle mountain range and Sass de Putia. After lunch, descend to San Leonardo and take a private transfer back to your hotel.
(~3-4 hours hiking, 9 km / 5,5 miles, 122m / 400' ascent, 762m / 2,500’ descent.)

In the morning private transfer to Passo Falzarego and ride the cable car up to the summit of Mount Lagazuoi (2,778m / 9,114'), a veritable castle of rock, with lots of spires, turrets and hidden military forts to explore. Here we will stop at Rifugio Lagazuoi, one of the highest rifugio in the Dolomites, where you can explore World War I tunnels built into the hillside. On its patios you feel as though you're sitting at the edge of the world, its spacious deck offers 360° view of the Dolomites! From here we will hike down, surrounded by spectacular views of the Cime di Fanis, and reach a rifugio for lunch. After lunch we will hike down to a restaurant situated just at the edge of the Natural Park, in an incredible setting. Private transfer back to your hotel.
(~5 hours hiking, 7 km / 4,2 miles, 1,052m / 3,451' descent.)

Within the enormous fortress-shaped Sella Massif is an excellent network of paths, and its sheer flanks are reserved for mountaineers and via ferrata experts. The mountain group boasts a 3,152-meter (10,341') pyramidal peak, Piz Boè, which can be seen from any of the four passes that bound the Sella Massif.
Today you’ll hike to a rifugio perched atop a natural rock balcony at 2,536 meters (8,320'), which offers incomparable  views of some of the most famous Dolomites’ peaks, including Marmolada (2,950m / 9,678') and Antelao (3,264m / 10,709'), the two highest peaks in the Dolomites.
(~4-5 hours hiking, 6 km / 4 miles, 300m / 1,000' ascent, 50m / 150' descent.)

After breakfast, take a private transfer to a restaurant built just at the edge of the Fanes-Sennes-Braies Natural Park, located in an incredible setting.
From here, begin your hike with a steep, 1,5-hour ascent. You will soon enter in a fairytale valley, set between mountains, carpeted with green pastures. You’ll hike numerous ups and downs for about 3 hours, until you reach a cozy mountain hut (2,104m / 6,903'). This cheery converted farm offers light meals (option to have lunch here). Pass by a beautiful mountain lake at 2,159 meters (7,083'), surrounded by gentians, buttercups, and globe flowers. Descend to a typical rifugio for lunch (not included). When you are ready to depart, return to the starting point along the same path, and take a private transfer to your hotel.
(~6-7 hours hiking, 18 km / 11 miles, 700m / 2,296’ ascent and descent.)

Today you’ll have plentiful opportunities to photograph the cooking, landscape, and animals of a traditional Ladino working farm. This dairy farm, situated at the foot of the Fanes-Senes-Braies Natural Park, is surrounded by meadows and woods above the village of Badia. We will explore the farm and its facilities, including the farmstead, the mill, the stable, and the hayloft, with the opportunity to learn first-hand about the daily life at the farmstead and capture images of the way of living. At noon we will delight a typical Ladino lunch in an old house. After lunch take a private transfer back to your hotel.
(~3 hours hiking, 5 km / 3,1 miles, 180m / 591' ascent, 274m/899' descent.)

Breakfast and departure on your own (private transfer on request).