Hiking in the Dolomiti di Brenta

Arrive in Madonna di Campiglio on your own and check in to your hotel (private transfer available on request).
Madonna di Campiglio (1,550m / 5,085') is an elegant town nestled in a breathtaking valley, surrounded by Adamello Brenta Natural Park on three of its four sides. Set between the Dolomiti di Brenta (Brenta or Western Dolomites) and the glaciers of Adamello and Presanella, Madonna is one of Italy’s most fashionable ski resorts, second only to the Dolomites’ Cortina d’Ampezzo.

Quintessentially Italian, and vibrantly attractive, Madonna di Campiglio offers considerable traditional charm, with elegant buildings that date back to the 19th century. And, thanks to the completion of a tunnel bypass in 2000, today the town is virtually car-free!
Depending on when you arrive, you may have time for a short hike or to explore the town.

Today you will experience a beautiful walk that showcases the pristine landscape that immediately surrounds the town of Madonna and makes the region so popular. This is a loop hike – and said to be one of Emperor Franz Josef’s favorites.
Starting from your hotel, you’ll walk first past the 19th century Santa Maria Antica church in the center of Madonna di Campiglio, before arriving at a notch in the rock overlooking Madonna di Campiglio: “Empress Square” and “Sissi Rock.” These stones sit in remembrance of where Empress Elizabeth of Austria used to stop to take in the panorama of Madonna di Campiglio during her walks, when the Empress and Emperor Franz Joseph were hosted by Madonna between 1889 and 1894. Continue your loop hike past a working shepherds hut and reach a local rifugio before returning to Madonna di Campiglio.
(~4-5 hours hiking 13,2 km / 8 miles, 650m / 2,132' ascent and descent.)

The Giro del Cinque Laghi, or Tour of the Five Lakes in English, is an incredible circuit that takes you past five glacial lakes in the Adamello-Presanella Alps. These lakes, surrounded by granite blocks and peaks, offer the perfect contrast to the dolomite and limestone landscapes you will be immersed in for the duration of your trip. Limestone, and its magnesium infused counterpart Dolomite, are porous, so lakes are less common in dolomitic landscapes.
(~4-5 hours hiking 10,9 km / 6,7 miles, 393m / 1,289’ ascent, 926m / 3,037’ descent.)

In the morning, take a private transfer to Val Nambrone. Today’s hike will take you to the heart of Val Nambrone, a 7-kilometer (4,2 miles) long valley formed by the glacier and famous for the abundance of lakes, waterfalls, and majestic views over the Brenta Dolomites. Begin to hike uphill for about one hour towards a local rifugio for a refreshment break. Continue your loop hike, initially gently uphill and later downhill in the direction of one of the most photographed lakes in the Presanella area. Shortly after the lake, you will reach a rifugio for a second break before hiking to the end of today’s circuit for your private transfer back to the hotel.
(~ 4 hours hiking 6,9 km / 4,2 miles, 570m / 1,870’ ascent and 357m/ 1,170' descent.)

Today's hike takes you along the base of the majestic Brenta Dolomites, leading to Rifugio Tuckett (2.272 m / 7,452') and ending at the Cascate Alte (High Falls) of Vallesinella.
The trail winds through a rugged landscape of Dolomitic boulders, scattered by erosion from the towering Brenta peaks above. As you near Rifugio Tuckett, perched on a dramatic karst terrace, the scenery becomes truly breathtaking, with Massari Peak (2.846 m / 9,333') and Cima Brenta (3.114 m / 10,213') dominating the backdrop.
The final stretch leads to the Vallesinella High Falls, where the crystal-clear waters of the Sarca di Vallesinella stream burst from the rocks like a natural fountain. Often hailed as the most stunning waterfalls in the Trentino region, they are a perfect finale to this hike.
(~4 hours hiking 10 km / 6,2 miles, 92m / 300’ ascent, 1,021m / 3,348’ descent.)

Despite its vicinity to the Brenta Dolomites, the Adamello-Presanella Group represents a fine example of geological co-existence. Whereas the Brenta Dolomites are characterised by calcareous-sedimentary rock shaped as stone castles, rock spires and sheer vertical walls, the Adamello-Presanella Group originated from volcanic magma trapped inside the Earth’s crust, creating an impressive mountain range of granite rock. Thanks to its impermeable nature, the Adamello-Presanella Group features the most extensive glaciers in the Eastern Alps. Despite their shrinking, this area still retains an incredible number of snowfields that contributed to the formation of alpine lakes, streams and waterfalls.

Today, you will enjoy an evocative loop hike with spectacular views of the Presanella Glacier to the North, the Adamello Group to the West and the Brenta Dolomites to the North-East, as you cross woodlands and grassy fields leading to three alpine lakes: Lago di San Giuliano, with its popular rifugio and the small chapel on the lake shores.
(~4-5 hours hiking 10,5 km / 6,4 miles, 560m / 1,835’ ascent and descent.)

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