dolomites Via Ferrata hut-to-hut hike: July 25- August 2, 2025
Into the Wild is a chance to take a moment for you. To dive deep into your wild woman self. To rediscover the wonder and beauty of both earth’s nature and YOUR nature. to do something you’ve never done before. To accomplish a feat that will challenge you and make you feel proud.
Interested in hiking the Dolomites- but want something a bit more daring and thrilling? This trip is for you! This Italian Dolomites thru-hike is just that: a hike lasting several days, through beautiful mountainous terrain like you’ve never dreamed of. Each day (except the rest day in the middle) involves both hiking and portions of Via Ferrata with scenery that will knock your socks off! This trip is NOT for a fair-weather hiker or somebody who’s never hiked before. It CAN be for somebody getting into hiking or who simply likes hiking, or somebody who’s never backpacked before, or somebody who’s willing to put in the time to train. It is definitely not for a person afraid of heights. If this is you- come join your trip leader, Taryn Langlois (@rootedwild) for an amazingly EXTRA adventurous trip! You absolutely must be physically ready by May 2025 for this trip.
Do you have an interest in hiking through the Italian Dolomites, up and down beautiful passes via hiking and Via Ferratas in the Brenta Nature Park? Do you desire to see the world through new eyes? To achieve a physical feat that you can look back on and be proud of? Self-rediscovery? Self-empowerment? Bringing out your inner wild woman?
If so- this retreat is for you, and women like you. Come as you are and leave as your best self, with new friends, new experiences, and a new zest for life and the outdoors.
Below is the information on what you’ll experience on this thru-hiking trip in the Dolomites.
Join us and rediscover your wild woman.
To see what 2023’s trip was like, follow me on instagram at @intothewild.adventure and check out the Dolomites highlight!
ITINERARY!
July 25: Meet up with the group anytime after noon in Venice! Today is all about gathering as a group and the first official meetup with everyone will be dinner. After dinner feel free to explore or hit the sack as tomorrow we travel out to the trailhead.
July 26: After breakfast, we will leave our non-trek luggage in storage and take a train/shuttle/bus out to Madonna di Campiglio, where the trailhead is! So that we don’t start out exhausted, we aren’t actually going to hike today. We will just be traveling and rent our Via Ferrata gear, then head to another hotel here for the night.
July 27: Let’s start the hike! Today we will travel 6 miles, gain 2000 feet of elevation, and do a beginner level via Ferrata to get you warmed up. The views every single day will be stunning, and this hike starts with killer scenes. Arriving into an adorable rifigio/hut, you can eat dinner and enjoy the scenery without a pack on your back.
July 28: Today’s hiking is 6.5 miles, and another 2000 feet of elevation gain. The Via Ferrata provides you with more stunning views and is marked as intermediate. There is a small glacier moraine to cross, and thus your packing list lists the required micro spikes that fit over your shoes just in case it’s icy (unlikely at the end of July). Night 2 in a different rifugio.
July 29: Today your hiking time is about 6 hours and you’ll travel 10 miles, gaining 2500 feet. You’ll also descend 3000 feet. The Via Ferrata section is so fun, marked at intermediate level. Night 3 of hut-to-hut in another great rifugio.
July 30: Today you’re hiking 10.5 miles which will take the group anywhere from 5-7 hours. The elevation gain is substantial today- 4200 feet. You’ll also descend 3700 feet. Enjoy your rest after an intermediate Via Ferrata at a cozy rifugio and enjoy that gourmet meal!
July 31: Last day of the hike! Hiking time is up to 7 hours today, 9 miles of walking and 2600 feet of elevation gain. You’ll descent 3300 feet. Today you’ll have the most adventurous of via Ferratas, but you’re an expert now, so you’ll have a blast! You’ll return back to your hotel that you stayed at on July 26th for the night.
August 1: We are going to reverse our journey back to Venice today- Bus/Shuttle/Train! When we arrive in Venice you have free time to do whatever you want until the closing dinner.
August 2: Time to go home- or extend your stay if you’d like. Please choose a flight that works well with a hotel check out time of 11am.
overview:
This trip to the Italian Dolomites will likely be the first to the area for many of you. Into the Wild is run by Wendy Wilder, and for this trip, Taryn will be your trip leader. She will have all the details laid out and ready for you- all you have to do is follow her lead and enjoy the experience of hiking (and doing daily Via Ferratas!) for miles and miles through absolutely stunning scenery.
pricing:
This hiking trip is priced at $2799. You may pay in one or two installments. This price will include the first night’s hotel stay in Venice, Italy, 2 nights in a mountain hotel, 4 nights in huts and mountain lodges (these are dorm style units that are safe, comfortable and amazing), all breakfasts, lunches and dinners, bus and train tickets to trailheads, and the last night’s stay in Venice, Italy. You will pay for anything else including your rental Via Ferrata equipment, extra alcoholic drinks, snacks, and souvenirs. You’ll also need to get travel insurance which isn’t too expensive, but it is required and proof must be provided. You’ll also be required to sign a liability waiver.
when:
July 25- August 2, 2025. You must book your flight to arrive on July 25th to Venice Airport to avoid problems with delays, etc. The transfer to Madonna Di Campilio, Italy, will happen on July 26th, and we will begin our trek on the 27th after we get our rental Via Ferrata equipment.
The hut-to-hut trek will include 4 nights stays in huts called Refugios (the first night before the hut is in a mountain hotel, as well as the night you finish hiking). These are not the small huts your mind might think of, but more like rustic hostels nestled in the Dolomite range, where we will sleep in dorm style (twin bed) rooms, dine on half-board meals (large portions, boasting the region’s delicious fares!) and beverages, and enjoy the magestic alpine views. Each night we will rest up, enjoy each other’s company and prepare for the next day’s adventure.
After these 6 days, we will transfer back to Venice. You will book your flights for the morning of August 2nd from Venice back to your home. Optionally you can stay in Venice on either end of the trip to get your sightseeing in!
Who:
Women who hike or who want to do intense hiking. Women who are not afraid of heights (this is really important and this is not the time to discover that you are indeed afraid of heights). Women from anywhere. Women with a passion for the outdoors (especially epic mountains!), travel, culture and meaningful experiences in the wild. Women who want to learn and discover what their limits are. Women who want to uncover or rediscover themselves. As stated above, you’ll need to train for this 6 day trek WITH a 20-30 pound pack. You can do this- but the effort involved is real.
Why:
When is the last time you enjoyed a week for yourself? To develop the inner you and to have adventures you deserve? This is a trip not to be missed in a location you need to visit in your lifetime! This hut-to-hut hike is the best way to see this part of the world and immerse yourself in Northern Italy’s amazing culture.
What:
A women’s adventure vacation built to help you rediscover you, your passions, and this beautiful earth you live on. An experience that will make you feel youthful and adventurous (and tired!). A moment to be close whatever it is that drives you. A bonding experience not to be missed.
We will hike together. Make lots of new friends, and laugh a lot. And we will create unforgettable memories, together, of course.
IMPORTANT NOTE: tHIS RETREAT WILL INVOLVE WILD ADVENTURES. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO STRIVE for and GET TO A MODERATE/advanced HIKE LEVEL BY May 15 2025 SO YOU CAN BE READY TO trek/hike and adventure WITH THE GROUP. iF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AT ALL ABOUT WHAT THIS MEANS, JUST ASK! wendy@intothewildphotocamp.com
Disclaimer: Due to the nature of retreat planning- there are not refunds, only re-sales of your ticket in which you must find a buyer. IMPORTANT: if you end up not being ready for this hike, you can transfer your ticket to another trip for a $500 fee plus the difference in costs between retreats.
Gallery photos are by @wechoseadventures and @rootedwild.
A mountain hut in the Italian Dolomites
Lago di Antermoia, a very cold, brilliantly colored lake that we will see on our trek!
We aim for friendships to be formed with other wild women- it’s one of the top features of Into the Wild retreats, as stated by women who’ve participated in the past. ALL rooms are SHARED rooms. Again, with the nature of the mountain huts, all rooms are shared occupancy. We know- this sounds scary. But it always turns out to be the best!
A reminder: your expenses are all paid, except your flights to and from Venice from your home, extra alcohol, extra snacks and any souvenirs. We cover lodging, activities, food, transport, etc!
Women often learn better through experiences with other inspiring women. This female only retreat will be filled with warm, open, inviting leaders and attendees, who are all ready and waiting for a creative, immersive, life-changing experience.
