Highlights of the Dolomites

48 Reviews

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  Anonymous
  Written on August 7, 2013

  5.0 - Excellent

  I loved this trip - perfect combination of brilliant leaders (Albert & Eric), superb hiking, spectacular scenery and great company. I chose this over the Classic Dolomites since I don't have a great head for heights but from what I saw and heard while I was there the Western Dolomites trip has the definite edge. One to put on your bucket list!What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?360 degree views nearly all day every day. The Via Ferrata trip Eric offered on our (and in theory, his) day off - given my poor head for heights it says something for the confidence I had in him (and support from the rest of the group) that I decided to give it a go. I was really glad I did, we had a brilliant day. What did you think of your group leader?Albert & Eric were superb, can't praise or thank them enough. They were also wonderful company and a mine of information about the area and people. I can see myself choosing future trips on the basis of which ones they are leading!Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Don't be put off by the sense from the website that this is the poor relation to the Classic Dolomites - it's anything but that! Quite the contrary I'd say. And don't decide on the basis of the comments about the hotel or food. Hotel Laurino was a really nice place to stay - it was great being in a town and being able to go for a stroll or drink in the evening, the rooms were lovely and impeccably clean, the staff were super and nothing was too much trouble. I agree with the reviews about the food - it's pretty average and a bit bland but the location, facilities and staff more than compensated. And there was buckets of food so it certainly wasn't a case of going hungry. Anyway save space for mid-morning and lunch at the refuges - they were fantastic.Is there anything else you would like to add?I would go back in the morning!
• 

  Anonymous
  Written on August 7, 2013

  5.0 - Excellent

  I loved this trip - perfect combination of brilliant leaders (Albert & Eric), superb hiking, spectacular scenery and great company. I chose this over the Classic Dolomites since I don't have a great head for heights but from what I saw and heard while I was there the Western Dolomites trip has the definite edge. One to put on your bucket list!What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?360 degree views nearly all day every day. The Via Ferrata trip Eric offered on our (and in theory, his) day off - given my poor head for heights it says something for the confidence I had in him (and support from the rest of the group) that I decided to give it a go. I was really glad I did, we had a brilliant day. What did you think of your group leader?Albert & Eric were superb, can't praise or thank them enough. They were also wonderful company and a mine of information about the area and people. I can see myself choosing future trips on the basis of which ones they are leading!Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Don't be put off by the sense from the website that this is the poor relation to the Classic Dolomites - it's anything but that! Quite the contrary I'd say. And don't decide on the basis of the comments about the hotel or food. Hotel Laurino was a really nice place to stay - it was great being in a town and being able to go for a stroll or drink in the evening, the rooms were lovely and impeccably clean, the staff were super and nothing was too much trouble. I agree with the reviews about the food - it's pretty average and a bit bland but the location, facilities and staff more than compensated. And there was buckets of food so it certainly wasn't a case of going hungry. Anyway save space for mid-morning and lunch at the refuges - they were fantastic.Is there anything else you would like to add?I would go back in the morning!
• 

  Anonymous
  Written on August 2, 2013

  5.0 - Excellent

  I really enjoyed this trip and I would say the highlight for me was the variety of scenery, not just over the course of the week but on each walking day! Stunning limestone towers and very Austrian style rolling meadows with the greatest profusion of alpine flowers I have ever seen each day. Both the leaders were very experienced and a good laugh too. Although some have stated the hotel was basic, I found it clean and comfortable and the food was certainly better than last years TMB highlights trip! Overall a very enjoyable holiday with a lovely group of people and I would thoroughly recommend it. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Walking through the stunning limestome scenery close to the Vajolet towers. Just awesome!What did you think of your group leader?Very experienced and a nice bloke. I did find the pace a bit faster than I would have liked on some days (B grade walks too) but that was probably more due to my recovering from a knee injury unfortunately sustained not long before my holiday. If you are thinking of C grade you will need to be pretty fit.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Go and enjoy yourself!Is there anything else you would like to add?Make sure you have lots of space on your camera's memory stick and don't let your fellow group members know if you have a passion for the local bakery and gelaterie!!
• 

  Anonymous
  Written on August 2, 2013

  5.0 - Excellent

  I really enjoyed this trip and I would say the highlight for me was the variety of scenery, not just over the course of the week but on each walking day! Stunning limestone towers and very Austrian style rolling meadows with the greatest profusion of alpine flowers I have ever seen each day. Both the leaders were very experienced and a good laugh too. Although some have stated the hotel was basic, I found it clean and comfortable and the food was certainly better than last years TMB highlights trip! Overall a very enjoyable holiday with a lovely group of people and I would thoroughly recommend it. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Walking through the stunning limestome scenery close to the Vajolet towers. Just awesome!What did you think of your group leader?Very experienced and a nice bloke. I did find the pace a bit faster than I would have liked on some days (B grade walks too) but that was probably more due to my recovering from a knee injury unfortunately sustained not long before my holiday. If you are thinking of C grade you will need to be pretty fit.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Go and enjoy yourself!Is there anything else you would like to add?Make sure you have lots of space on your camera's memory stick and don't let your fellow group members know if you have a passion for the local bakery and gelaterie!!
• 

  Anonymous
  Written on July 29, 2013

  5.0 - Excellent

  Fantastic! This is a great walking week with stunning scenery, good food, nice hotel and 2 excellent tour leaders. A must do holiday for anyone who loves the mountains......it's walking at its best.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Too many to choose from!! Each walk was so different, and each day had its own highlight. The scenery is truly stunning throughout. What did you think of your group leader?They were both great. Eric lead the B group walks and Albert the C group. They were both full of fun and enthusiasm and made each day interesting. Don't think I've ever laughed so much on an Exodus walking holiday!! They were well organised, considerate for all individuals within the group, good company and knew the walks and mountains extremely well. Both very experienced mountain leaders.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Take walking poles as lots of steep descents on C group walks and they definitely came in useful. A reasonable level of fitness is required as walks are challenging but incredibly rewarding.Is there anything else you would like to add?This really is a fabulous weeks walking, one of the best I have done. Don't understand why Exodus don't run it more frequently......they should do! I have only good things to say about it, so my advice is just book it, enjoy it and have fun.!! This is the ultimate Dolomites holiday.
• 

  Anonymous
  Written on July 29, 2013

  5.0 - Excellent

  Fantastic! This is a great walking week with stunning scenery, good food, nice hotel and 2 excellent tour leaders. A must do holiday for anyone who loves the mountains......it's walking at its best.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Too many to choose from!! Each walk was so different, and each day had its own highlight. The scenery is truly stunning throughout. What did you think of your group leader?They were both great. Eric lead the B group walks and Albert the C group. They were both full of fun and enthusiasm and made each day interesting. Don't think I've ever laughed so much on an Exodus walking holiday!! They were well organised, considerate for all individuals within the group, good company and knew the walks and mountains extremely well. Both very experienced mountain leaders.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Take walking poles as lots of steep descents on C group walks and they definitely came in useful. A reasonable level of fitness is required as walks are challenging but incredibly rewarding.Is there anything else you would like to add?This really is a fabulous weeks walking, one of the best I have done. Don't understand why Exodus don't run it more frequently......they should do! I have only good things to say about it, so my advice is just book it, enjoy it and have fun.!! This is the ultimate Dolomites holiday.
• 

  Anonymous
  Written on July 24, 2013

  5.0 - Excellent

  I found this a very rewarding trip with some of the most excellent walking I have done on a group holiday. The leaders were top notch and made the whole experience very enjoyable, not to mention a lot of fun.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?The view from the top of the cable car on the first walk set the scene for the whole holiday.Discussing the possibility of other trips with the leadersWhat did you think of your group leader?They were both excellentDo you have any advice for potential travellers?Just enjoyIs there anything else you would like to add?The walking was at the top end of the grade for this holiday which made the experience all the more satisfying, this together with a great group of people made it an unforgettable holiday.
• 

  Anonymous
  Written on July 24, 2013

  5.0 - Excellent

  We chose this trip because we imagined that we could manage C grade walking but wanted the daily availability of the B grade in case we needed an 'easier' day. Having two leaders made this possible. All the walks exceeded our best expectations. Each one had a distinctive character of its own.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?There were many wonderful moments every day because the scenery was stunning and our fellow walkers were interesting, enthusiastic and had a good sense of humour, as did our leaders. By the end of the week we all felt a great sense of achievement.What did you think of your group leader?Our group leaders really did bring out the best in everybody. They were very knowledgeable, good company and always attentive to our needs.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Take walking boots that have been tried and tested. Some might find a single mountain walking stick useful for descents.Is there anything else you would like to add?Go for it -you'll remember the experience with pleasure for years to come and it will inspire you to seek out more adventures!
• 

  Anonymous
  Written on July 24, 2013

  5.0 - Excellent

  I found this a very rewarding trip with some of the most excellent walking I have done on a group holiday. The leaders were top notch and made the whole experience very enjoyable, not to mention a lot of fun.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?The view from the top of the cable car on the first walk set the scene for the whole holiday.Discussing the possibility of other trips with the leadersWhat did you think of your group leader?They were both excellentDo you have any advice for potential travellers?Just enjoyIs there anything else you would like to add?The walking was at the top end of the grade for this holiday which made the experience all the more satisfying, this together with a great group of people made it an unforgettable holiday.
• 

  Anonymous
  Written on July 24, 2013

  5.0 - Excellent

  We chose this trip because we imagined that we could manage C grade walking but wanted the daily availability of the B grade in case we needed an 'easier' day. Having two leaders made this possible. All the walks exceeded our best expectations. Each one had a distinctive character of its own.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?There were many wonderful moments every day because the scenery was stunning and our fellow walkers were interesting, enthusiastic and had a good sense of humour, as did our leaders. By the end of the week we all felt a great sense of achievement.What did you think of your group leader?Our group leaders really did bring out the best in everybody. They were very knowledgeable, good company and always attentive to our needs.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Take walking boots that have been tried and tested. Some might find a single mountain walking stick useful for descents.Is there anything else you would like to add?Go for it -you'll remember the experience with pleasure for years to come and it will inspire you to seek out more adventures!