Summer 3-day trip to the Dolomites
- Anamarija Truden
- Jul 14
- Branje traja 5 min
Introduction to the Magical Dolomites
We visit the Dolomites at least twice a year – we’re simply always enchanted by their stunning nature, fresh mountain air, scenic hiking trails, and crystal-clear lakes. This time, we spontaneously decided to go on a trip just at the start of the summer season – and the timing was perfect. The mountain passes greeted us with pleasant freshness, and the trails weren’t overcrowded yet, creating ideal conditions to explore this alpine paradise.
Trip Preparation
Since we decided to sleep in the car this time, the preparations were a bit more extensive. First, we mounted a roof box to pack all our cooking and camping gear. We transformed the back of the car into a sleeping nook with a mattress topper, bedding, and a warm sleeping bag – just in case the nighttime mountain chill surprised us. We also packed some basic food, clothes for both warm and cold weather, hiking shoes, poles, and backpacks.
We planned our route and hikes during the drive – getting to our first stop, the Passo delle Erbe, took about five hours, which gave us plenty of time to think and adjust according to the weather and our inspiration.
Day 1: Passo delle Erbe and Sass de Putia
We hit the road the afternoon before, as it took us a bit more than 5 hours to get from Ljubljana through Tarvisio to the starting point. We slept near Passo delle Erbe, where we set up our camp the next morning. After breakfast, we set off on a beautiful circular hike around Sass de Putia. The weather was sunny and the views were stunning.
Along the trail, there were several mountain huts, but we especially recommend a stop at Ütia de Göma, where we enjoyed an excellent goulash with bread dumplings, and polenta with cheese, mushrooms, and sausage.
When we returned to the car, a brief summer storm surprised us – just enough to cool us down and rock us into a pleasant afternoon nap. In the evening, the skies cleared again and we had dinner with a magical view – simple pasta, but with scenery that makes any meal unforgettable.
Day 2: Adolf Munkel Trail and Passo Gardena
We woke up to a chilly but sunny morning at the pass and continued our journey after breakfast to Zanser Alm, the starting point for the famous Adolf Munkel Trail. It’s a picturesque circular route with stunning views of the Puez-Odlemountain range – one of the most beautiful in the Dolomites. Several mountain huts along the way offer excellent local food – a real reward during or after the hike! (Try the tiramisu at Geisler Alm and don’t miss the goulash at Gschnagenhardt Alm!)
The hike took us a little over 4 hours, including a lunch and snack break. After that, we headed toward Passo Gardena. Since it was closed for maintenance until 6 p.m., we used the time to stop at a bar below the pass – we enjoyed a snack and played a game of table tennis.
Once the pass reopened, we drove to the top, walked to Jimmy Hütte, and later prepared a “romantic” dinner in the parking lot. We ended the day watching the golden sunset over the mountains.
Day 3: Passo Sella and Sassolungo
We woke up to a calm, cold morning with a sunrise at Passo Gardena. After breakfast, we headed to Passo Sella, where we started our hike around the mighty Sassolungo massif – located between Val Gardena and Val di Fassa.
The trail was mostly easy with some ascents and led us past breathtaking views and several mountain huts. For a sweet break, we stopped at Rifugio Sasso Piatto, where we enjoyed a warm apple strudel with vanilla sauce. We had lunch at Rifugio Emilio Comici – excellent, but much pricier than other huts, so we recommend having your main meal elsewhere.
If you have the time and energy, it’s worth making a detour to Rifugio Vicenza – experiencing the true Dolomite atmosphere in the heart of rocky mountains is unforgettable.
Though the trail is quite long and includes some elevation gain, it’s diverse, scenic, and truly worth the effort.
With this hike, our Dolomite escape came to an end, and we had a long journey home ahead. But these places enchant us every time – and we’ll definitely be back soon.
Tips and Other Information
Wild camping in the Dolomites is not allowed, especially where signs explicitly prohibit it. However, at some mountain passes, it is possible to stay overnight in parking lots. Parking fees vary between €8–€20 per day. With this kind of travel, it’s important to be respectful of nature and other visitors, and always clean up after yourself!
This style of travel has both pros and cons, so it’s definitely not for everyone. You need to be comfortable with camping in nature and have the necessary gear. Showers/toilets are often unavailable, and nights at the passes can be very cold – or in summer, thunderstorms are common. So carefully consider your skills and knowledge before embarking on this kind of adventure.
There are also many advantages – mainly the freedom to go wherever, whenever, without a reservation, being right next to hiking trailheads, enjoying stunning views, and the fact that this kind of trip can be much more affordable.
Don’t forget warm clothes for chilly evenings. Even if daytime temperatures soar above 30°C, it can drop below 10°C at night. So always bring warm long layers, a down jacket, windbreaker, hat, and gloves.
Hiking trails in the Dolomites are very well-marked, and quite popular, so it’s hard to get lost. Still, for longer hikes, we recommend checking the map beforehand and downloading it to your phone/watch.
Final Thoughts
Our trip to the Dolomites brought us much more than just beautiful photos and new trails. It helped us disconnect from daily worries, breathe deeply, and take time for ourselves. In nature, we found space for peace, reflection, and the simple joy of movement.
We recommend everyone to take time to explore nature – whether it’s in the Dolomites or somewhere else. It doesn’t have to be perfect or planned down to the last detail. What matters is that you go, that you experience something unique and authentic.
We hope this blog helped you with planning your trip. Below, you can also find our mini guide with trailheads, technical trail info, other tips, and trip details.