Sappada

We crossed the border with Italy after spending some days near the ZugSpitze near the German-Austrian border.

We stayed at the basic campsite near Sappada. A beautiful and remote area. Few non-italian tourists and therefore the local population speaks little English or German.

On the other hand we survived the local restaurant with some help and had a very nice meal. Unfortunately the rain had followed us across the Brenner pass and we had thunderstorms in the evening.

Tre Cime di Lavaredo (Drei Zinnen)

Trying to avoid the rain we continued our journey to the south.

We travelled to the tourist attraction Tre Cime di Lavaredo with characteristic peaks. After paying a fee you can drive to Rifugio Auronzo practically at the base of the mountains. You have a wonderful view of the surrounding landscape. Several hikes varying in difficulty can be made conveniently starting from the parking lot.

Cortina

Our next stop was in Cortina.

We stayed at the Olympia campground. The camprgound stretches along the river and is acceptable for a limited stay, but with the primarily focus on caravans and campers. Very limited options for tent camping. The surface doesn't handle extensive downpour very well.

We visited the market in Cortina and bought local sausages.

Near Cortina you got enough options for hiking. Although with the rain it was not very interesting to take the cable cars up the mountain With low hanging clouds we couldn't see much and we stayed at the lower trails.

Several nice trails start near Passo Falzarego and you will also meet a lot of cyclists riding the summits. Try the nice restaurant Ristorante Col Gallina just before arriving the final summit coming from Cortina. They serve good local food e.g. polenta dishes, grilled vegetables.

Trento

The city of Trento at the borders of the river Adige is a nice town with a lot of shops in narrow streets.

The city of Trento and the surrounding valley can get pretty hot in the summer months. In that case drive into the hills with numerous small lakes. Relax at the borders of these lakes, take a swim or take a cable car into the higher mountains.

In these hills the temperatures get more comfortable and the wind provides some coolness. Most famous mountains in the vicinity are Monte Bondone and Monte Baldo. Both are very accessible and offer possibilities. In the summer leave early to avoid the worst heat and take a lot of water.

Terlago

We stayed at the camping at Monte Terlago. Not to be confused with the camping near the lake of Terlago. A small campground with a pizza restaurant and swimming pool. A good starting point for the exploration of the area.

In particular take the opportunity to hire a guide for more adventurous hiking, sport climbing or making a klettersteig (Via Ferrata). The campground host can help you with the arrangements for a decent price.

Through a short hike from the campground you can reach Lamar Lake for swimming.

The next day we drove to Lake Molveno for a picnic at the borders of the lake. Later we took the cable car from Madonna di Campiglio to the Passo Groste. From the Rifugio Stoppani we hiked down into the valley.

Another good trail near Madonna di Campiglio is the 5 Lakes Tour. Pack food & drinks for a good day hike. Be prepared for weather changes and expect 6 hour of walking. You get great views and pass the 5 lakes along the way.