Dolomite Mountains Small Group Day Trip from Venice

Venice, Italy

Travel into the exquisite mountain scenery of the Dolomites on a minivan day trip from Venice. Numbers are limited to a maximum of 8 people on this small group tour, ensuring you'll receive personalized attention from your knowledgeable guide. There will be numerous stops throughout the day so the driving time is kept to a minimum.

After only an hour's drive from Venice, you'll emerge into a land of towering peaks and peaceful valleys dotted with villages. Before entering the Sesto region, you'll stop for morning coffee at Pieve di Cadore, a typical Italian village surrounded by soaring peaks, the birthplace of the Renaissance painter Titian.

After stopping to admire Lake Santa Caterina, you'll visit Lake Misurina, 'the pearl of the Dolomites'. The lake is famous for its breathtaking views of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, the most celebrated peaks of the Sesto region. You'll drive up to the base of the Tre Cime for truly spectacular views of the Dolomite Mountains, stretching as far as the eye can see.

Enjoy an optional lunch at a local trattoria, then a short (optional) walk is offered along a level trail to further appreciate the dramatic scenery of the area. In the afternoon, drive into the Cortina region to visit the cosmopolitan ski resort of Cortina d'Ampezzo, pausing at a panoramic viewpoint to admire the town circled by soft green meadows and towering mountains.

Enjoy free time to wander around the town of Cortina, with its streets lined with elegant boutiques, or relax at one of the street-side cafes. In the late afternoon, you'll travel back to Venice, passing several major peaks. Relax on the drive and savor the different colors of the Dolomites in the late-afternoon sun.

USD $172.37

Traveler Reviews

Review by: Brendan C	November 2011
Really good day guide excellant scenery stunning even though cold and a bit cloudy

Review by: Campbell's	October 2011
Always wanted to see the Dolomites, they were everything we hoped for. Guide was great, gave us just enough information, gave us time on our own to enjoy different parts of the area, great driver, really enjoyed him.

Review by: Dean M	October 2011
What a fantastic day we had on this day trip. This turned out to be our favorite part of our Venice holiday. Our guide, Roberto was a charming gentleman with great knowledge on the areas we visited. The views and scenery are simply spectacular. We were also very fortunate to be joined by 4 other lovely people on the tour. The Mercedes people carrier was spacious and comfortable. Did I mention the views??? Straight from the pages of Tolkien._br/_ If you are going to Venice, then you deserve to see the Dolomites. Treat yourself. You wont be disappointed.

Review by: Bob	October 2011
the view is gorgeous but the tour is not really well organized.

Review by: Marjorie K	October 2011
This trip was not as advertised.

Review by: Rohan G	October 2011
Great trip with fantastic views all along, though somewhat obscurred by the dark tinting of the van windows. Van was also had a low roof which further obstructed view. Lunch stop was a great scenic spot at good local restuarant with reasonably priced good food. Had a long'toilet' stop at Cortina but had difficulty finding toilet - perhaps a common problem in Venice! Would have liked to spend more time walking around the base of the dolomites but guide not very keen. He was pleasent and obliging but not very knowledgeble. Overall a tour not to be missed.

Review by: JPO	October 2011
The Dolomites were beautiful and our guide was wonderful.

Review by: Luciana P	October 2011
Everything was just perfect.

Review by: Laurence T	October 2011
This was a small tour of 8 persons in a minibus. The guide was knowledgeable and helpful during the all day trip from Venice to the Dolomites. Great scenery and lunch

Review by: margi	October 2011
WELL ORGANISED, THE SIGHTS ARE TO DIE FOR. THE LUNCH WOUNDERFUL.

Review by: Martha	September 2011
Great tour guide, beautiful scenery, loved it. Really enjoyed the day. A great relief from hot and humid Venice to the very cool and refreshing countryside and mountains.

Review by: Mary L	September 2011
This was a fabulous day tour! We covered a lot of territory with beautiful sights. Our guide, Roberto, was a gem. He was very helpful and courteous to my husband who has some mobility problems. I couldn't have asked for a better day. Thank You.

Review by: celia r	September 2011
Trip was great but tour guide lacked experience and provided limited information which was disappointing.

Review by: Tracey	September 2011
Great trip, great scenery, commentary would have been good along the way.

Review by: TenaK	September 2011
Robert was an outstanding guide and it was an amazing trip.

Review by: Martin R	September 2011
Having an interest in photography, I selected this tour for the picture taking opportunity. The Dolomite tour was somewhat of a disappointment. There were 7 stops. The first was at the site of a dam that over-flowed after a land slide, causing much loss of life. The stop was for the historical significance and was not yet in the beautiful countryside. The second stop, after about 2 hours of driving was in a small town, really more as a coffee and bathroom break than for scenery. Next we stopped at a dam to view a very pretty lake, with a village in the distance, and that was the first genuine “photo op” spot. Lunch was the fourth stop, at a beautiful lake with great scenery and good food. Next came a 30 minute drive to go up a private road to a high point for a view of an alpine valley. The parking lot really was for hikers who were starting a fairly dramatic walk, as the view from where we parked was just “good”, not “great” and for photographs, the light was wrong as we had to face into the sun for the view. It would have been much better in the morning. Finally we stopped in Cortina, which is a beautiful alpine village and worth the time spent, followed by a short stop for a photo of the site of the 1956 Olympic ski jump._br/_ I had two criticisms. First, the driver, Roberto, who introduced himself as the driver, really was just that, the driver. He offered very little commentary. Second, and more important, we passed some absolutely extraordinary scenery that would have made for incredible photography, and there were pull outs along the road that could have been taken advantage of quite easily for that purpose. One scene in particular, on the way back from Cortina, of a church in a deep valley with incredible peaks behind it, the afternoon light just perfect, was completely ignored as he sped past. The trip could have been a lot more, if the driver had been aware of these outstanding places and stopped for pictures and appreciation of the quite spectacular scenery. Unfortunately, that is not what happened.

Review by: Ivan S	August 2011
Our guide Daniel was very informative and helpful throughout the entire trip. The tour is really worth it. It's really incredible and the Dolomite mountains are stunning! I recommend this tour to everyone. You won't be disappointed. Thanks!

Review by: Barb	August 2011
Enjoyed the day with a very knowledgeable tour guide. Would have preferred to spend the time hiking around the mountain had I known there was a trail. Perhaps you could think about that as an another tour option. Thx

Review by: Sharon G	August 2011
Excellent. I had never heard of this area prior to this tour. Absolutely stunning part of Italy. Long drive but well worth it. Tour guide was excellent.

Review by: Ruchi V	August 2011
It was great and quite beautiful! I just wish there was more walking: it was mostly driving and there was no short optional walk once we got to the top of the mountain. Some more time at each stop would have been nice also, but otherwise a not-to-be-missed, unique, not too touristy experience. Highly approved of and recommended.

Review by: Stephen H	August 2011
To sum it up, AMAZING! Our guide Alex was awesome, he spoke decent English and also helped translate for us on our fantastic lunch up in the mountains. A very personal experience with only a group of 6 of us to go on it. I had a fantastic time and would recommend anyone who goes to Venice to do this trip. Well worth the money you spend

Review by: Barry B	August 2011
Absolutely great trip and a perfect cap to my European holiday. From 35 C at sea level in Venice to 5 C at 15,000 feet in the Dolomite mountains near Misurima and the Austrian border. Our guide was on time, courteous, and drove well through the twisting roads. He took us to several towns and lakes, Cortina D'Apessio, lunch at a Tirolese pizzeria and the breathtaking vistas near the top of the mountains at a site open only 3 months in the year. Our mixed group of 7 loved it. Taking a day trip from Venice? This is THE one. My only other hope is that Viator and their local partner will finally institute a regular day trip from Venice to Ravenna. But the Dolomite Mountain tour is an opportunity not to be missed.

Review by: marazz	August 2011
Unforgettable experience. Guide was very generous with the members of the group. I recommend it.

Review by: Anna	July 2011
Beautiful Trip - the scenery was breathtaking!

Review by: Dr Y P	July 2011
Enjoyed the trip.Will recommend it to other people.Including lunch was agood idea as it saves time.

Review by: mhphillips	July 2011
Great day trip -- leave sweltering Venice and toss snowballs in the Dolomites by lunchtime._br/_ Big problem was finding our tour guide. We eventually had to call the booking office. He was there looking for us also, but in a different place. Directions to the meeting point are very hazy and not specific at all -- there are several stops in that area that have similar names and it was not clear where we were supposed to wait. Eventually we found each other, and the rest of the trip was enjoyable. Breathtaking scenery.

Review by: Carin Marais	July 2011
This was a great experience. We saw a total different region of Italy. The mountains were beautiful and even the towns looked different from the rest of Italy. At one point we even expected to see Heidi and Peter running amongst the goats and cows with their bells ringing. We had dinner at a restaurant with an exceptional view. The food were traditional and an experience, but delicious. We enjoyed the fact that there were no other crowds of tourists. The area are realy beautifull and the trip was good value for money. If you are a nature lover like us, you would thoroughly enjoy this trip.

Review by: NgADAM P	July 2011
we were panicky to begin with because we could not find our guide at the beginning of trip. After finding him we set off on our trip which was definately the best trip of our weekend. Our guide was very polite but only seemed to speak to us if we spoke to him. We expected more information on our journey but other than that it was a wonderful trip and not to be missed. We did not tip the guide as a silent protest!

Review by: Girish N	June 2011
Dolomoites in itself is an awesome place... and our guide too was very helpful and enthusiastic...

Review by: Joan M	June 2011
IT WAS A WONDERFUL TRIP! I WOULD GIVE IT FIVE STARS !

Review by: Rojo	June 2011
We would love to have been able to review our trip to the Dolomites, had we gone!!! We called the agency the day before, as instructed, to confirm our trip, but was told that it had to be cancelled as we were the only two people to have booked the tour, and they needed a minimum of 5 people. We were extremely disappointed, but understood this, and accepted the offer of an alternative tour, the 'Veneto Hill Town's.' When we arrived at the meeting point for the 'Veneto Hill towns", we discovered others waiting for the 'Dolomites' tour, including one couple who had only booked the tour 1 week in advance. Thinking that there must have been a mix up when we'd been told the 'Dolomites' tour had been cancelled, we had renewed hope that we were to see the Dolomites after all, only to be told by the guide that there was not enough room on the bus for us, and we were only able to join the 'Veneto Hill towns" tour. Extremely disappointed, the agency could not explain why another couple, who had only booked a week in advance still got to do the 'Dolomites' when we had booked 3 months in advance!!!We did join the 'Veneto Hill towns' tour, with our guide Giovanni, who was fantastic, and made up for our disappointment, but still, it wasn't the Dolomites. We did not travel half way around the World to miss out on the one tour that was at the Top of our 'To Do' list, without a decent explanation!!!

Review by: TheMal	June 2011
This day trip was very interesting with respect to the towns that we visited. We loved Cortina. The views of the Dolomites were amazing and spectacular. Our only disappointment was that our "small group" ended up being 15. We were booked in for Friday 27 May but apparently there was no one else for that day so we were moved to Thursday 26 May. The group of 15 (not 8 as indicated in the tour description) was split into two groups. The "mini-van" is a Mercedes Benz people mover sitting 3 in the back, 3 in the middle and 2 plus the driver in the front. There were 8 of us in our van with a driver who could speak very little English. Although he was a very nice person, it was a bit disappointing that he was not able to be a true guide and point out significant information along the way. It was about 1 1/2 hours to our first stop so we had to talk amongst ourselves which was pleasant enough but we wanted to learn about Italy not necessarily about the other countries of the other guests. At each stop the two groups join together to be briefed by the main guide. It is then that we get to learn a little about the area. The stops at each point give plenty of time to view the towns and lunch at Tre Cime was very nice._br/_ One hint on getting to the Tronchetta on time - the Vaporetta only runs in one direction at that time of the morning so be sure to check that the Line 2 nearest to your accommodation is in fact going to be operating. You may need to join Line 2 at a different stop.

Review by: DonLegere	June 2011
Our group for this tour was larger than the 8 person stated maximum. As a result we had 2 drivers and 2 vans. Luckly for my group of 3, we were chosen to be in the van with the actual guide. He answered all our questions and was very accommodating. I felt bad for the other group as their driver could hardly speak English and was simply providing the driving for this portion of the group. We arrived in Cortina at 310 pm and were told we had 1 hour to wander the town, unfortunately this was during the retail lunch break for the stores in town and all of them were closed until 330 pm.

Review by: Jane S	June 2011
My husband, 19 year old son, and I took this trip. We were thrilled and stunned at the beauty of the mountains and the small villages we visited. The mountains still had a lot of snow and it was so much fun being at such a high altitude and seeing the green valleys far below. Our guide, Alesso was incredibly nice and knowledgable. He taught us many things about the region. It's a brilliant contrast to all that Venice has to offer. A very unique and memorable experience! Highly recommend it.

Review by: hollylynettesmith	June 2011
I can't even put into words how wonderful this tour was. We had a small group of about 6 people. Our driver was very knowledgeable and accommodating. Each stop was more breathtaking than the one before. We stopped near the highest peak to have lunch and the view from the restaurant (which had great food at reasonable prices) was quite grandiose. Such an enjoyable trip!

Review by: Lise V	June 2011
This tour was FANTASTIC - Alex was a perfect host - warm,fun,informative - The mercedes was perfect,comfortable - the tour was well planned - loved everywhere we went - the Dolomites are BREATHTAKING - and your tour helped us to see as much of them as possible. Thanks Alex and Viator for letting us view these special mountains in a memoreable way.

Review by: Phil B	May 2011
pretty sights. Trip was too long. Stopped to many times. Roads were very hazardous..

Review by: John S	May 2011
This was a beautiful and relaxing day that covered a lot of ground and realy opened up the view of northern Italy after a few days in Venice.

Review by: JOSEPH D	May 2011
Our guide was excellent and the weather was great. Unforntunatley due to the time of the year - Mid April- the road was closed and prevented us from seeing everthing described in the tour. They should warn of this possibility in the tour description

Review by: Kathleen M, Australia	July 2010
Our day trip to the Dolomites was a highlight of our 3 week trip to beautiful Italy. Our guide Enrico was fantastic and made the trip enjoyable and informative. We enjoyed a brief stop at local markets and great lunch at the lakeside ristorante and marvelled at the aqua lake and picture postcard scenery of the grand dolomites. The afternoon stop in pretty Cortina allowed time for a relaxing vino, and a gelato as we leisurely strolled the cobblestone streets taking in the magnificent alpine views. Our group of 6 really enjoyed the day trip out of Venice and we'd highly recommend it to anyone who was visiting Venice for a few days as it gave a unique and memorable perspective of the surrounding area.

Review by: Alexandra M, Malta	July 2010
It was superbe, fantastic well organised and experienced guide and driver. A unique experience, a dream which came true. Highly recommended

Review by: Allan W, Australia	June 2010
Wonderful day. Great weather. Lovely scenery. The tour guide did a great job and spoke pretty good English. It did not bother us but most shops were closed in Cortina during the hour or so that we were there apparently this happens during the off season. Highly recommended.

Review by: Irene Z, United States of America	May 2010
This was a fun tour meeting people from around the US. Our guide was pleasant and informative, the mountains are so majestic and beautiful. We enjoyed the drive through the countryside.

Review by: Sadowski M, Canada	May 2010
It was a very nice trip. Excellent guide. Recommended this trip for everybody. Thanks.

Review by: Roger J, Thailand	April 2010
We were fortunate to have a guide, a trainee guide, and a guide who acted as a Driver, totally devoted to my family of 5. All 3 spoke good English and were very knowledgeable of the subject matter. Good value for money.

Review by: Badita R, Romania	April 2010
After three days of Venice and so much water - Dolomite Mountains were incredible.

Review by: Larry S, United States of America	February 2010
It was a good experience with knowledgeable guide. I loved this trip and view of the countryside and the towns we saw. The driver drove a bit too fast for my taste.

Review by: Anonymous, Australia	November 2009
An excellent day trip. Small group, comfortable and good guide.

Review by: Margaret D, Australia	November 2009
The highlight of our 5 week Mediterranean cruise.

Review by: Anonymous, United States of America	September 2009
We visited Venice in the summer. The city was very hot even though still interesting and beautiful. This day trip was fabulous. The guide was informative and relaxed. The scenery was spectacular. Lunch in Cortina was simply heaven. Well worth the steep fee.