Italy Walking Holidays
With Heidi
ATOL protected holidays
Why choose an Italy walking holiday?
- 60,000km of marked hiking and walking trails
- Walk, ramble, hike, or ascend via ferrata paths
- 10+ Italian hiking destinations to choose from
This summer, venture into the magnificent Italian Dolomites and Alps for an alpine escape like no other.
Wander blooming wildflower meadows, hike the iron rungs of over 600 Via Ferrata, or dive to divine depths with post-hike lake dips - all the while, surrounded by the jaw-dropping views of the Dolomites and Alps. When it comes to Heidi self-guided walking holidays in Italy, what you choose to do, and hike, on your trip is entirely up to you.
Head to adventurous Alta Badia‘s high-alpine terrain and march along jagged ridelines. Lace up your boots to scale the lofty limestone peaks of Selva. Prefer lakeside strolls? The glittering waters of Lake Garda await.
Whatever you're seeking, Italy hiking delivers delights by the dolomite-ful.
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How to get around on your trip
How our self-guided Italy walking holidays work:
Our self-guided trips let you set your own pace, from the length of your stay, to how far you walk each day. But if you’re used to group or guided holidays, you might be wondering how you’ll get around? Well, it’s easy…
Getting to resort from the airport:
You can leave this bit to us. When booking, choose either a shared or private transfer and you’ll be whisked from the airport to your resort.
Getting to your walks and hikes:
Most gondolas that work all winter for ski holidays, work all summer too, often well into autumn. So unless you want to, you don’t need to start your walks from the mountain base, you can easily catch a lift to the trailhead.
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Why book a mountain holiday with Heidi?
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Choose your Italy adventure
Alta Badia
From wildflower meadows to serious via ferrata and summit ascents. Discover it all.
Explore Alta Badia
Canazei
Unlock one of Italy's most extensive trail networks, deep in the Trentino Dolomites.
Explore Canazei
Cortina d'Ampezzo
Rust-red towers, flower-filled meadows, and via ferratas for the bold.
Explore Cortina d'Ampezzo
Corvara
Waterfalls, wildflowers, and scenery that stops you mid-stride. Welcome to Corvara.
Explore Corvara
Courmayeur
The Italian soul of the Mont Blanc massif. Espresso, elegance, and extraordinary trails.
Explore Courmayeur
Kronplatz (San Vigilio)
360-degree Dolomite views, a Zaha Hadid museum on the summit, and trails for every level.
Explore Kronplatz (San Vigilio)
Lake Garda
Lake promenades, ancient olive groves, and limestone peaks - with plenty of post-hike dips.
Explore Lake Garda
Madonna di Campiglio
Via ferratas, waterfall trails, and rifugi worth every uphill step.
Explore Madonna di Campiglio
Ortisei
Wildflower carpeted meadows, skyscraper towers, and a cable car straight to the top.
Explore Ortisei
Santa Cristina Val Gardena
Dolomite drama, meadow tranquillity, and a village that keeps things refreshingly low-key.
Explore Santa Cristina Val Gardena
Selva di Val Gardena
17 lifts whisk you up, up, and up to easy plateau walks and challenging via ferrata routes.
Explore Selva di Val Gardena
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Hiking & Walking holidays in Italy
Your questions answered by our Italy walking holiday expert
When is the best time of year for a walking holiday in Italy?
The best time for a walking holiday in Italy depends on where you’re going:
- The Dolomites and northern Italian Alps are at their best June through September, when high paths are clear, and rifugi are fully open.
- May and June are excellent in the Lake Garda area — wildflowers, cooler temperatures, and far fewer visitors.
- In our opinion, September can arguably be the best month across all Italian mountain regions: reliable weather, dramatic autumn light, and trails that have finally quietened down after the August peak. What's not to love?
Which part of Italy is best for a walking holiday?
- The Dolomites are Italy’s most dramatic walking destination - a UNESCO World Heritage landscape, towering pale rock towers, and an exceptional rifugio culture. To see them in person, look at walking holidays in Alta Badia, Corvara, Selva di Val Gardena, and Canazei.
- The Italian Alps along the Swiss and Austrian borders (Valle d’Aosta, South Tyrol) offer fantastic hikes and hut-to-hut routes with a distinct Alpine character.
- Lake Garda and the surrounding Garda mountains deliver accessible walking with swimming built in.
All in all, we find Italy’s range can be broader than any other walking country in Europe.
How difficult are the walking trails in Italy?
Italian walking trails use a CAI (Club Alpino Italiano) numerical system:
- 1–2 are easy, well-trodden tourist paths. The Dolomites’ most popular walks (Tre Cime loop, Alpe di Siusi traverses) are typically grade 2–3.
- 3–4 are trekking routes requiring some fitness and suitable footwear.
- Higher 5+ numbers indicate expert-only terrain, including via ferrata.
Signposts on route show estimated times rather than distances, and difficulty varies significantly by altitude and exposure — a grade 3 trail at 2,500m may feel harder than it reads on the surface.
What are the most iconic walks and trails in Italy?
- The Alta Via 1 through the Dolomites is Italy’s most celebrated long-distance mountain trail - 120km of high-level walking between Braies and Belluno, largely above 2,000m with rifugio overnight stops throughout. The Alta Via 2 is longer and wilder.
- The Tre Cime di Lavaredo loop is the Dolomites’ most photographed walk: 10km, around 500m of ascent, and genuinely jaw-dropping.
Is a self-guided or guided walking holiday better in Italy?
Self-guided is more popular in Italy thanks to the established hiking routes like the Alta Via 1, where the trail is well marked and rifugio bookings can be arranged in advance through operators or directly. For the Dolomites’ classic hut-to-hut walking, self-guided is by far the most popular choice.
Guided is worth considering for via ferrata routes, which carry real technical risk without proper instruction and equipment — a local guide is essential.
Can I hire a mountain guide on my Italy walking holiday?
Yes, you can. Guided walking or hiking tours are available at most resorts across Italy.
Though these are not currently bookable via the Heidi website, you can enquire and book with your resort's local tourist office upon arrival, or visit their website. What's more, you can even get discounts when using your free Summer Card*. We recommend booking early to ensure availability.
* Summer Card included for free with stays at select hotels and accommodations.
How do I get to the starting point of walks and hikes?
Most resorts have a great network of local buses and trains that can link you up to the starting point of hikes and trails as well as neighbouring resorts, giving you plenty to explore with ease.
We recommend checking out maps and timetables for bus and train routes with the resort’s local tourist office or on their website.
Can I still access lift and gondolas in the summer?
Yes, you can. Lifts and gondolas still operate throughout the summer months, provided conditions are safe and favourable, and many of the mountain bars and eateries you’d find on a skiing holiday still operate during these warmer months.
Even better, with your free Summer Card*, you can get great discounts and even free access to many of these lifts and gondola routes.
* Summer Card included for free with stays at select hotels and accommodations.
Are Italy walking holidays good for beginner walkers?
Italy is a brilliant destination for beginner walkers, particularly in regions designed for gentle exploration like Lake Garda. Lake Garda's marked trails follow the shoreline and low hills, with swimming and lakeside restaurants within easy reach.
In the Dolomites, gondola access means you can reach high viewpoints - including the Tre Cime di Lavaredo - with minimal ascent, making Alta Badia, Corvara, Selva di Val Gardena, and Canazei all fantastic choices for a beginner walking holiday in Italy.
Are Italy walking holidays good for families?
Italy is a great choice for a family walking holiday, particularly in the Dolomites and Lake Garda, where gondola networks eliminate the hardest elevation gain for younger walkers:
- Alta Badia’s summer trails are well signed at multiple difficulty levels, and the rifugi are welcoming to children.
- Lake Garda combines walking with swimming and boat trips in a way that helps keep non-walkers engaged too.
Are Italy hiking holidays good for more experienced walkers?
Italy is exceptional for moderate to serious hikers, particularly in the /walking-holidays/dolomites and western Italian Alps:
- The Alta Via 2 through the Dolomites is more demanding than the Alta Via 1 — more remote, more ascent, and more genuinely challenging terrain.
- Via ferrata routes (iron-way fixed-rope routes) are a particular Italian speciality: from introductory to seriously technical, with the Dolomites offering hundreds of graded options. Just ensure you go with the proper equipment and a mountain guide.
- And if you fancy departing on some multi-day technical treks, Italy offers as much challenge as anywhere in Europe.
What's included with my Summer Card?
What's a Summer Card? Glad you asked!
Complimentary with most hotel stays, this little pass helps you get more mountain for your money. It includes lift rides, lake and lido swimming, bike rentals, local transportation, guided walks, cycle tours, and much more.
Some activities are free with the card; others are discounted—it depends on the resort. Keep an eye out for the Summer Card symbol to see which hotels offer it and what benefits you can receive.
All flight-inclusive holidays sold on Heidi are fully financially protected under the ATOL scheme (ATOL 11456)