Dolomites Day Trip From Lake Garda: What You Actually See

The Dolomites are a UNESCO World Heritage mountain range, and from the north of Lake Garda they look close on the map. The full-day Dolomites tour from Lake Garda is the way most visitors without a car get there: €85 per person, 784 reviews, 4.7 stars, the highest rating of the three big day trips from the lake. It is also a very long day, so it helps to know what the hours buy.

The day, stop by stop

From the operator’s description:

• Pick-up at a point around the lake; the exact place depends on the option you choose.
• A 15-minute coffee stop on the way north, where the guide introduces the day.
• Moena or Cavalese, two mountain towns known to skiers, for a short walk.
• A photo stop near Lake Soraga for a view of the peaks.
• Pordoi Pass, at 2,239 m, scheduled from noon to 1:45 pm. The operator calls this the scenic heart of the tour, with views of the Marmolada, Sella and Catinaccio massifs.
• Ortisei in the Val Gardena from about 3:15 pm, an alpine resort known for wood carving.
• Back at the lake between 6:30 pm and 7:30 pm, depending on where you were picked up.

Languages listed are English, German and Spanish, and a small-group option is available.

The listing gives no start time or total driving time, only that the whole day runs ten to twelve hours. The coach reaches the pass at midday and returns by early evening, so the road takes most of the day. That is the deal with this trip.

What costs extra

The tour price covers the coach, guide and commentary. Two things are on you:

• Lunch. The operator suggests eating at one of the alpine restaurants at the pass. Plan to pay for it yourself.
• The cable car. An optional high-speed cable car from the pass up to a mountain terrace at 2,950 m costs €28 per person, according to the operator. One reviewer called it the highlight of the day, with the view from the top.

Weather and season

The itinerary may change with the weather forecast and traffic, the operator says. At 2,239 m the weather can differ a great deal from the lake. One October reviewer was lucky with a very clear day and writes that the rest stops helped break up the long drive; another had zero visibility at the top until it cleared after a leisurely lunch. If the cloud is low, the viewpoint and the cable car are the stops that suffer. The listing does not say whether the cable car runs every day, so check before you count on it.

Who the day suits

Good for: people who want mountains without driving them, anyone who gets nervous on mountain roads, and couples or groups who like having the day arranged. Reviewers in autumn found it well worth the length.

Not for: the tour is not wheelchair accessible, and pets are not allowed. A day this long may be hard on small children, since much of it is spent seated in a coach. This is a sightseeing day, not a hiking day.

And with a hire car?

You can drive to the Dolomites yourself, and then you choose the stops and the timing. The cost is a long day behind the wheel on mountain roads, and you will not be able to enjoy a glass of wine with lunch. If you want that, compare hire cars for Lake Garda before you decide. If a long drive does not appeal, the coach is the easier answer.

How it compares

Venice and Verona are cities, and the Dolomites are the only mountain option among the full-day tours from the lake. If you can only do one, pick by what you came for. For the other two, see the Venice day trip and Verona from Lake Garda, or browse all day trips from Lake Garda.

Prices and conditions are the operators’ own and can change; the booking page shows what applies on your date.