4 Days in the Dolomites by van

Getting there

One option is flying to Treviso Airport, this will depend where you are traveling from. We flew there as we got good fares with Ryanair from Charleroi Airport (BE) and we were only 3 hours away from the destination.

You could also fly to Marco Polo Airport in Venice. We would suggest deciding that based on your van pick-up location & airplane fares.

Our van pick-up was in Oriago. From the airport we took the airport service bus to Mestre. It departs every 30 mins, it costs 10 euros and you can buy it straight there when you arrive. After that we checked at Mestre trains station how to get to Oriago West. Important: trenitalia had replaced that train for a bus, so that’s how we got there. Check at the station when you get there. You could also take an uber from the airport to the van pick-up location, when we were there it was 100 euros.

Once we we ready to go with our van – aka our home for the weekend – we stopped at a local supermarket to do our groceries for the weekend. We highly recommend doing this as you will not find that many places to buy stuff up in the dolomites. Once that was done, we drive straight to Passo Giau (153 km).

Where to sleep

On your way to Passo Giau, you will see a parking of vans and motorhomes… trust us and keep going. It’s also possible to park in front of Ru Gusela, and sleep in front of one of the most beautiful spots in the dolomites.

Waking up there is priceless, and spending the night with your van there is literally free!

💡 The truth is that getting there takes time – so we taking the suggest first day take it to settle in, get to know your van and have and prepare for the next days.

If you wake up early and are lucky with the weather, you will witness one of the most beautiful sunrises of your life – trust us. Enjoy your breakfast with a view, and get ready to start the adventure.

The Rifugio Nuvolau and Averau Loop Hike will take you to some of the most interesteing landmarks of the area.

• Distance: 8.8 km
• Max altitude: 2,574 m
• Hike time: 3:30 h

As the hike can take up to 4 hours – depending on your speed – we always recommend bringing enough water, snacks, and/or lunch. In our case, as we always start our hikes quite early in the morning, we like to bring water & snacks and then lave lunch in the van before heading to the next destination.

After the Rifugio Nuvolau and Averau Loop Hike it’s time to head to Rifugio Auronzo, where you will do your second night before the Tre Cime de Lavaredo hike. From Passo Giau, it’s 41.9 km, which will take you around 1h30. We recommend stopping at Cortina to recharge water, and additional groceries

IMPORTANT – in order to park at Rifugio Auronzo, it’s neccesary to book before. Booking opens one month upfront, and you need to send your vehicle’s plate 24hs before. Check & book here. Spending the night here costs 120 euros.

The main benefit of staying at this parking – besides of the price – is that you sleep next to the start of the trail. So not only you will wake up to a beautiful view, but you can also beat the crowds by starting very early. Sleeping there will definitely save you some time. We know it’s expensive, but it is worth it.

If this option is above your budget, you can sleep at a parking or camping in Cortina or just before Auronzo. This will cut costs, but keep in mind that you will still have to pay 60 euros for the day parking if you drive there, or hike up (+7km) or take the bus and catch the crowds.

Evening Walk

If when you get to the parking at Rifugio Auronzo you still have some light and energy, there is a walk towards the Cadini di Misurina viewpoint that will blow your mind.

Bring your camera or phone, you will not regret it. Catching the sunset here was one of our favorite moments in the Dolomites.

This trail is around 4km, it starts & finishes at Rifugio Auronzo. Overall, taking s few breaks for pictures it took us an hour. It’s the perfect walk to wrap up your day, and the views are breathtaking.

We recommend having an early night in order to start as early as possible on the following day to do the Tre Cime di Lavaredo hike – an icon of the Dolomites.

Your last day will depend on your van drop-off and flight schedule. If your flight is in the late afternoon evening, you can still do one more hike before the end of your adventure!

On your way from Cortina back to the south, there is a lovely forest with a few trails you can also do.

We did the hike to Lago d’Ajal – a 3.8km loop through the forest until a Rifugio & Lake. It is a a very nice and enjoyable walk. It took us around 1h30 taking some breaks for photos, etc.

We did this hike mainly under the rain, but it was beautiful as well. Also, due to the weather there was no one – we were completely alone during the hike. Reminder: always bring a waterproof jacket!

Before heading back to your van-drop off & airport, don’t miss on a little stop at Selva di Cadore. At this charming small town there is a lovely square perfect to enjoy some breakfast or even lunch! The view is beautiful.