Dolomites Tour with Marathon Training Academy
The tour starts in Ortisei, Val Gardena, in the UNESCO Dolomites World Heritage Area where there’s great running in every direction. It finishes in one of our favorite towns in the region, Cortina D’Ampezzo. And in between? You’ll experience Dolomite villages, great cuisine, and no shortage of beautiful trails in one of the world’s most dramatic alpine environments.
On this tour, we’ll run inn-to-inn, enjoying stunning views along smooth singletrack and over high mountain passes. Each day begins with a buffet breakfast featuring fresh bread, pastries, local meats, cheeses, eggs, juice and coffee. Then we hit the trails, running through pastures beneath the towering Dolomites.
To start, we’ll explore the Gardena and Funes valleys in the western Dolomites, carrying light trail running vests, while our bags are transported between villages. One night in a high mountain lodge will require a slightly larger pack for your overnight essentials.
We’ll explore the surrounding mountains on a multi-day point to point route. The Dolomites are famous for their pale, jagged peaks, cathedral-like spires and rocky ridgelines. These features are juxtaposed against mellow green pastures and a diverse forest neatly laid out below the sheer cliffs. Along the way are exquisite mountain lakes to admire and plenty of rifugios, or huts, where we can fuel up on local delights like apple strudel, pasta and strong Italian coffee.
This region is steeped in culture and history. During World War I the region was hotly contested. Lagazuoi, a hut that we will pass by, was the site of battles between the Austrian and Italian mountain troops. On our runs through this area, we’ll witness some of the tunnels and other structures from this wartime period. Today, one result of this mingling of cultures is the delicious, varied cuisine where you can detect both Italian and Germanic influences.
We’ll end our tour in Cortina D’Ampezzo, a well-known Italian resort town and a center for both summer and winter sports – in fact, it will host the 2026 Winter Olympics. It’s a small yet lively place with a selection of shops, cafes and restaurants. Nestled amongst impressive Dolomitic peaks and with easy trail access, Cortina is a memorable village from which to finish our tour.
Top photos: Matt Green
