A clockwise loop out of Venice — east to the Tre Cime and the pale lakes, then west to Val Gardena — with two nights spent high on the mountain, for the alpenglow at dusk and the quiet at dawn.
In & out
Venice (VCE), by car
Nights
2 hotels · Berti + Gardenacia
Driving
Short hops, 2–3 hrs
Thu23Jul
Arrival · Tre Cime
Land, a first look at the three peaks
08:30
Land at Venice (AF1126), collect the car, and you're on the road by ~09:30 with the whole day ahead.
automatic if needed
10:00
Drive up the Cadore valley toward Tre Cime — stop at a valley supermarket for groceries, then a picnic near Misurina.
~2h15
12:30
Up the Auronzo toll road, then walk the easy path toward Rifugio Lavaredo for the head-on view of the three peaks — no full loop.
toll ~€30–45 · ~2 hrs
16:30
Down to Lozzo Cadore, check in from 17:30, dinner in the village.
~1 hr · cash only
▲ Sleep · La Favorita, Lozzo Cadore
Fri24Jul
Vallon Popera · Sexten
Up to Rifugio Berti
09:30
Exceptional breakfast at La Favorita, then drive to the Rifugio Lunelli car park in Val Grande.
~45 min
10:30
Easy ~1 hr walk up to Rifugio Berti; drop the overnight bag and leave the big one in the car.
~1 hr up
Aft
Wander the Vallon Popera loop — the amphitheatre of peaks and the little Lago di Popera; picnic lunch along the way.
~2–3 hrs
Eve
Half-board dinner and sunset under Croda Rossa di Sesto — wild and quiet, far fewer people than Tre Cime.
Other approach: from Passo Monte Croce (~45 min from Lozzo) it's a bigger 2.5 hr / 900 m climb with one exposed section — the Lunelli walk is the gentle way with a pack.
▲ Sleep · Rifugio Berti on the mountain
Sat25Jul
East → West
Down from Berti, west to Val Gardena
09:30
Sunrise and breakfast at the hut, then the ~1 hr walk back down to the car.
~1 hr
10:30
Take the scenic way west — via Cortina and the Falzarego & Gardena passes (the Great Dolomites Road). Picnic lunch with a view en route.
~3 hrs
14:30
Check in to Hotel Euròpa Dolomites, Selva (from 15:00). Shower, real bed.
Eve
If there's energy, the gentle Vallunga valley walk starts right in Selva — then dinner at the hotel.
~1–2 hrs
▲ Sleep · Hotel Euròpa Dolomites, Selva di Val Gardena
Sun26Jul
Seceda
The tilted ridge on your doorstep
09:30
Grab picnic supplies in Ortisei/Selva, then drive to Ortisei (~15 min), park, and ride the Seceda gondola up to 2,500 m.
~€50 pp
Day
Ridge walk to the Odle viewpoint, then along the Adolf Munkel trail beneath the peaks; picnic lunch on the ridge, then back down the gondola.
~3–4 hrs
16:00
Drive from Val Gardena over to La Villa (Alta Badia) — the hut is in the next valley.
~45 min
Eve
Up the Gardenacia chairlift, then a ~40 min walk to Rifugio Gardenacia on the Puez-Odle plateau — half-board dinner and alpenglow.
lift + ~40 min
▲ Sleep · Rifugio Gardenacia, Alta Badia on the mountain
Mon27Jul
Depart
One last postcard, then home
09:30
Breakfast at the hut, then the walk down and Gardenacia chairlift back to the car at La Villa.
~40 min + lift
Morn
Drive over to Santa Maddalena, Val di Funes — the church framed by the Odle, with San Giovanni in Ranui and the Panoramaweg viewpoints.
~1 hr drive
13:00
Picnic lunch in Val di Funes, then the drive back to Venice — drop the car at VCE by ~18:00.
~3 hrs
21:10
Fly home (AF1527 → Paris 23:00) — the late flight gives you the whole last day.