Notes from The Dolomites

Five days just outside Santa Cristina, a small village in Val Gardena. Big days on the trails, food you keep thinking about, and the kind of mountain air that changes your pace for weeks.

If you’re thinking of adding it to your bucket list, here’s where we loved staying, eating and exploring.

STAY
Hotel Cendevaves, just out of Santa Cristina in Val Gardena. Family owned and run for three generations, freshly renovated in 2024, and the inclusive four-course dinner means you never have to leave after a big day. We finished every afternoon in the panoramic wellness area. Sky pool, sauna, steam room, outdoor whirlpool and tranquility lounge. Pure bliss.

                       

HIKE
Sassolungo, 17km and genuinely challenging in parts. Bring poles. We stopped at @rifugiovicenza for kaiserschmarrn - sliced pancake with apple, raisins and jam 🤤

Seceda, also 17km. The Col Raiser chairlift up from Santa Cristina, then a late lunch at @lechsant.malga a small working farm plating up everything from their own paddocks. Traditional barley soup with a cheese dumpling that I’m still thinking about. Walk back down to the village instead of taking the chairlift - it's such a beautiful track.

RIDE
Alpe di Siusi, 37km on e-bikes with a few detours. Go electric. The climbs are no joke. Padded pants if you have them. Coffee and apple strudel at @rauchhuette and the best pistachio gelato at @edelweisshutte.