This fantastic 13km circuit hike around Monte Pelmo boasts spectacular vast scree slopes, a tiny doable bit of via ferrata, and you’ll even see dinosaur footprints! The alpine meadow approaches are filled with wildflowers, and as you climb you have marvellous views.

The willdflower meadows are especially spectacular as you skirt Pelmo’s eastern to southwestern flanks, and a small spur brings you to a rock slab where millions of years ago running dinosaurs left an astonishingly clear set of prints.

The Dolomites in northern Italy is home to numerous world-class day, multiday and thru-hikes, with an astonishing network of well-signposted, named paths for straightforward navigation. The unique geology creates spectacular tors, mountains and unique vegetation: with about 2,300 different species, the Dolomites is famous for its gobsmacking spring wildflower display.

You climb through conifer woodlands with beautiful wildflowers, past serene Lake Coldai and then along the spectacular ‘Wall of Walls’, Civetta’s western face, staying the night at Rifugio Tissi with more views of that Wall and also down to Lake Alleghe far below.

Rifugio Tissi to Rifugio Vazzoler is a short but pretty section. At Rifigio Vazzoler you can either continue on down to Listolade or over the Forcella della Sasse. Or, if the weather is unsuitable for crossing the Forcella della Sasse, stop at Rif. Vazzoler and enjoy its little Alpine Botanic Garden to wait out the bad weather and make an early start the next day.

The conventional circuit around Civetta continues from Rif Vazzoler and over the stunning Forcella della Sasse before continuing along a relatively demanding route to Rif. Coldai. Anyone wanting to savour Civetta and her beautiful wildflowers, wildlife and views may prefer our more relaxed, less demanding route over the Forcella and down to Pecol.