Upcoming Retreats Important Documents for Participants Booking Terms and Conditions
Custom Groups and Teams
Our Story Scheduled Retreats Solo Travelers Referral Program Mountain Hut Experience
What's A Self-Guided Running Vacation? Upcoming Self-Guided Runcations
The Runcation Experience
Run. Vacation. Adventure.

Cortina Runcation: Best Trail Runs in the Dolomites

All Levels Trip: Summer 2026

 

Quick Facts

  • Destination: Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italian Dolomites (UNESCO World Heritage) — Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Cinque Torri, Alta Badia
  • Trip Length: 6 days / 5 nights
  • 2026 Dates: August 2–7, 2026
  • Price: $3,385 per person — no single supplement for solo travelers
  • Difficulty: Level 1 of 4 — an All Levels trip designed for runners of any pace, including beginners and trail-running newcomers
  • Daily Distance: ~5–15 miles (varies by day; multiple shorter options)
  • Group Size: 8–14 participants
  • Guide Ratio: 1 guide for every 8 participants
  • Format: Base camp from Cortina for 4 nights (private transfers to each day's trail) + a grand finale point-to-point run from Cortina to Alta Badia on Day 5 with baggage transferred ahead
  • Accommodation: 4 nights in a 3/4-star hotel in Cortina d'Ampezzo + 1 night in a 4-star spa hotel in Alta Badia
  • Meals Included: Full breakfast daily; lunches and dinners free to explore Cortina's restaurants
  • All-inclusive logistics: Private guides daily, private van transfers, lift tickets, park entry fees, baggage transport, wellness spa access at Alta Badia
  • Highlights: Tre Cime di Lavaredo circumnavigation; Cinque Torri WWI history loop; Alta Badia wellness night (wood-fired saunas, jacuzzis, cold plunges); Cortina is the host of the 2026 Winter Olympics
  • Guides: A mix of certified local mountain guides, often joined by a U.S.-based trail running guide
  • Start / End: Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy
  • Nearest Airport: Venice Marco Polo (VCE), 148 km away
  • This trip: Running since 2023

Cortina d'Ampezzo, set like a jewel in a crown of Dolomite mountains, will be your base camp for this highlight tour of some of our favorite trail runs in the area. You'll enjoy breathtaking trails in the Italian Dolomites with a private trail running guide for the day and get a chance to enjoy the comfort of a Cortina d'Ampezzo hotel by night. We've curated special routes where you'll visit classic landmarks such as the Tre Cime di Lavaredo and the Cinque Torri, and many more off the beaten path that promise plenty of views and adventure for your days on the trail. With your Dolomites trail running guide you'll enjoy guided transport up to the highest peaks and trails in the region and enjoy rolling descents and moderate amounts of uphill climbing. There will be plenty of stops at famous Italian rifugios for coffees, pastries, and pasta. In your free evenings you can enjoy the culture and history of this northeastern corner of Italy by visiting museums, spas, lakes, vistas, and fabulous cafes and restaurants in your afternoons and evenings. This is our first Dolomites Runcation for ALL LEVELS of runners. Learn more below!

Trip Difficulty: Level 1 (click to learn more about trip difficulty levels).

This retreat adventure is open to ages 15 and up of any pace. Please see detailed itinerary for mileage and elevation gain/loss per day. Optional 12-week training package available from an experienced running coach to ensure you're trained and ready to go for this adventure of a lifetime!

 
 

 
IMG_1110.jpeg

Overview

• Highlights of the best day trip trail running locations in the Cortina Dolomites with a local trail running expert

• Guided runs up stunning mountain ranges, peaks, and alpine meadows

• Trail running point-to-point and loops in the scenic Dolomites from the Tre Cime to Cinque Torri

• Comfortable 3/4-star hotel in Cortina d’Ampezzo for 4 nights and a 4-star hotel in San Cassiano for 1 night with access to a wellness spa included
 

 

• Enjoy Italian cuisine, wine, and coffee

• Accommodates all levels of runners

• Afternoons and evenings free to explore wellness options, spas, museums, restaurants, cafes, and other outdoor adventures in Cortina d’Ampezzo!

• Baggage transport and transportation to trail running locations booked for you
 

 

Sample Trip Itinerary Summer 2026

Day 1

Welcome to Cortina!

Our trip will start early afternoon with a meet-and-greet and orientation meeting to meet the guides and go over the logistics and itinerary of the upcoming week! Your guide will get you checked in at the hotel. You’ll have the rest of the evening free to enjoy an optional flat shakeout run, take a walk, or enjoy the many restaurants in town.

Optional flat shakeout option available from hotel

Cortina 3/4-star hotel* with breakfast included

*depending on group size and availability

DAY 2

         Cinque Torri Without the Crowds

After a delicious breakfast with Italian coffees, pastries, cereals, fruits, eggs, and more, your guide will meet you at your hotel for your first day on the trails in the Dolomites. With overcrowding on other popular trails, we've decided to take you off the beaten path on a point-to-point run. You'll take a short private transfer from Cortina to your starting trailhead, where you'll do run from one of our favorite passes to a loop of the famous Cinque Torri, or five towers of the Cortina Dolomites. You’re guide will lead you through World War I history and an outdoor museum before continuing down through impressive rock formations descending into vibrant green fields and wildflowers. You’ll have the chance to stop mid-way where you can choose between canederli, tiramisu, cappuccino, or panino. After finishing the loop, you'll receive private transfer back to Cortina.

~5-6 miles

+1,500 ft elevation gain, - 2,100 feet elevation gain

Cortina 3/4-star hotel with breakfast included

Private transfer to and from guided run included

DAY 3

To Tre Cime!

After breakfast you'll get an early start to one of the most famous formations in the entire Dolomites. Along the way you'll pass Lago Misurina with the option for a short stop before continuing towards the Tre Cime, or "Three Towers." Your route for the day circumnavigates these massive limestone towers that shoot up into the sky. If you look closely you might spot climbers scaling the walls of these cliffs! You'll enjoy a rolling singletrack run with views of the towers as well as beautiful mountains that extend far into the distance. You'll have the chance to stop at an Italian rifugio along the way for a coffee or larger meal and arrive back into Cortina by the afternoon and continue exploring this Italian mountain town.

~9 miles

+/- 2,400 feet elevation gain

Cortina 3/4-star hotel with breakfast included

Private transfer to and from guided run included

Entrance fee included

DAY 4

Top of the Mountain

After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, your guides will meet you for an adventure to one of the most jaw-dropping mountain huts in the Dolomites. You'll bypass thousands of feet of climbing and be dropped off with views stretching back to Cortina and over into the surrounding valleys. Watch climbers and hikers scale the via ferrata up to the base and enjoy a coffee from the sun deck before the running starts! Today you'll enjoy some incredible downhill in a mixture of smooth and runnable fire roads to more technical terrain (at this point in the week you'll be ready for it)! You'll descend from the mountain crossing mountain passes famous amongst cyclists and finish with a singletrack trail through a meadow to enjoy lunch with a view! You'll make your way back to Cortina impressed by the transition of landscapes and culinary environments in this special place.

~ 8-10 miles (depending on group)

+/- 0-2,000 feet elevation gain (depending on route)

Cortina 3/4-star hotel with breakfast included

Private transfer to guided run included


DAY 5

Cortina to Alta Badia

For your final full day on the trail, you'll enjoy a final breakfast in Cortina before your final big adventure on the trails. As you ascend out of town you'll pass waterfalls, fields of marmots, and the best cappuccino and apple strudel stop in the Dolomites. Celebrate the end of your climbing before running through towering formations and descending into the adjacent valley of Alta Badia. Your 4-star hotel for the evening has multiple spa treatments, saunas, jacuzzis, and wellness center amenities to enjoy along with an excellent bar and restaurant to celebrate your week in the Dolomites. Enjoy your final evening in this special place!

~15 miles

+/- 3,200 feet

Alta Badia 4-star hotel with breakfast included

Access to wellness spa included

Complimentary aperitiff, local meats and cheeses, and dessert bar included

Private transfer to guided run included

Baggage transfer included

DAY 6

Goodbye Dolomites!

For your final morning, you'll enjoy an early breakfast and coffee at your hotel before departing back to Cortina in the morning. You'll say goodbyes to new running friends and the Dolomites and depart with tons of memories.

 

View from a day on the trails in the Cortina Dolomites.

Which Trip is right for me?
 

What’s included

Trip logistics of route planning, lodging, and transportation reservations

A 8:1 ratio of participants to guide

A 3/4-star hotel in the chic Cortina d'Ampezzo (pricing based on double accommodation) and 4-start hotel in the heart of Alta Badia with access to a wellness spa including indoor and outdoor wood-fired saunas and jacuzzis with mountain views, cold plunges, steam rooms, a wellness center, and more

A full breakfast spread daily including coffees, teas, juices, fresh-baked pastries, cereals, fruits, yogurts, eggs, pancakes, and more

Baggage transport from accommodations

Transportation to and from Cortina to day trip trail run locations each day, including private vans, lift tickets, and park entry fees

Knowledgable local expert guide and running coach along the entire route*

*Please note, this Runcation includes private trail running guides during the trail running portion of the day from early morning until late afternoon. In your afternoons and evenings you will be unguided and free to explore!

Not included

International airfare

Alcoholic beverages and lunch/snacks/dinner during the day

Travel Insurance

Extra expenses due to a change in itinerary or in case of you having to shorten the day or trip as a whole (including personal return trips to the airport/next destination/etc.)

A small city tourist tax to be paid in cash in person upon checkout (normally 1-3 euros per person/day)

  • A few things. It's an All Levels trip — genuinely designed for runners of any pace, including beginners and trail-running newcomers. You can be the slowest in the group and still have an unforgettable week. The format is mostly base-camp from Cortina — you stay in Cortina d'Ampezzo for four nights, with private transfers each morning to the day's trail, so most days you don't pack or move. On Day 5, you run point-to-point from Cortina to Alta Badia for a grand finale, with baggage transferred ahead, then enjoy a wellness night at a 4-star spa hotel before returning to Cortina the next morning. The itinerary hits the bucket-list Dolomites landmarks — Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Cinque Torri, and a high-mountain rifugio day — all in one week, which is hard to do on a hut-to-hut trip. And Cortina is the host town of the 2026 Winter Olympics.

  • This trip is genuinely designed for runners of any level — including beginners, road runners, and trail-running newcomers. Daily mileage is moderate (5–15 miles depending on the day, with shorter options on some days), and the route is the least technical of any Dolomites trip we offer — more flowy singletrack and dirt roads, less rocky/rooted terrain. Uphills are hiked; downhills and flat sections are run or jogged at any pace. We can accommodate different paces, photo stops, and snack breaks. The main thing we ask is that you can be comfortable jogging or running the flat and downhill sections. If you've been hesitating to book a European trail running vacation because you weren't sure you were "ready" — this is the trip designed for you.

  • You'll spend 4 nights in a comfortable 3/4-star hotel right in Cortina d'Ampezzo, plus 1 night in a 4-star spa hotel in Alta Badia with full wellness amenities — wood-fired saunas (indoor and outdoor), jacuzzis with mountain views, cold plunges, steam rooms, and a complimentary aperitivo with local meats and cheeses. The format is mostly base-camp from Cortina — you settle in for four nights, with your guide driving you to a different trailhead each morning and returning to the same hotel for the evening. On Day 5 you run point-to-point from Cortina to Alta Badia, with baggage transferred ahead, ending the trail-running portion with a wellness night and the grand finale of the trip.

  • Included: all accommodations (4 nights in a 3/4-star Cortina hotel + 1 night in a 4-star Alta Badia spa hotel), private mountain guides every day, private van transfers to and from each day's trailhead, lift tickets and park entry fees, baggage transport between accommodations, wellness spa access at Alta Badia, full breakfast spread daily, a detailed trip packet, and a private group WhatsApp. Not included: international airfare, alcoholic beverages, lunches and dinners (Cortina has incredible restaurants), travel insurance, and a small city tourist tax (~€1–3/person/night, paid in cash at hotels).

  • No. Runcation Travel charges no single supplement on this trip. About half of every group are solo travelers — and since the Cortina base camp means you're in town every evening, it's easy to grab dinner together as a group or split off to explore on your own.

  • The trip starts and ends in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, the host town of the 2026 Winter Olympics. The closest international airport is Venice Marco Polo (VCE), 148 km away, with shared shuttle service to Cortina that we'll point you to in your trip packet. The smaller Treviso airport (TSF) is 136 km away as a backup. You can also take a private transfer or rent a car. Detailed travel logistics are in your pre-trip packet.

  • Breakfast each day is a full Italian spread (coffees, teas, fresh-baked pastries, cereals, fruits, yogurts, eggs, sometimes pancakes). Lunches and dinners are at your discretion — and Cortina has world-class restaurants. Expect Italian and South Tyrolean cuisine, mountain rifugio classics like canederli (dumplings), tiramisu, fresh pasta, regional wines, and apple strudel mid-run. On the Alta Badia night, your hotel includes a complimentary aperitivo with local meats and cheeses and a dessert bar. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and other dietary restrictions are accommodated — please let us know in advance.

  • Yes, you'll need a valid passport (with at least 6 months remaining beyond your return date). Italy is in the Schengen Area. As of April 2026, US visitors entering the Schengen Area are subject to the new EU Entry/Exit System (EES) at first entry — fingerprint and photo are taken at the border instead of a stamp. ETIAS (a quick online travel authorization, around €7) is expected to launch in late 2026; we'll send you updated details closer to your trip date.

  • Yes — we run custom and private versions of this itinerary for friends, families, run clubs, and teams. You can adjust the number of days, daily mileage, pace, and add rest days or extra Cortina nights. Email us about custom and private groups.

Before You Go

Passport: Must have a valid passport valid through 6 months upon date of travel.

Travel Insurance: Must have travel insurance prior to start of trip. 

Trip Difficulty: Level 1 (More Info Here on Trip Levels)

Prepare for your trip

Fitness/Pacing:

While there are guides to accommodate a variety of paces for attending runners, this trip requires participants to cover the mileage and elevation gain as described in the itinerary. While uphills are hiked, the flats and downhills must be jogged or run (no pace requirement). This trip still takes place in a mountainous environment where you may be exposed to sections of technical trails (think rocky, rooted, or steep with loose rock) or unfavorable weather conditions. We can accommodate different paces, photo and snack stops, and taking time to soak up and enjoy the route and your vacation. We cannot, however, accommodate people purely hiking on this running trip.

Optional 12-week training package available from an experienced running coach to ensure you're trained and ready to go for this adventure of a lifetime! This option is available as an add-on when booking.

Our Guides

Our guides include local, professional trail running mountain guides with certified regional guiding credentials. These include International Mountain Leaders, Middle Mountain Guides, Wilderness First Aid certified, Search and Rescue Members, and more. They are runners that know the ins and outs of this route and are prepared with a safety or alternate plan for any sort of unexpected weather or injury. Plus, they’re a ton of fun and we think they’re the best. Join one of our guided tours to find out!

Solo Travelers

We have no single supplement fee for solo travelers on our guided tours. We love solo travelers, and about half of all our guided trips (often even more) are solo travelers.

Weather

Although the weather in late summer is often ideal, weather in the mountains is variable and trail conditions are subject to change on an hourly basis! Route subjective to change based on the safety of conditions and climate of the trail.

Cancellation Policy

Please inquire for the full cancellation policy.

How To Arrive

This trip starts in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. The closest international airport to Cortina d’Ampezzo is in Venice, Italy. The Venice Marco Polo airport is 148km away and the smaller Canova di Treviso airport is 136km away. There are a few shared shuttles per day between Venice (Marco Polo Airport, Mestre, or Piazzale Roma) and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. We provide more information on recommended shuttles in your trip packet. You can also elect to book a private transfer or rent a car.

Our Content

All content on this website, including but not limited to trip itineraries, day-by-day descriptions, written narratives, and images, is the intellectual property of Runcation Travel and is protected under United States Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S. Code) and international treaties including the Berne Convention.

Unauthorized use, reproduction, or distribution of any part of this content — including copying text for use on other websites, marketing materials, or commercial operations — is strictly prohibited. Any such use may result in legal action, including claims for statutory damages, actual damages, and attorneys’ fees.

We regularly monitor for infringement. If you are interested in licensing or collaborating, please contact us at rinfo@runcation.org.

Aug 2-7, 2026 BOOK NOW
NEW! Self-Guided Dolomites
Participant Testimonials
“This was a trip of a lifetime for us. As mountain runners, we couldn’t have been in a better place. Our guide was so accommodating, fun, and knowledgable. We were so lucky to have such a wonderful group of runners who all seemed to be at the same level. The hotels were just incredible, the food so delicious, and because I’ve talked about this trip so much, I’m sure that some of my friends will be signing up. Thank you Runcation!! I’m not sure how we can ever top this trip.”
— Freddi and Brian, Cortina All Levels Runcation
“This was truly a trip of a lifetime! The Dolomites were unbelievable, Cortina was a great place to call home base, and our guide was super friendly and had extensive knowledge of the local trails and ensured we made the most of our time there. Highly recommend!”
— Lauren, Cortina All Levels Runcation
“Spectacular trails, great group & guide and excellent accommodation in Cortina. I liked that the group size was only 8 and the spa on the final day was amazing! Overall a wonderful experience!”
— Aoife, Cortina All Levels Runcation
“My first trip with Runcation and it did not disappoint! The accommodations, transports, and trail runs were well organized; hotels well-appointed and clean. The views of course were breath-taking and worth every bit of uphill pain. Minus others that were dealing with injuries, I was the slowest of the group. Our guide Dario made sure to check in on me often and remind me not to feel pressured to keep up with everyone else. I really appreciated that. Will definitely consider doing another Runcation.”
— Betty, Cortina All Levels Runcation