Italian Wine, Wellness & Wonder in the Dolomites

Plan to arrive at Munich International Airport (MUC) by midmorning. Our group airport transfer will pick us up at 12 noon for the 2.5-hour drive south to the magical mountain town of Innsbruck, Austria. 

Once we arrive, we'll settle into The Weisses Rössl, a cozy boutique inn right in the heart of town with over 600 years of amazing hospitality. Take a moment to relax and unwind from your day of travel. 

We'll meet in the evening for welcome drinks and a proper Tyrolean dinner at the hotel's restaurant, one of the most highly recommended eateries in town. This is the perfect time to get to know your fellow travelers and prepare for a fantastic week together. 

Wake up and indulge in a classic Tyrolean breakfast spread to start the morning. We'll gather in the lobby to head over to our first activity of the day: a guided tour of the stunning Imperial Palace. 

Our guide will regale us with stories of this 16th-century stately home, completed by Emperor Maximilian I in 1500. Several archdukes and empresses added their personal touches to the palace over the following centuries, resulting in an architecturally intriguing final product. Today, the palace is used for many high-profile Austrian events. 

We'll drive about 30 minutes outside of town to the Swarovski Crystal Gardens, a haven of contemporary art installations designed by artists from around the globe. After lunch at Daniels Kristallwelten by DoN, we'll set off on a guided tour of the magnificent grounds for the afternoon.

Once we're back at the hotel, the rest of the evening is free to relax or wander the town; it's up to you. 

We'll enjoy breakfast at the hotel before checking out and taking off for our next destination: Ortisei. This stunning alpine village is surrounded by the towering Dolomites and has been named one of the best towns to visit in South Tyrol. 

After about a 1.5-hour drive south across the border, we'll arrive in Ortisei just in time for lunch. We'll indulge in authentic Italian pizza at Pizza E-Quattro, a quaint eatery in the heart of town. 

Once we're done eating, we'll head over to check in and drop our bags at our beautiful hotel, the Alpin Garden Luxury Maison & Spa. Complete with a massive wellness spa center, plush beds, and breathtaking views of the surrounding landscapes, this is the premier place to stay in the region. 

After some time to settle in, we'll take a short drive over to the Gherdëina Museum, a multi-disciplinary museum showcasing everything from the geologic formations of the Western Dolomites to historic handicrafts made by South Tyroleans, and even the estate of an iconic local mountaineer. A private guide will lead us around the museum property, enchanting us with tales of a time past.

The afternoon is yours to enjoy at your leisure. Wander the town's boutiques, find a cafe to relax and people watch, or perhaps stay at the hotel and take a dip in the pool. You'll also have the option to book a treatment in the hotel's spa for a totally relaxing way to wind down.

Dinner tonight will be at Alpin Garden's Maison restaurant, a beautiful contemporary restaurant in a warm, cozy atmosphere.

Enjoy breakfast before we head over to Chalet Tiscion, a beautiful, locally owned farm that raises everything from sheep and ducks to guinea pigs and acrobatic pigeons. A guide will show us around as we peek into the daily happenings of this Italian farm. 

The adventure continues with a ride up the Mont Sëuc cable car to the Alpe di Siusi mountain plateau, the highest alpine pasture in the region. The breathtaking scenery from 2,000 meters high is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We've arranged to take a horse-drawn carriage around the quaint village, a unique way of experiencing this iconic place. 

Take some time to rest once we're back at the hotel. We'll gather in the lobby later in the evening to head over for our dinner reservation at the Michelin-starred Anna Stuben. Featuring dishes made with regional ingredients and an impressive wine list to choose from, this restaurant has rightfully earned its spot as one of the most prestigious eateries in the area.  

Enjoy a slow-paced morning, savoring breakfast and sipping a cappuccino while overlooking the mountains. Around 10:30 am, we'll check out of our hotel and make our way to Brunico, about 1.5 hours away. 

Once we're in town, our first stop is lunch, of course. We'll sit down in the cozy Weißes Lamm and savor hearty, warm Tyrolean specialties together.

We'll check into the 5-star Falkensteiner Hotel this afternoon, a hotel that has truly mastered the art of genuine hospitality. The property features a rooftop pool, a beautiful on-site spa, and thoughtfully designed rooms. 

We'll have a local guide take us on an afternoon walk through the town this evening, an excellent opportunity to learn more about the area and scout out any good boutiques for last-minute souvenir shopping. 

We'll have a light, early dinner at the hotel tonight, followed by the "Hunters of the Night" tour in San Vigilio's Owl Park. Our guide will show us the fascinating world of owls and their offspring. 

After enjoying the hotel's filling breakfast spread, we're off to summit a mountain! By cable car, of course. We'll ride the Kronplatz cable car to the summit, rising over 6,000 feet as we go. 

At the top, there is a wonderful museum dedicated to the discipline of mountaineering, aptly named the Messner Mountain Museum, or MMM for short. 

We'll sit down for lunch at the Michelin-recommended AlpiNN restaurant and indulge in chef Norbert Niederkofler's “Cook the Mountain” philosophy, where Alpine traditions are reflected in dishes full of flavor, focusing on the use of whole ingredients and minimizing food waste.

After lunch, take time to explore the museum at your own pace before we load back into the gondola and make our way down the mountain. Once we arrive at the hotel, the afternoon is yours to relax. 

We'll meet for an early dinner tonight at Plazores, a cozy 13th-century farmhouse serving hearty dishes using hyperlocal ingredients. If we're lucky, the owner might even show us around the kitchen for a behind-the-scenes look at their day-to-day operations and the genuine care they put into everything. 

After breakfast, we'll check out and begin our journey to Bolzano with a few stops along the way.

Our first waypoint is Roncolo Castle, a medieval jewel overlooking Bolzano. Also known as the 'Illustrated Castle', this 13th-century castle boasts one of the most extensive collections of medieval secular frescoes. Our private guide will lead us around the property, pointing out the notable artworks and sharing stories of the castle's previous owners. 

After our tour, we'll head over to the Skywine Pavilion for a Loacker wine tasting with heavy snacks for lunch. 

Back in Bolzano, we'll check into Parkhotel Mondschein, a quaint boutique hotel with a garden, outdoor pool, and a sauna. Its prime location in the middle of town means you can spend a few hours relaxing, shopping, and exploring before we come together for dinner later. 

Our finale dinner tonight will be at Wirtshaus Vögele, a Michelin-guide restaurant in a beautiful, old inn. We'll savor traditional regional dishes such as dumplings, pasta, and an array of meat options. Let's toast to a week well spent in a beautiful place with new friends. 

The time has come to bid farewell. We'll enjoy breakfast at the hotel before a group airport transfer back to Munich.

We'll depart at 8:30 am, arriving at the airport by 12 pm. Please book your onward travel for no earlier than 3:30 pm to allow enough time to make your way through the airport.