Antonius-Pass

6 km, ↑↓ 470 m, 2.5 hrs walking (excl. breaks)
We cross the high plateau of Fanes passing Rifugio Lavarella (2025m) before we start ascending behind the Rifugio on a narrow hiking path to the north. We reach the high plateau of Plan dles Sarenes with cows grazing and splendid views over the surrounding high peaks. From here it is a steady ascent along the slopes of Piz de Sant Antone to the pass. We have a lunchbreak back at the Plan dles Sarenes, as it is quite windy on the pass, and I will guide the group through a short meditation. The way back to the
hut is the same as the way to the pass. On the way back we can have a stop for drinks or food at Rifugio Lavarella.

Lake Parom (2311m)

8 km, ↑↓ 500 m, 3 hrs
The start of the hike is again behind Rifugio Lavarella(2025m), but we quickly turn eastwards behind the hut towards the peak of Kreuzkofel (2907m). After an initial steep climb, we reach the high plateau of Pices Fanes. The lake lies just below the impressive faces of Piz de Lavarella (3055m). We have a lunchbreak by the lake, and I will guide the group through a short meditation. The lake is big enough to swim in. The path down leads through a gorgeous fairytale pine forest ending directly at Rifugio Lavarella, where we can have a stop for drinks or food.

Lake Conturines (2520m)

12 km, ↑↓ 600 m, 4.5 hrs
From Rifugio Fanes we hike south and up on the old military road passing lake Limo (2174m) and the hut of Ucia de Gran Fanes (2102m, closed in October). At the intersection Jul dal Ega (2157m) a small hiking path turns westwards. From here it is a steep ascent for 1-1.5 hrs to the lake, which lies half-way up to the peak of Lavarella (3055m). We have a lunchbreak by the lake, and I will guide the group through a short meditation. The lake is big enough to swim in. The way back to the hut is the same as the way to the lake.

Forcella dl Lech (2520m)

12 km, ↑↓ 600 m, 4.5 hrs
Again we follow the old military road passing the turn to lake Conturines and continuing for another 30 minutes until a small hiking path turns south-east towards the Lech pass. From here it is about 1-1.5 hrs of uphill until the pass. Up there the next valley opens with great views over the peak of Lagazuoi
towards the south. We have a lunchbreak below the pass, as its quite windy up there, and I will guide the group through a short meditation. The way back to the hut is the same as the way to the pass.

Monte Ciastel (2817m)

14 km, ↑↓ 850 m, 5.5 hrs
Again we follow the old military road yet turn south-east shortly after the hut Ucia di Gran Fanes onto a small hiking path that winds through pine trees and fantastic landscape in serpentines up to the peak. From here it is about 2 - 2.5 hrs of uphill. On top is a little bivouac where we can have lunch and a
guided meditation outside with great views towards the east of the Dolomites. The way back to the hut is the same as the way to the pass.

In Brunico we stay in a 4-star Wellness Hotel, Schönblick – Sport & Active Hotel, which is a 15-minute bus ride from the main station. The hotel has a large outside garden area with whirlpools and a large wellness area with Finnish sauna, soft sauna & infrared cabin, a Turkish steam bath, a pool & experience showers and a beautiful inside and outside relaxation area. It offers in the evening South Tyrolean Alpine/Mediterranean cooking with a 5-course menu followed with an extensive drinks menu in the hotel’s own bar. The breakfast buffet offers typical South Tyrolean produce, mainly from the region.

We will be staying here on the first and last night of the trip.

Rifugio Fanes is one of the most beautiful and most popular huts in the Nature Park Braies-Sennes-Fanes. Here our guests stay in double rooms with shared washing facilities. We share a room with en-suite bathroom. The hut is cosy with comfortable seating areas to just relax and chill as well as a sociable dining room. The food is delicious and varies from typical Ladinian cuisine to Italian and international dishes. The breakfast buffet is rich and plentiful. Besides the hut there is a small cosy yurt where we can practice yoga and meditation.

We will be hiking to this hut and staying here for days 2-6 of the trip

Here at The Adventure Girls Club we try to make our events as inclusive as possible. However, due to the wild and rugged nature of the Dolomites, some experience with hiking and a basic level of fitness is desirable. Our goal is to keep everyone safe and make sure all guests have the best time possible. 

Our guide has specified the following for ability level on the trip: 

• Ability to walk comfortably on narrow hiking paths, which are at times covered with lose rocks and tree roots.
• We may encounter snow this late in the year. If that’s the case we will amend the hikes, but guests should be comfortable with using spikes and walking on ice and snow (if you haven't used spikes before this is not a problem, we will talk you through it on the trip)
• Ability to hike at a slow pace but continuously uphill for 2 hours with a small break every hour.
• Comfortable with being outdoors (potentially in the cold) for approximately 5-6 hours.

If you have any worries or concerns about if you are fit or experienced enough to come on the trip please email us [email protected] and we can advise. 

About our guide

My name is Johanna, and I am a VDBS qualified mountain guide, an UIMLA mountain leader aspirant, and a qualified yoga teacher (RYT 200). I founded Shanti Treks to create a hiking experience that brings together what I am passionate about. First, I love being in the mountains and experiencing new routes off the beaten tracks. Second, it is about connecting the body and mind with the nature around me and observing it with all my senses. And third, it is about bringing like-minded people together and forming new bonds.

Shanti is a Sanskrit word and means peace. The courage to create my own hiking business was fuelled during a long break in the Himalayas of India and Nepal. Afterwards, I started the mountain guide training and a degree in South Asian studies and Hindi at Bonn university. Hence, the name goes with the theme of leading people to find peace in the mountains.

I have been living near the Bavarian Alps all my childhood, but it has not been until I moved to London, one of Europe’s biggest cities, that I became passionate about hiking. For the past ten years, I have spent every holiday in the great outdoors all over the world. Since 2020, I live, study, and work in Bonn, and take every opportunity to go to the mountains. With Shanti Treks I am excited to start a new chapter of leading people into the mountains and passing on my knowledge, experience and passion about the great outdoors.

About our host

Hi I'm Alice, founder and CEO of The Adventure Girls Club. I'm passionate about reconnecting women back to nature through adventure and outdoor skills. I set up the club because I didn't feel like I belonged in the outdoor community and I wanted to create a safe space for women like me to head out and enjoy the outdoors in their own way. The club has now become an incredible community that I'm super proud of and I love meeting all the lush people who come along to our events. It's best feeling seeing everyone come away feeling more connected to nature and making connections with other like-minded women too. 

I'm a UK qualified Mountain Leader and run many trips in the UK but I also love running trips in the Alps with our international guide - my good friend Johanna. There's nothing quite like escaping to the mountains for a while and it makes me so happy to see all the women grow in confidence throughout the trip.