I recently joined a trek with Wild in the Dolomiti and, while the scenery of the Dolomites was of course beautiful, I was left disappointed by the way the trip was managed.
Communication & organisation: Communication before and during the trip was often confusing and unnecessarily stressful. Long, detailed WhatsApp messages made it hard to get clear information. At the start, we were told about van issues in a way that created panic rather than reassurance — first a 1-hour delay, then 2 hours, with unnecessary detail about repairs and car parts. Similarly, when told the journey could take 5 hours due to traffic, this could have been framed simply as “we may arrive later, so we’re leaving earlier. ”
Transport: Cars were very comfortable, but music was played (often loudly) throughout journeys without asking the group’s preference, and there was no water provided for long drives (2. 5+ hours). On both journeys to and from Arabba, no one checked whether we were comfortable – for example, asking about the temperature or music volume. It often felt more like we were in their space, rather than them creating a space for us.
Accommodation: The hotel itself was comfortable and Arrabba a nice base, but basic management issues were left unresolved. We were told by hotel staff the tap water was unsafe to drink, which contradicted the local host who said it was fine. This left us having to buy and carry heavy bottles uphill to the hotel. Rooms were unheated and drying wet clothes was difficult; despite repeated requests, heaters in the ski room were not turned on, but only after asking multiple times. On arrival, no information was given about the spa, lounge, or even practicalities like drying clothes — I only discovered the lounge on the final day. The hotel staff were also very kind and helpful, although the owners came across as less friendly and a little abrupt.
Guiding: Our main guide was very kind and lovely, but communication was limited. The main guide’s English was not very strong, so explanations were minimal and often needed prompting.
Local host: Thelocal host from Wild in the Dolomiti came across as defensive and scolding rather than supportive, making it difficult to raise issues. Instead of sharing about her organisation or the region, she often framed it as “her mountains” and “her adventure,” which felt dismissive of the group.
Expectations vs reality: Before the trip there were repeated warnings about bag weight and space, which proved unnecessary as there was plenty of room. Since this was a hotel-based trek, some people cut down items they ended up really missing. I was also disappointed to learn mid-trip that swimming in the lake was restricted to knee-deep only, despite looking forward to it and it being mentioned in the itinerary.
Hospitality: At the end of the trip, the company co-owner threw my empty water bottle from his car onto the ground when I left it there while juggling luggage. It was an unpleasant and unnecessary way to part ways, and summed up the lack of basic courtesy I felt throughout.
The best part of the trip was the group itself – we all connected, collaborated, and made the most of the days together. It was brilliant fun! I’d love to return to the Dolomites, or try another Much Better Adventures hike, but only one that’s been well established so I can gauge reviews beforehand.
Overall, the Dolomites are spectacular, but I cannot recommend Wild in the Dolomiti. Too many aspects that should have been managed smoothly were left to guests to figure out, and the tone from the hosts often made things harder rather than easier.
