Hike the Italian Dolomites: The Hotel Edition

The location is stunning. Every day we were greeted by a guide and taken on a hike. The hikes weren't complicated and the views were majestic. The best day was the hike where we used cables and harnesses to climb the mountain. The hotel was nice enough, but we were originally supposed to stay in a hotel with a hot tub and I was disappointed that the new hotel did not have a hot tub. Breakfast was a true highlight. The included dinners were tasty but nothing exceptional. I had a lovely time and it was so nice to have an organized itinerary for each day. Beautiful place and a delightful adventure

My experience with this MBA trip was great. The trip was well organised, comfortable transfers to the hotel, lovely hotel (still missing the breakfasts!), great hikes with beautiful views and even better company! We were very lucky with the weather and were able to complete all of the hikes. Our guide, Lucia, was amazing, she paced the hikes well so the full group could enjoy them. The hikes were all a short transfer away from the hotel but still varied and off the beaten track. I am really glad I went and would not hesitate to recommend this trip to anyone!

This trip met or exceeded our expectations at every turn! The hiking, the scenery, the group, the guides, the accommodations and the food were all incredible. This is right up there with our best vacations ever

Had a great week hiking 🥾 in September. Our guide Lucia was very knowledgeable and kept the pace just right for everyone. Each day the hikes showed us various different parts of the Dolomites and although the via feratta was classified as easy the hike to it was interesting. We were moved to a different hotel as the original hotel had started renovations the week we arrived but Chalet Barbara was superb with a lovely breakfast and wellness suite. Our fellow travellers were of mixed nationalities but everyone got on well

My first MBA experience, I'd been looking for a trip in the Dolomites for a while and had considered a hut to hut, but this ticked all the boxes. Showing me the Dolomites and the slightly less touristy places in the area and then getting to enjoy Arabba in the evenings all while getting to sleep in a proper bed. The breakfast buffet at the hotel was very very good and the bar in the evenings was also good. We were very lucky that the group dynamic was fantastic and we all got along very well, so much so, that all dinners in the evenings which were not included, we always tried to find somewhere to accommodate all 12 of us. The hikes themselves were well planned and got progressively harder as the week went on. The first four days our guide, Lucia, made everything fun and told us short facts/stories about the local area. Then on the final day we have Walter and Olaf, two mountain guides who took us up the Via Ferrata and down through a WW1 tunnel. Which all members of the group managed, the hardest part being the steepness of the uphill section. The Via Ferrata, was manageable by all in the group and all safety equipment was provided by the Mountain Guides, I would however recommend having a pair of leather palmed gloves for the cables of the Via Ferrata. The ease of getting to and from Arabba and the transfers at the start and end of the day worked well. We we very lucky with the weather and only had a short spell of rain one morning on the second to last day. I would recommend this trip to anyone who is new to MBA and wanting to explore the Dolomites, but isn't sure about the commitment of a hut to hut.

Really enjoyed the trip. We were lucky to have beautiful sunny days and great group dynamics. The hotel was lovely with a fantastic breakfast and spa. The hikes were challenging but rewarding and made better by a fantastic guide. Wonderful trip.

Hiking in Dolmites was awesome, and so was the way the hiking trip was organized showing Miki and Fabrizio's passion to introduce us the Dolmites. First of all, they really cared that we would have a good time and everything would work smoothly. Inclusion of transport from/to Venice Airport and Via Ferrata was the main reason I selected this particular tour. Difficulty of hiking was progressive (day one was the easiest) and this was very good for me who had a jetlag. The guides were friendly and knowledgeable and the hotel was clean, spacious and cute. I enjoyed good daily hikes, good company, good foods and wine. This tour was simply a lot more than I expected and I felt so lucky to have found this tour via MBA.

The good: -The Dolomites are beyond beautiful with perfectly challenging hikes through diverse lanscapes (although we missed a day of hiking due to rain). -Our hiking guide Barbara was kind, encouraging and informative; a 10/10. -Our fellow hikers became fast friend and great companions. The bad: -Miki's communication style is odd, defensive and inflexible. She arrived over an hour late for the pickup in Venice which was a disappointing start to the trip. BUT she could also be kind; she loaned me hiking poles and she refunded the group for an unnecessary expense. -The included meals at Miky's Grill were average; not a restaurant you would go to twice yet we ate there three times. -The alpine guides for the final hike were terrible. They added very little to the hike, barely spoke to us and we were often wondering where to go because they didn't guide us. They failed to communicate that we were behind schedule and would not be able to do the post- lunch portion of the hike and we had to take the cable car down; a collective expense of 228 euros which Miki stepped up and refunded the group -Communications with Much Better Adventures were not great; I was not able to reach anyone on the phone during business hours and emails were not returned for several days. Overall I was happy I did the trip, but I would say it was not a good value because it promised more than it delivered.

As a fifty-something mum, I’ll admit I worried I might be too old, too slow, or simply not fit enough for this adventure. But the Dolomites proved me wrong in the best possible way. From golden sunrises over jagged peaks to alpine lakes that felt like hidden jewels, every day was a reminder that midlife can be a time to push limits, not shrink from them. Lucia, our brilliant guide, turned hikes into stories—pointing out marmots, sharing myths, and making us laugh when the climbs got tough. And yes, the climbs were tough (future adventurers: do more squats before you come, your legs will thank you!). But reaching those summits with the wind in my face made me feel stronger, braver, and more alive than I have in years. Back at Chalet Barbara, the hot showers, hearty breakfasts, and warm hospitality were heaven. I will never forget the spinach spätzle after a long day, or the laughter that made strangers feel like friends. This trip isn’t just about the mountains. It’s about rediscovering confidence, proving to yourself that age doesn’t define ability, and coming home taller in spirit than when you left. If you’re hesitating—don’t. Pack your boots, train your quads, and get ready for an adventure that will stay with you for a lifetime

First time for us with MBA. We were going to plan our own trip but liked the idea of staying in one place and sampling hikes in different areas with transport. We were a bit puzzled by the scant follow up post-booking. Most organizers send reams of paperwork. We’re in our 50’s/ 60’s so maybe a generational thing. We also hadn’t been on a program without a leader who stays with us and helps form the group dynamic- but that was in the end a great asset, as the group came together on it’s own. Where on-your-own nights might have led to fragmentation, we all kept together and got to know each other well. The hikes were well-planned and sequenced, allowing us to see some highlights but largely avoiding getting swamped by the overtourism that is weighing on the area. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone who is fit, inquisitive, and sociable.