Grand Tour of the Dolomites

Lake Alleghe is the spectacular setting of the start of the Grand Tour of the Dolomites. This is a challenging itinerary that affords great satisfaction, thanks also to the beautiful places it crosses. Going up the Cordevole Valley, you reach Arabba along a stretch of the "Road of the Dolomites", from where you can admire the Marmolada range and its glacier due south.

Get over Campolongo Pass and reach La Villa; there begins the Valparola Pass climb with its spectacular lunar landscape, a scene of fierce First World War battles. The front line ran right on Valparola Pass and all around are still well preserved military barracks and an old Austrian fort turned museum that you can visit.

Continue downhill towards Falzarego Pass and go past the Lagazuoi cableway - which accesses the galleries Italian troops carved in the rock - to your left. Just below and to the right, the Cinque Torri chairlift lets you visit a number of well marked trails in the trenches.

The descent from Falzarego Pass is 10 km long. Turn right at Pocol and start the tough climb toward what is considered the most fascinating of the Dolomite passes: Giau Pass.

A fast downhill ride leads to Selva di Cadore, Caprile, and Alleghe.