This past August, I rounded up a small crew of adventurous friends for a journey to the Dolomites. If you’ve never been, let me tell you – this stunning mountain region in the Tyrolean Alps is pure magic and ranks high on my list of favorite places on earth. Back in early spring 2025, I reached out to some of my favorite hiking buddies with a proposition: join me in exploring a completely new area of the Dolomites that I’d never experienced before.
Now, if you’ve spent any time in this region, you know that each area has its own unique personality. Back in 2018, I explored the Badia region with another group of amazing women (you can read all about that adventure here).
The trails around San Martin are a world apart from what you’ll find in the Latemar and Eggental areas.Here’s my honest take: in San Martin and the National Park, I’d strongly suggest hiring a guide. But this year’s destination?
Totally different story. The Latemar and Eggental regions are incredibly family-friendly, and the trails we tackled were surprisingly accessible. If this is your first Dolomites adventure, this might be the perfect place to start. Plus, we hit the weather jackpot – late August and early September delivered absolutely perfect hiking conditions.
Can I just say how much I love that this corner of Europe exists in this beautiful cultural limbo between Italy and Germany/Austria? For me, it’s the ultimate combination – I get to speak German while indulging in incredible Italian cuisine. Everything just works here: clear signage, well-maintained trails, and that warm, genuine hospitality that makes you feel instantly welcome. Seriously, best of both worlds.
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Where We Stayed
Okay, I just have to share – I absolutely struck gold with our accommodations. We stayed at the Wellness & Vital-Hotel Erica in Nova Ponente (Deutschnofen in German), and it exceeded every expectation. This enchanting family-run chalet-style wellness resort is tucked right into the mountainside, and it’s absolutely dreamy. The town of Deutschnofen itself is tiny – blink and you’ll miss it – though I imagine it comes alive during ski season.
But here’s what really made our stay special: the staff. They were exceptional from start to finish. I have to give a special shout-out to Petra, who went above and beyond helping our group with just about everything we needed, almost daily.
🧳 TRAVEL TIP
Here’s my insider tip: go for their inclusive packages. We opted for half-board, which included both breakfast and dinner daily, and it was honestly the smartest decision we made.
Breakfast featured a made-to-order chef station for omelets and eggs, fresh-baked pastries, and a stunning spread of fresh fruits, cheeses, and breads. They even included healthy juice drinks with our dinner meals. Our server Simon probably has some stories to tell about our lively table!
The food? Fantastic doesn’t even cover it. We had the freedom to order from the menu while also enjoying their incredible buffet at every meal. The affordability surprised me, and it had that wonderful “all-inclusive” vibe without feeling generic or impersonal. After long days of hiking or spa time, we could just roll into bed without worrying about finding dinner – pure bliss.
The dinner experience was truly something special – exquisite meals with perfectly sized portions and elegant presentation. The chef is genuinely talented.
Every single room came with mountain views, and let me tell you, we slept like babies with that cool, fresh mountain air drifting through our windows.
The resort’s design captures that elegant, upscale mountain chalet aesthetic beautifully. There’s this wonderful nostalgic quality to it. We actually had the pleasure of meeting Luis Brunner and his family during an extra night we tacked on, complete with a champagne greeting.
I’m always drawn to small, family-run hospitality businesses around the world, and this encounter made our stay even more memorable.
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The Spa Experience
What’s a girls’ trip without some serious spa time, right? After our first day of hiking, several of us indulged in the spa services. JoHannah, amazing that she is, somehow managed to fit us all in. We basically wanted to try everything on the menu, and she graciously worked her magic, melting away all our tension and stress.
The spa itself is this peaceful, serene sanctuary located in the lower level of the resort – you truly feel transported to another world down there. You could easily spend an entire day floating between experiences: the Finnish Sauna, the steam bath, or if you’re feeling brave, the Snow Room (designed for those dealing with rheumatoid arthritis). A few of my friends tested that one out, but having grown up in Northern New York, I wasn’t about to subject myself to voluntary cold! Instead, I opted for the hot infrared room for that delicious Vitamin D boost.
This tranquil space is perfect for unwinding, catching up on reading, or simply existing in peace – and it’s all included with your package stay. My advice? Take full advantage.
Our Hiking Adventures
I’d done some preliminary research before the trip, but I also knew the resort offered guided hiking and cycling tours as part of their programming.
Quick Travel Tip: If you’re interested in the hotel’s guided hikes, make sure to sign up on Sunday – these small group tours fill up fast!
Even though we missed out on the guided options, Petra and her fantastic front desk team (Felix and Kathrin) came through with trail suggestions that were absolutely perfect for our group’s fitness level and what we wanted to experience.
Hike #1: Niger Pass
- Our inaugural hike took us to the Niger Pass. We started right across the street from the Niger Hütte Rifugio Passo Nigra, and thankfully, clear signs pointed us toward Jocherhof. I learned this trick during my years living in Germany: always follow signs to “hütte” (mountain huts) – they consistently deliver spectacular views and delicious food. This particular trail took us about 2-3 hours and consisted mostly of paved or dirt roads. The elevation gain was gentle – mostly flat terrain with absolutely stunning views at every turn.
- We all brought our hiking poles and plenty of water. Sunscreen was essential, and we packed extra snacks just to be safe.
- The Jocherhof exceeded expectations, and we timed it perfectly, arriving just before the lunch rush. We noticed quite a few through-hikers who were just passing through on longer treks. We knew from the start this would be an out-and-back hike – perfect for our first adventure after flying in.
Hike #2: Latemar Region in Obereggen
- For our second adventure, we headed to the Latemar region in Obereggen. This area transforms into a major skiing destination come winter. We decided to work smarter, not harder, and took the ski lift to the top of the mountain to begin our hike from Oberholz on the “kindertrail” (children’s trail). Now, having lived in Germany for nine years and Europe for even longer, I’ve learned to take the term “kinder” with a massive grain of salt. European children and families grow up immersed in outdoor culture, so their definition of “child-friendly” can be quite different from ours. That said, I absolutely loved this trail – and I think my crew did too!
The views were nothing short of spectacular. This was our longest hike – about six hours total. Along the way, we encountered these wonderful educational stops about local nature, wildlife, and environmental respect that were engaging for all ages.
At one point, we reached 7,300 feet above sea level. Cindy had brought a tracker that we became slightly obsessed with checking. “How much elevation now?” became our running joke!
We stopped for an incredible lunch at Baita Passo Feudo. The views alone were worth the hike, though there’s also a ski lift for people who just want to come up for the restaurant experience.
This is where that Italian-German split personality really shines – seeing servers in lederhosen and dirndls serving pizza and charcuterie alongside strudel samplers just made my heart happy. Like I said: best of both worlds!
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A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Parking Lot
After lunch, we started our descent but somehow got turned around. After wandering in the wrong direction for about an hour (yes, we were definitely lost), we retraced our steps back up the mountain via ski lift to the restaurant and started fresh. Thankfully, this time the trail led us down to a different ski lift that brought us back to Obereggen. Crisis averted! Despite the detour, we captured some amazing photos, encountered lots of cows and sheep, and continued to enjoy absolutely gorgeous weather.
Getting There & Getting Around
So how do you actually get to this corner of Italy from the States? You’ve got two main options. You can fly into Milan (Petra’s recommendation), which puts you about 3 hours away. Alternatively, Venice Airport is also about 3 hours from the region. Personally, I’d lean toward Venice, mainly because I’m obsessed with the Lake Garda and Verona areas – you could easily add a few days to explore that region before or after your mountain adventure.
Do You Need a Car?
This is probably the most common question I get. Could you manage with just trains and buses? We preferred having our own car for the flexibility, but the resort has partnerships with the mountain bus system (Dolomitibus) that makes car-free travel totally feasible. The bus ticket was included in our stay too. Lisa and Debbie used this service several times and found it quite convenient, though they did discover that summer schedules run differently than winter ones.
Other Regional Highlights
Karersee (Lago di Carezza)
This stunning cobalt lake is just a short drive from Niger Pass, so we couldn’t resist checking out the famous spot that supposedly reflects a mermaid. The flat, easy walk around the lake was lovely, and there’s a convenient spot to grab refreshments and browse a fun gift shop. Just note there’s a small parking fee. The views were absolutely wonderful, and we learned that this is actually a man-made lake created to manage spring snowmelt and prevent valley flooding – fascinating!
On our way back from Nova Ponente, we also spent some time driving around Lake Garda before heading south toward Modena and eventually the Rome area.
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Final Thoughts
This was my first visit to the Latemar region and my second trip to the Dolomites overall, but I can already tell you I’m nowhere near done exploring. There’s still so much I want to discover. The combination of incredible hiking, natural beauty, warm hospitality, and genuine connection to the land makes this place truly special. Until next time – Arrivederci and Bis bald!
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