Dolomites Private Tour: St. Maddalena & Alpine Views

The Dolomites fit inside a day trip from Innsbruck if you skip the crowds and pick the right stops.

A private tour from Innsbruck into Italy's Dolomites and South Tyrol, with an English-speaking guide and driver, visiting the famous St. Maddalena village and your choice of either Seceda 2500 mountain or Alpe di Siusi meadow. You pick one of four itineraries at checkout. Each one includes transportation, water and all fees, and the drive each way takes roughly an hour and a half. Children from age one are welcome, and you can add a local food tasting or lunch at your own cost.

Step-by-step itinerary

Dolomites and South Tyrol highlights

• Drive over valley Val di Funes
• Visit St. Maddalena village and church
• Walk in traditional village St. Urlich
• Visit Ortisei village and woodcarving school
• Optional visit to Seceda 2500 with cable car
• Optional visit to Alpe di Siusi alpine meadow
• Enjoy local food tasting

The experience

You leave Innsbruck in a private vehicle with a guide who knows the region. The route crosses the border into Italy, so bring your passport. The operator handles the crossing logistics. The drive to the Dolomites takes about an hour and a half each way, with stops between sites taking 45 minutes to an hour and a half depending on which itinerary you book. The tour runs six to eight hours total.

St. Maddalena is the anchor stop on every option: a traditional South Tyrolean village set against the Puez-Odle mountain peaks, and the most photographed church in the region. You walk through the village for about an hour. From there, the itinerary branches: you can ride a cable car up to Seceda 2500 (a mountain viewpoint, cable car ticket 39 euros per person, paid on site) or to Alpe di Siusi (the largest alpine meadow in the region, cable car 36 euros per person, paid on site), or in spring and midseason you might visit Lake Braies instead, depending on what is open. Each alpine stop takes roughly an hour and a half including the cable car. You can add a local food and wine tasting or lunch at a restaurant in the region. The cost is separate from the tour price.

In winter, the tour adapts to snow conditions. You can try sledding if there is enough snow, and you choose between visiting Seceda or Alpe di Siusi, or swapping those for a winery and medieval town lunch instead. The guide confirms the exact route based on what is open and passable when you book. Ortisei, a village famous for wood carving, is also on the itinerary. You can browse the still-operating woodcarving school and pick up a souvenir. The tour is flexible. The guide will customize stops and timing within the day to fit what interests you most.

What’s included

• Private transportation from Innsbruck.
• English-speaking guide and driver for the full day.
• bottled water.
• all road and parking fees.
• border crossing support.
• children welcome from age one (specialized infant seats available).
• cable car tickets to your chosen alpine site paid separately at the location.

Options for this experience

4 options

Guide in English09:30

Guide in EnglishAvailable from 10 May 2027

Guide in EnglishAvailable from 11 Dec · 09:30

Guide in EnglishAvailable from 26 Apr 2027

Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except SaturdayDeparts at 09:30

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (1 to 17 years)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePets welcomeNot for heart conditions

Operated by Anna Tirol

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you have a free afternoon in Innsbruck and want to see the Dolomites without renting a car or navigating the border crossing yourself. The private format means the guide adjusts the pace and stops to what interests you, and you pick which alpine meadow or mountain to visit when you book, so you are not locked into a fixed itinerary.

Traveler reviews

4.95★★★★★★★★★★

19 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (1 to 17 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24h before the start.

Can I visit both Seceda 2500 and Alpe di Siusi on the same tour?

No, you choose one or the other at checkout. Both are cable car destinations that take roughly an hour and a half each, so fitting both into a six- to eight-hour tour would leave no time for St. Maddalena or the drive back to Innsbruck. You can add a local food tasting instead of one of the alpine stops if you prefer.

What is St. Maddalena and why is it so famous for photos?

St. Maddalena is a traditional South Tyrolean village in Val di Funes, built at the foot of the Puez-Odle mountain peaks. The church and village houses are the most photographed subjects in the Dolomites because of how the peaks frame the valley behind them. You spend about an hour walking through the village and the surrounding area.

Do I need a passport to cross into Italy?

Yes. You will cross the border from Austria into Italy, and you must carry your passport with any required visa. If you are stopped at a border control without a passport, police have the right to return you. The guide and driver handle the crossing itself, but the document is your responsibility.

What happens to the tour in winter?

In winter, the itinerary adapts based on snow and what cable cars are open. You can try sledding if there is enough snow, and you choose between visiting Seceda or Alpe di Siusi, or visiting a winery and medieval town for lunch instead. The guide will confirm the exact route when you book based on conditions at that time.

Is lunch included in the tour price?

No. You can add a local food and wine tasting or eat at a restaurant in the region, but the cost is separate from the tour price and paid directly. Water is included throughout the day.

How much driving is there, and can I bring snacks?

You spend roughly an hour and a half driving each way to and from Innsbruck, plus 45 minutes to an hour and a half between stops depending on your route. Open coffee drinks and bulk food like chips, nuts and crackers are not allowed in the car, but you can bring sealed snacks and water bottles.