Dolomites Full-Day Tour from Lake Garda: Pordoi Pass & Ortisei

The Dolomites at 7,300 Feet: A Day in Three Valleys from Lake Garda

You travel by air-conditioned bus with a guide who provides live commentary on the drive north through the Dolomites. The day includes stops at Soraga Lake for photos, the Pordoi Pass at 7,300 feet with free time for lunch and mountain views, and Ortisei village for shopping and walking. Pickup and return are from Lake Garda, and the full day takes around ten hours.

Step-by-step itinerary

Dolomites full-day tour from Lake Garda

• Start at Lake Garda agency
• Drive on Autostrada del Brennero
• Stop for toilet and coffee
• Free time in Cavalese village
• Visit Soraga Lake viewpoint
• Arrive at Pordoi pass
• Free time for lunch and photos
• Optional cable way to Dolomiti Terrace
• Stop in Ortisei mountain village
• Stop for toilet or coffee
• Return to meeting point

The experience

The bus is already rolling north when you realize the lake has dropped behind you. The Autostrada del Brennero climbs steadily, and somewhere between the coffee stop and Cavalese (a village that looks like it was built from dark wood and snow) the landscape stops being Italy and becomes something else. Your guide points out the typical chalets, the ski runs carved into the slopes, and you start to understand why people come back here every winter. The air gets thinner as you climb.

By midday you're standing at Pordoi Pass, roughly 2,240 meters up, and the three famous summits (Marmolada, Sella, Catinaccio) are arranged in front of you like they were placed there on purpose. There's free time to eat, to take the photographs everyone takes at this altitude, or to pay the extra 30 euros for the cable car up to the "Dolomiti Terrace" if you want the view from even higher. Most people do. The light up here is different: sharper, colder, the kind that makes the rock look almost unreal. You'll spend a couple of hours here, which is enough to feel like you've actually arrived somewhere, not just passed through.

The afternoon brings you down to Ortisei, a mountain village known for wood carvings and the kind of architecture that makes photographers stop in the street. There's time to walk around, to buy something small (a carved figure, a postcard, a bar of chocolate), and to sit in a café if your legs need a rest. The bus stops once more on the way back to Lake Garda for a toilet break or coffee, and then you're descending again, the valleys opening up below you, the day already starting to feel like something you'll think about for a while.

What’s included

• Your day includes hotel or meeting point pickup from Lake Garda, an air-conditioned bus with a professional guide, and live commentary throughout the drive.
• You get stops at Soraga Lake for photos, free time at Pordoi Pass (2,240m) to explore and eat lunch, a visit to Ortisei village for shopping and walking, and a return toilet or coffee break before heading back to Lake Garda.
• All taxes, fees and handling charges are covered.
• The cable car to the peak is optional and costs extra.

Options for this experience

17 options

Pickup is available at Peschiera del Garda.Guide in English or German · Available from 21 May 2027Pickup at Peschiera del Garda in front of the train station (Viale Stazione, 18, 37019 Peschiera del Garda VR). Meeting point: Viale Stazione, 18, 37019 Peschiera del Garda VR, Italy

Pick-up at GardaGuide in English or German · Available from 21 May 2027Pickup at the Garda bus station (Corso Italia, 80, 37016 Garda VR). Meeting point: Corso Italia, 80, 37016 Garda VR, Italy

Pick-up at LaziseGuide in English or German · Available from 21 May 2027Pickup at the Lazise bus stop (Via Gardesana, 22, 37017 Lazise VR). Meeting point: Via Gardesana, 22, 37017 Lazise VR, Italy

See 14 more options

Pick-up at GargnanoGuide in English or German · Available from 21 May 2027Pickup at the Gargnano bus station (Piazzale Boldini, 4, 25084 Gargnano BS), close to the Gardesana bar. Meeting point: Piazzale Boldini, 4, 25084 Gargnano BS, Italy

Pickup is available at Toscolano Maderno.Guide in English or German · Available from 21 May 2027Pickup at the Toscolano Maderno bus stop (Piazza S. Marco, 49, Toscolano-Maderno BS). Meeting point: Piazza San Marco, 49, 25088 Toscolano Maderno BS, Italy

Pickup is available at Gardone Riviera.Guide in English or German · Available from 21 May 2027Pickup at the Gardone Riviera bus stop in front of the Grand Hotel Gardone (Corso Zanardelli, 84, Gardone Riviera BS). Meeting point: Corso Giuseppe Zanardelli, 84, 25083 Gardone Riviera BS, Italy

Pick-up at SalòGuide in English or German · Available from 21 May 2027Pickup at the Salò bus station near the Cinema Teatro Crystal (Largo Dante Alighieri, 18, 25087 Salò BS). Meeting point: Largo Dante Alighieri, 18, 25087 Salò BS, Italy

Pick-up at BardolinoGuide in English or German · Available from 21 May 2027Pickup at the Bardolino bus station (Piazzale Aldo Moro, 1, 37011 Bardolino VR). Meeting point: Piazzale Aldo Moro, 1, 37011 Bardolino VR, Italy

Pickup is available at Limone sul Garda.Guide in English or German · Available from 21 May 2027Meeting point: Via IV Novembre, 50, 25010 Limone sul Garda BS, Italy

Pickup is available at Riva del Garda.Guide in English or German · Available from 21 May 2027Pickup at the Riva del Garda bus station near the bar/taxi, where there is a tourist bus stop (Viale Trento, 36, 38066 Riva del Garda TN). Meeting point: Viale Trento, 36, 38066 Riva del Garda TN, Italy

Pick-up at TorboleGuide in English or German · Available from 21 May 2027Pickup at the Torbole bus station in front of the La Vela hotel (Via Strada Granda, 2, Nago-Torbole TN). Meeting point: Residence La Vela, Via Str. Granda, 2, 38069 Nago-Torbole TN, Italy

Pick-up at MalcesineGuide in English or German · Available from 21 May 2027Pickup at the Malcesine bus station (Via Gardesana, 236, 37018 Malcesine VR). Meeting point: Via Gardesana, 236, 37018 Malcesine VR, Italy

Pickup is available at Brenzone sul Garda.Guide in English or German · Available from 21 May 2027Pickup at the Brenzone sul Garda bus stop (Via Madonna della Pace, 4, 37010 Brenzone sul Garda VR). Meeting point: Via Madonna della Pace, 4, 37010 Brenzone sul Garda VR, Italy

Pickup is available at Torri del Benaco.Guide in English or German · Available from 21 May 2027Pickup at the Torri del Benaco bus station (Via Gardesana, 35, 37010 Torri del Benaco VR). Meeting point: Via Gardesana, 35, 37010 Torri del Benaco VR, Italy

Pick-up at SirmioneGuide in English or German · Available from 21 May 2027

Pickup is available at Desenzano del Garda.Guide in English or German · Available from 21 May 2027Pickup in front of the Hotel Europa (Lungolago Cesare Battisti, 71, 25015 Desenzano del Garda BS)

Pickup is available in the center of Verona.Guide in English · Available from 21 May 2027

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

Before you book

Lasts 11h, from € 85 per person, with a live guide in English and German and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesNext departure: 21 May 2027

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 52

Live guideEnglish and German

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on site€ 30

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Montebaldo

Is this one for you?Book this if you want the main Dolomites peaks and valleys in one day without arranging your own transport or figuring out which villages to visit: the fixed route and timing pack three distinct stops into a single afternoon, and the altitude gain happens on the bus instead of on foot.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and German.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3): free.

How long is the tour?

Approximately 10 hours from pickup at Lake Garda and return.

What's included in the price?

Tour guide, air-conditioned transport, live commentary, and all taxes and fees. Lunch is not included, but there is free time at Pordoi Pass to eat. The cable car to the peak costs an extra 30 euros per person.

What's the highest altitude we reach?

Pordoi Pass at approximately 7,300 feet (2,240 meters).

Is there time to eat?

Yes, there is free time at Pordoi Pass for lunch. You can bring your own food or buy from local cafés. Cavalese village also has a brief stop where you can get chocolate or coffee.

Can I do the cable car to the peak?

Yes, it's optional and costs 30 euros per person. It's called the "Dolomiti Terrace" and offers views from the highest point.

Is this tour suitable for people with mobility issues?

The tour involves walking at altitude and is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health. Most of the day is on the bus, but the stops require some walking.

Are pets allowed?

No, pets are not allowed on this tour.

What should I bring?

Warm clothing and layers. It's significantly cooler at altitude. Comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen, and a camera are recommended.