Dolomites tour from Bolzano: Great Dolomites Road in one day

300 kilometers through the western and eastern Dolomites in a single loop

A private car tour from Bolzano covering 300 km of the Great Dolomites Road, with an English or Italian-speaking driver and all transport costs included. The route crosses the Ega Valley, stops at Carezza Lake in the western Dolomites, climbs to Pordoi Pass at 2,239 meters, descends to Cortina d'Ampezzo, and ends at Lake Misurina facing the Three Peaks of Lavaredo. The tour runs about 10 hours and includes optional cable car access to Sass Pordoi. Lunch is not included but stops allow time to eat.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full day Dolomites private car tour

• Depart from Bolzano
• Cross Ega Valley
• Stop and walk at Carezza Lake
• Pass Costalunga Pass and see Grand Hotel Carezza
• Drive through Fassa Valley via Vigo di Fassa and Canazei
• Arrive at Pordoi Pass, optional cable car to Sass Pordoi
• Reach Falzarego Pass entering eastern Dolomites
• Descend to Arabba village
• Arrive at Cortina d’Ampezzo
• Visit Misurina Lake with Three Peaks view
• Brief stop at Lake Dobbiaco
• Visit Braies Lake near Austria border
• Return to Bolzano via Pusteria and Isarco Valleys

The experience

The drive begins in Bolzano, the capital of South Tyrol, and follows a route built in 1894 when the region was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Your first stop is Carezza Lake, the most beautiful lake of the western Dolomites, where you can walk around the shoreline if you want or stay in the car. From there the road climbs to Costalunga Pass, where the 1893 Grand Hotel Carezza still stands: the first luxury hotel in the Dolomites, once hosting guests like Empress Sissi and Winston Churchill.

The route then descends into the Fassa Valley, passing through Vigo di Fassa and Canazei before reaching the base of the Sella Group's imposing peaks. From here begins a series of 27 hairpin switchbacks leading to Pordoi Pass at 2,239 meters above sea level. If you choose the optional cable car to Sass Pordoi (available late May through October and Christmas to Easter), you can reach 2,950 meters and spend an hour at the summit. The descent takes you through Arabba and across Falzarego Pass into the eastern Dolomites, arriving at Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy's premier mountain resort and host of the 1956 Winter Olympics.

The final stretch reaches Lake Misurina, where the Three Peaks of Lavaredo rise to the north and Mount Sorapis to the south: the most famous view of the Dolomites in the world. A brief stop at Lake Dobbiaco follows, then the tour continues to Braies Lake in the far northeast corner of Italy near the Austrian border. The return to Bolzano takes about an hour and 40 minutes through the Pusteria and Isarco valleys. Bottled water is provided throughout the day, and your driver handles all toll roads and parking.

What’s included

• Bottled water throughout the day.
• private car with an English or Italian-speaking driver and guide.
• all costs for the service car, toll roads and parking.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to3h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by ItalyDolomites by AS SERVIZI di Scacchetti A.

Is this one for you?At 10 hours, this tour fills most of a day and covers the entire Great Dolomites Road in one loop. If you have only one day in the region and want to see both the western and eastern Dolomites, the high passes, and the Three Peaks, this route reaches all of them without backtracking.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

How much time do I actually spend driving versus stopped at viewpoints?

The tour runs about 10 hours total. Carezza Lake allows 30 minutes for a walk if you choose; Pordoi Pass holds an hour if you take the cable car to Sass Pordoi, or less if you stay at the pass itself; Lake Misurina and Lake Dobbiaco are brief stops. The rest is driving time through the passes and valleys.

What is the Three Peaks of Lavaredo view actually like from Lake Misurina?

Lake Misurina frames the Three Peaks to the north and Mount Sorapis to the south in a single panorama. This is the most photographed view of the Dolomites in the world, and the lake sits at the center of it.

Can I take the cable car up Sass Pordoi, or is it always closed?

The cable car to Sass Pordoi is optional and seasonal: it runs from late May through the end of October and again from Christmas to Easter. You can choose to ride it at checkout for an extra fee, or skip it and stay at the pass itself.

Do I need to bring my own lunch, or are there restaurants along the way?

Lunch is not included in the tour price. The stops at Carezza Lake, Cortina d'Ampezzo, and the pass areas allow time to eat at local restaurants or cafés, or you can bring your own food.

Is this tour suitable if I have a heart condition or limited cardiovascular fitness?

The tour is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health, as it involves high-altitude passes and a full day of driving. It is otherwise suitable for all physical fitness levels.