Dolomites Women’s Retreat: Five Days Hiking the Italian Alps
Our Dolomites women’s retreat was five days in the Italian Alps with eleven women, a home base in the town of Bressanone, and more good wine than any of us will admit to.
We hiked legendary trails, including the Seceda ridgeline, where the peaks come up out of the valley so sharp they do not look real. Most hikes ended the way Italian hikes should, with cold beers and a cheese plate at a mountain hut. One afternoon in a quiet valley we heard the cow bells carry across the fields and a few of us actually cried. You had to be there.
Lago di Braies
We canoed across Lago di Braies early, before the crowds, while the water was still glass and that impossible shade of emerald. Between the hikes we ate our weight in pasta and pizza and wandered through old churches, castles, and small Italian towns.
What our Dolomites women’s retreat looked like
Breathless climbs through scenery we could barely take in. Long dinners that ran late. A group whose spirit is going to be hard to forget. One of the women said she could not pick a favorite hike because all five days beat anything she had dreamed up. That tracks.
Long hiking days with a good group is what our Iceland women’s retreat is built around too.
The Dolomites retreat on film
Michala Rueter made this short film of our days in the Dolomites. It shows those mountains better than I can describe them.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Dolomites women’s retreat based?
We stayed in Bressanone in northern Italy and hiked out into the surrounding Dolomites, including the Seceda ridgeline and Lago di Braies.
What did the retreat include?
Guided hikes through the Dolomites, mountain hut stops for beer and cheese, an early canoe on Lago di Braies, and days exploring Italian towns, churches, and castles.
Who are these women’s retreats for?
Women who like to move, eat well, and meet good people. You do not need to be an expert hiker. Trails are chosen as a group and there is always an easier option.
Do you still host or photograph women’s retreats?
Yes. I help run and photograph small women’s retreats like this one. If you want to plan one or have me document yours, reach out any time.
When is the best time to hike the Dolomites?
Summer into early fall, when the trails are clear, the huts are open, and the valleys are green. That is when we went, and it was perfect.
Thinking about a women’s retreat like this?
If you have been looking for a women’s adventure retreat, a small group trip with real people and no set agenda, or a photographer to come document one, this is the kind of thing I love being part of. Tell me what you have in mind and we will figure it out together.
More women’s retreats
Want to join the next one? See my upcoming retreats, or browse all of my women’s retreats. A few more from the archive:
- Grand Tetons, Wyoming
- Iceland (2024)
- Iceland (2025)
- Zermatt, Switzerland
- Asheville, North Carolina
- Bryce Canyon, Utah
- Vieques, Puerto Rico
- Tulum, Mexico
- Pacific Northwest
- Santa Fe, New Mexico
Wondering what a trip like this is actually like? Here is my full retreat guide.
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