Tre Cime di Lavaredo

The Tre Cime di Lavaredo, three vast limestone towers thrusting straight up from a high alpine basin, form the single most recognisable image of the Dolomites and lie at the heart of the range's UNESCO World Heritage listing. The classic way to experience them is the circular hike that loops beneath all three peaks, usually begun at Rifugio Auronzo, which is reached at the end of a panoramic toll road climbing from Lake Misurina. From the refuge the well-trodden path contours past the little church of the Cappella degli Alpini to Rifugio Lavaredo, then climbs to the Forcella Lavaredo saddle where, quite suddenly, the famous north faces of the three peaks reveal themselves in full. The route continues to the Rifugio Locatelli, perhaps the most celebrated viewpoint in the Alps, where the towers line up across a glacial bowl dotted with tarns. The full loop runs around ten kilometres with moderate ascent, taking most walkers four to five hours, and threads constantly past the trenches, caverns, and gun positions of the First World War front that ran through these mountains. Most of the trail is broad and clearly marked, though a few sections are exposed and rocky and a head for heights helps. The toll road and car park open from roughly late May to October, but the Auronzo lot fills early on summer mornings, so an early start or one of the seasonal buses from Dobbiaco and Misurina is wise. There is little natural shelter, weather changes fast at altitude, and sturdy boots, layers, water, and sun protection are essential. For those who arrive at dawn or stay near the refuges, the towers glowing pink at sunrise and sunset are an unforgettable reward.