Hiking in Friuli: Trekking in Sappada in the Carnic Alps

First day

We meet in the early evening to get to know the guide and the rest of the group: we settle into our 3-star hotel in Sappada and then we are ready to start the holiday on the right foot: a dinner with typical local dishes! Our guide will explain the weekly program for this trekking holiday in the Carnic Pre-Alps: we will discover the source of the Piave River, symbol of the identity of the communities in these areas, and we will walk among the most beautiful mountains of Western Friuli. Between excursions, we will have the opportunity to rest and enjoy the peaceful rhythm of the mountains, thanks to a free day that we can decide to spend walking again or visiting some nearby towns.
Welcome to Friuli!

Second day

Sources of the Piave and Ombladêt peak
Let's set off to discover the true spirit of these mountains: today's excursion takes us to the sources of the Piave, a river that symbolizes these areas due to the events of World War I, which forged the identity of the communities of the Northeast. We will travel from the hotel by shuttle to Val Sesis, home to this wonderful place. From here, we will walk together to the Calvi Refuge, where we can take a break before continuing step by step to the Forcella Sesis. The summit has not yet been reached, but we can see it in front of us: we continue until we conquer Cima Ombladêt (2255 m), where we can enjoy a splendid view. Our circular route continues through the Passo dei Cacciatori, passing through meadows, woods, scree slopes, and gullies, with beautiful views of the Volaia mountains, the distant Cogliàns group, and Cimon. We then return to the hotel for a well-deserved rest!

Third day

Laghi D’Olbe: circular route with Monte Ferro mountain hut
Today we have a beautiful hike to the Laghi d'Olbe, one of the most beautiful hikes in the Carnic Pre-Alps! We set off on foot from our hotel and in five minutes we are at the lifts that will take us to Sappada 2000: from here, we can already enjoy a wonderful view of the valley below. From here, it will be easy to reach the Laghi D'Olbe, two glacial lakes that reflect the bright colors of the surrounding nature. Our legs are warm enough to continue our trekking in the Carnic Pre-Alps towards Monte Ferro Refuge. A nice lunch at the refuge would be just the thing! We descend from the refuge on foot and return to our hotel.

Fourth day

Day off
Today we'll rest our legs a little... if we want to! The day is free for everyone, but there are lots of ideas for enjoying it to the full! How about another excursion to Carnia? The Friulian Dolomites are nearby, and no one can take away a nice hike! Alternatively, we can go for a cultural outing and visit the most characteristic villages of Carnia: Pesariis , for example, known as the village of clocks for its ancient production of clock towers, or Sauris where you can taste excellent prosciutto.
There is something for everyone!

Fifth day

Monte Tuglia, the little Matterhorn, and Casera Tuglia
With our batteries fully charged, today we set off again on our trekking in Sappada and surroundings. We set off on foot from our hotel for thehike to Monte Tuglia: this mountain with its sharp peak is very reminiscent of the Matterhorn, but slightly smaller in size. We take the path along the forest road that gradually climbs through fir and larch woods, with shady and quiet stretches that make the climb pleasant even on the hottest days. As we climb, the forest thins out and beautiful views of the Sappada basin, with its meadows, villages, and surrounding peaks. We reach Casera Tuglia, a small mountain hut where we can stop for a panoramic break to recharge our batteries. For the more determined, there is the last stretch before the summit: we walk on grassy slopes until we reach the summit of Monte Tuglia, a peak that is not too high but extremely scenic. From the top, the view stretches 360° over the Carnic Alps, the Pesarine Dolomites and, on clear days, over an incredible mosaic of mountains that makes the effort more than worthwhile.

Sixth day

Lake Volaia and Collians Peak, between Italy and Austria
Today we have a real treat for you: we're taking you to Austria! Theguided hike to Lake Volaia is unmissable if you are in this area, so here is the perfect opportunity to do it! We will drive to Forni Avoltri where we will meet our guide and then head to the car park of the Taolazzi Refuge. From the refuge, we take a dirt road, initially crossing alpine pastures and open valleys, where it is not uncommon to spot marmots and chamois. The view immediately captures the eye with the vastness of the landscape, severe but harmonious, typical of these border mountains. We then climb up to Lake Volaia and the refuge of the same name on the shores of the lake. This stretch of water nestled between the mountains, with its intense and changing colors and surrounded by scree and rocky ridges, invites us to pause, enjoy the silence and observe the constantly changing panorama depending on the light and clouds. For the more adventurous, there is a climb to the Volaia Pass, the border between Italy and Austria, where the view of the lake is breathtaking. We descend and return to our hotel for our last traditional dinner!

Seventh day

Last awakening in Sappada, among the magical Carnic Prealps. The week-long mountain trekking holiday seems to have flown by, but in reality it has left indelible memories: after seeing the Piave Springs and the summit of Ombladêt , we gained a greater understanding of the importance of these areas for the local community, as well as the beauty of the scenery from the Lakes of Olbe and Mount Tuglia offer the inhabitants of this valley every day. From the top of Collians, sitting beside the shores of Lake Volaia , we were able to savor every second of this vacation, understanding the importance of living each moment to the fullest. See you next time!