Rock Climbing Dolomites: modular programs (from 1 to 6 days)

A course of rock climbing Dolomites during your holiday in Italy is the best choose to begin your outdoor climbing activity! Climb the alpine routes of the Dolomites is a particular art that need a learning period directly “on the action field”.
Combine some days dedicated at a rock climbing course plus some climbing routes in the Dolomites, is a unique experience that will give at your holiday in Italy a special finalised target.
I organise climbing courses in different areas of the Dolomites, based at your specific requirements of level and number of days.
Basically: from one day to a full week we can find an appropriate solution for your first experience on rock climbing in the Dolomites. Follow the two steps here below to finalise at best your rock climbing holiday in the Dolomites.

Logistic basic information

Bolzano is widely considered the most practical and strategic base for exploring via ferrata in the Dolomites.
Thanks to its central position and excellent transport connections, it allows easy access to a wide range of via ferrata areas across the entire Dolomites region, both for single-day routes and multi-day programs.

The map above illustrates the main travel routes to Bolzano from the nearest international airports, followed by direct and efficient train connections. Airports such as Munich, Verona, Venice, and Innsbruck are all well connected to Bolzano, making arrival in the Dolomites straightforward even for travelers without a rental car.

Once in Bolzano, transfers to the main Dolomites valleys are short and flexible. From here it is possible to reach the Central Dolomites, the Catinaccio / Rosengarten, the Sella Group, the Brenta Dolomites, and many other via ferrata areas within reasonable driving times. This central location reduces daily transfers and allows itineraries to be adapted easily according to weather conditions and route availability.

For this reason, Bolzano represents an ideal base not only for introductory via ferrata routes, but also for complex and multi-day via ferrata Dolomites programs that require mobility and logistical flexibility.

Download the logistic map of the Dolomites

2. Rock Climbing Dolomites: “choose your preferred program”

THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A BASIC IDEA TO BEGIN THE ORGANISATION OF YOUR PROGRAM

Rock Climbing Dolomites: DAY1 (optional) – the basis of technic

We can begin your approach at the rock climbing Dolomites art on the famous rock blocks area of the “Città dei Sassi” (city of rock blocks) at the Sella Pass. A perfect place where can try, in total safety, the delicate manouvres of rappelling, technic of belays, and others aspects of the climbing on the big walls, etc…. This day is a preparative phase for the multi-pitches routes of the next days! If you are expert of multi-pitches climbing routes is not neccessary do this day, we can bypass this day to dedicate your tour directly at the climbing routes here below.

Rock Climbing Dolomites: DAY2 – the Sella Towers

The second day of rock climbing Dolomites tour we can climb one of the many climbing routes of the three Sella Towers. If you prefer a exposed ridge: the Steger route (8 pitches) is perfect! In alternative with the same grade (V°) aprox 5.5/5.6 of the American scale (not Yosemite grades…) we can climb the Trenker route (7 pitches), a enormous open book on the south wall of the First Sella Tower. Don’t worry….. on the same wall there are easier and more difficult routes, as you prefer….
Every route arrive on the top of the First Sella Tower, and from here we can rappel back to the base or continue to the Second Sella along others routes of 4 pitches to conclude a “great rock climbing day” on the alpine routes.

Rock Climbing Dolomites: DAY 3 – the Vajolet Towers

This is the most famous group of towers of the Dolomites! Really mandatory for every “Rock Climbing Dolomites” climber! In first line from left to right are the Delago tower, the Stabeler tower and the Winkler tower. The left side of the Delago tower have 750 meters of total vertical wall in view of my town Bolzano. So If we climb the famous Piaz Aretè on the second belay we rest in small belay place with 350 m of overhanging under of our foots…. But don’t worry… this route in total is about 200 meters long in 6 pitches. If we overnighting at the refugio Re Alberto we can climb the three towers in only one day with a concatenation of three climbing routes.

Rock Climbing Dolomites: DAY4 – the Great Pordoi peak

The “Via Maria” is extremely logical and panoramic climbing route of the Dolomites, along the big south edge of the Sass Pordoi. It’s a historical rock climbing Dolomites route of “Tita Piaz”, the most famous climbing pioneer of the central Dolomites. In about 12 pitches, we can climb this complex and labyrinthine route with a genial climbing line that we can understand only if we climb it. The descend with the Sass Pordoi cableway is the happy end of this climbing day!

Rock Climbing Dolomites: DAY 5 – the Sass de Stria and Falzarego

This rock climbing Dolomites route is a heroic climb! It was climbed in first ascension during the first world war from a selected patrol of “Alpini” (Italian mountain troops) to catch the strategic control of the top of the Sass da Stria at the Austrian troops. Today we can climb this route without rifles and hand grenades for pure fun…. but our memory “flight” to these terrible histories of a crazy war. The way back is a walking along the constant Austrian trench, from the top to the base.

 Rock Climbing Dolomites:  DAY 6 – Spigolo Giallo Lavaredo

The three peaks of Lavaredo, known as “Drei Zinnen” are one of the most impressive groups of dolomite mountains. Three obelisks of the nature! The Spigolo Giallo (Yellow Aretè) is the most classical rock climbing Dolomites route of this area.
It’s not properly a “easy route”…. A good VI alpine grade is the constant for this climb in total exposition. A great end for a full rock climbing Dolomites week!

For additional information about how my guided programs work, feel free to visit the complete FAQ page:

FAQ – Discovery Dolomites

And lastly a bit of my personal contribute

Part of my mountaineering activity, for many years, was focalised to the forgotten climbing routes in wild areas of the Dolomites.
Complex trad-climbs in unfrequented peaks.
On the Dolomites, in about 150 years of climbing history (starting on 1854) , was open an infinity number of rock climbing routes.
90% of these was never or only very rarely repeated.
Product of this long period of exploratios was my three climbing guidebooks and other two editions about the ski-mountaineering and sport climbing.
Click the covers to take a look:

If you are an independent traveller, you can choose this second option of flexible service:

Ulrich Schwingshackl

UIAGM Mountain and Ski Guide from 1995

Ulrich UIAGM licence

Ulrich Google Business profile