Highlights
- Trek and explore among the jagged peaks of the Italian Dolomites
- Kayak to sea caves and snorkel along pristine beaches on Croatia’s Istrian Peninsula
- Ferry across the Adriatic Sea to explore historic Venice
- Experience Italian and Croatian cultures, cuisines, and landscapes
Trip Details
- Start: Venice, Italy
- End: Venice, Italy
- Age Range: 15 - 18
- Cost: $5,399
Dates
Jun 28 - Jul 10 (Waitlist)
Jul 16 - Jul 28 (Limited)
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Trip Itinerary
A transalpine adventure like no other. From the dramatic limestone cliffs of northern Italy’s Dolomite mountains to the crystal-clear waters of Croatia’s Istrian coast, this two-week hiking and kayaking adventure is a dream for active teens seeking variety and challenge. Beginning and ending in the storied city of Venice, you will backpack through some of the most iconic terrain in all of Europe before trading boots for paddles to explore the shimmering Adriatic Sea by kayak.
Backpacking the Alta Via 1
After meeting in Venice, our journey begins in earnest as we enter the heart of the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage site famous for its rugged peaks, alpine meadows, and welcoming mountain rifugios. We will spend five days hiking a stunning section of the Alta Via 1, a classic long-distance trail, staying in cozy, family-run rifugios each night. With epic views and hearty meals waiting at each stop, it’s a hut-to-hut experience that combines challenge, awe-inspiring vistas, and cultural immersion.
Paddle and Snorkel Croatia’s Coastline
After our alpine adventure, we will transit to Premantura, Croatia, a coastal gem known for its Roman ruins and turquoise coves. We’ll spend one day kayaking, snorkeling, and swimming along the Istrian Peninsula, discovering hidden beaches and exploring sea caves, and another day enjoying a leisurely hike to a beach cove in Kamenjak National Park. Evenings will be spent in a peaceful campground under the stars, enjoying good food and great company by the water’s edge.
Full Circle in Venice
A ferry ride across the Adriatic Sea will mark our return to Venice, where we will celebrate the journey we have shared. After exploring the winding alleys and canals of this historic city and enjoying a celebratory dinner out on the town, we will spend our last evening in a comfortable hostel reflecting on our accomplishments and friendships. From alpine trails to Adriatic tides, this unforgettable adventure for high schoolers is the perfect mix of mountains, coast, and cultural discovery.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Please see our General FAQ page for many more frequently asked questions and answers!
How physically challenging is Dolomite Mountains & Croatian Coast?
Given a Challenge Level 7 (out of a maximum of 10), we consider Dolomite Mountains & Croatian Coast (DMCC) to be an advanced hiking trip. We believe that any moderately fit, motivated student can successfully complete this trip with appropriate preparation. Compared to similar hiking trips, we believe that DMCC is slightly more challenging than our Pyrenees Mountains & Coast trip due to the greater total mileage covered while hiking and longer kayaking days, but slightly easier than our Alps Explorer trip. The group will hike up to 9 miles on their most challenging day, while their daily mileage typically spans between 5-7 miles with significant elevation gain. Please note that all of Apogee’s Challenge Levels are not scientific and are subjectively calculated by the Apogee staff.
Where will my child be sleeping at night?
Our Dolomite Mountains and Croatian Coast group will be camping for seven of the twelve nights over the course of the trip, and each of those nights will be spent in established, front country campsites. They’ll spend the other five nights of the trip indoors (four nights in mountain hostels called rifugios and one night in a Venice hostel). Leaders will separate students by gender into tent groups, and will rotate those groups several times over the course of our trip. Students will generally share a tent with two or three other students. Our groups will have access to running water and showers every night of the trip.
What does a typical day on Dolomite Mountains and Croatian Coast look like?
The wonderful thing about our programs is that every day is different and exciting, so no two days will be exactly the same. That said, the general layout of a day on Dolomite Mountains & Croatian Coast starts with a morning activity (usually from about 8:30 AM until lunchtime), then an afternoon activity (after lunch until about 4 PM). The morning and afternoon activity may be the same (e.g., hiking on the Alta Via 1 in the morning, eating lunch alongside a pristine lake, then completing the hike to that evening’s refugi in the afternoon), or, on some days, they will be different (e.g., kayaking in the morning and exploring a nearby town in the afternoon). After the afternoon activity, the group settles into that night’s accommodations, prepares dinner, and plays some evening games before the evening “Apogees and Perigees” circle that wraps up each Apogee day. For more detailed information on the day-to-day schedule of this trip, please contact us.
What is the maximum number of students I can expect on my child’s Apogee trip?
There are never more than twelve students on an individual session of this trip. Additionally, we limit enrollment by gender to two-thirds/one-third. Groups are always led by two of our excellent trip leaders.
How will I communicate with my child while they are on this trip?
We are a technology-free program, meaning that your child won’t have access to their phone or other electronics over the course of their trip. That said, students on international trips will call home at some point on arrival day, depending on schedules and arrival times. We have one email stop on our Dolomite Mountains and Croatian Coast program; parents, relatives, and friends are welcome to use this to send messages to our office, which will be forwarded along to the group on a designated “email day.” If you have an urgent message to get to your child, please call our office and we’ll work to get you connected with your child.
My child will be flying to this trip start. How will they connect with their leaders? Given that this trip starts outside of the United States are there any special travel considerations for minors?
Please note that Apogee staff members do not travel with students; our trip leaders will already be in Venice on arrival day and will stay in Venice after the trip ends. We will ask you to share your child’s detailed flight itinerary with us prior to the trip so that Apogee staff can be fully prepared to be at the airport to greet them on arrival. Once students are with their leaders, they will call home to let their parents know they have arrived and are with their group. Please see our blog post for specifics regarding students traveling using an airline’s Unaccompanied Minor escort service. Further, we encourage you to coordinate travel with other attendees; we’re happy to put you in touch with other enrolled families from your region. We will provide enrolled families with a Travel Information document covering details specific to traveling to and from Venice, including airport information and arrival and departure time windows. Please contact Apogee with any specific questions or concerns regarding drop-offs and/or pick-ups.
For international trips, your child will need a passport that is valid for at least 90 days after the trip start date. We will also ask you to send your child with a signed Declaration of Consent to Travel document (which we will make available to enrolled families in February). Please note that flights to Venice from the United States or Canada will leave the night before the trip start date, arriving in Venice in the morning on the trip start date.
How does the group move from place to place on the trip? Do they have a van?
No, this trip will not have a dedicated van to transport the group. The group will utilize a private shuttle company and public transit (including a spectacular ferry across the Adriatic) for their travel between locations. Otherwise, they’ll be walking and paddling everywhere they go!
What is the difference between front-country and backcountry camping? What will the backcountry camping portion of Dolomite Mountains and Croatian Coast be like?
Generally speaking, the front-country is any area that is easily accessible by vehicles and day users. The backcountry, on the other hand, involves recreating in more remote locations without running water or other facilities. Hiking in the backcountry requires more preparation because of the need to carry in all food and equipment, and to treat drinking water prior to consumption. Our Dolomite Mountains and Croatian Coast groups will be carrying several days worth of food and all of their equipment on a point-to-point-style hike during the Alta Via 1 (AV1) backcountry section of this trip, so in that respect they are backcountry hiking. That said, the group will be staying in refugis while in the backcountry, so they will have access to running water and showers on a nightly basis.
How much weight will my child carry on the hiking portions of this trip?
During their exploration around the town of Cortina d’Ampezzo, the hikes will all be day-hikes, meaning students won’t be carrying overnight camping supplies. During these sections, students will be carrying between five and ten pounds during their hikes, composed mostly of an extra layer of clothes, rain gear, water, and snacks. For the backcountry hiking portion on the Alta Via 1, your child should expect to carry somewhere between 20 and 25 pounds in their pack.
Aside from the trip cost, what are the additional expenses for this trip?
Apogee’s tuition costs are meant to be all-inclusive and include all meals, accommodation, and activity fees. The most significant additional expenses on our Dolomite Mountains & Croatian Coast trip will include travel to and from Venice, Italy, hiking boots, sleeping bag and pad, backpacking pack, and personal gear. We suggest that you review the packing list (downloadable on this webpage) to determine what personal gear you already own and what you might need to acquire for this program. Please also check out our Gear Recommendations blog post for links to our personal recommendations.
