Highlights
- Trek the AV1: a world-class point-to-point backpacking route in the Eastern Dolomites
- Raft on “Germany’s Last Wild River” in the Bavarian Alps
- Witness fairy-tale-like views and quaint alpine towns while hiking in the Western Dolomites
- Experience Italian and Bavarian cultures, cuisines, and landscapes
Trip Details
- Start: Munich, Germany
- End: Munich, Germany
- Age Range: 15 - 18
- Cost: $5,999
Dates
Jun 30 - Jul 12 (Available)
Jul 16 - Jul 28 (Available)
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Trip Itinerary
Jump into an unforgettable alpine expedition, where storybook Bavarian villages, turquoise rivers, and the soaring limestone cliffs of the Italian Dolomites create the backdrop for the adventure of a lifetime. Beginning and ending in the historic city of Munich, the journey starts with a day of rafting on one of the most picturesque rivers in the Bavarian Alps before heading south to hike and backpack through some of the most iconic mountains in all of Europe.
Rafting in Bavaria and Day Hikes in the Western Dolomites
After meeting in Munich, we transit south to the nearby peaks of the Bavarian Alps. There, we’ll kick off our adventure with a thrilling day of rafting down the iconic Isar River beneath jagged, snow-capped peaks. After exploring Bavaria by boat and by foot, we’ll travel across the border to Italy where we’ll set up camp in the Western Dolomites. Here, we’ll warm up our legs for our upcoming trek on the Alta Via 1 with scenic hikes that feature quintessential alpine views (and the occasional stop for a swim in an alpine lake).
Backpacking the Alta Via 1
With our hiking muscles primed, we’ll make our way east to tackle our culminating accomplishment in the heart of the Dolomites: trekking on the Alta Via 1. We will spend five days backpacking 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.
Final Celebration in Munich
After completing the Alta Via 1 by hiking into Cortina d’Ampezzo, host of the 2026 Winter Olympics, we journey back to Munich to celebrate our two incredible weeks of adventure. With unforgettable memories, we’ll spend our final day exploring the vibrant cultural heart of Bavaria, taking in the lively plazas and historic streets of Munich. Our last evening calls for a celebratory Final Dinner filled with Bavarian pretzels, and well-earned desserts like Black Forest Cake or warm apple strudel. As the adventure comes to a close, we’ll share stories and celebrate our new lifelong friends before settling into a comfortable hostel in the heart of the city. From alpine trails to rushing rivers, this unforgettable adventure for high schoolers is the perfect mix of outdoor exploration and cultural discovery.
Reviews
Frequently Asked Questions
Please see our General FAQ page for many more frequently asked questions and answers!
How physically challenging is Dolomites Explorer?
Given a Challenge Level 7 (out of a maximum of 10), we consider Dolomites Explorer (DOX) 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 DOX is slightly more challenging than our Pyrenees Mountains & Coast trip due to the greater total mileage covered while hiking, 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 on Dolomites Explorer?
Our Dolomites Explorer 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 Munich 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 Dolomites Explorer 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 Dolomites Explorer 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 rifugio in the afternoon), or, on some days, they will be different (e.g., rafting in the morning and exploring a nearby Bavarian village 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 Dolomites Explorer?
There are never more than twelve students on an individual session of Dolomites Explorer. 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 Dolomites Explorer?
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 communicate with their parents upon arrival in Munich (typically by text), to confirm that they’ve met up with their trip leaders at the airport. We have one email stop on our Dolomites Explorer 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 the Dolomites Explorer 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 Munich on arrival day and will stay in Munich 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 contact their parents to let them 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 Munich, 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 Munich from the United States or Canada will leave the night before the trip start date, arriving in Munich in the morning on the trip start date.
How does the group move from place to place on Dolomites Explorer? 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 for their travel between locations. Otherwise, they’ll be walking everywhere they go!
What is the difference between front-country and backcountry camping/hiking? Is there backcountry camping/hiking on Dolomites Explorer?
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 and camping in the backcountry requires more preparation because of the need to carry in all food and equipment, treating drinking water prior to consumption. Our Dolomites Explorer groups will be hiking in the backcountry when on the Alta Via 1 (AV1), but will not be backcountry camping. Practically, what this means is that the group will be carrying several days worth of food and clothing with them while they backpack on the AV1, but because the group will be staying indoors in rifugios (mountain huts) while on the AV1, they will have access to running water and showers on a nightly basis and won’t need to bring camping gear in their packs.
How much weight will my child carry on the hiking portions of Dolomites Explorer?
During their time in the Bavarian Alps and the Western Dolomites, the hikes will all be day-hikes, meaning students won’t be carrying overnight 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 Dolomites Explorer?
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 Dolomites Explorer trip will include travel to and from Munich, Germany, 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.
