Now I can say with confidence that the tour “Dolomites Alps - without backpacks” from Kuluar was the perfect choice for my debut hike, because the impressions absolutely exceeded my expectations!
What are all these green forests on the slopes of the mountains, steep cliffs, unearthly beauty of mountain lakes, friendly people, delicious coffee in every refuge, and the opportunity to plunge into the atmosphere of adventure.
About the equipment:
Since it was a hike without heavy backpacks, I needed a large 50+10 liter backpack only to bring my own things to the campsite. Later on, a small backpack up to 20 liters came in handy for additional T-shirts, fleece, water bottles and food for lunch, SPF cream, and a poncho from the rain. In the tents we slept in sleeping bags (with the possibility of renting a sleeping bag and a place in the tent). And even despite the precipitation, it was warm and comfortable to rest at night.
Shoes are one of the most important things. I took hiking boots, and it was the right decision. They protected my feet from injuries when there were rocky paths, loose mountain slopes, areas with wet grass, or mountain streams washed away by rain.
The complexity of the route:
Before the trip, I was worried whether I would be able to cope physically, because it was my first multi-day hike. But the route turned out to be very well thought out. It was very active, but without excessive exhaustion. There were climbs, but there was always time to rest, and Anya Kornienko, our team leader, very professionally led the whole group so that everyone went up and down having fun.
Falling asleep after a delicious dinner, a warm shower, feeling pleasantly tired in my body, and reliving the excitement of what I had seen during the day, I realized that this is now one of my favorite ways to spend my vacation.
The coolest thing is the variety! One day we were walking through meadows with cows to eat delicious gelato with incredible mountain views, the next day we were climbing serpentines between rocks, and then enjoying the views and the pleasant cool waves of mountain lakes.
Impressions:
This hike combined the perfect balance of activity and relaxation.
In a short period of time we managed to see the most beautiful landscapes and places of the Dolomites:
Lake Sorapis (I strongly advise girls to take a dress with them to make extraordinary pictures against the backdrop of a sky-blue lake surrounded by rocky mountains of a strange shape)
We walked around Tre Chime (here I overcame my fear of loose slopes and heights and took this experience with me on future hikes)
RefugoNuvolau - at an altitude of 2575m, to drink coffee and take a break.
Lake Braiesa - the cherry on top, where it was nice to plunge into the winter water, and the scenery around was fascinating.
I would like to mention the people - this hike brought together experienced and novice hikers, the group was active, cheerful and determined to have maximum fun, everyone supported each other, shared their impressions and knee bruises.
Life hacks for future participants:
If you go on this hike in August, make sure to pack good SPF and goggles.
Don't neglect the Kuluar recommendations regarding shoes and clothes. In my opinion, 50% of the success of the program depends on this.
Rain protection for you, your backpack, and your phone/camera/documents will save you in case of bad weather.
Trekking poles are a must-have, and personal advice - elastic knee stabilizers in the form of bandages or knee pads.
First aid kit, despite the fact that our team leader Anya had a first aid kit with her, and it seemed to have a remedy for every occasion, whether it was chafed calluses, knee pain or sore throat, I advise you to carefully assemble your first aid kit for your personal needs.
This tour proved to me that active recreation in the mountains can be comfortable and enjoyable, and I, with the help of an experienced team leader Anna and a cool team, am capable of more!
Many thanks to Kuluar and Anna Kornienko for the competent organization, thoughtful route support, and this experience, I got a lot of impressions and flew home with dreams of the next hikes.
P.S. Walking in Venice was a nice bonus and a great end to this adventure.
