Italian Dolomites Trail Running + Wellness Retreat

Flying to Venice Marco Polo Airport

There are two airports in Venice, Italy, so make sure to book your flight to the Venice Marco Polo Airport (airport code VCE) as that is where we will meet on Day 1. You may want to schedule your flight to arrive a day early, in order to have an extra night to rest. Otherwise, if you plan to arrive on Day 1 of the retreat, be sure to book a flight arriving before 11:30 a.m.

Transportation from Venice to Val Badia

We will meet at the Lost and Found/ Hospitality Desk in the Arrivals area on the ground floor by 12:00 p.m. (exit the doors beyond the baggage claim area). Elinor will be holding a Run Wild Retreats logo sign that look like this: Once everyone has gathered by will proceed outside where our driver will meet us, help load our luggage and drive us approximately 4 hours to our hotel in San Vigilio di Marebbe (we will stop for a bathroom break about halfway). Bring a water bottle and snacks for the long drive. We will not run today, but being well hydrated and fueled will help you feel good for tomorrow’s run.

​​​​​​​Last Day Return Travel from Venice

On Day 7, our retreat program ends at 11:00 a.m. at which time we depart for the airport. We will drop you off at the Venice Marco Polo around 3:30 or 4:30 p.m.. This drop-off time cannot be entirely guaranteed, so allow enough time before your return flight for any delays. As with any international flight, allow 3 hours or more for check in. If you are not flying home the following day, you can take any of the many ground transportation options available from the airport to a nearby hotel or downtown Venice. (click here to learn more).

We ask that you book your flight to arrive before noon, otherwise arrive the day before. We will rendez-vous at the Venice Marco Polo Airport at 12:30 p.m., then meet our driver for the 4-hour drive to San Vigilio di Marebbe. Upon arrival, we will check into our rooms and have some time to freshen up before we convene for the Official Retreat Opening Meet and Greet followed by dinner. 
Overnight in San Vigilio di Marebbe.

Run time: no run today

After breakfast at the hotel, we will meet for our first group trail run on a mix of trail types around San Vigilio, from forested paths to rolling singletrack. We’ll have our first Natural Running Form Clinic that will cover key postural tips that you can practice throughout the week. We’ll finish back in the village in time for a casual pizza lunch and in the heart San Vigilio, followed by free time to enjoy the spa, following by our first Wellness Workshop before dinner at the hotel. Overnight in San Vigilio di Marebbe.
Run time: 2 – 2.5 hours on rolling valley trails that avoid any major ascending or descending. The trail surface is mostly crushed gravel and worn dirt trails, at time rooty. No exposure to high terrain today.

After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll check out of our rooms and set aside the luggage for transfer to our next hotel. At 9:30 a.m., we’ll take a 20-minute bus ride to Pederü, where we’ll have our first trail running technique clinic, then begin an adventurous point-to-point high alpine run along the Alta Via 1 trail through the Fanes Plateau. Most of our uphill gain is in the first 1.5 to 2 hours of today’s run, so we’ll hike sections of it until we reach the plateau’s gently rolling terrain. After descending a series of switchbacks, we’ll hop on the bus for a 35-minute ride to our hotel in Corvara. We’ll arrive at mid-afternoon, at which time you are free to explore the village before dinner. Overnight in Corvara.

Run time: 3 to 4 hours on mountain trails (i.e., sometimes rocky) with exposure to heights, long uphills and long downhills. 

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After breakfast at the hotel, we will meet for a workshop on mindful breathing and how it helps us lower stress and run more efficiently. After the workshop, we take the Col Alt Gondola up to the starting point for today’s point-to-point “recovery” run of around 2 to 3 hours (including breaks). Today’s run is at a lower elevation on relatively smooth footpaths, so we can gaze out at the mountains without having to watch the footing so closely. We’ll enjoy a rolling route that takes us to Utia Pralongia before the long descent to Corvara, finishing at our hotel. After lunch at a pizzaria in the village, enjoy some free time to explore the town or enjoy a spa treatment. We’ll reconvene for our second Wellness Workshop, followed by dinner. Overnight in Corvara.

Run time: 2 to 3 hours (including breaks) on wide dirt paths and some steep, rooty singletrack trails  

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After breakfast, pack your luggage and set it aside for transfer to Selva. Then we’ll drive up to Passo Gardena, where we’ll begin today’s premier trail run along the Alta Via 2 trail. This high-alpine singletrack trail takes us through a barren rocky landscape surrounded by limestone peaks and features a long, steep descent down a narrow rocky trail to the beautiful, lush green Val Lungia. The last portion of today’s run is a beautiful descent through the Val Lungia along a smooth, easy trail that will take us straight to our hotel in Selva. After checking into our rooms, enjoy some free time to explore the village, enjoy the spa and relax before dinner. Overnight in Selva.

Run time 4 – 5 hours on a mix of dirt and gravel trails, at time on very steep, exposed alpine terrain. You must be comfortable in this environment to complete this run. 
Alternate run: Take the gondola down to Selva and do an easier out-and-back run along the flat, gravel path trails of the Vallunga Langetal with relatively little elevation change. 

After breakfast, we’ll board the bus and have a 10-minute bus ride to St. Christina where we take the gondola to Col Raiser. Here we enjoy a beautiful loop through the beautiful green pastures of Parco Nautral Puez Odle. At the 5-mile point, you can choose to take the gondola back down and hop on the bus to the hotel, or run down the mountain for 3 miles (this is a lot of downhill and only recommended if you feel good and have no knee pain), finishing at our hotel. We’ll enjoy a pizza lunch followed by some free time to relax, enjoy the spa or shop before dinner. Overnight in Selva.

Run time: 2 – 3.5 hours (including breaks) on well-worn dirt paths, at times rocky, but always rolling uphill/downhill.

This morning we have an optional recovery run of about 3 or 4 miles along the valley floor (no big climbs today!), followed by breakfast from 8 to 9 a.m.. After breakfast, we’ll have our official Retreat Closing Meeting. After checking out of your hotel room and loading your luggage into the van, at 11 a.m. we board the van for our private transfer to the airport, arriving at the Venice Marco Polo Airport around 4:00 p.m. (this arrival time is not guaranteed and is dependent on traffic volumes. Please plan your travel accordingly). From the airport, check in for your flight departure, or if you booked additional hotel nights in Venice, take a shuttle, bus or taxi to your hotel.

Optional Run time: 30 minutes out-and-back on mellow dirt trails and village roads
 

​​​​​​​POSTA ZIRM CORVARA

​​​​​​​For 200 years, the Posta Zirm Hotel, owned by the Kostner family, has provided refuge to wayfarers and adventurers from around the globe. You can spend time recovering from your mountain adventures at the Wellness-Farm, a Feng-Shui sanctuary of well-being that will instantly relax you and restore your mind, body and soul balance. 

As your “home away from home,” the Posta Zirm's hotel rooms offer air conditioning, a refrigerator, and a minibar, and free wifi. Guests have access to room service and a concierge. In addition, Posta Zirm Hotel offers a pool and free breakfast, which will help make your Corvara in Badia trip additionally gratifying. 

HOTEL TYROL, SELVA

​​​​​​​he Hotel Tryol is a Run Wild Retreats' staff favorite, and you'll soon discover why!  This luxurious property is nestled among the Gardena Dolomites, surrounded by green pastures, dazzling mountain lakes and shady forests at the foot of the Passos Sella and Sassolungo. After its opening in 1996, the Hotel Tyrol set a new local standard in comfort, in aesthetics and in elegance.

The hotel was built in the traditional Gardena style in which wood, being a natural and traditional building material and design element, plays a main role. The custom-made 50 rooms in elegant, cozy Gardena style were inspired by the fluctuations within the wonderful nature that surrounds us. Untreated wood is featured throughout its design. Elaborate floor plans, warm colors, luxurious fabrics are combined with modern, contemporary furnishings. The large windows and balconies bring the splendor of the landscape into the bright rooms. Each elegant room is elaborately decorated with a solid-wood entryway, and precious stones and mosaics highlight the spa area, giving each part of the hotel an earthy, cozy feel.