Great Dolomites drive day - Carezza Lake and the drive
I had been trying to organise a private driver to tour the Dolomites for some time from home, and was having no luck. I don't like bus tours as they stop infrequently for photos and then you have 50 people jostling for the same spot. Photos taken from inside the bus are always disappointing.
All of the private tours I found had a minimum of 2 people making it way too expensive. For a crazy moment I considered hiring a car myself, but quickly came to my senses. Driving on RHS, battling tourist buses and hairpin turns and keeping my eyes glued to the road would have been ridiculous and I would not have enjoyed a minute. I finally tracked down the delightful Alessandro who agreed to a one person tour and had one day in September free - the 24th which was perfect for my 4 day stay.
We met at 8.30am and I liked Alessandro from the start. Very friendly, entertaining, professional and absolutely full of information about the area and the history. Safe driver, though being on the passenger side with sheer drops still made me nervy. AND he said he would take me to the Earth Pyramids, which is not usually part of the tour.
In a minor weather miracle, the day was bright and sunny. Alessandro said there are 10-12 such clear days each summer, so I really lucked out. Amazing, given the weather the day before.
Along the way he told me last year the region suffered a ferocious wind storm (200km p/h) which uprooted one million trees in 10 minutes. We drove through some of the areas which had been wiped out, with only stumps remaining. The destroyed trees are apparently those often used in Stradivarius violins, so not just firewood. A devastation for the region and is still being cleaned up.
Our first call was Carezza Lake and just WOW. The colour is amazing and due to the clear skies, the Dolomites were reflected in the lake. The lake colour is due to minerals in the water and the Dolomites are fossilised coral reef. I took a million photos with Nikon (it's my best camera), iphone (so I could share some immediately) and new cheapie Yi action camera (for the wide angle). Thank goodness I had backup as the Nikon photos were all washed out and terrible. I really need to learn more about light flares and check the damn photos as I take them! There were only four other people there when we arrived but as we left dozens more arrived from two buses.
The scenery is perfect with the amazing lake colour, the rows of trees and the majestic Dolomites in the background. Luckily these trees were not damaged in the storm, though ones at the end of the lake (RHS) were.
Winston Churchill stayed at the Grant Hotel Karezza and was supposedly so taken by the lake he insisted on staying a few days more, and did a water colour painting of the Lake. Only part of the hotel remains open, due to the expanded number of hotels in the area competing for business.
This area is extremely popular with para-gliders, with an international tournament on the weekend. The thermal currents mean gliders can stay airborne for 30 minutes or so. Zoom in to see the traffic in the shot below. It was amazing.
If anyone needs a similar tour, contact italydolomites.com. Alessandro also does tours from Venice of the Eastern Dolomites (maybe next trip, Sam?) Alessandro's wife can provide the tour in Russian, should that be required.
That brings us to half way through the drive. Sass Pordoi and Earth Pyramids to come.
All of the private tours I found had a minimum of 2 people making it way too expensive. For a crazy moment I considered hiring a car myself, but quickly came to my senses. Driving on RHS, battling tourist buses and hairpin turns and keeping my eyes glued to the road would have been ridiculous and I would not have enjoyed a minute. I finally tracked down the delightful Alessandro who agreed to a one person tour and had one day in September free - the 24th which was perfect for my 4 day stay.
We met at 8.30am and I liked Alessandro from the start. Very friendly, entertaining, professional and absolutely full of information about the area and the history. Safe driver, though being on the passenger side with sheer drops still made me nervy. AND he said he would take me to the Earth Pyramids, which is not usually part of the tour.
In a minor weather miracle, the day was bright and sunny. Alessandro said there are 10-12 such clear days each summer, so I really lucked out. Amazing, given the weather the day before.
Along the way he told me last year the region suffered a ferocious wind storm (200km p/h) which uprooted one million trees in 10 minutes. We drove through some of the areas which had been wiped out, with only stumps remaining. The destroyed trees are apparently those often used in Stradivarius violins, so not just firewood. A devastation for the region and is still being cleaned up.
Our first call was Carezza Lake and just WOW. The colour is amazing and due to the clear skies, the Dolomites were reflected in the lake. The lake colour is due to minerals in the water and the Dolomites are fossilised coral reef. I took a million photos with Nikon (it's my best camera), iphone (so I could share some immediately) and new cheapie Yi action camera (for the wide angle). Thank goodness I had backup as the Nikon photos were all washed out and terrible. I really need to learn more about light flares and check the damn photos as I take them! There were only four other people there when we arrived but as we left dozens more arrived from two buses.
The scenery is perfect with the amazing lake colour, the rows of trees and the majestic Dolomites in the background. Luckily these trees were not damaged in the storm, though ones at the end of the lake (RHS) were.
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| From the viewing platform |
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| View from the end of the lake |
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| Some glamorous photographer, looks Spanish |
Winston Churchill stayed at the Grant Hotel Karezza and was supposedly so taken by the lake he insisted on staying a few days more, and did a water colour painting of the Lake. Only part of the hotel remains open, due to the expanded number of hotels in the area competing for business.
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| Grand Hotel Karezza |
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| The ever present Dolomites |
This area is extremely popular with para-gliders, with an international tournament on the weekend. The thermal currents mean gliders can stay airborne for 30 minutes or so. Zoom in to see the traffic in the shot below. It was amazing.
 |
| Paragliders in action |
If anyone needs a similar tour, contact italydolomites.com. Alessandro also does tours from Venice of the Eastern Dolomites (maybe next trip, Sam?) Alessandro's wife can provide the tour in Russian, should that be required.
That brings us to half way through the drive. Sass Pordoi and Earth Pyramids to come.
Fantastic Luke. I love reading the details and seeing more fantastic images😁😍
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