Tips for the Perfect Dolomites Campervan Trip

Unless you’ve been living under a rock you would of heard of the Dolomites. The Italian mountain range area in Northwest Italy was always a bucket list location for me and not only did it surpass my expectations, but it’s kept me coming back again and again.

From the icy blue rivers, the looming mountains that make you feel insignificant in the best kind of way or the stunning towns and villages dotted along the meandering roads there is something for everyone and it’s a literal outdoor playground.

I’ve been fortunate enough to spend a few summers solo exploring the Dolomites in a Roadsurfer camper van and I honestly think it is something everyone should try! I think we all know by now that I am a complete van life convert but each trip I take adds a new layer to that. There is something unique about slowing down the pace of life, something you are forced to do in a camper), being able to park isolated in the middle of mountains and admire the flawless night sky and everything else you get with van life.

So I thought it was about time to combine my love of the Dolomites and camper van hire and give you tips for the perfect mountain trip, some advice from lessons I’ve learnt on planning a solo adventure and a few ideas of things to do so you can experience the magic for yourself (and promise me, I’m not being dramatic, it really is that incredible).

On that note let me stop fan-girling over mountains and actually provide you some tangible information.

I’m very much a ‘winging it’ type traveller and while that is pretty awesome, there is a lot of merit to putting a bit of planning and research into you Dolomites trips. Here are a few things to think about before heading off on your adventure.

Last year I picked my van up from the Roadsurfer depot in Munich whereas this year I flew into Venice and drove from there. Both locations are provide easy access to the Dolomites and the Roadsurfer depots are no more than twenty minutes from the airport so super easy to reach and once you’re in your new home you can head to Cortina in the heart of the Dolomites in a little over two hours.

Once you’ve picked up your van, it’s time to get all set up. I stopped off at Lidl on the way to the Dolomites and let me tell you, if you haven’t experienced the magic of Lidl in Italy, it’s a sight to behold. The aisles of cheeses, meats, breads and baked goods makes you feel like a child in a candy store and don’t get me started on the fresh veggies and vino. Don’t forget to fill up on some big bottles of drinking water as well as the basics such a baby wipes and tissues.
There are some smaller supermarkets dotted throughout the Dolomites but they are much smaller and the opening hours are limited (also the Dolomites is probably bigger than you expect) so unless you want to to eat out everyday stock up on as much as possible and don’t worry, your Roadsurfer has a fridge so nothing will go off!

In Italy most stores close between 1300-1500 sand the Dolomites is no different so bare this in mind if you head to the shops. Most cafes stay open so you can always bide your time sipping on an Italian espresso which are criminally cheap.
Whilst Italian is the main language in the Dolomites, it also borders countries such as Austria and you will see this influence increase the closer you get including the languages spoke. A lot of people speak German but you will also find the majority speak good English too.
Mountain weather is famously unpredictable and the Dolomites is no different. You must be prepared for all weathers even in summer including thunder storms. To check the weather forecasts you can used apps such as meteoblue, especially if you are heading into the mountains hiking or climbing.
In an emergency you call the number 112 including for mountain rescue. Outside of that there are a lot of police around the Dolomites and it feels very safe, even as a solo female traveller.

Campervanning is very popular in the Dolomites so you absolutely will be amongst friends. I have barely ever paid for parking on my trips as there are so many roadside places to pull over and park in with incredible views at every turn.
Additionally, vanlifers are well tolerated as long as you respect the area, leave no trace and don’t make too much noise so you really can get away with winging it for parking but there are apps such as Park4Night which provides you with campsites, amenities and recommendations for camper vans.

One of the best things about van life is that everything becomes a lot simpler. Including your creature comforts and amenities. Whilst the vans have a fair few luxuries such as charging ports, sinks, gas hobs, fridges, shower heads and heating (yay for the heated seats too), unless you get a bigger van you will be unlikely to have a toilet and clothes washing facilities. Again, you can use Park4Night to find campsites and locations which provide these or if you’re like me then you can fully embrace what I call feral girl summer and just wing it again.
I broke my trip up with a quick trip to Bolzano to pick a friend up so used the opportunity so visit a laundrette (a bargain at 8 euros) and sneak a gym shower but also washed on the side of roads, cleaned my muddy feet off in endless Dolomiti rivers and hung my clothes out to dry on the van overnight.
Again, there are lots of small towns and villages with toilets and one of the most iconic Italian sights are the endless Rifugios which provide amazing local cuisine, toilets and a good atmosphere.

You’ll find that most places in the Dolomites you will get phone signal and 5G so keeping in contact is generally easy however there are definitely places where it will drop out so that is something to be mindful of.
Navigating in the Dolomites becomes pretty simple after a few days as everything is really well signposted and there aren’t that many roads but having a map is always a useful thing to have at hand.
As I mentioned before, the Roadsurfer vans have plenty of charging points for both USB and USB-C so keeping everything topped up is easy but I would always recommend taking an external battery pack with you, especially if you plan on hiking! Speaking of…

Hikes and Activities

As I mentioned before, The Dolomites are an outdoor lovers playground. There is just so much to do there, I don’t think you could ever get bored nor could I list them all here. So here are a few hikes and via ferrata’s I recommend. You can find all the routes in my AllTrails and lots more information in my IG story highlights too.

The Dolomites is bursting with via Ferratas which are routes with a series of wire ropes which navigate exposed and technical terrain usually to mountain peaks. There is also so much history as many of the via ferratas were used in WW1 to get soldiers around mountains efficiently.

Specialised equipment is required to climb a via ferrata including helmets, a harness, a via ferrata set and gloves which can all be rented from various locations in the Dolomites, however if this is the first time you’re hearing about these routes I would recommend booking a guide to show you the ropes (quite literally).

Overall via ferrata’s are so much fun and a great day out. Here are some of my favourites.

You will experience so much everyday that there is so much value in journalling and photographing as much as possible so you can reflect on the memories for years to come. I promise you, you won’t regret it.

As I mentioned, I broke my trip up by popping to Bolzano to pick up a friend (another great aspect of van life) and spent 5 days exploring with an adventure partner in crime in tow. You already have the accommodation and the wheels so ask around!

I think it’s safe to say after my recent trip The Dolomites is still firmly at the top end of my favourite places list and somewhere that has stolen my heart time over. I already can’t wait to go back and explore more but until then I will live vicariously through you guys and hope you enjoy your adventures!

Campervan hire is an awesome way to explore so if you want to try out van life for yourself I cannot recommend Roadsurfer enough. I have always used Roadsurfer and every trip just gets better and better.

If you are keen to try it out you can use the discount code below which will nab you £75 off any booking in 2024. Check out their website here and use the code LUCY24 to grab your discount and go on an epic adventure.

If you have always wanted to get outdoors and try new things but aren’t exactly sure where to start then check out my company Made Wild Adventures for women’s only group trips and courses in the UK suitable for anyone and everyone!

Until then, I’ll catch you in the mountains! Stay legendary ✌🏻