We have always preferred guided vacations as guides will give you the inside scoop on the region. This trip again confirmed our belief as Andy and Andreas were so well-informed and willing to share their love for this area. How special it was to learn about the Ladin people, language, and culture from Andreas, who not only spoke Ladin and Italian, but also German and English (and I probably missed others). Both guides were patient and kind, and Andy had a tremendous sense of humor along with the other skills (organization, communication, knowledge, patience, endurance) needed to be a top-notch guide. The Dolomites are truly magnificent--every view was a feast for the eyes and heart. The hiking was taken at a friendly pace which allowed for talks on the history of the region and much photography. The via ferrata experience was so much fun that I could have just started at the bottom and done it all over again. Our specialized guides Marco and Filippo were excellent teachers and kept us safe at all times. I never once felt at risk. I cannot say enough good things about the accommodations and the food. Every place we stayed was sparkling clean and comfortable and we continue to be amazed at the beautiful finishes in the hotels and rifugios of Italy. Our meals were 5-star--whether partaken in the hotel, at a restaurant, or at a rifugio. The guides were great at helping us make our meal selections as they knew the specialties of the both the region and the restaurants. I am definitely going to be preparing some of these dishes at home! Our pre-trip information and checklist were extremely helpful--we brought along everything we needed. We found all accommodations to be hand-wash friendly as each one provided heated drying racks. We could have actually brought fewer clothes if packing space had been at a premium. We are veterans of other adventure travel tours, and in fact, this trip was a "substitute" for a trip that had to be cancelled due to an accident the week of our intended departure. As I told the whole group, this trip was the absolute happiest consequence from an awful incident. I know in my heart that an unknown force brought us to this outstanding company and our wonderful hiking companions. Thank you, Active Adventures, from the bottom of my heart. Health withstanding, we will definitely be looking at another trip with your company!

| January 1970