About the trip

Dates

7th - 11th July 2025

Trip Length

4 nights, 3 hiking days

Accommodation

Hotel, mountain refuges

Trip type

Hike (all three days) and Via Ferrata (days 2 & 3)

Start point

San Martino, Italy

End point

San Martino, Italy

Recommended Airport

Venice or Treviso, Italy

Terrain

Mountainous paths, via ferrata routes

Price

£1,000 (+ travel and transfers)

Fundraising Minimum Target

£500

Group Size

8-12 (expected)

OVERVIEW

Via Ferrata offers a thrilling sweet spot between climbing and scrambling, promising guaranteed adventure with mesmerising views - but without such a need for technical skills.

The Via Ferratas in the Italian Dolomites, originally established after World War I for military purposes, now allow adventurers to explore historical sites like foxholes and caves while reaching mountain peaks. These routes are well-equipped for safety and accessible even to non-climbers, offering an incredibly rewarding way to experience the mountains. In other words, the perfect setting for another epic M2M adventure!

ITINERARY

Day 1:

7th July, 2025 – Arrival in San Martino | Overnight: hotel

You will check into your hotel in the charming mountain resort of San Martino di Castrozza, situated in the Primiero valley in the Trentino province of Italy, approximately two hours’ drive north of Venice. Enjoy welcome drinks and dinner at a local restaurant before a comfortable overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 2:

8th July, 2025 – Col Castellaz & Passo Mulaz | Hike and Via Ferrata | Overnight: mountain refuge

After breakfast, a morning transfer takes us to the trailhead, where we will begin our hike. We’ll traverse scenic paths and take on a short (~2 hour) via ferrata section (graded ‘Easy’ to ‘Moderate’) to reach the stunning Col Castellaz (2,159m) before continuing to Passo Mulaz (2,619m) and our overnight stop at a mountain refuge. It will be a challenging day with considerable elevation gain, but you will be rewarded with breathtaking views of Passo Farangole and a sense of achievement to make it all worthwhile!

Ascent: +800m

Descent: -300m

Distance: ~8km

Feeling energised? An optional afternoon ascent of Monte Mulaz (2,906m) offers incredible views (+/- additional 400m).

Day 3: 

9th July, 2025 – Rosetta Path & Pradidali | Hike and Via Ferrata | Overnight: mountain refuge

We will start the day with a stunning hike along the Rosetta Path, gaining +666m to reach Rifugio Rosetta, where we’ll enjoy a well-deserved lunch.

There will be further optional Via Ferrata sections today, with sections of ladders, scrambling and narrow paths with loose rock that aren't protected by cables. In the afternoon, we will continue on to Rifugio Pradidali (2278m) where we will stay for the night, in a dramatic setting nestled in the heart of the Dolomites. 

Morning hike: 6.8km, +666m ascent

Afternoon hike: 5.8km, +301m ascent

Total distance: ~13km

Total ascent: +960m

Day 4: 

10th July, 2025 – Descent to the Valley | Hike | Overnight: hotel

Our final day in the mountains takes us from Rifugio Pradidali down to the valley, with a variety of route options depending on weather and group energy levels. This is a shorter day, focused on enjoying the descent with time to savour the scenery.

Distance: ~9km

In the afternoon, we will transfer back to San Martino for a celebratory dinner and an overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 5:

11th July, 2025 – Departure

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before departing from San Martino.

FUNDRAISING & INVESTMENT

The minimum fundraising target for taking part in this trip is £500. This will go directly towards our work as a charity, helping to support our communities and the beneficiaries on our Development Programme who have been impacted by trauma.

If finance is a barrier but you are confident that you'll be able to supercharge your fundraising efforts, we can offer a subsidy option, set out in Option 2 below.

Payment Plans

Option 1 - Pay the full £1,000 for the trip to CHX (£500 deposit + £500 remaining balance) and fundraise £500 minimum for M2M.

Option 2 - Pay half the value of the trip, £500 to CHX (£250 deposit + £250 remaining balance) and raise your fundraising target to £1,000 minimum for M2M.

At least 75% of your fundraising target for Option 2 will need to be raised before the start of the trip, and M2M will then subsidise your trip fee. 

Please check out our fundraising tips and don't hesitate to get in touch if you are in need of support or ideas! We are here to help.

FAQs

Experience & Recommended Fitness

This trip will be physically demanding in parts. For those coming from the UK, a good reference for fitness is to be able to hike one of the standard tourist routes to the summit of Snowdon or Scafell Pike in one day, and ideally be able to repeat that the following day. 

You will need to be comfortable with heights and exposure. The Via Ferrata routes include some exposed sections, so you will need to come mentally prepared. However, all sections are rated ‘Easy’ to ‘Moderate’ and are very manageable.

Prior Via Ferrata experience isn't essential, but some indoor climbing experience to around a 4c/5a sport grade would be helpful. A fun excuse to try out your local climbing gym if you haven’t before!

Accommodation

All rooms will be twin as standard, allocated on arrival. Single rooms are available with a subsidy payment of around 90€ per night. Refuge nights will be in shared dormitory accommodation.

Cancellation Policy

You can secure your spot by paying a deposit of 50% of the full price of the trip. The remaining balance is due 10 weeks before the trip by bank transfer.

If you cancel before 10 weeks prior to the trip start date, you will lose your deposit (50% of the full price of the trip).

If you cancel after 10 weeks prior to the trip start date, you will remain liable to pay 100% of the total trip fee.

We highly recommend taking out travel insurance at the point of booking to cover in case of cancellation or curtailment.

Please refer to the full Terms and Conditions provided by our third party provider.

Pricing & Fundraising

Please note, the price of the trip does not contribute towards fundraising for the charity. The trip fee is paid directly to our third-party provider to cover the cost of trip arrangements. Any additional fundraising we ask for or encourage will go directly towards our charity work to support people who have been impacted by trauma.

Travel & Transfers

Flight and transfers are not included or organised by us unless stated otherwise. You will need to organise your own travel to and from the start and finish location.

Please do not book your travel until you have received confirmation that the minimum trip number has been met.

Group Size

The expected group size of this trip will be 8-12. This typically includes one or more M2M Beneficiaries, however this cannot always be guaranteed. While the founders of M2M endeavour to be on every trip, this is not always possible. However, there will always be an experienced M2M representative there to support you.

Group Pace & Teamwork

Our Global Challenges are designed to encourage team spirit and community cohesion first and foremost. We invite you to connect with each other, find common ground and look out for each other. It is likely that there will be a varying mix of physical ability and confidence among the group. Our trips are all about working together, moving at the speed of the slowest person and being mindful of the needs of others to offer support where you can.

Guided Wellness Elements

Mind and body wellness is a core part of our ethos and features frequently within our outdoor trips and development programmes. Our Global Challenges sometimes involve some coaching exercises including breathwork, posed questions and gentle guided movement such as yoga or Qi Gong. Inclusion of these elements will depend upon the itinerary of each trip, and participation is always optional.

Meals & Dietary Requirements

All third party providers we partner with will cater for dietary requirements where possible. You will need to make yours known ahead of time by notifying the M2M trip organiser via email following sign up.

All meals are included in the price of the trip. However, we recommend that participants bring cash for any extra food or beverages they may want during the journey.

Vaccinations

Please refer to the Fit For Travel NHS website to follow their country-specific advice on vaccinations and how to stay safe and healthy while abroad.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is mandatory for all of our Global Challenges. You are responsible for organising your own travel insurance which must include adequate protection for overseas medical treatment, repatriation, and all activities involved in your trip. 

We recommend opting for a policy that includes personal liability, cancellation and cover in the event you are unable to join your trip due to illness or injury, curtailment, loss of luggage or personal effects, or for any other reason. Please make sure you include all health and personal information correctly.

We strongly advise that you book travel insurance as soon as you book your trip.

Visas

Please check the UK Government website for foreign travel advice, including up-to-date entry requirements and visas.

Early Arrival / Staying Longer

We always encourage you to see the sights and immerse yourself in the local area for as long as possible! If you would like to extend your stay by arriving early or adding on some time at the end of the trip, you can book directly with our start/end accommodation, or find an alternative place to stay. Details of the accommodation will be shared once the trip is confirmed.

If you arrive earlier than the check-in time of our chosen accommodation, you may wish to book an early check-in or an additional night before. Once the trip has been confirmed, you can contact the accommodation directly to find out if this is possible.

Packing List 

You will receive a full packing list following trip sign up. There will be an option to either bring your own Via Ferrata equipment including helmet, harness and lanyards, or hire this when you get there.

Contact

If you have any questions about the trip, please contact [email protected].

Experience Required: 7/10

Fitness Required: 7/10

Difficulty: 7/10