Chalk white teeth made of rock erupt from the ground, maws of deep green barely holding in the jagged spikes. Seen even from miles away, it’s able to blind anyone into stupor by its sheer size, and that’s not even considering the natural treasures it holds horded within. 18 peaks and 350,000 acres, the Dolomites can be dauting to approach.

Any good exploration of the Dolomites begins with a bucket-list. Some of the tallest peaks in the Dolomites hit over 7000ft in altitude. If you aren’t much of a climber or a hiker, it’s still possible to experience the high of being up amidst the clouds with only snow-dusted peaks as your neighbors. Just head to the Sass Pordoi, a pass between the Sella and Marmolada mountain clusters, where the boulders and layered rock reign and the rolling fields below appear as mere spots. Nowhere else on Earth will you hear the unique syllables of Ladin (this is not a typo) being uttered besides the sheltered alcove of Val Gardena and Val di Fassa. Here, the Alpine Highways or Alte Vie are made not for cars and busses but for the reliable pair of legs accompanying us. Numbering 8 in total, these ‘highways’ cam run over steep inclines and sheer rock faces passable only using ropes and advanced climbing techniques. The odd treasures don’t end there. Dotting Vette Feltrine with color, the yellow petals of Primula auricula and other rare alpine flora are colored gold scattered across the valley. With a winter wonderland visited by the likes of Audrey Hepburn and grand castles taken straight out of a scene from the Game of Thrones series, your bucket list might seem never-ending. And perhaps that’s the greatest charm of the Dolomites: you’ll never stop discovering something new.