I spent 15 days hiking the Dolomites in Italy. These are 7 biggest mistakes I made during the trip.

"Although these attractions are beautiful, the crowds they drew during my trip put a damper on the experience. I preferred sights like the Lagazuoi Tunnels, Monte Civetta, and Cinque Torri, all of which were less touristy but still had equally showstopping views and hikes."

"Numerous blogs I read before my trip described June as the 'offseason' for the Dolomites, noting that snow would still be melting from the mountain peaks. With that in mind, I mistakenly didn't think I needed to get to popular sights early. When I arrived at Lago di Braies around 11 a.m., I found a nearly full parking lot, a wraparound line for boat rentals, and a crowded walking path around the lake."

"I spent weeks combing through blogs, social media posts, tourism websites, YouTube videos, and physical guidebooks. Looking back, these are some of the biggest (and most avoidable) mistakes I made."

Planning a 15-day vacation to the Dolomites across three regions and five provinces in northeastern Italy proved unexpectedly complex, particularly when researching multiday hikes like Alta Via 1 and Alta Via 2. The planner made several avoidable mistakes, including prioritizing iconic tourist attractions like Seceda, Lago di Braies, and Tre Cime di Lavaredo over lesser-known alternatives. These popular sites drew overwhelming crowds that diminished the experience. Less touristy alternatives like Lagazuoi Tunnels, Monte Civetta, and Cinque Torri offered equally impressive views with fewer visitors. Additionally, arriving late to popular spots resulted in full parking lots and long queues. Future planning should rely on specialized travel agents and blogs rather than social media recommendations, and visiting attractions early remains crucial even during supposedly off-peak seasons like June.

Read at Business Insider