Hut To Hut Hiking Dolomites

Hiking tours in the dreamy Dolomites

View our tours

A Thorough Dive Into Everything About Alta Via 1

Enter your mail below and get your free E-Book!

Dolomites Hiking Tours

start your adventure in the scenic village of sleis am schlern

authentic mountain huts of the dolomites

the schler mountain massif from seiser alm

hike between the jagged peaks of the dolomites

Seiser Alm & Schlern-Rosengarten Hike

7 days / 6 nights

2/5

Hike through the stunning Dolomites on this week-long hut-to-hut adventure, exploring the fairytale Seiser Alm and the mythical Schlern-Rosengarten Nature Park.

From: 1,495€/person

Now booking for 2024

Alta Via 1

9 days / 8 nights

3/5

Explore the breathtaking Dolomites, Italy’s most captivating mountain range, on a self-guided hut-to-hut hike along the iconic Alta Via 1 alpine trail.

From: 1,675€/person

Now booking for 2024

Alta Via 1 Highlights

4 days / 3 nights

3/5

2/5

A 4-day version of the famous Alta Via 1 trek, covering its northern part from the crystal-clear Lago di Braies and the panoramic Falzarego mountain pass.

From: 965€/person

Now booking for 2024

Alta Via 1 South

6 days / 5 nights

3/5

2/5

Trek the southern part of the Alta Via 1 hut-to-hut hiking route, overcoming six scenic stages from the Falzarego mountain pass to the town of Belluno.

From: 1,295€/person

A Thorough Dive Into Everything About Alta Via 1

Enter your mail below and get your free E-Book!

About Hut to Hut Hiking Dolomites

Every hiking enthusiast has probably had to have heard of the Dolomites. The unique limestone towers surrounded by vast green meadows and mountain lakes paint one of the most recognizable panoramas in the Alps. And who would not dream of experiencing this heavenly land in person on a hiking tour in the Dolomites?

Covering the northeastern part of Italy, the Dolomites stretch across one of the most visually spectacular alpine landscapes. The authentic ‘rifugios’ will provide you with shelter and tasty meals, but the mountains will be the ones to satiate the longings you did not even know you had when hut-to-hut hiking in the Dolomites.

Planning a hut-to-hut hike in a foreign country usually means dealing with stress and time-consuming affairs. Therefore, we wanted to make it easy for you by pre-planning the most scenic hiking tours in the Dolomites along its famous hut-to-hut trail: Alta Via 1.

Here’s how we help you:

Detailed self-guided itinerary with all the necessary info for a successful hike
A GPS route + simple-to-use app for easy navigation
Booking all your accommodations
Breakfast and dinner at the huts
Full 24/7 support during your trip

Feel as free as an Alpine Chough soaring above the 3000-meter high mountain peaks with all the listed things off your mind. When hiking, your sole focus should be on the otherworldly surroundings.

Check out our best hut-to-hut hikes in the Dolomites.

5 Most Popular Hut-to-Hut Hikes in the Dolomites

1. Alta Via 1

Difficulty: Moderate

Duration: 10 days

Highlights: Traverse iconic landscapes like the Cinque Torri and Tofane ranges, experience the rich WWI history, and enjoy breathtaking vistas from Lagazuoi.

Passo Giau

2. Alta Via 2

Difficulty: Challenging

Duration: 12 days

Highlights: Encounter the majestic Pale di San Martino and Marmolada, the “Queen of the Dolomites,” and test your mettle on the challenging Via Ferratas.

3. Seiser Alm & Schlern-Rosengarten Hike

Difficulty: Moderate

Duration: 7 days

Highlights: Explore the UNESCO-listed Schlern-Rosengarten Nature Park, hike across the picturesque Seiser Alm plateau, and discover myths of King Laurin’s hidden rose garden.

walking in alpe di siusi

4. Tre Cime National Park Traverse

Difficulty: Moderate

Duration: 4 days

Highlights: Walk around the iconic Tre Cime di Lavaredo, explore the history-rich bunkers and tunnels, and enjoy the stunning alpine lakes.

5. Alta Via 3

Difficulty: Challenging

Duration: 10 days

Highlights: Experience the less-traveled paths, conquer the high-altitude passes, and marvel at the geological wonders of the Dolomites.

5 Essential Tips for Hut-to-Hut Hiking in the Dolomites

Choose the Right Season: Timing is everything when it comes to hiking in the Dolomites. The ideal months are from late June to late September when the trails are clear and the huts open. Venturing outside this window could mean closed rifugios and snow-covered trails.
Book Your Mountain Huts Early: The Dolomites offer a range of mountain huts known as “Rifugios,” each with a unique charm. Due to their popularity, it’s crucial to book your stay well in advance, especially if you’re planning to hike popular routes like the Alta Via 1.
Know Your Route: The Dolomites offer various routes with different levels of difficulty. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced hiker, there’s a route for you. Research thoroughly and choose a trail that matches your skill level and interests.
Pack Smart: While the Rifugios offer some amenities, it’s essential to pack wisely. A sleeping bag liner, waterproof slippers, and a microfiber towel are among the must-haves. Remember, you’ll be carrying everything on your back, so pack light, but don’t skimp on essentials.
Mastering Multi-Day Logistics: You’ll need to coordinate between different rifugios for availability, manage daily hiking distances to match your fitness level, and ensure you have contingency plans for bad weather.

Hassle-Free

We handle itineraries, accommodations, and anything else you prefer not to deal with, so you can enjoy a carefree hike.

Book with confidence

We are a financially protected company, fully bonded and insured, keeping your money safe and allowing you to travel with confidence.

Tried & Tested Adventures

Only the best hut to hut hikes in the Dolomites, cherry-picked by our local team with an in-depth knowledge of the region.

Unbeatable support

Our 24/7 customer support is where we show our passion, bringing you a better experience by making your well-being our number one priority.

Hiking in the Alps is typically possible from mid-June to late September, depending on the snow conditions at high elevations. Many hiking routes cross mountain passes that are located above 2000 meters, so it is important to check the current conditions if you plan to visit in early summer.

Keep in mind that the huts along these routes close for the season outside of this time frame, so it is not possible to plan multi-day tours outside of these months.

Read more about the hiking season on the Alta Via 1.

We have rated our tours on a difficulty scale from 1 to 5, with 1 being the easiest and 5 being the most challenging. The difficulty level of a tour indicates how fit you need to be and how much hiking is required. All of our Alta Via 1 tours are suitable for people who are regularly active and can hike for about six to eight hours per day.

In addition to the physical demands of the hike, there is also a technical difficulty level to consider. This refers to the skill level required to navigate the path. A level 1 trail is smooth and wide, like a gravel road, while a level 5 trail is uneven and exposed, requiring the use of your hands for balance. Essentially, the higher the technical difficulty level, the more surefooted and skilled in scrambling you need to be.

We recommend booking your tour as soon as possible to secure a spot, as accommodations along the trail tend to fill up quickly. This will help you ensure that you have a place to stay during your trip.

In the event of an injury, it is best to call local emergency services. While you may be in a remote area and unable to continue without further exacerbating your injury, it is important to remember that you will be hiking along popular trails and will not be completely stranded.

However, if you are feeling too tired to continue hiking, you can choose to reroute towards the nearest town along the trail and find public transportation there. Although Alta Via 1 does not pass directly through any large towns, it does pass close to some of them.

Most of the huts along our hut-to-hut hikes are equipped with showers, but their availability may depend on recent rainfall. Keep in mind that mountain huts are not luxurious hotels, so don’t expect the same level of amenities. However, they do offer a comfortable and convenient place to rest after a day of hiking.

Read more about the mountain huts in the Dolomites.

No. The huts provide blankets and pillows for comfort, but it is a good idea to bring your own sleeping liner to reduce the need for the huts to wash their bed linens every day. If you don’t, you might need to buy one on the spot.

Cell phone reception in the mountains can be unreliable. You may be able to get a signal if you can see a town or if you are near a mountain hut. Even if you cannot get a signal inside the hut, you may be able to get one by stepping outside. Wi-fi is not widely available in the mountains, and is only offered at select lodges.

If you dress appropriately, you can typically complete most stages of the hike even in light rain. However, if a storm is forecasted, it is important to not hike and to wait until the storm passes, even if that means spending an additional day at the hut. This is for your own safety.

Most accommodations offer vegetarian meal options, although vegan options may be more difficult to find in huts. However, we will let you know in advance if there are any vegan options available so that you can plan accordingly.

In addition to the essential items such as hiking shoes, a backpack, and sports clothes, there are several other important items you should pack for your hut-to-hut hiking tour.

Check out our comprehensive list of recommended equipment.

While we do not require you to have insurance before booking, we strongly recommend that you do. Look into joining the Italian Alpine Club, which might provide coverage in the event of any unexpected incidents during your hike.

Mountain huts may not be luxurious, but they are cozy and comfortable, offering warm beds, delicious meals, and toilets. You can choose between private rooms and dormitories, but it is important to book in advance if you want to avoid sharing a room with other people. Keep in mind that huts are popular and can fill up quickly, so it is best to plan ahead to secure your preferred accommodation.

You can read all about the comfort of rifugios here.

As long as children are physically prepared for long hiking days and are sure-footed, they should not have any problems participating in the tour. We recommend that children be at least eight years old in order to ensure their safety and enjoyment of the experience.

None of the stages offer any shortcuts if you want to get to the end of your hike. If you get too tired, you can conclude your hike sooner at one of the road-equipped mountain passes or head for the nearest town.