Rifugio Nuvolau is the oldest refuge in the Dolomites, dating back to 1883. It is perched at the top of the Nuvolau mountain and boasts a panoramic view of Cortina d’Ampezzo and Cinque Torri.
The hut is relatively small and rustic, offering only shared rooms with single and bunk beds. Although it has free wi-fi, it features no showers and only shared bathroom facilities. Its location makes for several logistical nightmares, so electricity and water are luxury features that are not always available.
A rifugio at the mountain top is not a regular sight, making a night at Nuvolau a unique experience.
Things to know
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.
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.
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.
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.
There are several ways to get to the Dolomites. If you are flying to Europe, you can then combine your flight with a bus, train, or car ride.
We had a lovely hike today with our guide Klemen. He personalized the tour on our needs and interests, so that we saw places we wouldn't without his experience. The hike was a little bit slippery after the rain from the last days and it went a lot upwards, but it was totally worth it! Thanks again :)
Claudia Ossa
Verified Customer
9 day hiking trip including rafting and mountain biking. Sadly the weather didn’t help, we had a lot of rain, but Klemen modified our plans, making it a great experience after all.
Klemen is an excellent guide and I highly recommend him!!!
Kyle Miller
Verified Customer
Well organized trip. The travel agents were extremely communicative, provided great service, and made adjustments as needed. The GPS app provided was another highlight. It worked exceptionally well made the trek much easier. The itinerary was thorough and included lots of extra details about the region as well as scaling options. The only drawbacks were that the company is based in Slovenia (doesn't seem to have a presence in South Tyrol), and the cost, which was higher than similar treks from competitors.
Rebecca Lawson
Verified Customer
Our 3 day hike had to be rearranged 2/2 weather, so a one day hike was arranged for us. We appreciated the concern about weather and conditions. Our hike was with Matevz, who was a great guide. Very helpful and knowledgable. Would definitely recommend and will be back for a longer hike one day!
Michael Boychyn
Verified Customer
We had a fantastic experience hiking the Dolomites with their incredible views thanks to the great planning by Hut to Hut Hiking Europe (Anja)!
Nicole Cocks
Verified Customer
This trip was organized with every detail considered. Our accommodation, most meals and routes were planned each day which is perfect when the region is unknown and you have not completed a multi-day hike before. We had a great time!
Olivia Berriff
Verified Customer
Excellently organised and the apps worked brilliantly without data/roaming. This was expertly managed by Sara and we had the best time in full confidence that we were in great hands.
Ann Swainson
Verified Customer
Thank you so much for a fantastic trip. It was absolutely stunning, well organised, and a brilliant trip. Special thanks to Jan for his kindness & support on what was a personally challenging trek.
Thomas Wilde
Verified Customer
A great trip - perfectly organized by the hut-hut team, they were immediately available when we needed help!
Robert Backlund
Verified Customer
Our Guide Luka was amazing! And the three-day hike was a Memory for life, really beautiful. Cant recommend it enough.
Gayle Felbain
Verified Customer
Beautiful guided route for our 3-day hut to hut. It included a variety of geography and landscapes and it challenged us in a good way. The organization and information we received from the company both before booking and during our trek was accurate and helpful. Our accommodations were as expected and they were comfortable enough and very welcoming. This was a wonderful way to be in the mountains and really experience them.
Alan Rapoport
Verified Customer
If I could give 100 stars, I would. I don't know if you're a big company or just two or three people behind this, but thank you for such an amazing experience. It was a beautiful adventure. The trails were perfect, each day different from the rest, and a natural beauty that I have seldom seen elsewhere. I had no experience in the world of hiking, and now I can't wait to do the next one! (hopefully next time organised by myself 😂). I had one of the best weeks of my whole life. Thank you a million guys.
Dominic Jacquesson
Verified Customer
Anja and the team at Hut to Hut Hiking designed a terrific 6 day Dolomites himimg adventure for the three of us. The route was breathtaking and balanced, despite our booking very late (June for July), and everything went smoothly, including our luggage transfer. The Rifugios surpassed our expectations and the meals were all amazing. I doubt we could have got a better price if we had booked it ourselves, and we’d have had more hassle and a worse outcome, for sure. Thank you, and I hope to partner with you again 🙏
Julia Mabry
Verified Customer
Hut to Hut organized all of our stays and were diligent about ensuring our rooms were saved for us. They organized our luggage transfer etc. The team was very responsive and helpful! Hut to Hut hiking is simply the best way to experience the mountains!
Christopher Galla
Verified Customer
What a great trip. Small group, great guide. Happy I booked the trek and plan to do more in the future. Highly recommend.
Natalie Shaw
Verified Customer
This three day hike was breath takingly beautiful! Diverse and stunning landscapes, with Klemens expert knowledge of the land, its history and culture blew me away :)
I was a little apprehensive about my first solo trip, but from the first second was made to feel welcome and at ease.
TOTALLY recommend, Thank you Klemen & Hut to Hut! Unforgettable experience :)
Ivan Lopez
Verified Customer
I can’t say enough of how wonderful this company is, we had a customized tour including multiple activities, we had to change the itinerary due to quick changing weather, Klemen took great care of the group, very professional and very caring about the group, I would recommend him and his company.
Dave Blank
Verified Customer
Regardless of changing weather, the team took great care of us, making sure we we’re having fun and comfortable
andrew Lockhart
Verified Customer
A huge thank you to Klemen for the most wonderful holiday. Having you as a guide made all the difference and enabled us to make the best of our time and see places we would never have found without you. Thank you for showing us your wonderful country.
Veronica D
Verified Customer
A perfect hike for a family! It is not too easy but quite manageable with all the huts on the way so you really don't have to carry too much with you and on the third day, you can make a great rest by the beautiful river. We had a great guide who showed us around and took care of all the organization around the accommodation and food. The communication with the team before the tour was spot on and we have really enjoyed the hike worry-free. We have seen a great portion of the region and after the tour we simply chilled in Bled.
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