Alta Via 1 Self-Guided Hike

10 days / 9 nights

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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.

Starting point

Lago di Braies

Finish point

La Stanga

Season

July - September

Technical level

3/5

Fitness level

3/5

Tour type

Hut-to-Hut

Choose your style

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  • Complete the famous Alta Via 1 hut-to-hut hiking trail in its entirety across nine days
  • Hike through the most picturesque places in the Dolomites
  • Visit two iconic mountain passes above Cortina d’Ampezzo – Passo Giau and Falzarego Pass
  • Sleep in authentic ‘rifugios’ and enjoy the traditional local cuisine
  • Discover World War I remnants

What’s included in the price?

Self-guided

9 nights in (mountain) huts with half-board
Digital guidebook with itinerary, route instructions, and practical information
GPS navigation with an easy-to-use app
Tour design and organization
Service and support during your hike

NOT INCLUDED

Tourist tax

OPTIONAL EXTRAS

Additional transfers
Airport transfer
Airport transfer from Venice Airport to Cortina d'Ampezzo (1-3 pax)
Airport transfer from Venice Airport to Cortina d'Ampezzo (4-8 pax)
Extra nights
Private rooms
Transfer from Cortina d'Ampezzo to the starting point (1-3 pax)
Transfer from Cortina d'Ampezzo to the starting point (4-8 pax)

What to bring to the tour

  • Hiking shoes/boots
  • 25 to 45-liter backpack
  • Base layer
  • Sports T-shirts
  • Hiking shorts
  • Hiking water-repellent pants
  • Waterproof jacket
  • Midlayer
  • Sports socks and underwear
  • Leisurewear for evenings
  • Down jacket
  • Gloves
  • Shade hat/cap
  • Warm headwear
  • Sunscreen
  • Sunglasses
  • Headlamp
  • Hiking poles
  • ID card or passport
  • Snacks
  • Cash
  • Water bottles or hydration pack
  • Sleeping liner
  • Toiletries
  • Toilet paper
  • Small first aid kit

The Alta Via 1 trail that passes through the Dolomites showcases Italy's most beautiful mountain scenery. The landscape is known for its abnormal natural beauty and somewhat dark history. Many scenic places, such as the Falzarego mountain pass, bear the scars of World War I battles.

Unlike its sister, Alta Via 2, it is appropriate for every regular hiker, overcoming 120 kilometers and 6700 meters of elevation across nine stages. From its beginning at Lago di Braies to its conclusion in La Stanga, Alta Via 1 feels like an experience that transcends everything you thought was possible.

From the scenic alpine meadows at Passo Giau to the redoubtable face of Monte Civetta and rock-formed towers of Cinque Torri, a hiker can be afraid to blink lest they miss something.

On Alta Via 1, hikers often walk well away from civilization, meaning your only chance of experiencing the trail as you should, is by sleeping in the mountain huts along the way. Or, as Italians call them, 'rifugios'.

An authentic mountain lodge high up in the Alps with homemade Italian dishes and enough comfort for a good night’s sleep – what more could a tired trekker seek? Our Alta Via 1 hut-to-hut tour includes all rifugio bookings, and we equip you with a precise GPS track of the planned route.

You will not miss any landmarks either, as our digital guidebook with the itinerary includes a highlights section for every day. If you feel like you would still prefer a guide by your side, you can check out out Alta Via 1 - Guided Hike.

Reinhold Messner once said that every mountain in the Dolomites is like a piece of art. And to say he saw many is an understatement. Is that really something you can afford to miss during your lifetime?

For those who find themselves a bit short on time, we've also created an Alta Via 1 Highlights tour to ensure you can walk the best of this iconic trail in only 4 days!

Map

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

Ratings & Reviews

Google Reviews

5.0 average rating

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Birgit Kindler

Verifed customer · 1 year ago

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 :)

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Claudia Ossa

Verifed customer · 2 years ago

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!!!

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Ann Swainson

Verifed customer · 9 months ago

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.

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Robert Backlund

Verifed customer · 9 months ago

Our Guide Luka was amazing! And the three-day hike was a Memory for life, really beautiful. Cant recommend it enough.

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Kyle Miller

Verifed customer · 6 months ago

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.

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Rebecca Lawson

Verifed customer · 8 months ago

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!

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Self-guided

Those who like a good adventure and limitless flexibility should go on a self-guided tour. We prepare the itinerary and book your accommodations while you enjoy the journey without our guide, being fully in charge of all the daily decisions. While you’ll have the full support of our team in case of any emergencies or concerns, a certain level of self-reliance is required.

Hassle-Free

Hassle-Free

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

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

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

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from 1.790 € /person