After a brief bus transfer from Dobbiaco, your adventure begins at Lago di Braies — a stunning alpine lake tucked between steep rock faces and towering peaks in the northern part of the Dolomites. You can admire the surroundings while ascending toward the Forcella Sora Forno mountain pass.
Depending on availability and preference, you can stay the night at Rifugio Bella or continue until you reach Rifugio Sennes beside the Senessee lake upon a gently downwards-sloping path.
9 km and 1000 m elevation gain
The day begins with a descent towards Rifugio Pederu where a military camp used to stand during WW1. On your way, you will cross a lively mountain stream. Afterward, the path gradually ascends through a valley enclosed by the surrounding mountain peaks.
Upon reaching an elevated plateau above 2000 meters of elevation, you will soon be at your destination for the night, be it Rifugio Fanes or Rifugio Lavarella. They lie close to each other, near picturesque alpine lakes.
10 km and 750 m elevation gain
The first ascent of the day to the striking Lago di Limo will be enough to warm you up for the remainder of today’s journey. Following a relatively flat path across rocky terrain, you will eventually climb more steeply toward the Forcella di Lago mountain pass.
A treacherous descent follows, meaning you have to be sure-footed. After that, you will gradually ascend across an upsloping rocky plateau and reach Rifugio Lagazuoi, perched on top of a ridge at 2750 meters of elevation overlooking the Falzarego pass.
12.5 km and 1300 m elevation gain
Leaving the route’s highest point, you will descend across a landscape marked by WW1 combats. Passing tunnels and former warehouses, the path takes you below the commanding Tofana di Rozes mountain peak toward the Falzarego pass.
You can catch a bus to Cortina d’Ampezzo from there. Hikers who would prefer to hike to the valley can do so on a path past Rifugio Angelo Dibona and through Pocol to Cortina. It lengthens your hike by 10 kilometers.
3 km and 660 m elevation loss
A shortened version of the epic Alta Via 1 takes you across its northern and most scenic sections in the vicinity of the famous Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Keeping to the original route, it overcomes 38 kilometers and 2700 meters of altitude before concluding at the Falzarego mountain pass (or Cortina if you wish). This hike is ideal for someone who wants to explore the places bearing scars of WW1 but cannot trek the entire trail.
The stages on this tour are shorter and less demanding than on our Alta Via 1 South hut-to-hut hike. However, you should still be ready to hike between 4 and 6 hours daily.
We will book all your accommodations at rifugios and offer you support during your hike. You will also receive a detailed written guide with a day-by-day itinerary and a precise GPS track of the planned route beforehand.
We are eagerly waiting to assist you on your Alta Via 1 hike!
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.
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.
You can read more about it on our subpage.
Alta Via 1 is the least technically challenging hut-to-hut hiking route in the Dolomites. However, its most demanding parts can be compared to The Walker’s Haute Route.
As a long-distance route, it includes anywhere between five and eight hours of hiking per day across uneven terrain with a significant elevation gain for four consecutive days. Any regular hiker should be able to do it, but you should not come unprepared.
This is a shortened version of Alta Via 1, and it includes its most scenic parts with shorter and less demanding stages than the ones on the Alta Via 1 South tour.
Read more about the technical and physical difficulties of Alta Via 1.
There are great train and bus connections to Cortina d’Ampezzo from most nearby airports. From Cortina, you can travel to Dobiacco and catch a bus to Lago di Braies where you start your hike.
As you will also be finishing in Cortina, you can use the same connections in the other direction.
You can read more extensively about it here.
