Immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the Dolomites on a 9-day hike from hut to hut
Take in the stunning panoramic views and hike through the most picturesque places in the Dolomites
Visit Passo Giau and Falzarego Pass, two of the most iconic mountain passes in the region
Stay in authentic ‘rifugios’ and indulge in the traditional local cuisine
Discover the history and remnants of World War 1, learning about the region’s rich past
Hiking past the famous Cinque Torri
Green meadows and rock towers are characteristic of the Dolomites
Climb up to Rifugio Nuvolau and enjoy these views of Cinque Torri and Tofana
The breathtaking rock face of Monte Civetta
Lago di Braies is the starting point of the hike
Evening view from Rifugio Sennes
The scenic valley of Cortina d'Ampezzo
One of the treasures of the Dolomites - Passo Giau
Views opening up towards Monte Pelmo and Monte Civetta
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 Biella or continue until you reach Rifugio Sennes beside the Senessee Lake upon a gently downwards-sloping path.
6.4 km and 930 m of elevation gain / 100 m of elevation loss
Rifugio Biella / Rifugio Sennes
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. You’ll either spend your night here or climb out of the valley to one of the two rifugios up there. 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, Rifugio Lavarella. It lies on the shores of picturesque alpine lakes.
7.6 km and 60 m of elevation gain / 840 m of elevation loss
Berggasthaus Pederü / Rifugio Lavarella
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.
17.8 km and 1700 m of elevation gain / 530 m of elevation loss
Rifugio Lagazuoi / Rifugio Scotoni
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. The pass connects to Cortina d’Ampezzo to the east. You will strike straight towards the south, though, and follow a forest path past the fascinating rock towers of Cinque Torri until you reach Rifugio Nuvolau. Boasting a spectacular view from its ridge, it allows you to see the peaks across the valley of Cortina.
9.3 km and 625 m of elevation gain / 780 m of elevation loss
Rifugio Nuvolau
Retracing yesterday’s steps along the ridge, you will find your way below it, crossing the scenic Passo Giau and its alpine meadows where cattle are grazing. You will continue upon an up-and-down path, surrounded by green meadows and an open view of the mountain tops. High above them all, the grandiose Monte Pelmo looms with its two peaks, and you will spend the night in its shadow at Rifugio Citta di Fiume.
15 km and 570 m of elevation gain / 1200 m of elevation loss
Rifugio Citta di Fiume
Beginning with a descent to Passo Staulanza, the day gets more demanding with a climb to the Forcella Coldai mountain pass. After that, you will traverse beneath the mighty Monte Civetta, one of the Dolomites’ symbols. Slowly descending beneath the mark of 1800 meters of elevation, you will reach Rifugio Vazzoler among the pine trees.
18 km and 940 m of elevation gain and 1130 m of elevation loss
Rifugio Vazzoler
Today’s stage is slightly shorter than some of the last ones, and it begins with a 300-meter descent before climbing to the Forcella del Camp mountain pass on the southern side of the Civetta massif. Steep rockfaces will keep you company from above as you follow the trail to Rifugio Carestiato, lying above Passo Duran, where you’ll descend tomorrow.
9 km and 620 m of elevation gain / 530 m of elevation loss
Rifugio Carestiato
The day begins with a descent to Passo Duran. Southbound, you will initially follow the road, but not for long. As you climb over the first ridge, a new valley will open up before you and uncover the traversing path beneath the Tamer Grande mountain peak. As kilometers pass, you will feel like you are entering a new world with grassy ridges all around you. You’ll end your day at Rifugio Sommariva al Pramperet.
12.8 km and 700 m of elevation gain / 650 m of elevation loss
Rifugio Sommariva al Pramperet
Today presents one of the last real challenges of Alta Via 1. Although the path is not technically demanding, crossing Cima de Zita still calls for some added caution, but following that climb, you only have to descend through a funnel-shaped landscape, past Rifugio Pian de Fontana, and continue downwards until you reach Refuge Furio Bianchet, your hut for the last night on Alta Via 1.
11 km and 800 m of elevation gain / 1400 m of elevation loss
Rifugio Furio Bianchet
On your last day, you only need to descend to La Stanga in Val Cordevole, where you can catch a bus to Belluno. The path is not demanding as you will avoid the via ferrata section across the Schiara massif, making this stage a suitable last day to ease you back into life outside the mountains.
6.8 km and 45 m elevation gain / 850 m elevation loss
9 nights in huts with dinner and breakfast
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
Tourist tax
The Alta Via 1 hike is a journey that unveils some of Italy’s most breathtaking mountain landscapes. The region is known for its captivating natural beauty and rich history, including the scars of World War I battles at places like the Falzarego mountain pass.
The trail, which spans 120 kilometers and 6700 meters of elevation across nine stages, is suitable for most hikers, and it takes you from Lago di Braies to La Stanga.
The Alta Via 1 hike offers a unique experience that will exceed your expectations – from the alpine meadows at Passo Giau to the imposing face of Monte Civetta and the rock-formed towers of Cinque Torri, the trail is a feast for the senses.
During the hike, you will often find yourself far from large settlements, and the only way to fully experience the trail is by staying in the mountain huts (or ‘rifugios’) along the way. These authentic lodges offer homemade Italian and Ladin dishes and comfortable accommodations for a good night’s sleep.
Our Alta Via 1 hut-to-hut tour includes all rifugio bookings along the route. You will also receive a GPS track of the planned course and a written guide with the itinerary and highlights for each day.
As mountaineer Reinhold Messner said, “Every mountain in the Dolomites is like a piece of art.” Do not miss the opportunity to see this masterpiece for yourself.
Although hiking in light rain is manageable as long as proper attire is worn, it is crucial to note that hiking during a storm can be extremely dangerous. It is recommended to schedule hikes early in the day during the summer months to avoid thunderstorms. However, if the forecast predicts severe weather, it is best to reschedule, or we can advise you on a different tour option.
It depends on the tour, as some routes run well above 2000 or even 2500 meters of elevation. Therefore, they are impassable in snowy conditions, limiting the visiting season to the summer and early autumn days between late June and early October.
However, some of our holidays keep to lower elevations, so hiking in early spring or late autumn is still possible. You can read more extensively about it on our subpage about the Dolomites.
All the accommodations offer vegetarian and vegan options for breakfast. You also will not have any trouble finding such menus at restaurants. When you eat at mountain huts, though, they might not serve vegan meals. In such cases, it is best to bring your own food.
Our hiking holidays are suitable for children as long as they are prepared physically and sure-footed. To ensure the safety and enjoyment of young participants, we recommend that they be at least eight years old to join the tours.
While our tours are designed to suit a wide range of people, some days can include long distances with substantial elevation gain. We try to keep this to a minimum while preserving the overall quality of your experience, but you should be used to walking for 4-6 hours while overcoming around 600 meters of elevation.
We also try to route our walks in the vicinity of cable cars and chairlifts to shorten your climbs or help you descend in case of fatigue.
Shoes are an essential piece of equipment when walking in the Dolomites. We suggest you wear sturdy hiking shoes with ankle support for all our tours, as the ground in the Dolomites is uneven, sometimes rocky, and slippery. Therefore, you risk a severe injury if you wear sneakers, especially if you are not used to hiking on such terrain.
The car might offer you slightly more flexibility and freedom, but it is not necessary to come by car, as public transport is well-organized in the Dolomites and the entire Alps. Even traveling across different countries is very convenient. Be it by bus or train — you can reach virtually any destination in the Dolomites using public transport.
Additionally, you will promote sustainable tourism by reducing your carbon footprint, and we are all for keeping the environment of the Dolomites as untouched as possible.
Keep in mind that the Dolomites are one of the most popular tourist destinations all year round, and all accommodations are subject to availability. Therefore, early booking is crucial to ensure the housing you desire, but we will always do our best to get you the optimal lodging based on your preferences.
Yes. The sooner you book, the better your options will be. If you book just before the season starts or during the season, we cannot guarantee you a spot in the hotels and apartments.
Some stages can be shortened by descending to the valley sooner than intended. At some locations, you can even do so by taking a chairlift or a cable car. However, we try to keep our tours as undemanding as possible, so you will not encounter such issues.
The Dolomites’ area is well-connected to the outside world, making it easy to access by public transport. You can do so by flying to one of the nearest airports in Venice, Treviso, or Innsbruck, and then taking a train or bus to reach the final destination. We wrote about it extensively on our How to get to the Dolomites subpage.
Given how well-organized our tours are and how accessible and easy-to-orient the Dolomites are, you most likely will not need a guide. Our handout will equip you with all the essential information while you will still enjoy the freedom of a self-guided holiday.
But if you feel more comfortable with a guide, you can let us know, and we will make the necessary arrangements.
