Dolomites Alta Via 1 Highlights
- Pack-in three fantastic days of walking on the classic Alta Via 1
- Enjoy spectacular views over peaks and valleys
- Relax with a caffè latte in the hiking capital of Cortina
- Watch the evening sun turn the peaks pink from your mountain hut
- Indulge in tasty Italian mountain cuisine like polenta, cheese and apple strudel
Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive in CortinaYou’ll find pretty Cortina nestled in the heart of the Dolomites. It’s a great place to spend your first night amongst the mountains and to buy any last-minute provisions. Known as the ski and mountaineering centre of the High Dolomites, Cortina offers plenty of restaurants and shops. Reaching Cortina from Venice is easy; there is a twice-daily express bus service.

A friendly and traditional Alpine style hotel which is very popular with walkers. Enjoy the cosy and comfortable rooms, locally sourced produce from the breakfast buffet as well as wifi in the rooms. There is an on-site restaurant serving typical regional dishes, or venture into the centre of Cortina (5-10 min walk) and choose from one of the many restaurants here.

Located in the centre of Cortina, the family-run Hotel Regina is the ideal starting point for your adventure.

At the hotel run by the Lorenzi family, enjoy a magnificent view of the Dolomites and a warm Italian welcome.
After a good sleep, take a scenic bus via Dobbiaco to Lago di Braies (1494m), a spectacular lake and the official start of the Alta Via 1. Stride out from the far end of the lake with the mountains looming high on all sides, walking through patches of dwarf pines to the head of the valley. In clear weather you may catch sight of the three giant monoliths of the Tre Cime.
Your first day on the Alta Via 1 involves a good ascent to Rifugio Biella (2327m) from where you can take an optional hike up to the summit of Croda del Becco (2812m), or continue on the mountain track down to Rifugio Sennes, located at 2126m or Rifugio Fodara Vedla at 2134m, with panoramic views over Croda Rossa (3246m), Cristallo (3221m), Sorapis (3205m), and Tofana (3243m).
Walk to Rifugio Sennes: 10kms/6mi, Ascent/Descent: 942m/299m
Walk to Rifugio Fodara Vedla: 10kms/6mi, Ascent/Descent: 941m/297m

Rifugio Sennes offers accommodation for up to 60 guests in dormitories and rooms with shared facilties, as well as rooms with private facilities. Enjoy the comfort of a family-run lodge with traditional food, lovingly cooked by the owners. The rifugio enjoys panoramic views over some of the most beautiful peaks in the Dolomites: Croda Rossa (3146m), Cristallo (3221m), Sorapis (3205m), and Tofana (3243m). Managed by Erich and Cilla Palfrader, the rifugio was built by the Palfrader Family ‘Corjel’ between 1937 and 1939, and has opened year-round since the 1940s.

Experience the Dolomites, their magic and their rugged beauty during a stay at the Fodara Vedla mountain hut and enjoy the warm hospitality of the Mutschlechner family.
Today’s trek is along an old WWI mountain track, as you follow switchbacks on a 500m descent to Rifugio Pederü (1548m), which is ideally placed for a bite to eat. Admire views of the Sennes and Fanes massifs.
Continue across the Valle di Rudo as the trail then climbs up the Valun de Fanes to reach Rifugio Fanes (2060m), located above the town of San Vigilio di Marebbe, in a karstic limestone bowl in the Fanes-Senes-Braies Natural Park.
Walk starting from Rifugio Sennes: 10kms/6mi, Ascent/Descent: 568m/639m
Walk starting from Rifugio Fodara Vedla: 8kms/5mi, Ascent/Descent: 567m/477m

The Fanes Hut is found in Val Badia, and offers various room types, from en suite rooms through to dormitory-style accommodation with shared facilities (total of 70 beds). The rifugio was built in 1928 by brothers Fritz, Rudi and Alfred Mutschlechner, and is now run by Alfred’s son Max, who has run it since 1978. The rifugio was completely renovated in summer 1996, and so offers a great standard of accommodation with plenty of wood and charming features. The team at the rifugio pride themselves on offering typical Ladin cuisine, with a selection of wines, grappa and liquors are also available, as well as typically South Tyrolean produce.

The history of the Lavarella mountain lodge goes back to 1912, when Mariangelo Frenner of San Vigilio di Marebbe built the first mountain hut, serving as a barn. The Lavarella hut is now run by Hanspeter, his wife Michaela (the chef) and his daughter Anna and her husband Gábor. The lodge was renovated in 1980, 1986 and finally in 1997. The rooms have private washing basins since 2006 and since 2009 there is a Finnish sauna at 2.050 m above sea level with an outstanding Dolomites view for their lucky guests! The kitchen was renovated and modernised in 2013.
Continue along the AV1 passing shimmering Lago di Limo (2,157m). As you climb the slopes of the Fanes group pause to admire the views to the southern mountain ranges and Marmolada. Crossing the grassy bowl of the Passo Tagéda, we suggest opting for an easier broad track past the windy slopes of Forcella del Lago (2,486m), with a (manageable) steep descent on a path through scree to Lago Lagazoi (2,182m).
Here in the Parco Naturale delle Dolomiti d’Ampezzo you’ll see remnants of the Austrian- Italian WWI front line. Stop at the open-air ‘Museo all’aparto della Grande Guerra’ with its fascinating interpretation boards.
Take the cable car which operates from Lagazuoi station down to Passo Falzarego, from where you can catch a bus to Cortina.
Ascent/Descent: 1,056m/412m

A friendly and traditional Alpine style hotel which is very popular with walkers. Enjoy the cosy and comfortable rooms, locally sourced produce from the breakfast buffet as well as wifi in the rooms. There is an on-site restaurant serving typical regional dishes, or venture into the centre of Cortina (5-10 min walk) and choose from one of the many restaurants here.

Located in the centre of Cortina, the family-run Hotel Regina is the ideal starting point for your adventure.

At the hotel run by the Lorenzi family, enjoy a magnificent view of the Dolomites and a warm Italian welcome.
After breakfast, you can take an express bus service from Cortina to Venice - or continue your travels in Italy!
Other Information
Is it for me?If you’re short on time but want to explore the high trails of the Dolomites on foot, this is a great tour for you. You’ll manage a good three days of walking at 1500-2500m, staying a couple of nights in traditional ‘rifugi’, topped-and-tailed with a stay in a lovely 3* hotel in bustling Cortina. You should be sure-footed and have a head for heights to really get the most from this trip. It is not suitable for people suffering from vertigo.
Classic Routes | If you’re the active, outdoorsy type, who’s interested in taking on the great routes of the world or looking for a challenge, then our Classic Routes are for you. We’re talking the West Highland Way, Tour Du Mont Blanc and the Passau to Vienna Danube Cycle Path, to name but a few!
Hut to Hut Walking | Walk from hut to hut, changing accommodation each night
Groups > 10
This walk is graded moderate to strenuous and includes daily walks of between 9 and 16.5km with ascents of up to 900m, descents of up to 1300m. You’ll be following switchback footpaths, country lanes, both narrow and wide tracks and rough mountain paths. You should be prepared for rocky and loose ground and unavoidable narrow paths across scree slopes. We have deliberately avoided routes involving via ferrata. Some of the ascents and descents are considerably steep and some can be exposed so require a good head for heights and sure-footedness in places. You should have a good level of walking fitness to get the most from this trip, and be an experienced mountain walker.
We specifically select your rifugi to give you a taste of warm Italian hospitality and so that you are able to join in the camaraderie with your fellow walkers. For the first and last nights of your tour, you will stay in a friendly 3* hotel on a breakfast basis. In Refugio Fanes only breakfast is included, but you can buy dinner locally at the refugio. For your remaining 4 nights you will stay on a half board basis in mountain huts - ‘rifugi’. They offer comfortable accommodation and good local food and drink. Some of the rifugi are more basic than others; they are a mixture of CAI (Italian Alpine Club) and privately-run properties.
Hut accommodation is booked in mixed-sex dormitories made up of alpine-style communal sleeping areas or in bunk beds. We can often book private rooms in the huts (some with shared and some with en suite) and where this type of room is available this is noted against each accommodation; this 'room upgrade' is at an optional supplement. Private rooms are popular and therefore always subject to availability. Please note that private rooms in the mountain huts are extremely limited. If you wish to ask for a private room you need to BOOK EARLY. While we are always happy to ask, it may not be possible to reserve private rooms in the mountain huts.
Single Rooms & Solo Walkers
This trip is not available to solo walkers due to the remote terrain and single rooms are not available except on the first and last nights (in hotel accommodation). A supplement is payable.
Meals
Breakfast is included each morning. Dinner is not included in Cortina as there are plenty of restaurants to choose from. Whilst staying in the rifugi dinner is included (excluding drinks). Meals in the mountain huts are always simple, hearty fare.
As this is a self guided walk you will be responsible for navigation, decision making and safety during your trip. This walk is strenuous, crosses high mountain passes and the weather can change quickly. You should be able to navigate easily with a map and compass in poor visibility and be experienced in the mountains.We supply you with route notes for the recommended routes, as well as a comprehensive guidebook and Tabacco printed maps (1:25 000) and access to our smartphone navigation app along with GPX tracks, so you will have no problem following the route each day. You are of course free to walk wherever you choose, with the possibility of following the guidebook and/or reviewing the map to make your own route.
- Accommodation for 2 nights in a comfortable 3* hotel (en suite room), and for 2 nights in mountain huts (mixed-sex dormitory accommodation)
- 4 Breakfasts
- Dinner in the mountain huts/Rifugios
- Route descriptions, guide book, Tabacco maps and a pre-departure information pack
- 24-hour assistance by phone
- Gettting to and from Cortina
- Travel Insurance
- Lunches, dinners in Cortina, drinks & snacks
- Public transportation, including buses, trains and cable cars
- Personal expenses such as drinks, phone calls, extra transfers, tips, etc
- Any items not specifically mentioned in the program
***July is an incredibly busy month on the Alta Via and therefore we may block out certain dates should some of the essential huts (Refugio Lavarella, Refugio Fanes and Refugio Lagazuoi) be fully booked. If the dates available do not suit you but you would like to travel to the Dolomites in July we would recommend considering one of our other Dolomites trips such as the Alta Via 1 South or one of our trips in the Tyrol instead.
***Should there be no availability in Rifugio Lagazuoi we will need to book Rifugio Col Gallina or Rifugio Scotoni, both will require extra walking to be reached.
This tour is available to start any day of the week from July to September. Upgrades to private rooms will be shown as an option during the booking process. Option & extension prices will be displayed as part of the booking process. Please note that private rooms in the mountain huts are extremely limited. If you wish to ask for a private room you need to BOOK EARLY. While we are always happy to ask, it may not be possible to reserve private rooms in the mountain huts. The best time to walk is July to mid-September, with August the most popular month (with the locals too!) and so busier in the huts. It is not unheard of for snow to fall on higher ground during the summer, and patches of snow may still be present into July. For this reason, we offer the walk starting from the beginning of July. July and August are the hottest months and carry the greatest risk of thunderstorms, which can be torrential and usually occur in the afternoon—being well-prepared and equipped for all these eventualities is essential.
By Air: Venice Marco Polo Airport is the most convenient airport, with various international airlines operating here. The smaller Venice Treviso Airport is serviced by low-cost carrier Ryanair (London Stansted, Bristol, East Midlands, Leeds Bradford).
Private Transfers: We are able to arrange taxi transfers for you in Italy (bookable in advance at a supplement) from Venice Airports. Please get in touch to enquire about how we can help with transfer arrangements in Italy.
From Venice Marco Polo airport (or Venice Mestre bus station): it is possible to take the Cortina Express to Cortina (approx. 2h20); departures are twice daily, usually in the afternoon, so please ensure you check their website for timetables.
From Venice Treviso Airport: From the airport take a bus (approx.12 mins) to Treviso, then from Treviso Sud there is an ATVO bus once a day to Cortina (approx. 2 hrs). Or you can take a bus from Treviso town to Venice Mestre or Marco Polo Airport for onward connections with the Cortina Express (see above). Check the timetable on the ATVO website.
From Cortina, use any of the methods mentioned above to return to Venice.
You will need to hike with the the equipment you require for your hike. You main bag will stay in Cortina.
Since you are staying in dormitory-style accommodation, you will need to bring a sleeping, bag liner (or you can sometimes buy or hire one locally). Bed linen is provided when booking private rooms.
You can leave one main bag of a max of upto 20kg in Cortina. We do not have control over the limits that these providers set. Therefore, it is very important that you adhere to these limits there is a great possibility that they will simply not store any more luggage.
We suggest that you book as soon as your plans are finalized as its a popular trip with a short season and accommodation is limited (particularly private rooms). However, we will always try to accommodate your plans.
Due to the remoteness of the huts it is not usually possible to take any form of transport between them. The staff at the rifugi will be able to advise you of your best options.
This trip is graded moderate to strenuous and requires good physical condition.You must be used to mountain walking, crossing scree or snowy patches, and challenging ascents and descents to get the most from this trip.
The best time to walk is July to mid-September, with August the most popular month (with the locals too!) and so busier in the huts. It is not unheard-of for snow to fall on higher ground during the summer, and patches of snow may still be present into July. For this reason, we offer the walk starting from beginning of July. July and August are the hottest months and carry the greatest risk of thunderstorms, which can be torrential and usually occur in the afternoon—being well-prepared and equipped for all these eventualities is essential.
Our pre-departure information pack has detailed advice and a kit list on what to take. This includes standard walking gear such as waterproofs, good walking shoes/boots, sun protection, water bottle and a comfortable backpack with waist strap.
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