Alta Via 1 (6 days)
Duration: 6 days
Trails: T3 trails
Distance: 10 - 15 km per day
Ascent per day: 500 - 1000 m ascent per day
> Experience a 6-day adventure on the Alta Via 1, hiking from Lago di Braies to Agordo.
> Spend the night in cozy Italian Rifugios
> Bookatrekking.com arranges all the huts along the way
The Alta Via 1, also known as the Dolomite High Route 1, is one of Italy's most famous trekking trails and is the easiest and most popular of the high routes that go through the Dolomites. The Dolomites are located in north-eastern Italy and stretch throughout the provinces of Belluno, South Tyrol, and Trentino.
During this 6-day adventure you will hike the Alta Via 1, from Lago di Braies to Agordo. Along the way, you'll spend the entire day exploring the breathtaking Dolomites. You will spend the night in atmospheric and hospitable mountain huts, also called rifugios. Here you can enjoy delicious Italian dishes and meet many other hikers. Bookatrekking.com makes sure that your huts are booked including dinner and breakfast. The only thing left for you to do is to enjoy the beautiful trails on the Alta Via 1.
Itinerary
Day
1
Lago di Braies - Rifugio Pederü
Duration: 06:00 h
Distance: 14.3 km
Ascent: 920 m
Descent: 830 m
The first stage starts at the beautiful Alpine lake Lago di Braies, surrounded by towering mountain peaks and pine forests. It starts with a steady climb to the first pass Forcella Sora Forno. On this part of the route you encounter several steep rock faces which you cross via short but exciting zigzag routes using cables. At the pass you enter the Dolomiti National Park. The Panorama of the wide, expansive pass is vast and breathtaking, including views of the peaks of the northern Dolomites, as well as the peaks of Marmolada and Tofane. You then begin a steep descent into the rocky valley with fascinating orange rock walls, the last part of the stage consists of a final long downhill section.
Rifugio Pederü
Day
2
Rifugio Pederü - Rifugio Lagazuoi
Duration: 07:45 h
Distance: 17.5 km
Ascent: 1540 m
Descent: 420 m
On this stage, the real highlights of the trip begin when you reach the Cortina d'Ampezzo Valley, cross one of the most exciting passes of the entire trip, and reach the pinnacle of the trip: the summit of Lagazuoi. The stage begins through idyllic meadows, streams, and rolling stone pastures and becomes rockier and more exciting. As the day progresses, the trail heads toward the Forcella Del Lago pass. From the top of the pass, you are faced with a steep descent. Eventually, you will be rewarded with a beautiful view of the picturesque Lago di Lagazuoi. You round off the stage with the steep climb to the top of Mount Lagazuoi. At the top, you reach the busy Rifugio Lagazuoi with one of the most beautiful panoramas of the entire Dolomites.
Rifugio Lagazuoi
Day
3
Rifugio Lagazuoi - Rifugio Scoiattoli
Duration: 03:45 h
Distance: 8.9 km
Ascent: 370 m
Descent: 780 m
This stage takes you to the heart of the Cortina Valley: Cinque Torri, perhaps the most beautiful and spectacular spot of the entire trip. Today the Alta Via 1 briefly descends into the valley before making the climb to Nuvolau. Along the way you'll pass the fascinating and famous Cinque Torri area, the center for rock climbing, and well worth a detour to explore the “five-rock towers. You'll spend the night at Rifugio Scoiattoli but you'll want to experience sunset at the adjacent Rifugio Nuvolau, the recently renovated rifugio built on a spire and offering a 360-degree panorama.
Rifugio Scoiattoli
Day
4
Rifugio Scoiattoli - Rifugio Passo Staulanza
Duration: 06:40 h
Distance: 16.6 km
Ascent: 580 m
Descent: 1040 m
The stage begins with the most technically challenging and exposed part of the entire route: a series of via ferrata paths with cables and ladders descending from Nuvolau into the valley. This section is thrilling but short. If you follow our route, you’ll pass by this via ferrata but won’t actually use it. You will, however, encounter a section with ladders and fixed cables to hold on to. These kinds of cables are common along the route; they are there for extra support and do not require any special equipment.
Then you descend the rest of the way to a mountain pass near the valley where you start climbing again, to the pass of Forcella Ambrizzola. As you cross this pass, the impressive Monte Pelmo looms in the background. Here you descend through stretches of forest until Monte Pelmo, also known as the Throne of the Gods, suddenly comes incredibly close. You continue past Rifugio Città di Fume to the Staulanza pass where you find the cozy Rifugio Passo Staulanza.
Rifugio Passo Staulanza
Day
5
Rifugio Passo Staulanza - Rifugio Vazzoler
Duration: 05:25 h
Distance: 16.3 km
Ascent: 900 m
Descent: 970 m
Today you will make a long steep ascent past Rifugio Coldai where you will enter the surroundings of Monte Civetta. Along the way you will enjoy some of the best views of the magnificent massive Pelmo that towers high above the valley from Rifugio Coldai. Continue on to the beautiful Lago Coldai. You can take a break at Rifugio Tissi, a popular rifugio on the Alta Via 1, but the goal for today is Rifugio Vazzoler, on the south side of Punta de Gasperi.
Rifugio Vazzoler
Day
6
Rifugio Vazzoler – Rifugio Carestiato – Agordo
Duration: 06:53 h
Distance: 16.5 km
Ascent: 560 m
Descent: 1650 m
Waking up at Rifugio Vazzoler, you step outside to crisp mountain air and the towering presence of Torre Venezia—a fitting backdrop for the start of your final trekking day. From here, the trail leads you through alpine meadows and forests, gradually making its way to Rifugio Carestiato, beautifully positioned beneath the sheer rock faces of Moiazza. A quick coffee stop? Maybe. A last panoramic gaze at the Dolomites? Definitely.
From Carestiato, the descent towards Agordo begins. The rugged mountain paths give way to gentler trails, winding through forests and rocky terrain before reaching the valley floor. By the time you step into Agordo, it’s time for one last tradition—grabbing a well-earned birra and toasting to an unforgettable trek.
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