> Hike a family-friendly stretch of the legendary Alta Via 1
> Stay in cozy rifugios with great mountain meals
> Enjoy the Dolomites without the heavy climbs
Picture this: You’re walking on soft alpine paths, wildflowers brushing your boots, with the pale limestone towers of the Dolomites rising like giants all around you. The air is crisp, the sky impossibly blue, and your next cozy mountain hut is waiting with a hearty meal and a warm bed.
This three-day trek is made for families and easy-going adventurers. You follow a relaxed route along the first section of the Alta Via 1, one of the most iconic hiking trails in the Dolomites. The trails are wide and scenic, the terrain mellow, and the landscapes still every bit as dramatic. Along the way, you overnight in welcoming rifugios and soak in views of limestone towers and alpine meadows. Want the Dolomites, but not the full-on suffering? This is your way in.
You start your day surrounded by the dramatic spires of Cinque Torri. Not a bad way to wake up. The trail kicks off gently, giving you time to stretch the legs and warm into the rhythm of the day.
Soon enough, the landscape opens up to wide views over the legendary Five Towers. From here, the trail climbs steadily, winding its way past rock walls and wartime ruins. It’s not just a hike — it’s a walk through living history.
Crossing the SR48 road marks a halfway milestone, and after that, it’s all about the woods and the wilderness. You’ll follow a scenic path beneath the towering Tofane massif, where every turn serves up a new mountain angle.
Eventually, the forest thins and the air gets crisper. That’s your sign you’re getting close to Rifugio Ra Valles. Step onto the terrace, breathe it in, and look back at what you just hiked. That view? Pure Dolomites magic.
Today feels like a grand finale. You leave Rifugio Ra Valles with the wide views of the Tofane behind you. The trail winds along the mountainside and quickly leads into an iconic traverse — welcome to the “Beautiful trail.” And yes, the name says it all.
Around every corner, the landscape opens up again. You walk along the edge of the massif with views of Cinque Torri, the green valleys below, and the jagged Lagazuoi ridge ahead. This is the Dolomites in full glory.
Along the way, you pass remnants from World War I — trenches, tunnels, old outposts. These mountains tell more than just a geological story, they carry the weight of history too. It adds a whole new layer to the hike.
The final stretch brings you past the famous Lagazuoi tunnels and onto a rocky descent toward Passo Falzarego. One last look back… and you’ll know: this was a trail you won’t forget anytime soon.
