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Piccola Alta Via 1: Cortina to Lago di Braies

Duration

Total 3 days

Average 3 h 17m
Distance

Total 25.5 km

Average 8.5 km
Ascent

Total +1470 m

Average +490 m
Descent

Total -1460 m

Average -487 m

Overview
Itinerary
What's Included
FAQ
Reviews

> Start next to Cortina, finish at Lago di Braies
> Walk the most famous stretch of the Alta Via 1
> Build up day by day, with a short cabled section for a taste of adventure

Late afternoon at Rifugio Biella, 2,327 metres. Your boots are off, the Croda del Becco towers right behind the hut and the Sennes plateau rolls out below you like a green carpet. Tomorrow brings the big descent to the most photographed lake in the Dolomites. Today there is only one thing left to do: order that well-deserved drink.

This three-day trek is the perfect first taste of hut life in the Dolomites, and it builds up day by day. Day one is your warm-up: from Podestagno, a short ride from Cortina d'Ampezzo, wide forest trails and open meadows lead past Malga Ra Stua and Fodara Vedla down to Rifugio Pederü. On day two you join the Alta Via 1: the climb to the Sennes plateau is steeper and the path gets more rugged towards Rifugio Biella. The last day is the toughest, with rocky terrain right from the hut, a short section with cables that adds a touch of adventure, and a long, steep descent to Lago di Braies, where the bus takes you back to Cortina. Not a fan of heights? There is an alternative route without cables.

Built for beginners with a decent basic fitness: short days of three to four hours, and each day asks a little more of you, so you grow into the mountains as you go. Good hiking boots and poles are a must. We book the huts, you walk. Deal?

Itinerary

Day

1

Podestagno to Rifugio Pederü via Fodara Vedla

Duration: 04:00 h

Distance: 11.4 km

Ascent: 610 m

Descent: 530 m

Lowest Point: 1430 m

Highest Point: 2010 m

Your trek starts with a short bus ride: take line 445 from Cortina d'Ampezzo towards Dobbiaco and get off at the Podestagno stop, about 15 minutes north of town. From here you head into the Fanes-Sennes-Braies Nature Park on forest paths and wide trails. The going is easy underfoot, but with about 600 metres of climbing to Fodara Vedla, your legs get a proper warm-up for the days ahead.

From Podestagno, the trail climbs through the woods to Malga Ra Stua, a classic stop for a coffee. Continue across the open meadows of Campo Croce, where the valley widens and pale limestone walls rise on both sides. A last climb brings you to the alpine pastures of Fodara Vedla, around 2,000 metres and the highest point of the day, with small lakes and views of the Croda Rossa.

From Fodara Vedla, the path drops on a series of switchbacks to Rifugio Pederü at 1,548 metres, at the head of the Rudo valley.

Rifugio Pederü

Info

Day

2

Rifugio Pederü to Rifugio Biella via Rifugio Sennes

Duration: 03:00 h

Distance: 7.7 km

Ascent: 820 m

Descent: 60 m

Lowest Point: 1565 m

Highest Point: 2300 m

Today you join the Alta Via 1, the most famous long-distance trail in the Dolomites. It is a short day but a proper climb: about 820 metres up, which takes you from the valley floor to the high Sennes plateau.

You start by retracing the switchbacks above Rifugio Pederü, then branch off north and keep climbing until the terrain flattens out on the Sennes plateau. Rifugio Sennes at 2,126 metres is the perfect spot for a break. From here the trail crosses the wide, open plateau and gains height gently towards the rock walls of the Croda del Becco.

Rifugio Biella sits at 2,327 metres, just below the Porta Sora al Forn, with the Croda del Becco rising right behind it. Time to grab a spot on the terrace.

Rifugio Biella (Seekofel Hütte)

Info

Day

3

Seekofelhütte (Rifugio Biella) - Lago di Braies (with cables)

Duration: 02:50 h

Distance: 6.4 km

Ascent: 40 m

Descent: 870 m

From the plateau in front of Croda del Becco, the descent begins with a short section equipped with cables. It is not a via ferrata and you don’t need any special equipment, but some parts are exposed and need your full attention, with the cables there to help you along. Take your time and enjoy the wide-open views over the Dolomites.

The trail then drops steadily through rocky terrain and sparse larch woods. After about 3 kilometers, you arrive at the stone cairns beside Lago di Braies, a quiet and beautiful moment where the mountain meets the water, and every stacked stone tells a story.

The final stretch hugs the lake’s edge, a peaceful 2-kilometer walk toward the Pragser Wildsee bus stop. Wooden boats drift on the surface, the iconic chapel peeks through the trees, and the end feels as memorable as the journey itself.

Contact our Trekking Expert

Jelle Tekstra

Included

Booking the huts

We will take care of arranging accommodation on the Alta Via 1 for you. We will also provide you with a detailed itinerary for every stage and instructions on how to get to the trailhead.
Full travel guide

You’ll receive access to our trekking app, which serves as your complete digital travel guide for the Alta Via 1. Inside, you’ll find everything you need for your trek: route descriptions, hiking maps, navigation support, payment information, and all the key details specific to your journey.
Accommodation

During your Alta Via 1, you will spend your nights in mountain huts. We normally book dormitories, but private rooms are available upon request and cost €75 extra per room per night. If no private rooms are available, we will automatically book a bed in a dormitory.
Half board in huts (where possible)

Accommodation in the huts includes dinner and breakfast, unless otherwise indicated in the exclusive list. This allows you to travel lighter and not have to worry about an extra meal. Please note, however, that lunch is not included, but can be purchased at the huts. Beverages may also be charged separately at some huts.
Navigation support

Our trekking app also includes built-in navigation support. With GPS-based maps and offline access, you can follow the trail confidently and stay on route even without mobile signal.

Excluded

Traveling to and from

You have to make your own way to the starting point. The total amount does not include personal transport.
Transfers

Should you need any form of (public) transport on location, this is not part of the trekking package. This includes the use of taxi, bus, cable cars, gondolas, ferries, etc.
Lunch

Half-board is included in the price of this trek. Lunch, however, is not. Many huts offer packed lunches, which can usually be requested the night before. Alternatively, you can stop for lunch at mountain huts along the way.
Travel Insurance

Your international travel insurance is your own responsibility. Discuss your itinerary with the insurance company before your trek.
Personal expenses

Personal expenses on such as souvenirs, drinks, and other similar expenses are for your own account.
Dinner Rifugio Pederü

Where possible we book accommodations on a half-board basis but at Rifugio Pederü only breakfast is included. In the evening you can dine at the hut without any problems and pay for it in cash on the spot. So make sure you take enough cash with you on trek.
Tourist tax in the huts

Some huts charge a small tourist tax per person per night, payable in cash on site.