Short Alta Via 1

Route

Stage 2: Rifugio Pederü - Rifugio Lagazuoi
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 highlight of the trip: The summit of Lagazuoi. The stage begins through idyllic meadows, streams, and rolling stone pastures and gets 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.       

Distance: 17 kilometers
Elevation: 1540 meters
Accommodation: Rifugio Lagazuoi

Stage 3: Rifugio Lagazuoi - Rifugio Averau
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 descends briefly into the valley before making the climb to Nuvolau. Along the way you pass the fascinating and famous Cinque Torri area, the center for rock climbing, and well worth a detour to explore the Five Towers. You'll spend the night at Rifugio Averau but you'll want to experience the sunset at the adjacent Rifugio Nuvolau, the newly renovated rifugio built on a spire and offering a 360-degree panorama. 

Distance: 9 kilometers
Elevation: 900 meters
Accommodation: Rifugio Averau

Stage 4: Rifugio Averau - Cortina d'Ampezzo
The hike back to Cortina d'Ampezzo begins with a reunion of the Cinque Torri. You'll notice that the difference in time of day can give this particular mountain formation a different glow. The next stop is Rifugio Dibona. Here you can break up the hike and take a cable car to Duca d'Aosta and Piè Tofana, for example. There are several options here to take a cable car, but the downhill hike is also fine. Cortina d'Ampezzo is approaching quickly and before you know it, your multi-day hike is at an end. 

Distance: 16 kilometers
Elevation: 510 meters

What's Included

Included:

√ Booking the huts
We will take care of arranging accommodation for you. We will also provide you with a detailed itinerary for every stage and instructions on how to get to the trailhead. 

√ Accommodation
We will arrange your accommodation on the Alta Via 1 in mountain huts, also know and Rifugios. There are several options to choose from along the trail. We have selected the mountains huts on our trek based on the length of each stage and recommendations from trekkers who have done the Alta Via 1 before us.

√ Half-board
Accommodation at the huts include where possible dinner and breakfast. We will arrange this for you as well. This allows you to travel lighter and have one less thing to worry about. Bear in mind that lunch is not included, but it can be purchased at the Rifugios. Please keep in mind, that in Rifugio Pederü, dinner is à la carte and therefore not included in our packages.

Excluded:

× Airfare and Visa
You have to make your own way to Cortina d'Ampezzo. The total amount is excluded flights to and from Italy. 

× Transfers
Once in Italy, you will have to make your way to the trailhead at Lago di Braies. We will provide the instructions and assist you with how to get there. The bus tickets are not included.

× Accommodation before and after the trek
Before and after the trek you have to take care of your own accommodation.

× Travel Insurance
Your international travel insurance is your own responsibility. Discuss your itinerary with the insurance company before your trek.

× Cableways
You can do the final descent to Cortina via the funicular or cablecars. This is not included.

× Lunch
Half-board is included in the price of this trek. Lunch, however, is not. You can get something to eat at the mountain huts along the way.

× Personal expenses
Personal expenses such as souvenirs, drinks and other similar expenses are for your own account.

Accommodation

Welcome to Rifugio Pederü, a household name in the Dolomites since the 1950s. Immerse yourself in classic South Tyrolean hospitality. Erika is always there for you and Walter prepares the best Northern Italian dishes in his kitchen. Relax in the 'Stube' and prepare yourself in peace for the long road ahead. 



Rifugio Lagazuoi
Ugo and Alda decided to leave the quiet village life in 1964 to build a rifugio on the summit of Lagazuoi, 2752m. Since then, the same family has run this mountain refuge in the heart of the Dolomites. Much has changed in 50 years, but the spirit of Ugo and Alda and their love and respect for nature remain. The mountain hut offers private rooms and spacious dormitories with bunk beds. All rooms have views of the Dolomites. This family-run traditional rifugio is the perfect stop during your Alta Via 1 trek!



Rifugio Averau    
The sun rising from the peaks between the Cadini of Misurina and the Faloria, illuminating the walls of Dolomia of Mount Averau and the Cinque Torri. Every morning, the birds' singing echoes. The aroma of Margot's freshly ground coffee mingles with the smell of freshly baked cake, and while Sandrone lights the fire and stoves, Matteo prepares to descend into the valley and get the fresh ingredients for the day. Welcome to Rifugio Averau.

Packing List

FAQ

FAQ

Where is the Alta Via 1?
The Alta Via 1 is located at the heart of the Dolomites. Now, where can we find this stunning mountain range? The Dolomites can be found in north-eastern Italy and stretch throughout the provinces of Belluno, South Tyrol, and Trentino. The name of this group of mountains comes from the French geologist who discovered the dolomite mineral found here in 1791, Deodat de Dolomieu. Most of the peaks of this mountain range go above 3000 meters and the highest peak is Marmolada Peak, which stands at 3343 meters. Perfect for your walking holidays in Italy. 

How to get to the Trailhead
The trailhead of the Alta Via 1 is in Lago di Braies in northern Italy. The nearest airport is Venice and the easiest way to get from the airport to the starting point of the Alta Via 1 is using public transportation. Once you exit the baggage claim area in Venice take a left and find the ATVO bus ticket line. There you can purchase a one-way ticket for the Cortina Express. The line runs four times per day and the ticket costs around 25€ per person. The bus ride to Cortina d'Ampezzo takes about 2 hours.

You can either spend the night at Cortina d'Ampezzo or take the next bus to Dobbiaco and spend the night there, closer to the trailhead. Either way, at some point, you will have to get to Dobbiaco. To get there, take the SAD bus, line 445 (make sure that it has "Dobbiaco" displayed on it). You can get the ticket on the bus for 5€ per person and the ride takes approximately 50 minutes. Once there, you will take line 442 to Lago di Braies/Pragser Wildsee. This ticket also costs 5€ and the ride takes about half an hour.    

The short Alta Via 1 ends between Lagazuoi and Cinque Torri. From here, there are several options to return to Cortina d'Ampezzo. If you are tired of hiking, you can also take one of the cable cars. 

Best Season
The season for the Alta Via 1 trek is from mid-June to mid-September. The relatively short season is due to weather conditions that limit access to the trails. A typical summer day in the Dolomites is characterized by bright sunshine and clear skies. However, there may be occasional rain showers or afternoon storms. There is no snow on the trails, which is the main limiting factor for off-season accessibility. In the summer, there may be some light snowfall, but the snow does not accumulate and is usually gone by the next morning. Be sure to bring waterproof and warm clothing, not just shorts. 

Difficulty  
Although the Alta Via 1 is indeed the easiest option when it comes to hiking in the Dolomites, this does not mean that the trail is a walk in the park. Most of the trek is quite straightforward and there are no Via Ferratas, glacier crossings, or climbing sections. However, there are some stretches of steep, rocky ground. There are also some narrow and exposed paths, not recommended for trekkers with fear of heights, like the narrow ridge between Passo Duran and Pian de Fontana. The good news is that you can find metal cables as handrails in the tougher sections.

Training for the Alta Via 1
The Alta Via 1 is considered a moderate trek. You must bear in mind that you will be trekking many days with a backpack on your shoulders, so it is better if you get ready for it. Try walking a few hours a day the weeks before your trekking and try wearing the same shoes you will be wearing during the trek, that way you prevent getting blisters or hurting your feet. Another good idea is to walk with a backpack on your shoulders so that your back gets used to the weight.

We have prepared a blog post with everything you need to know to complete this trek. If you want to read more about the Alta Via 1, click here.

Safety

COVID-19

Covid-19

The Corona pandemic has had its grip on us, and mountain huts in the Alpine region have had to take several preventive measures over the past two years. In the meantime, the first relaxations in the Alps are noticeable, yet it is definitely still a factor to take into account. Some Covid restrictions that are worth mentioning:

- Don't go to the huts if you have symptoms!

- Not all mountain huts are allowed to operate at full capacity yet, so make sure you book your stay in advance.

- To be on the safe side, always take a mouth mask with you.

- In some mountain huts it is still compulsory to bring your own sleeping bag, in others a sheet bag and pillowcase are sufficient. Your personal travel guide will tell you which rules apply to your route.

- Bring your own towel

How to Book

How to Book?

On Bookatrekking.com you can find and compare the adventures of your dreams. Is this trekking your match? In that case, you can proceed with your booking. At Bookatrekking.com you make a deposit of 30% of the total amount. In the case of this trek, we will check the availability at the respective accommodations for you. There are two possible outcomes:

√ There is availability 
We go ahead and make all necessary arrangements for your trip. Once confirmed, we will send you a confirmation and your personal hiking guide. The remaining 70% must be paid at least two (2) weeks before the start of the trekking.

X There is no availability 
If there is no availability, we will look for other starting dates or another trekking in agreement with you. Are there no other options for you? Then your deposit of 30% will be refunded.

Cancellation Policy
If all the accommodations of this trekking are booked and confirmed, you will lose your deposit of 30% at all times. If you cancel within 14 days of your start date, you will lose your full booking amount.

Is it not quite clear yet or do you have questions? Please contact us via support@bookatrekking.com. We are happy to help you.