> Walk the northern section of the Alta Via 1
> Explore the Lagazuoi Tunnels as an optional route
> The short Alta Via 1 with a hotel in Cortina d'Ampezzo
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'll hike through the northern part of the Alta Via 1. This means you'll walk from Lago di Braies via Lagazuoi to Cinque Torri before returning to Cortina d'Ampezzo. When trekking in the Lagazuoi area, this route also offers the option to take the famous Lagazuoi Tunnels as an alternative route, a section of great historical significance from World War I. Along the way, you'll spend the entire day exploring the breathtaking Dolomites. Your adventure starts when you arrive in Cortina d'Ampezzo where you will spend the night in a nice little hotel prior to the trek. Once started you will spend the whole day discovering 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. At the end of the trek you stay another night in the hotel in Cortina d'Ampezzo. 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.
This stage leads from Lago di Braies to Rifugio Pederü, crossing a high section before descending towards the hut. With 940 m of ascent and 890 m of descent, it is a demanding mountain day with effort on both sides of the profile. The route climbs steadily from the lake area, reaches open alpine terrain, and then follows a long descent through broad mountain surroundings. Take your time on the climb, as the highest section comes after several kilometres of continuous uphill walking.
From Lago di Braies, the trail heads south and climbs past the area around Kleiner Apostel, also marked as Piccolo Apostolo at 1,722 m. The ascent continues towards the exposed and equipped section not far from Croda del Becco and the Biella hut, where the route reaches its highest part and the terrain becomes more open. After the high point, the trail passes near Dolomite viewpoints and continues over rolling alpine ground, next to Sennes Hütte right before the descent becomes more pronounced.
The final section drops steadily towards Rifugio Pederü, veering west in a series of zigzags. After a stage with a steep climb and a long descent, the mountain hut is a welcome place to rest, eat and settle in after crossing the high terrain from Lago di Braies.
This stage leads from Rifugio Pederü to Rifugio Scotoni, with 980 m of ascent and 540 m of descent over almost 16 km. The profile shows a steady climb from the start, followed by a long high section and a clear descent before the final uphill approach. It is a demanding mountain day, with open alpine terrain, wide Dolomite views and several changes in rhythm before you reach the hut.
From Rifugio Pederü, the trail climbs steadily through the Fanes-Sennes-Braies Nature Park, gaining height towards the upper mountain basins. Along the way, you pass viewpoints towards the Fanes plateau and the Sella Group, with high peaks such as Monte Stiga (2,786 m), Col Becchei Dessora (2,794 m) and Piza de Campestrin Nord (2,834 m) and Sud (2,910 m) visible around the route. After the higher traverse, the trail descends towards the valley floor, before climbing again in the final kilometres towards Rifugio Scotoni.
You arrive at Rifugio Scotoni after a varied stage with a long climb, a high traverse, a descent and one last uphill push. The mountain hut is a welcome place to rest, eat and settle in after this broad crossing through the Dolomites.
This stage leads from Rifugio Scotoni to Rifugio Scoiattoli, with 900 m of ascent and 640 m of descent over varied Dolomite terrain. The profile starts with a steady climb towards the Lagazuoi Pass, then follows a long descent before rising again near the finish. It is a demanding mountain day, with rocky surroundings, high viewpoints and several changes in rhythm. Take your time early on, as the main ascent comes right from the start.
From Rifugio Scotoni, the trail climbs aboveLagazuoi Lake and continues towards the area around Lagazuoi Piccolo (2,835 m). The route then passes close to Lagazuoi Sud (2,835 m) and Torre Grande di Falzarego (2,482 m), with nearby highlights including the Lagazuoi Tunnels and World War I trenches. After the higher section, the trail descends around Travenanzes Pass, continuing through mountainous terrain via the Col dei Bos Pass towards the final climb near the Cinque Torri.
The last part climbs towards Rifugio Scoiattoli, close to the iconic Five Towers area. After a stage with a strong opening climb, a long descent and a final uphill push, the mountain hut is a welcome place to rest and take in the surrounding Dolomite scenery.
This is a long final stage from Rifugio Scoiattoli to Cortina d’Ampezzo, covering around 20 km with 740 m of ascent and 1,760 m of descent. The profile starts with a long descent from the hut, then climbs again through the middle of the route before dropping steadily towards town. It is a demanding day, mainly because of the distance and the sustained loss of height, so take care of your knees on the downhill sections.
From Rifugio Scoiattoli, the route descends away from the Five Towers area and crosses lower mountain terrain towards the forested slopes above the road. After this first descent, the trail climbs again towards the area below Tofana di Rozes, passing next to Dibona and Pomedes huts and near viewpoints over the Dolomites. The route then continues past Col Drusciè (1,778 m) before gradually entering the outskirts of Cortina d’Ampezzo.
The final part leads through the edge of Cortina d’Ampezzo after the long descent from the mountains. You finish in town, with cafés, transport and accommodation close by, making it a practical endpoint after a big day coming down from Rifugio Scoiattoli.
