Short Alta Via 2

Duration: 3 days
Trails: T3 trails
Distance: 10 - 15 km per day
Ascent per day: 500 - 1000 m ascent per day

> Do a short, 3-day version of Alta Via 2 trek in the Italian Dolomites
> Spend the night in cozy Italian Rifugios
> We book your accommodation

The Alta Via 2 is one of the 6 famous Alta Via treks in the Italian Dolomites. If you are looking for your next challenge, the Alta Via 2 is the perfect match. This trek is full of adrenaline and only suitable for experienced trekkers with surefootedness, experience in the mountains, and a head for heights. The Alta Via 2 includes sharp ridges, Via Ferratas, and steep slopes. Are you brave enough to face it?

The entire Alta Via 2 can be completed in 11 to 14 days. However, not everyone has that much time to spend in the mountains. Therefore, we have created a short route for those who have little time, but still want to enjoy an Italian adventure. We have created a 3-day itinerary in which you will complete the first stages of this tour, from Brixen / Bressanone to Passo Gardena.

Itinerary

Day
1

Bressanone - Rifugio Genova

Duration: 06:10 h
Distance: 15.4 km
Ascent: 950 m
Descent: 690 m
The starting point for the Alta Via 2 is at the cable car station in S. Andrea. From here you take the cable car to the top, from where you can really start your hike. The cable car goes up to Valcroce and from here path n° 7 starts to the Rifugio Plose. The Plose hut is located at 2447 m above the town of Bressanone. From Rifugio Plose follow path no. 4 and the signs for the Alta Via 2 and walk about 2 hours downhill to the Rodella Pass. From here, after about 30 minutes you will find yourself before the fork of Sass Putia - the most challenging part of this stage of Alta Via 2. The Forcella della Pùtia appears in the background. To get there you have to overcome an altitude difference of 500 meters. In the beginning the path is gradual, but then it follows several steep turns (often with snow, even at the beginning of July) that lead to the Forcella della Pùtia (Peitlerscharte), at 2357 meters. From the junction, follow path No. 4 in a southwesterly direction to the Poma Pass (Kreuzkofeljoch, 2340 m), from where you can already see Rifugio Genova at 2297m. It's another 30 minutes or so southwest to the hut.

Rifugio Genova

Info
Rifugio Genova
Day
2

Rifugio Genova - Rifugio Puez

Duration: 05:35 h
Distance: 12.1 km
Ascent: 810 m
Descent: 650 m

From the Rifugio Genova-Schlüterhütte, at 2297 m, take path n. 3 which, after a stretch to the east, turns to the south along the eastern side of the Bronsoi with a splendid panorama of Odle and Puez. This is an area of great geological and floristic interest. At the altitude of 2421 m, the path turns to the southwest, passes above Munt de Medalges in the Natural Park Puez-Odle, and reaches the Fùrcia de Medalges (Kreuzjoch), at 2293 meters. Path no. 3 then runs east of the Campillerturm and Sass da l'Ega (Sasso dell'Acqua-Wasserkofele) and then crosses the long Longiarù Ridge. Go over the ridge until you reach a junction at an altitude of 2389 meters.

Then climb up to reach the Fùrcia dla Róa (Forcella della Rova-Roascharte), at 2617 meters. This saddle divides the Odle Group in the west from the Pùez Group in the east. Attention: at the beginning of the season it is possible to find hard snow in the gully and an ice axe or at least half crampons would be useful. Continuing along the route you descend southwards to a junction at an altitude of about 2500 m in a large debris basin. Here you leave path n. 3, which descends to the right (south-west) and join path n. 2. Path n. 2 will take you east to Fórces de Siëles, at 2505 meters.

After crossing the fork, you will find yourself in front of thin pastures. The Sassonghér appears in the distance, to the east. Now, path no. 2 turns to the north-east and becomes a thin path carved into the rock. The trail is not difficult and there are some metal ropes to help you. Then, after a flat stretch, the path descends eastwards through the wide grassy plain of Munt de Pùez, makes a wide Z, and heads eastwards once more up to the nearby Pùez Hut, at 2475 meters.

Rifugio Puez

Info
Rifugio Puez
Day
3

Rifugio Puez - Passo Gardena

Duration: 02:45 h
Distance: 6.95 km
Ascent: 180 m
Descent: 540 m
From Rifugio Pùez (Puezhütte, 2475 m), follow path n° 2 southeast and cross the vast plateau of the Pùez where, in case of fog, you must look out for the signs. After the crossroads at an altitude of 2104 m, continue southwards to reach the Forcella de Ciampëi (or Somafùrcia, 2366 m). From here to Passo Gardena, path no. 2 will always go in a southwest direction. From the fork, you go up a little bit, until you reach Lech de Crespëina (Lake Crespèina-Crespeina See). From the small lake, with a steep ascent, you reach the Forcella de Crespëina, at 2528 meters. You then descend steeply and finally make a final climb through loose rock to the Forcella Cir (or Dantes les Pizes-Cirjoch, 2469 m). From here on it's all a succession of gentle ups and downs, forks, boulders, small towers, and pastures until you reach the wide Dolomite saddle of Passo Gardena (Grödner Joch, 2121 m). Your short Alta Via 2 trek ends at Passo Gardena. From here, you can take a bus back to Bressanone or Bolzano

Included

  • Booking the huts

    We will take care of arranging accommodation on the Alta Via 2 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

    We will send you on your way with a digital travel guide that includes a route description for the Alta Via 2, interactive hiking maps, and the most important information applicable to your trek

  • Accommodation

    During your Alta Via 2, you will spend your nights in mountain huts. In the mountain huts we normally only book dormitories, but we can look into private rooms on request. If the private rooms are fully booked or not available in the hut, we automatically book a bed in dormitories for you. Please note that private rooms are more expensive and there will be an additional charge for this.

  • Half board (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.

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 etc.

  • 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.

  • 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 Genova

    Whenever possible, we book accommodations on a half-board basis but at Rifugio Genova only breakfast is included. In the evening you can dine à la carte in the hut without any problem and pay for it in cash on the spot. So make sure you take enough cash with you on trek.

FAQ

  • Where Is the Alta Via 2?

  • What Is the Best Season for the Alta Via N. 2 Delle Dolomiti?

  • How Do I Get To the Trailhead of the Alta Via 2 in the Dolomites?

  • What Is the Difference Between the Alta Via 1 and the Alta Via 2?

  • What Is a Via Ferrata?

How to Book

  • Booking

  • Availability

  • Cancellation policy

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Charisa Kailey-Lê
Charisa Kailey-Lê

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