Alta Via 2: route, stages, huts and how to hike the Dolomites' toughest high route

The Alta Via 2 traces a dramatic south-south-west line through the Dolomites of northeastern Italy, a UNESCO World Heritage landscape of pale limestone towers, glaciers and high alpine meadows. Starting from Bressanone (German: Brixen) in South Tyrol, the route passes through the Puez-Odle, Sella and Marmolada massifs before descending into the Pale di San Martino and finishing at Croce d'Aune, above the town of Feltre in the Veneto.

The route is often called the "high route of legends" because it links some of the most storied mountain groups in the Alps. At roughly 160 km and 12 walking stages, it is comparable in length to the Alta Via 1, but significantly harder in character. The terrain is rougher, the cabled sections more frequent, and the southern half in particular requires both technical awareness and the stamina to sustain long mountain days. Anyone who has enjoyed the Alta Via 1 and wants a step up in challenge and wilderness will find exactly that here.

The Alta Via 2 is not a single continuous drama: it is a series of very different landscapes stitched together by the waymarked route. The Dolomites shift character dramatically from one mountain group to the next, which is one of the reasons experienced trekkers return to this trail again and again. Below are the four moments that define the walk.

The wild finish through the Feltre Dolomites

The final two stages, from Passo Cereda to Croce d'Aune via Rifugio Bruno Boz, are the least visited and most remote section of the entire Alta Via 2. The Alpi Feltrine range sees very few day walkers, and the trails here feel genuinely backcountry. Stage 12 covers 19.2 km with 820 m of ascent and is the longest day of the trek, a deliberate finish that asks something of you right to the end. The descent to Croce d'Aune, above the medieval town of Feltre, closes the route on a note of quiet triumph. Feltre itself is well worth a night's stay to decompress and explore its beautifully preserved historic centre.

The full Alta Via 2 route covers 156.6 km across 12 walking days. Daily distances range from 6.9 km on the shortest stage to 19.2 km on the longest, with ascents typically between 310 m and 1,150 m per day. A typical Alta Via 2 day starts with breakfast at the rifugio around 7:30, takes 5 to 8 hours of walking with lunch from your pack or at a pass-side hut, and ends at the next rifugio with dinner and a shared dormitory or small private room.

The Half Alta Via 2 covers Stages 1 to 6; the Short Alta Via 2 covers Stages 1 to 3. The Hardcore second-half variant begins at Passo San Pellegrino and completes the southern section from there to Croce d'Aune across five days.

Stage 11: Passo Cereda to Rifugio Bruno Boz – 12.7 km, 1060 m ascent, 720 m descent.
Stage 12: Rifugio Bruno Boz to Croce d'Aune – 19.2 km, 820 m ascent, 1540 m descent.

Click here for a detailed sample itinerary and further information.

Curious about the itineraries for the Half Alta Via 2 and the Short Alta Via 2? It’s simple. The Half Alta Via 2 covers Stages 1-6 and ends in Passo San Pellegrino, while the Short Alta Via 2 includes Stages 1-3 and ends in Passo Gardena.

The Alta Via 2 is the most demanding of the main Dolomite high routes. That is not marketing language: the combination of daily elevation gain, exposed terrain, technical sections and total distance places it clearly above the Alta Via 1 and most other long-distance Alpine routes in terms of physical and mental effort.

You should be comfortable with 5 to 8 hours of mountain walking per day on uneven terrain, and you should have completed at least one previous multi-day hike before attempting the full route. The trail is not a technical climb, but several sections in the southern half require a head for heights, confident footwork on loose scree, and the ability to navigate fixed cables and iron ladders.

Via ferrata on the Alta Via 2: a via ferrata set (harness, two lanyards with energy-absorbing carabiners, and a helmet) is required for the full route and recommended even for the northern stages. The cabled sections become more frequent and more sustained from Stage 7 onwards, particularly around the Pale di San Martino. You do not need climbing experience, but you must know how to clip in and move on a fixed cable before you depart. If via ferrata is new to you, a half-day practice session before the trek is strongly recommended.

Long days at altitude (many stages cross passes above 2,500 m) add an additional layer of fatigue. The altitude itself is not extreme, but the combination of thin air, cumulative ascent and descent, and consecutive days without a rest day means that fitness built specifically for steep hiking is essential.

Alta Via 1 or Alta Via 2: which one should you walk?

This is the most common question we receive from trekkers who are exploring the Dolomites high routes for the first time. The honest answer: the Alta Via 1 is the better choice for a first Dolomites high route, and the Alta Via 2 is the natural next step once you know what you are capable of.

The Alta Via 1 follows some of the most iconic terrain in the Dolomites, including the Cinque Torri and the Lagazuoi area, and its difficulty profile is more forgiving. The Alta Via 1 guide on this site has a full breakdown of that route if you want to compare stage by stage.

The Alta Via 2 is not a harder version of the same experience: it is a different kind of mountain journey, with more technical demands, longer stretches of genuine remoteness, and a character that shifts from Central European to Venetian as you move south. If you have done the Alta Via 1 and found it comfortable, the Alta Via 2 is the logical progression.

The Alta Via 2 hiking season runs from roughly late June to mid-September, when the mountain huts (rifugi) along the route are open and staffed. Outside this window, most huts close and several high passes retain dangerous snowfields.

Late June: trails are clear of the worst snow, but some higher passes may still have icy patches. Crowds are low and hut bookings are easier to secure.

July: the busiest month on the northern stages, which lie closer to popular ski resorts and valley towns. Thunderstorms are frequent in the afternoon, particularly earlier in the month.

August: peak season across the Dolomites. Huts fill quickly and booking months ahead is not an exaggeration, especially on the most popular stages. Weather is generally more stable than July, but afternoon storms still occur.

September: the quietest and most stable month for weather. Days are shorter and temperatures cooler, but the light is exceptional and the huts are noticeably less crowded. The later in September you go, the greater the chance of an early snowfall on the highest passes. Book early in the season to secure your preferred hut dates.

The Bookatrekking app shows the current weather forecast for each rifugio on the route, based on the exact coordinates of that hut. This is a practical tool for deciding when to leave in the morning and whether to adjust your pace on exposed sections.

The Alta Via 2 starts in Bressanone (Brixen), a compact and attractive town in the Isarco Valley in South Tyrol. Bressanone has a mainline railway station served by Trenitalia and connections to major Italian cities, as well as cross-border trains toward Innsbruck in Austria. From the UK, the most practical routes are a flight to Venice Marco Polo or Munich followed by a direct or one-change train to Bressanone. The journey from Venice takes approximately 3 hours; from Munich, around 2.5 hours.

The route finishes at Croce d'Aune, a high pass above the town of Feltre. Feltre has a railway station with connections to Treviso and Venice, making the return journey straightforward. If you book the full Alta Via 2 with hotel through Bookatrekking, we include arrival and departure logistics in your pre-trek information pack so you know exactly which trains and buses to use before you leave home.

The Alta Via 2 passes approximately 20 rifugi (mountain huts) along its length. These are typically managed by local families under an agreement with the Club Alpino Italiano (CAI) and range from dormitories sleeping eight to twelve people to occasional small private or twin rooms. The atmosphere is warm and communal: boots come off at the door, wet gear goes on the rack, and the shared dining room is where you compare notes with other trekkers over polenta, pasta and a cold Dolomiti beer.

Half board (dinner and breakfast) is the standard booking arrangement and is strongly recommended. Lunch is not included at most huts, so carrying trail food for the middle of the day is part of the packing routine. Cash is accepted at almost all huts; card payments are available at some but not all, particularly in the southern Dolomites. A sleeping bag liner is a standard requirement, not optional.

Hut availability during July and August is the single biggest logistical challenge on the Alta Via 2. Popular stages between Rifugio Genova and Rifugio Puez, and around the Pale di San Martino, can fill up four to six months before the season opens. This is precisely why Bookatrekking exists: we hold allocations at key huts and handle the booking sequence so that your itinerary holds together as a coherent whole.

"Bookatrekking took all the stress out of planning the stays at the different rifugio and this let me focus on training and preparation for the trek." — Jason Cooper, 5 stars on Trustpilot, August 2026

Prices as of September 2026, per person based on two travellers.

Every Bookatrekking package includes: rifugio reservations with half board (dinner and breakfast) at each overnight hut, a detailed day-by-day trekking guide, GPX files for every stage, and full access to the Bookatrekking app with offline navigation and weather per hut. If you book the variant with hotel, pre- and post-trek hotel accommodation is also included.

Not included: flights or trains to Bressanone and from Feltre, lunches and drinks on the trail, personal gear and via ferrata equipment, travel insurance, and any optional side trips or summit extensions. The rifugio half board covers dinner and breakfast; lunch is your responsibility each day.

A rough additional daily budget for lunches, snacks and drinks at the huts is €20 to €35 per person per day, depending on appetite and whether you stop at pass-side bars. This is consistent with the general rifugio cost structure across the Dolomites.

The Alta Via 2 is well waymarked throughout its length. Look for red and white paint flashes on rocks, wooden signposts at junctions, and the distinctive triangle symbol with the number 2 inside it. Not every rifugio sits directly on the main route: some require a short detour of a few hundred metres, and these side paths are usually signed but worth noting in advance.

On the exposed sections, particularly the high passes and via ferrata stretches in the Pale di San Martino, good navigation matters. Paint marks can be obscured by weather, and on rocky limestone terrain the trail is not always obvious underfoot. A GPX track loaded onto a device you can use offline is a practical necessity, not a luxury.

When you book with Bookatrekking, the Bookatrekking app provides an offline map with your exact daily route for each stage, turn-by-turn navigation, and a live weather forecast tied to the GPS coordinates of each hut on your itinerary. You can check the forecast for tonight's rifugio before you set off in the morning, which is particularly useful when planning whether to push through an exposed section or adjust your timing around afternoon storm risk. For anyone asking where to find a reliable Alta Via 2 map: the app is the most practical answer, because it works without a mobile signal at altitude.

"For hikers of all levels: definitely worth a solid recommendation. Clear communication at all stages, great routes and a very solid app worth paying for (which is included/free)." — Jeroen Appel, 5 stars on Trustpilot, August 2026

Frequently asked questions about the Alta Via 2

How long is the Alta Via 2?

The Alta Via 2 is approximately 160 km long from Bressanone to Croce d'Aune, covered across 12 walking stages. The Bookatrekking full route totals 156.6 km, with individual stages ranging from 6.9 km to 19.2 km. The longest single day is the final stage from Rifugio Bruno Boz to Croce d'Aune.

How many days do you need to complete the Alta Via 2 in the Dolomites?

The full Alta Via 2 takes 12 walking days. Most trekkers travel on the day before the first stage and the day after the last, bringing the total trip to around 14 days. Shorter variants of 3, 5 and 6 days are available if you cannot commit to the full route.

How difficult is the Dolomites Alta Via 2?

The Alta Via 2 is a demanding multi-day trek suited to experienced hikers. It involves 12 consecutive days of mountain walking, daily ascents of 300 to 1,150 m, several exposed ridge traverses, and unavoidable via ferrata sections in the southern half. It is harder than the Alta Via 1 and requires solid fitness and a head for heights.

Which Alta Via is the most difficult?

The Alta Via 2 is widely considered the most demanding of the main Dolomite high routes. It is longer than the Alta Via 1, has more frequent technical sections, and the southern half includes sustained via ferrata terrain that the Alta Via 1 does not match. Among all the numbered Alta Vias, AV2 stands out for its combination of length, exposure and remoteness.

Do you need via ferrata gear on the Alta Via 2?

Yes. A via ferrata set (harness, two lanyards with energy-absorbing carabiners and a helmet) is required for the full route, particularly from Stage 7 onwards through the Pale di San Martino. Even on the northern stages, cabled sections appear regularly. Carrying a full via ferrata kit is not optional if you are walking the complete route.

Which is better, Alta Via 1 or 2?

It depends on your experience level. The Alta Via 1 is the better starting point for trekkers new to Dolomite high routes: it is shorter, less technical, and gives you a strong overview of the range's most iconic landscapes. The Alta Via 2 is the better choice if you have already done a multi-day alpine route and want more challenge, more solitude and more diverse terrain.

What is the best Alta Via route?

There is no single best Alta Via: the right route depends on your fitness, experience and goals. The Alta Via 1 is the most popular and most accessible first route. The Alta Via 2 is the most complete and most demanding of the main high routes, covering the greatest variety of Dolomite landscapes from South Tyrol to the Veneto. If you want the definitive Dolomites long-distance experience and have the fitness to match, the Alta Via 2 is the one.

When should you avoid the Dolomites for hiking?

Avoid hiking the Alta Via 2 before late June and after mid-September: most rifugi are closed outside this window and the high passes can retain dangerous snow well into summer. July and August are the busiest months; early July brings the highest risk of afternoon thunderstorms. September offers the most stable weather and the quietest trails.

For the full picture of hut-to-hut hiking in the Dolomites, including route comparisons and inspiration for other multi-day treks in the region, visit our Dolomites hut-to-hut hiking hub.