Dolomites Alta Via 1 Complete

Experienced walkers will love this classic long-distance trail through the stunning high peaks of the Dolomites. You should be sure-footed and have a head for heights to really get the most from this trip. It is not suitable for people suffering from vertigo. You should be prepared to stay in remote yet charming rifugios, mountain huts that give a great sense of camaraderie, with mixed-sex dormitories. Great food, good company, and scenery of jagged peaks and serene valleys, so….andiamo!

Classic Routes | If you’re the active, outdoorsy type, who’s interested in taking on the great routes of the world or looking for a challenge, then our Classic Routes are for you. We’re talking the West Highland Way, Tour Du Mont Blanc and the Passau to Vienna Danube Cycle Path, to name but a few!

Hut to Hut Walking | Walk from hut to hut, changing accommodation each night

Long-Distance Trails, Alpine Walking

The minimum age for this tour is: 18 Years

This walk is graded moderate to strenuous. It includes daily walks of between 7 and 20km with ascents of up to 1700m, and descents of up to 1500m. Not only are the walks challenging but between the huts you will also be required to carry your own pack. Some of the ascents and descents are considerably steep and some can be exposed so require a good head for heights and sure-footedness in places. You should have a good level of fitness to get the most from this trip and be an experienced mountain walker/hiker. 

The landscape along the Alta Via 1 is breathtaking. The hike begins at the idyllic mountain lake, Lago di Braies. Along the way, you’ll traverse an impressive high-mountain landscape, featuring steep, towering rock peaks, dramatic scree slopes, and stunning views. The stages follow a mix of switchback footpaths, country lanes, both narrow and wide tracks and rough mountain paths. On several days, there are a few steep and exposed sections secured with ropes. Hikers should expect uneven but well-maintained terrain. There are no technical challenges, as we bypass any via ferrata's, and we strongly advise against attempting these sections. 

The Alta Via 1 is suitable for experienced hikers with mountain/alpine experience and good physical condition due to the length of the stages, the altitude and the nature of the trail. The route profile requires surefootedness and a head for heights. Additionally, you will carry your own luggage between the huts on this trip, making good fitness absolutely essential. Hiking poles are recommended as they reduce strain on the joints and provide stability.  

Before your trip, we recommend walking regularly and incorporating some hilly/mountainous terrain into your routine. Be sure check the daily distances and elevation gains and losses outlined in your itinerary. 

We specifically select your rifugi to give you a taste of warm Italian hospitality and so that you are able to join in the camaraderie with your fellow walkers. For the first and last nights of your tour, you will stay in a friendly 3* hotel on a breakfast basis. In Refugio San Sebastiano only breakfast is included, but you can buy dinner locally at the refugio. For your remaining hut nights you will stay on a half board basis in mountain huts - ‘rifugi’. They offer comfortable accommodation and good local food and drink. Some of the rifugi are more basic than others; they are a mixture of CAI (Italian Alpine Club) and privately-run properties.

Hut accommodation is booked in mixed-sex dormitories made up of alpine-style communal sleeping areas or in bunk beds. We can sometimes book private rooms in the huts on a double occpancy basis only (some with shared facilities and some with en suite) and where this type of room is available this is noted against each accommodation; this 'room upgrade' is at an optional supplement. However, please note that private rooms in the mountain huts are in demand and extremely limited. If you wish to ask for a private room you need to BOOK EARLY. While we are always happy to request, it may not be possible to reserve private rooms in the mountain huts, and their lack of availability is not an accepted reason for cancellation. You must be comfortable with dormitory accommodation before booking your Alta Via 1.

Single Rooms & Solo Walkers

This trip is not available to solo hikers due to the remote terrain. For singles traveling in a larger private group, single rooms are not available except on the first and last nights (in hotel accommodation). A supplement for a single room in the hotels is required.

Meals

Breakfast is included each morning. Dinner is not included in Cortina or Belluno as there are plenty of restaurants to choose from. Whilst staying in the rifugi dinner is included (excluding drinks). Dinner is not included at Rifugio Fanes where dinner can be bought locally from an a la carte menu. Meals in the mountain huts are always simple, hearty fare.

As this is a self guided walk you will be responsible for navigation, decision making and safety during your trip. The Alta Via 1 is very well signposted with red-white colours and blue triangles with the nr 1 in the centre and yellow signposts. You will regularly find the markings on trees, rocks, fences etc. You will have access to detailed trip info and mapped tracks, via the Macs App.

Getting to Cortina

By Air: Venice Marco Polo Airport is the most convenient airport, with various interational airlines operating here. The smaller Venice Treviso Airport is serviced by low-cost carrier Ryanair (London Stansted, Bristol, East Midlands, Leeds Bradford).

From Venice Marco Polo airport (or Venice Mestre bus station): it is possible to take the Cortina Express to Cortina (approx. 2h20); departures are twice-daily, usually in the afternoon, so please ensure you check their website for timetables.

From Venice Treviso Airport: From the airport take a bus (approx.12 mins) to Treviso, then from Treviso Sud there is an ATVO bus once a day to Cortina (approx. 2 hrs). Or you can take a bus from Treviso town to Venice Mestre or Marco Polo Airport for onward connections with the Cortina Express (see above). Check the timetable on the ATVO website.

Getting from Belluno

To from Belluno to Venice: From Belluno you can take a train (changing at Conegliano) to Venice Santa Lucia station (approx. 2h30); see www.trenitalia.com for timetables. From here, take a bus from Venice Mestre to Venice Marco Polo Airport (35 mins). See timetable.

To return from Belluno to Cortina: Dolomiti Bus Lines 9 and 30 run between Belluno and Cortina, if you need to return there to collect any additional luggage (we can request if luggage be left at your first hotel in Cortina—subject to prior agreement). Journey time takes just over 1 hr. For timetables, see www.dolomitibus.it/dolomitibus/jsp/orari

Bag transfer is included from Cortina to Belluno so you only need to carry the gear you need for hiking. 

if you wish to have your bags moved to the huts, this is available as an optional extra. Due to some of the huts' remoteness, transferring bags to each overnight location is impossible. If you opt for bag transfer, bags cannot be delivered to Rifugio Fanes, Rifugio Sennes/Lavarella, Rifugio Averau/Nuvolau, Rifugio Coldai, Rifugio Vazzoler and Rifugio Fontana. These days, simply carry a few overnight things in your day pack to see you through. If you choose not to opt for baggage transfer, you will need to carry your kit with you each day. Since you are staying in dormitory-style accommodation, you will need to bring a sleeping bag liner (or you can sometimes buy or hire one locally). Bed linen is provided when booking private rooms.

At Macs Adventure, we work in partnership with many luggage transfer providers who set a limit on how many bags/suitcases they will transfer per person and also the weight of the bag/suitcase.  Ninety-nine percent of the time, they will only transfer one bag per person, but the allowed weight ranges from anything between 15 and 20kg per bag, depending on the tour you are taking.  We do not have control over the limits that these providers set. Therefore, it is very important that you read the luggage information specific to your tour before departure. If you do not adhere to these limits, there is a great possibility that you will be charged locally both for extra bags, or if they are too heavy. This limitation can be a challenge, especially as airlines generally have limits that are higher. However, our luggage providers have reasons for these limits (usually due to the Health and Safety of their employees) which we must respect.