Wooden mountain hut on hiking trail in the Dolomites with rugged peaks and pine trees
Rocky mountain peaks illuminated by sunset over golden grassy slopes near Passo Giau.
Wooden rowboats docked at pier on Lago di Braies with mountains and autumn trees reflected.
Cinque Torri rock formations illuminated by sun above green alpine meadow with hiking trails
Cinque Torri and Tofana mountains with autumn foliage and early snow at sunset.
Alpine mountains with snow and golden sunrise light over foreground meadow at Rifugio Sennes.
Alpine village with traditional houses below rugged mountains and green meadows in Cortina dAmpezzo surroundings.
Rugged mountain peaks illuminated by sunrise in Monte Pelmo and Monte Civetta area.
Alpine village with church nestled in green meadows below jagged, sunlit Dolomites mountain peaks
Rugged mountain peaks illuminated by sunset light above green foothills under dramatic clouds, Monte Civetta.
Alpenglow on the Dolomite mountains at sunset
Cinque Torri rock formations in the Dolomites under evening light
Alpine mountain peak illuminated by alpenglow viewed through larch trees and forest
Mountain peaks rising above a sea of clouds with pine forest in foreground
Mountain valley viewed through a natural rock window opening
Turquoise alpine lake framed by trees with rowboats and mountains in the background
Hiker celebrating with arms raised by alpine lake and mountain peaks
Emerald alpine lake reflecting clouds and forested mountain slope
Mountain hut below jagged peaks with stream and hikers in alpine landscape
Small alpine chapel below rocky mountain cliffs and pine forest
Dolomites mountain peaks towering above a green meadow and pine trees
Two hikers with backpacks looking out over a deep mountain valley
Hiker on mountain trail below massive rocky cliffs with grassy meadow and wildflowers
Hiker on dirt trail toward alpine mountain peaks under blue sky
Hiker sitting on a boulder overlooking a mountain valley and peaks
Sheer rock wall above scree slope with mountain plateau and blue sky
Turquoise alpine lake below scree slopes and jagged mountain peaks
Twin rock towers above scree gully and green bushes under blue sky
Hiking trail through mountain pass looking down at sea of clouds with sun above
Dolomite mountain massif with sun rays behind peaks above a pine forest
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Alta Via 1 Self-Guided Hike

10 days / 9 nights

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Explore the breathtaking Dolomites, Italy’s most captivating mountain range, on a self-guided hut-to-hut hike along the iconic Alta Via 1 alpine trail.

Starting Point

Lago di Braies

Finish Point

La Pissa bus stop

Fitness Level

3/5

Technical Level

4/5

Season

From June to September

Accommodation Level

Basic

Tour Type

Hut-to-Hut

Daily Distance

4 – 11 mi

Daily Elevation

230 – 3281 ft

Highlights

  • Complete the famous Alta Via 1 hut-to-hut hiking trail in its entirety across ten days
  • Cross the green Fanes Plateau, where cows and horses graze
  • Visit two iconic mountain passes above Cortina d’Ampezzo – Passo Giau and Falzarego Pass
  • Sleep in authentic ‘rifugios’ and enjoy the traditional local cuisine
  • Explore WWI trenches and open-air museums around Lagazuoi and Cinque Torri

Filmed on the trail

Technical level
4/5

Alta Via 1 follows rocky mountain paths with loose scree almost all the way, so you need to be sure-footed. Above Lake Braies on day 1, a few short, steep sections have steel cables and wooden steps. On day 3, the descent from Forcella del Lago is the hardest ground of the trek: a very steep gully of broken rock. The way down from Cinque Torri toward Passo Giau is also steep. In the south, below Civetta and Moiazza, the path is narrower with some exposed spots, and on day 9 the ridge of Cima de Zita has steep drops on both sides for a short stretch. You need a head for heights, but no via ferrata gear.

Steep sectionsLoose screeHeight-exposed sectionsAided passages
Read our full hiking difficulty guide
Fitness Level
3/5

Most days are between 8 and 17 kilometers, with 4 to 8 hours of hiking. What makes the trek demanding is ten days in a row on rough ground with your whole pack, as there is no luggage transfer between the huts. As the huts are very busy and not every itinerary is the same, now and then a day may be a little longer.

Read our full hiking difficulty guide

What’s included in the price?

Self-guided

Are you looking for a good adventure and limitless flexibility? Then you should try out a self-guided tour, perfect for independent explorers who want to set their own pace. Without the need to stick to a group schedule, you’re free to linger at scenic viewpoints while the logistics are taken care of in advance.

INCLUDED

9 nights in mountain huts with half-board
Digital guidebook with itinerary, route instructions, and practical information
GPS navigation with an easy-to-use app
Tour design and organization
Service and support during your hike

NOT INCLUDED

Lunches, snacks, drinks and bottled water
Showers, Wi-Fi and sleeping liners at the huts
Tourist tax

OPTIONAL EXTRAS

Additional transfers
on request
Airport transfer
on request
Airport transfer from Venice Airport to Cortina d'Ampezzo
from 440 €
Extra nights
on request
Transfer from Cortina d'Ampezzo to Starting Point
from 220 €
Accommodation levelBasic

Mountain huts, refuges, and dormitory-style guesthouses with mostly shared rooms and facilities, and half-board meals are normally included. Facilities are simple and rustic — expect limited or no showers, a limited water supply, and a straightforward environment due to restricted accessibility in remote locations.

These are examples of the type and standard you can expect. Actual properties may vary depending on availability.

What to bring to the tour

  • Hiking shoes/boots
  • 25 to 45-liter backpack
  • Base layer
  • Sports T-shirts
  • Hiking shorts
  • Hiking water-repellent pants
  • Waterproof jacket
  • Midlayer
  • Sports socks and underwear
  • Leisurewear for evenings
  • Down jacket
  • Gloves
  • Shade hat/cap
  • Warm headwear
  • Sunscreen
  • Sunglasses
  • Headlamp
  • Hiking poles
  • ID card or passport
  • Snacks
  • Cash
  • Water bottles or hydration pack
  • Sleeping liner
  • Toiletries
  • Toilet paper
  • Small first aid kit

Alta Via 1 is the classic north-to-south traverse of the Dolomites, Italy's most striking mountain range. In ten stages and about 115 kilometers, it leads from the emerald Lago di Braies to Val Cordevole, where a bus takes you on to Belluno.

Along the way, you cross the green Fanes Plateau, walk past the World War I trenches around Lagazuoi, Falzarego Pass, and Cinque Torri, and hike beneath the great faces of Monte Pelmo and Monte Civetta. The southern half is wilder and much quieter.

The trail suits sure-footed hikers who are at ease on rocky paths and loose scree. A few short sections are secured with steel cables, and some are exposed, such as the steep descent from Forcella del Lago and the ridge of Cima de Zita. Unlike its sister, Alta Via 2, it needs no via ferrata gear.

Every night, you sleep in a mountain hut, or rifugio, with dinner and breakfast at the hut. These simple lodges, most with shared dorms, are the only way to experience the trail as it is meant to be.

We book every hut along the way, give you a precise GPS track of each stage, and send you a digital guidebook with daily highlights and practical tips, so you can simply walk. Prefer a guide by your side? Take a look at the Alta Via 1 Guided Hike. Short on time? The Alta Via 1 Highlights covers the best of the trail in four days.

Ten days on Alta Via 1 will stay with you long after you walk down into the valley.

Frequently Asked Questions

Most huts have shared dorms. We ask for a private room where a hut has one, but we cannot promise it.

No. No vehicle reaches most of the huts, so you hike with a 30 to 40-liter backpack. On request, we can send a spare bag once from your hotel before the start to your hotel in Belluno after the hike.

By our private transfer from Venice airport, Dobbiaco, or Cortina, or by coach to Dobbiaco and the local bus to the lake. From July 1 to September 15, the bus to the lake must be booked online in advance.

Yes. Several huts in the south take cash only, card machines at other huts often fail, and there is no cash machine on the trail. Showers, packed lunches, drinks, and sleeping liners are paid on the spot.

Not reliably. We pass your diet on to every hut when we book, but not all huts can guarantee vegan or gluten-free meals, and the choice is often small. Check with each hut what it offers before you go, and bring your own snacks. You will also find what we know about each hut in your guidebook.

The ideal time for hut-to-hut hiking across Europe generally falls between mid-June and late September. However, this can vary depending on the region and the specific trail you’re considering. Elevations and local climate conditions play a role, particularly for trails that cross higher mountain ranges. Always research the current conditions for your chosen route before setting out, and be aware that many mountain huts operate only within the main hiking season, limiting the feasibility of multi-day excursions outside this timeframe.

We’ve rated our tours on a difficulty scale from 1 to 5 — with 1 being the easiest and 5 the most difficult.

The difficulty level of a tour tells you how fit you need to be and how much hiking is involved. Most of our tours are appropriate for people who are regularly active and can hike for about five to seven hours per day.

Technical difficulty means how skilled you need to be to hike on the path. Level 1 means the trail is smooth and wide (like a gravel road), while 5 means the surface is uneven and exposed, and you have to use your hands to help yourself move forward. In practice, that means that the higher the level, the more surefooted and skilled in scrambling you need to be.

You should book your tour as soon as possible, as many accommodations along the trail fill up quickly. That way, you can ensure that you have a place to stay.

Hassle-Free

We handle itineraries, accommodations, and anything else you prefer not to deal with, so you can enjoy a carefree hike.

Book with confidence

We are a financially protected company, fully bonded and insured, keeping your money safe and allowing you to travel with confidence.

Tried & Tested Adventures

Only the best hut to hut hikes in Europe, cherry-picked by our local team with an in-depth knowledge of the region.

Unbeatable support

Our 24/7 customer support is where we show our passion, bringing you a better experience by making your well-being our number one priority.

from 1.790 € /person