6-Day Dolomites Alta Via 1 / Part 1 Trek

Arrive in Cortina d'Ampezzo (1,224m / 4,016') on your own and check into your hotel (private transfer available on request). Cortina d'Ampezzo is a charming alpine resort town surrounded by stunning peaks. Host to the 1956 Winter Olympics, Cortina enjoys a reputation for great skiing in winter, and in the summer attracts hikers and climbers who challenge the rocky faces of the nearby mountains. This chic Venetian town also caters to the high society crowd, offering many year-round social activities, shopping, and fine dining.

Depending on when you arrive, you may have time for a hike or to explore Cortina d'Ampezzo's pedestrian walkway, the Corso Italia, lined with restaurants and cafes, antique shops, art galleries, and boutiques.

If you are doing this trip as a self-guided adventure, you will meet with a local representative who will provide a trip briefing and orientation, as well as maps, and everything necessary for your self-guided adventure, typically around 6-7pm. Guided treks have their briefing tomorrow.

Meals included: n/a
Mid-Range Accommodations: Hotel Beppe Sello (Cortina)

In the morning, take a private transfer to Malga Ra Stua (1,688m / 5,538'), a cozy hut-cum-dairy farm set in a valley lying between the Croda Rossa (northeast) and Lavinores (west) Dolomite groups, at the entrance of the Fanes-Sennes-Braies Nature Reserve.

The Fanes-Senes-Braies Nature Reserve comprises an area of approximately 25,453 hectares (62,069 acres). Clusters of old log-built farmsteads adorn the mountainsides called Viles and are a typical feature of the Ladin-speaking valleys. These tiny communities were once self-sustaining, with outbuildings, baking ovens shared communally. The Fanes high plateau is a popular walking and hiking area with a typical karstic limestone landscape, characterized by caves, fissures, underground streams and small lakes. Rugged rocks eroded by the action of wind and weather rise in all directions. Today you will hike in the Sennes section of the Nature Reserve, along the Alta Via 1.

(~5 hours hiking 12km / 7.4 miles, 920m / 3,018' ascent, 630m /2,067' descent.)

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Mid-Range Accommodations: Rifugio Fodara Vedla

Departing your rifugio this morning, you'll hike downhill towards Rifugio Pederù (1,548m / 5,079'). The trail travels on a steep dirt road for 40 minutes (the last part of the road approaching the rifugio is a 20% slope). From Rifugio Pederu, hike uphill in the direction of Lago di Limo. When you reach Lake Le Piciodel you'll hike through a charming landscape studded with little lakes and rounded mountaintops along the Ru d'Al Plan River. At the fork, continue toward your rifugio for tonight. Located just beneath the Limo Pass, you will have a splendid view of the Tofane Mountains.

(~4 hours hiking 7,4km / 4,6 miles, 700m / 2,298' ascent, 599m / 1,966' descent.)

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Mid-Range Accommodations: Rifugio Fanes

Today is a lovely hike through the Altopiano di Fanes to the Lagazuoi Massif. You will enjoy beautiful panoramas of the Western Dolomites and the Marmolada Massif, the "Queen of the Dolomites."

From your rifugio, Alta Via N.1 continues through the beautiful high meadow and karst formations, climbing to the Forcella del Lago, a narrow and dramatic gap in the mountain with a trail descent through steep talus on the south side. At the base of the slope is the lake called Lago di Lagazuoi whose green waters are framed by pines with a backdrop of the sheer walls of the Cima del Lago and the Cima Scotoni. From the lake, the path begins the long, steady climb to your rifugio. Entering open, rocky terrain, you'll come across ruins from the First World War en route to your rifugio, one of the highest in all the Dolomites (2,752m / 9,029'), with incredible 360-degree vistas.

(~6 hours hiking 11,5km / 7,2 miles, 1,121m / 3,679' ascent, 515m / 1,690' descent.)

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Mid-Range Accommodations: Rifugio Lagazuoi

This stage is of great interest for both the spectacular mountains around and the abundance of reminders of the terrible years of WWI, due to the vicinity of the former border between the long-dismantled Hapsburg Empire and Italy.

From Rifugio Lagazuoi, descend to the main road either by cable-car (not included) or on foot. Hike a memorable traverse below the awesome Tofana di Rozes, ascending Forcella Lagazuoi (2,573m / 8,442'), Forcella Travenanzes (2,507m / 8,225') and Forcella Col dei Bos (2,331m / 7,648') and gradually descend along the line of trenches. Reach the main road that goes from Cortina to Passo Falzarego, cross it and climb through forests to the fascinating, renowned Cinque Torri area (option to ascend by chairlift, not included) and stop at Rifugio Scoiattoli for lunch, with incredible vistas around.

After lunch, you may wish to circumnavigate the Cinque Torri. This area saw heavy fighting during WWI, trenches and Italian army shelters have been restored creating the Grande Guerra open air museum of WWI, offering insights into the war and fighting through interpretive panels. Here you have the opportunity to walk through the open air museum, through trenches and visiting military installments. After the "museum," you will hike through the middle of the rock towers, where you will likely see climbers high up on the walls, finally arriving at Passo Giau from where you will have a transfer back to Cortina.

You may also choose to skip the museum and interior of the towers, and follow path 443 directly to Passo Giau.

(~5-6 hours hiking 11.6km / 7 miles, 582m / 1,908' ascent, 1,040m / 3,412' descent).

Meals included: Breakfast
Mid-Range Accommodations: Hotel Beppe Sello (Cortina)

Breakfast and departure on your own (private transfer on request).

Meals included: Breakfast