Italy
Country
5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 days
Duration
June-October
When
Moderate
Difficulty
Half board
Board
Classic
Accomodation
Self-guided
Tour type

Hiking the Dolomites: A scenic journey on Alta Via N.1

Embark on an extraordinary adventure through the enchanting Dolomites as you tread the iconic Alta Via N.1. This classic high route unravels amidst some of the most breathtaking landscapes in the Italian Alps, making it the perfect choice for those in search of an unforgettable trek.

Tour Highlights:

  • Breathtaking views: The Dolomites, renowned for their grandeur and beauty, create a true hiker’s paradise with thousands of trails winding their way between the jagged peaks of the Dolomite Mountains. The Alta Via N.1 represents the epitome of alpine hiking, offering multi-day hut-to-hut tours that encompass some of the most awe-inspiring, demanding, and multi-day trails available in this mountainous wonderland.
  • Scenic alpine diversity: Your linear journey commences in the Italian Südtirol and winds southward through diverse mountain groups, including the Fanes area, Lagazuoi, the Cortina mountains, Pelmo, Civetta, Moiazza, and the Dolomiti Bellunesi. With a high point at 2,752 meters (9,029′), you’ll encounter an impressive range of landscapes, colors, and textures against the captivating backdrop of the Dolomite scenery.
  • Italian-Austrian charms: The Alta Via 1 offers a unique blend of landscapes and influences, showcasing a curious mix of Italian and Austrian culture and history. As you explore these terrains, you’ll experience an array of contrasts, each with its distinct charm. The ever-changing scenery, warm hospitality of the mountain huts, and delectable cuisine ensure your hiking journey is nothing short of fantastic.

Your Dolomites adventure awaits:

Uncover the natural beauty and wonder of the Italian Alps as you embark on the Alta Via N.1 hiking expedition. With breathtaking vistas, rustic mountain refuges, and a sense of discovery at every turn, this trek allows you to immerse yourself in the captivating landscapes of the Dolomites. Your journey begins here, promising stunning scenery, challenging trails, and hearty Italian fare.

Included Services

  • Half board*
  • Trip briefing
  • Support line & Hiking Maps
  • Stay in charming chalets
  • 1 night in 3-star hotel
  • All breakfasts + dinners in rifugios
  • Private transfers
  • Flight
  • Travel insurance
  • Lunches

FAQ

What is your refund and cancellation policy?

If you cancel your tour 60 days or more before the departure date, you will lose your deposit. If you cancel your tour between 60 and 45 days before the departure date, you will lose 50 per cent of the total tour price. If you cancel your tour within 45 days of the departure date, you will lose the full amount. If you fail to turn up on the first day of your tour, Outdoor Europe may not be able to make arrangements for you to join the rest of the tour, and you will lose the full payment. If, for any reason, Outdoor Europe has to cancel your tour, you will be offered an alternative tour or a full refund.

How do I book my tour?

You can book your tour directly on the Outdoor Europe website. Choose the tour from the dropdown menu, select the date you would like to start, and the number of participants in your group. You can either pay a deposit (60 days or more from the start of your tour) or pay the full amount. Click ‘book’ and follow the instructions. Once we have confirmed your payment, you’ll receive your confirmed tour itinerary within 10 days. There may be seasonal variations in the time it takes us to arrange everything. Please note that programmes on the tour pages are only examples — there may be several differences in the final programme you receive.

How do I pay for my tour?

When booking your tour, you can choose to pay by credit/debit card or direct bank transfer. Direct bank transfers will generally take longer to process, while credit and debit card payments are processed instantly. You are, by default, asked to pay a deposit of 25% of the total cost of the tour. If you choose this option, you will be asked to pay the remaining 75% one month before your tour. Please be sure to follow the payment links you receive in your invoice or reminder email, which we will send you when the second payment is due.

Do I get my own room?

This depends on the individual tour and when you book it. When hiking in the Alps, most people stay in dorms or shared rooms as the availability of single, double and family rooms are limited. We can only guarantee your own room on certain tours such as in the Lys and Ayas Valleys — but only if you book in time. If this is your preference, we will do our best to ensure you get your own room, but please expect to spend some nights in shared accommodation if there is limited availability.

Is baggage transfer included with all your Alpine tours?

Unfortunately, we are not able to offer this service with all our packages. Often, the huts or hotels we work with are in locations that can only be reached by foot or helicopter. Indeed, when choosing a tour that includes baggage transport, there may be one or two exceptions depending on the route. This will appear clearly on the tour page and in the program you receive when your booking has been confirmed.

How many days do your tours last?

All our tours include the day of arrival and the day of departure. This means that a six-day tour will include five nights of accommodation, a seven-day tour will include six nights, and so on. On the first day, guests are usually expected to arrive in the afternoon. And the program does not include any activities except for a briefing by our representative on the first evening. On the day of departure, guests are free to decide if they want to leave directly after breakfast or go on a shorter tour before their journey home.

What meals are included in your Alpine adventure tours?

Most of our tours will include Half Board (HB) services, which means breakfast, a three-course dinner, and a light-packed lunch. Please check the individual tour page for details, however, as variations occur with certain tours.

What is a self-guided tour?

We specialize in self-guided tours. These tours are designed for travelers who love the independence of hiking, skiing, or running on their own but want to know that everything else is taken care of. In some cases, we are able to offer luggage transport to lighten your load as you enjoy the Great Outdoors.

Do you offer group tours?

Whether you’re already a group of friends, business colleagues or a sports club looking for an active mountain adventure, we can design and organize your Alpine tour for you. However, Outdoor Europe does not offer group tours for individual participants.

Can you create a tour just for me and my friends?

Yes, absolutely! Outdoor Europe can design the perfect mountain adventure for you and your friends or colleagues. Whether you want to hike, ski, run, cycle or climb, we have the expertise and experience needed to create a bespoke package for any level of experience or physicality. Please contact us if you would like us to create a customized package for your group.

Are your outdoor adventure tours family-friendly?

There are few better ways to spend time with your children than with an active holiday in the mountains. Sharing a mountain adventure with your child is a memory that will last a lifetime. We try to design child-friendly variations (marked ‘family’) of all our Alpine tours. Children can hike, ski or bike a lot longer than you might expect, as long as you make it entertaining for them. However, they will respond instantly to the way you behave, so please consider whether you are able to create a safe environment for your children when faced with the many different challenges of an alpine environment.

Do you offer discounts for children?

Yes, we are able to offer a discount for children on most of our tours, provided they are not yet 13 years of age on the first day of the tour. Please see the individual tour page for our child discounts.

Can I travel on my own?

Many single travellers chose Outdoor Europe due to our high level of service and our expertise in self-guided mountain tours. And the safety of one of our representatives will only ever be just a phone call away. However, please expect additional costs, as our prices are based on two persons — the industry standard for outdoor tours of this nature. Private rooms and other services are often more expensive for individual travellers. You can find information about any additional costs for individual travellers on the tour page.

Will I manage?

We are all different. Some of our clients are 70+ and have lived an active lifestyle all their life. Others may be twenty years younger and have barely left their office chair. It is very difficult to judge the physical and mental ability of a person on the basis of a phone conversation. If you are in doubt, each tour is rated for level of physicality, which you can learn more about here. You are of course welcome to call us and we will do our best to advice you. Find your level of physicality here (link to Find your level page).

What if I get lost?

Our local partners know every square inch of this beautiful Alpine region. During the introductory briefing, you will receive an app, physical maps and a phone number to call if you need advice. In some cases, you’ll be able to forward your location to a local guide with the press of a button. This may prove helpful if you become lost.

Do I need travel insurance?

We recommend that you speak to your insurance provider to ensure your existing policy covers mountain-based activities such as hiking, skiing, and mountain biking. Please note that any costs relating to emergency situations and the potential need for evacuation are the sole responsibility of the client.

Will I be able to cope with the physical challenge?

We are all different. Some of our clients are more than 70 years old and have lived an active lifestyle all their life. Others are twenty years younger and have barely left their office chair. It is very difficult to judge the physical and mental capabilities of a person on the basis of a phone conversation. If you are in doubt, each tour is rated for the level of physicality involved, which you can learn more about on our Find Your Level page. You are, of course, welcome to call us, and we will do our best to advise you.

Can I bring my dog?

Enjoying the mountains with your best friend can be a joyful experience, which is why we try to make our tours dog friendly wherever possible. Unfortunately, it is not always possible due to local rules. Selected tours are marked ‘Dog Friendly’ on the tour page. This means that your dog can stay with you in your private room or, in a few cases, the hut will have a separate or external room for dogs. Please refer to the individual tour page for more information.

1

Day 1

Arrive in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Dolomites

Arrive in Cortina d’Ampezzo (1,224m) 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. In the afternoon, you will meet with one of our representatives who will provide a trip briefing and orientation, as well as maps, and everything necessary for your self-guided adventure. 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.… Hotel in Cortina d’Ampezzo650 HM up

2

Day 2

From Lago di Braies to Sennes

Starting at a beautiful alpine lake set amidst forest and soaring Dolomite peaks, this is a thrilling opening to Alta Via N.1. It entails a straightforward steady climb to a high altitude plateau with wide reaching vistas.Take a 50 minutes transfer to Lago di Braies (1,494m / 4,901′) and start a 800m / 2,625′ climb on a well-trodden path following a scree river colonized by dwarf mountain pines. Marvelous views open over Val Foresta and its peaks.Enter the Natural Park of Dolomiti d’Ampezzo: the panorama is vast and breathtaking. Reach your home for tonight. There is an optional additional hike to the top of the Col di Lasta (2,997m / 7,536′).Hotel example: Rifugio Biella

  • 13 Km
  • 1179
  • 718
  •  5 hours
3

Day 3

Altopiano di Fanes

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 Pederù, hike uphill in the direction of Lago di Limo. When you reach Lake Lé Piciodel you’ll hike through a charming landscape studded with little lakes and rounded mountain-tops along the Ru d’Al Plan River. At the fork, continue toward your rifugio for tonight. Located just beneath the Limo Pass, you’ll have a splendid view of the Tofane Mountains.
Hotel example: Rifugio Fanes

  • 7,4 Km
  • 700
  • 599
  • 4 hours
4

Day 4

Cime di Fanis & Lagazuoi Massif

Today is a lovely hike through the Altopiano di Fanes to the Lagazuoi Massif. You’ll 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.

  • 11,5 Km
  • 1121
  • 515
  • 6 hours
5

Day 5

Breakfast and a short hike to Falzarego Pass, where your private transfer will take you back to Cortina

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