Dolomites · Italy
Hiking and camping the Alta Via 1 in Dolomites in 7 days
The Alta Via 1 is one of the most iconic long-distance hikes in the Dolomites, offering an amazing journey through dramatic limestone peaks, alpine meadows, and historic mountain refuges. Stretching roughly 120 kilometers from Lago di Braies in the north to Belluno in the south, this well-marked trail is known for its accessibility, making it a favourite for both first-time hut-to-hut hikers and seasoned trekkers. Along the way, hikers experience constant changing landscapes, rich culture and some of the most breathtaking scenery in the Alps, all while enjoying warm hospitality and hearty mountain cuisine in traditional rifugios.
This is a no-fluff personal take on walking the Alta Via 1 and skips all the Via Ferrata sections. It’s designed as a informative, step-by-step reference for anyone planning to walk and camp along the route.
ACTIVITY OVERVIEW
📏 Distance
122km/75.8mi
⏱️ Duration
7 days
⛰️ Highest point
2,573m /8441ft
📈 Elevation
6,530m/21423ft
🗓 Best Season
Late June – September
ESTIMATED COSTS
🚌 Transfers
~60 EUR
⛺ Pitches
~30 EUR
🍦 Food
~20-30 EUR per day
What to Expect
on the <Insert trail here>
The Alta Via 1 passes through some of the most celebrated landscapes in the Dolomites, linking together legendary peaks, alpine lakes, and historic mountain refuges. Below are some of the most iconic places you’ll encounter along the route, each offering a distinct glimpse into the region’s natural beauty and cultural.
🌋 Turquoise Alpine Lakes
From tiny mountain tarns to striking turquoise lakes, the route is filled with beautiful alpine water. Lago di Braies, Lago Coldai and Lago Federa are just a few of the highlights.
🌋 Dramatic Dolomite Peaks
The Alta Via 1 takes you through some of the most spectacular mountains in the Dolomites, with towering limestone cliffs and jagged peaks surrounding you throughout the trek. Highlights include Monte Pelmo, Civetta, Tofane, Lagazuoi and Croda da Lago
🏛️ Cinque Torri
Walk beneath the extraordinary rock towers of Cinque Torri, one of the Dolomites' most recognisable landmarks and a spectacular place to experience the scale of the surrounding mountains.
⛰️ Beautiful Alpine Valleys
Between the dramatic peaks are peaceful valleys filled with wildflower meadows, forests and open grassland. These quieter sections provide a welcome contrast to the more rugged terrain.
🌋 Iconic Rock Formations
The Dolomites are famous for their extraordinary limestone formations, and the Alta Via 1 takes you right through some of the best. Cinque Torri, Croda da Lago, Monte Pelmo and the enormous Civetta massif are impossible to miss.
⛰️ Iconic Mountain Rifugios
The rifugios are a huge part of the Alta Via 1 experience, offering welcoming places to rest, enjoy hearty mountain food, meet fellow hikers and take in some of the Dolomites’ most spectacular scenery.
⛰️ Epic Mountain Passes
The route crosses numerous high passes such as Forcella Lagazuoi and Forcella Staulanza, each bringing a new perspective of the Dolomites. Expect steep climbs, rocky trails and rewarding views from the top.
⛰️ Italian Mountain Food
One of the great pleasures of the trek is to dig into plates of hearty mountain food while on the trail. Expect pasta, polenta, dumplings, soups, local meats and plenty of Italian comfort food.
🗺️ Trail Map & Navigation
Full route overview with key waypoints and navigation information.
⚠️ The maps provided on this website are intended as a general guide only. Conditions, routes, and features may change at any time. Always rely on your own judgement and seek local or professional advice if possible.
🧭 Navigation Tips
Download offline maps before you go — cell signal is unreliable.
Carry a physical map as backup — batteries die in cold weather.
Note key safety locations and emergency shelter options for each stage.
Check weather and trail conditions the evening before each stage.
Day-by-Day Breakdown
Everything you need to know for each stage
Cortina
d'Ampezzo
0
Getting to Italy
✈️ Fly
Venice is the recommended airport to fly into with plenty of flights serviced by budget airlines like Easyjey and Ryanair.
€60-€150
🚅 Train
Venice has two major train stations which makes it a great place to do a quick city break at the start of end of the trip; Venice Santa Lucia and Venice Mestre.
€60-€150
Transport to Cortina d’Ampezzo
🚌 Coach
Flixbus or Cortina Express from Venice airport to Cortina d'Ampezzo which takes about 2.5 hours and costs 20 EUR one way. Tickets should be booked in advanced.
20 EUR · 2.5hrs
Where to Stay
🏨 Hotels and Hostels
There are plenty of hotels and hostels which can be booked by all the popular online travel agent sites such as Booking.com, Expedia and Airbnb.
Hostels / guesthouses: 120 to 150 EUR
Budget hotels: 150 to 250 EUR
120 - 250 EUR
Stocking Up on Supplies
🛠️ La Cooperativa di Cortina
A large department store in town which sells gas of various sizes and connections. Can be found in the outdoor gear section on the top floor.
€5-€10
⚠️ Check the connector type! Campingaz is a very common brand of camping gas in France but uses a proprietary connector instead the usual screw thread.
🛒 La Cooperativa di Cortina
An upmarket supermarket with all the essentials such as fruits, vegetables and all pantry staples. Also has premade food which is charged by weight.
🛒 CONAD CITY
Another great supermarket in town with slightly lower prices.
🎒 La Cooperativa di Cortina
The top floor of the department store has a wide selection of hiking and camping gear from all the big brands.
🎒 Mountain Shop Cortina
A specialist outdoor shop offering technical clothing and equipment.
🎒Tecnica Group Store - Olympia Sport
Another specialist outdoor gear store stocking brands such as Tecnica, Nordica, Blizzard and Moon Boot.
Things to Do
🛍️ Walk Corso Italia
Cortina's main pedestrianised street, lined with cafés, restaurants, boutiques and traditional buildings.
🚵♀️ Mountain biking / e-biking
Cortina has an extensive network of routes and the official tourism board offers numerous bike experiences.
🧗♀️ Via ferrata
There are numerous routes around Cortina, ranging from relatively accessible to serious mountain outings.
🏕️ Campsites
Camping Rocchetta
Only a 30 minute walk from the centre of town, this is a great campsite with all the amenities and more suited to campers.
~35 EUR
Camping Cortina
Another great campsite located directly across from Camping Rocchetta. It is slightly larger with more bathrooms, has its own pizza restaurant and charging stations. The main drawback is the campsite is more suited to campervans and car campers.
~33 EUR
Lago di Braies to
Lago Piciodel
1
xhr · x.xkm · xxxm ascent
The first stage of the Alta Via 1 begins at the iconic (but very busy!) Lago di Braies, taking you deep into the heart of the Dolomites. The trail quickly leaves the crowds behind as it climbs through peaceful forests and alpine meadows, with dramatic limestone peaks gradually revealing themselves along the way.
Top Tips
To get to the trail head (Lago di Braies), you need to take the 445 bus from Cortina to Dobbiaco (Toblach) which costs approximately 6.50 EUR. After that, at the same stop, you will need to change to the 442 bus to Lago di Braies for about 7 EUR. Please note that 442 bus needs to be booked in advance during the summer peak season which can be done on the Lakes Braises website.
Start early as the first day requires lots of commuting and the hike length itself for day 1 is quite long.
Alternatively, if you want more relaxed start to trip many stop in the section between Rifugio Biella and Rifugio Sennes. This is useful if you plan to get to the trail head later in the day or spend more time at Lago di Braies. Please note that this will make day 2 significantly longer longer.
Food Options
The most convenient is to have breakfast is at Lago di Braies but it does mean waiting for quite a bit due to all the transfers. Alternatively, you can grab breakfast in Cortina and catch a later bus or do a short stopver at Dobbiaco (Toblach).
🍸 Bar Chalet
Lakeside bar and grill offering snacks, grilled dishes and drinks.
€10-€20
🍽️ Emmas Bistro
A self-service lakeside bistro serving regional dishes, snacks, and homemade desserts. Its terrace and garden offer beautiful views directly over the lake.
€10-€20
🍽️ Chalet Grill & More
Small minimart with all the standard snack and goodies.
€10-€20
🛖 Rifugio Biella
A traditional mountain refuge near Croda del Becco (Seekofel) offering simple, hearty South Tyrolean food and drinks.
€10-€20
👩🏻🍳 Self cater
Campsites
🌲 Wildcamp near Lago Piciodel
Lago Piciodel to
Passo Falzarego
2
xhr · x.xkm · xxxm ascent
This section takes you deeper into the more rugged sections of the Dolomites, with a spectacular mix of peaks, open alpine valleys and historic mountain landscapes. The trail climbs and descends through some of the Alta Via 1’s most dramatic scenery, eventually reaching Passo Falzarego, beneath the amazing Lagazuoi and Tofane mountains.
Top Tips
Don’t forget to say hi to all the cows and marmots on the way.
Do be careful as there are quite a few sections which is slightly exposed and fairly steep especially the ascent and decent before Lago Lagazuoi.
Lago Lagazuoi is a small alpine lake and a perfect spot to rest your legs, enjoy the scenery, and grab a quick bite to eat. It is very crowded though.
If you have the legs and are early enough, you can hike up to Rifugio Lagazuoi, one of the highest and most spectacular mountain refuges in the Dolomites. The kitchen open between 11:30am and 14:30pm.
Food Options
I would recommend self cater for breakfast.
Sadly, full breakfast a lot of the riugios on this section of the trail are reserved for overnight guest. However, it is possible for passer by hikers to get hot drinks and slices of cake and pastries (subject to availability). Best to check with the staff to see what they have.
👩🏻🍳 Self cater
🛖 Rifugio Lagazuoi
A stunning rifugio located at one the most historical and picturesque sections of the Alta Via 1. Serves hearty dishes such as goulash with polenta, gnocchi, soups and smaller bites such as sandwiches and cake. Kitchen closes at 14:30pm. After 14:30, it is possible to get some cakes and sandwiches.
€15-€25
👩🏻🍳 Self cater
Campsites
🌲 Wildcamp near Passo Falzarego
Passo Falzarego to
Mondeval Valley
3
xhr · x.xkm · xxxm ascent
This spectacular section of the Alta Via 1 winds through some of the Dolomites’ most iconic landscapes, with the distinctive Cinque Torri and towering Croda da Lago providing an unforgettable backdrop. The trail gradually leaves the busier areas around Passo Falzarego behind, opening into the peaceful Mondeval Valley, where dramatic peaks, open meadows and wide alpine views take centre stage.
Top Tips
L:unch for many of the rifugios is served between 11:30am and 14:30pm.
Cinque torri is an iconic sybmbol of the dolomites. As such, it can be very very busy especially because it is also accessible by chairlift.
Rifugio Nuvolau is well worth the little extra hike up as it has one of the most spectacular views of the entire trip.
Croda da Lago is another amazing rifugio located right on Lago Federa.
Food Options
🍸 Passo Falzarego
A small mountain bar is a good place to grab a coffee, cold drink or quick snack. Opens at 8:00am
€5-€10
🛖 Rifugio Averau
A nice mountain refuge serving amazing cakes and hot drinks in the morning. They also serve lunch but only between 11:30pam and 14:30pm.
€5-€10
🥐 Rifugio Scoiattoli
Rifugio Scoiattoli serves traditional mountain dishes for lunch, including homemade pasta, soups, polenta, meat dishes and regional specialities. It has panoramic views of Cinque Torri making it a great but busy spot to eat.
€10-€20
☕ Rifugio 5 Torri
A historic mountain refuge located beneath the iconic Cinque Torri. Lunch features traditional dishes such as homemade gnocchi and canederli along with homemade cakes and ricotta strudel.
€10-€20
👩🏻🍳 Self cater
Campsites
🌲 Wildcamp near Mondeval Valley
Mondeval Valley to
Palafavera
4
xhr · x.xkm · xxxm ascent
This is a shorter but no less stunning section of the Alta Via 1. The trail passes through peaceful alpine meadows and forests, with impressive views of Monte Pelmo and the surrounding peaks before descending towards Palafavera where you can restock and recharge.
Top Tips
The leg ends at a campsite where you can recharge you electronics and restock on supplies at the minimarket.
Alternative, if you wish to continue to wildcamp, many hike all the way to Lago Coldai and get a head start on the next leg of the trail.
Food Options
👩🏻🍳 Self cater
🛖 Rifugio Città di Fiume
A welcoming mountain with views of the northern face of Monte Pelmo, it serves traditional mountain dishes, including homemade pasta, soups, polenta and local specialities.
€10-€20
🛖 Rifugio Passo Staulanza
A little further along the trail, this is another traditional hut serving up all the classics such as pasta, soups and polenta.
€10-€20
🛖 Rifugio Pelmo
Serves hearty traditional cuisine, with homemade pasta, soups, polenta, meat dishes and local specialities.
€10-€20
🛖 Rifugio Palafavera
Offers outside guests a hearty à la carte dinner menu featuring traditional mountain cuisine, including homemade pastas, local wild game, and polenta with mountain cheeses, alongside vegetarian and gluten-free options.
€10-€20
🛒 Mini Market at Campeggio Palafavera
Small minimart with all the standard snack and goodies. It also has fresh bread and cured meats which can be sliced to order.
€1-€10
Campsites
🏕️ Campeggio Palafavera
Conveniently located right next to the trail with all the usual amenities such as kitchen, bathroom and places to recharge your electronics. Most importantly, there is a small mini market which you can get supplies for the remainder of the trip.
€25
Palafavera to
Casera del Camp
5
xhr · x.xkm · xxxm ascent
This section of the Alta Via 1 climbs from Palafavera to Lago Coldai, one of the most beautiful lakes in the Dolomites. From the lake, the trail continues around Monte Civetta, passing through the amazing scenery near Rifugio Tissi before heading down through open meadows and forests towards Casera del Camp.
Top Tips
You can catch Pioda chairlift to shave off 2 hours and save your legs. A one way ticket will cost 8 EUR.
Food Options
🛖 Rifugio Palafavera
The bar opens from 8:00am for outside guests and services hot drinks and fresh pastries.
€5-€15
🛒 Mini Market at Campeggio Palafavera
Small minimart with all the standard snack and goodies. It also has fresh bread and cured meats which can be sliced to order. This is your best bet for an affordable breakfast and lunch.
€1-€10
Lunch for many of the rifugios open from 11:30am to 14:30pm so please plan accordingly. I would recommend having a packed lunch and eating it along the trail at stunning places like Lago Coldai.
🛖 Rifugio Adolfo Sonino al Coldai
A historic mountain located close to Lago Coldai. Lunch features traditional mountain dishes such as gnocchi, tagliatelle, canederli, polenta, goulash and local meats, along with homemade desserts.
€10-€20
🛖 Rifugio Tissi
A stunning mountain refuge found on the western slopes of Monte Civetta with panoramic views across the surrounding Dolomites. Lunch offers simple, traditional mountain food, including pasta, soups, polenta and meat dishes.
€10-€20
👩🏻🍳 Self cater
It is recommended to self cater for dinner as availability at Rifugio Mario Vazzoler is inconsistent. The rifugio prioritises overnight guests first and then may allow other guest to join depending on how much food they have left. It is best to plan well in advance.
🛖 Rifugio Mario Vazzoler
A traditional mountain hut beneath the Civetta massif, offering spectacular views. For dinner, it serves hearty local mountain cuisine but availability is limited. Definitely call ahead to ensure they is space.
€25-€35
👩🏻🍳 Self cater
Campsites
🌲 Stay in or wildcamp near Casera de Camp
Casera del Camp to
Casera La Varetta
6
xhr · x.xkm · xxxm ascent
This sections take hikers through the rugged, less-frequented southern Dolomites. It is a tough stretch which features dramatic panoramas of the towering Moiazza and Civetta massifs alongside historic high-altitude passes like Passo Duran. As the trail transitions into the dramatic Schiara group, it delivers a more challenging alpine experience marked by the exposed ridge of Forcella de Zita Sud.
Top Tips
Get the polenta with all the trimmings at Rifugio Sommariva al Pramperet. Best meal I had on the trail.
Be very careful with the trail leading up and going down from Forcella Zita. It is very exposed and quite steep and not recommended if rain is expected.
Food Options
It is recommended to self cater for breakfast as the full sit down means at rifugios are reserved for guest staying there. Though, it does not hurt in asking if you do arrive during their breakfast window.
🛖 Rifugio Bruto Carestiato
A welcoming mountain refuge located beneath the dramatic Moiazza massif. The bar offers coffee, hot chocolate, latte macchiato, homemade cakes. Sadly, the full breakfast is reserved for guests who stayed overnight (though there’s no harm in asking).
€1-€10
🛖 Rifugio S. Sebastiano
A bit further down the trail and located near the the rugged peaks of Moiazza and San Sebastiano, this is a small mountain refuge offering hot drinks and simple pastries or croissants. They only offer the full sit down break to guests staying at the refuge.
€1-€10
👩🏻🍳 Self cater
🥐 Rifugio Sommariva al Pramperet
A remote mountain refuge found in the forrest of Pramper Valley. Serves hearty meals such as pasta, soups, polenta and various hot drinks and cakes.
€10-€20
It is recommended to self cater for dinner as availability at Rifugio Pian de Fontana is inconsistent. The rifugio prioritises overnight guests first and then may allow other guest to join depending on how much food they have left. It is best to plan well in advance by contacting via phone or email.
🛖 Rifugio Pian de Fontana
A really cute rifugio serving a hearty set dinner featuring traditional homemade mountain cuisine. Dinner is normally reserved for overnight guess but it may be possible to join if you contact them in advance via phone or email.
During the day, the refuge also offers simple snacks, cakes and drinks.
€20-€30
👩🏻🍳 Self cater
Campsites
🌲 Stay in or wildcamp near Casera La Varetta
Casera La Varetta to
La Pisa
Bus Stop (End)
7
xhr · x.xkm · xxxm ascent
The short final leg of the journey. This section continues through the remote and peaceful landscapes of the southern Dolomites, with a mix of forests, open meadows and rugged mountain views. It ends in a not so dramatic fashion; La Pisa bus stop.
Top Tips
After finishing at La Pisa, you can catch the Line 1 (BELLUNO - AGORDO) bus to Belluno which comes every hour and costs about 4 EUR. Tickets can be purchased onboard or via the app.
Belluno has plenty of accommodation which can be a bit on the expensive end. A few alternatives is to catch a bus or train to Cortina and Venice respectively and continue your journey there.
To get back to Cortina, you can use the local buses ran by Dolomiti Bus; Line 9 (BELLUNO - CALALZO) and then transfer for Line 30 (CALALZO - CORTINA).
Food Options
👩🏻🍳 Self cater
Plenty of options in Belluno
Plenty of options in Belluno
Where to stay
🏨 Hotels and Hostels
There are plenty of hotels and hostels which can be booked by all the popular online travel agent sites such as Booking.com, Expedia and Airbnb.
Hostels / guesthouses: 50 to 75 EUR
Budget hotels: 75 to 150 EUR
120 - 250 EUR
🏕️ Campsites
🚫 Sadly, there are no campsites available
Unwinding in
Belluno
N
Relax
Belluno is a charming historic city at the southern edge of the Dolomites, surrounded by mountains and the Piave River. Its old town is filled with narrow streets, colourful buildings, cafés and historic squares, making it a great place to relax and celebrate the end of the Alta Via 1.
Top Tips
Belluno is a quiet town which is perfect to unwind after finishing the long hike.
If you are up for more action, Cortina and Venice are just a few bus and train rides away. I personally went back to Cortina to explore the various iconic treks such as Tre Cime di Lavaredo and Lago di Sorapis.
If you do head to Venice, don’t forget that you can use bag minding services so that you don’t have to lug the backpack around town. Prices range between 15 to 20 EUR depending on the size of the bag(s) and the duration.
In Belluno
🛍️ Explore the Historic Center
Stroll along this broad, pedestrian-friendly promenade that runs beside Playa del Matorral, lined with shops, cafés, and ocean views.
🌅 Visit the Cathedral and Piazza Duomo
The Cathedral of San Martino is one of Belluno's main landmarks, with its impressive 68-metre bell tower designed by Filippo Juvarra.
🏝️ Visit the Civic Museum at Palazzo Fulcis
A good option if you want some culture after the hike, with collections of paintings, sculptures and other works from the Belluno area.
Going Home
🚌 Train
There are frequent trains operated by Trenitalia and ATVO S.p.A between Belluno and Venice and normally requires 1 change. Tickets can be bought at the station.
~€10-€25 · 2.5 hour
🚌 Coach
You can catch Line 9 Dolomiti Bus and transfer at Longarone for the connecting Cortina Express service. Coach is generally cheaper but requires a bit more time due to the long changeover at Longarone.
~€10-€15 · 2.5-3.5 hours
Other bits of Useful Information
All the things which might have been missed
🏕️ Wild Camping
Wild camping in the Dolomites is generally restricted, particularly within protected areas and national parks. Rules also vary between regions and municipalities, so always check the local regulations before camping. Where possible, use designated campsites, mountain refuges or official bivouacs, and follow Leave No Trace principles to help protect the environment.
🚰 Water
The dolomites have plenty of river, streams and lakes to get water from. You can also top up at rifugios though double check with the staff if the water is potable.
🍔 Map of Food Spots
Finding great places to eat while on the trail can sometimes be tricky, so I’ve put together all my recommendations in a Google Maps list called
It includes places I’ve personally visited as well as others that are highly rated by the local community.
💩 Toilets
Toilets are available at most rifugios though it is customary to purchase something.
🚎 Public Transport Tip
Be careful when using Google Maps. Although the schedule is correct, it does not suggest all routes and the live times is usually off. It is best to provide a 15minute or so buffer and look at the schedule of the lines using the official website. It is also helpful to down the official bus app; GuaguasLPA and GuaguasGLOBAL for up to the minute updates.
📶 Phone Reception
Phone reception is fairly patchy on the trail. You can get good signal near the larger towns such as Cortina and Palafavera and near high mountain passes which have a direct line of sight to town. However, there are long stretches with little or no reception so having offline map is critical.
💶 Cash
Most places along the trail—supermarkets and larger rifugios —accept card payments, so it’s easy to manage expenses without carrying much cash.
The only spots that typically require cash are the smaller rigios such as Rifugio Pian de Fontana. To give some perspective, I started the trip with €100 and ended with about €50 left, even while eating out at least once a day.
Helpful Links
Lotus Eaters Travels (lotuseaters.travel)
Great general guide to the GR131 and main source which I used to plan my trip.
Guaguas Global (guaguasglobal.com)
For all up to date bus information.
GranCanaria (grancanaria.com)
The official website for tourism in Gran Canaria. Provides information about booking campsites and reserving tickets to restricted nature reserves.
Reservas Roque Nublo (reservasroquenublo.com)
For booking tickets to access Roque Nublo as access us limited.
The Road Two Spoons (theroadtwospoons.co.uk)
Quick guide to access the camping online booking system.
Terms of Use
A quick but important note for all visitors: we do our best to share high-quality, accurate information, but it’s always possible that we’ve missed something or that conditions have changed. All GPS tracks (GPX files and maps) and route suggestions are meant to be used as general guidelines—not exact instructions.
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