Alta Via 1 Self Guided

Our Alta Via 1 Itineraries

The Alta Via 1 has many variations. All of our trekking itineraries AVOID the two via ferratas that are located along the official route. Our VF4 Alta Via 1 with Via Ferratas is the only itinerary we offer that includes via ferratas, and would require via ferrata gear. We offer our customers as many options and variations as possible along the Alta Via 1, including doing the first via ferrata if they like.

We strongly recommend that anybody interested in hiking in the Dolomites reads our blog post: Trekking in the Dolomites - Let's get real.

Trail Access and Exit Points

You may notice, that our itineraries use a variety of entry and exit points. We provide details about how to get to and from these points in our eGuidebooks that are issued to customers. It's possible to get a good overview of public transfer options using Google Maps (but always go directly to the operator for specific timetable information).

Here's a quick summary of the access and entry points:

Lago di Braies: Lago di Braies (also the Pragser Wildsee in German) is the official starting point of the Alta Via 1. It is quite a journey to reach Lago di Braies from any major airports, although easily managed thanks to a strong public transportation system. The lake has become somewhat of an Instagram sensation, and gets very crowded. Almost all of our itineraries that begin at Lago di Braies have Malga Ra Stua as an alternate trailhead.

Malga Ra Stua: We call Malga Ra Stua the "sneak approach" to the Alta Via 1. Malga Ra Stua is located above the town of Fiames, which is just north of Cortina d'Ampezzo. During July and August, a shuttle runs regularly from Fiames to Malga Ra Stua. Outside of the shuttle's season of operation, a taxi is necessary. Starting the Alta Via 1 from Malga Ra Stua instead of from Lago di Braies misses the famous lake, but has some clear benefits:

1. It is easier and faster to reach Malga Ra Stua from Cortina during the shuttle's operating season, making this a sensible option for those who are short on time
2. Starting at Malga Ra Stua avoids the large ascent that is required when starting at Lago di Braies

Passo Falzarego/Ra Nona Bus Stop/Cinque Torri Bus Stop: Passo Falzarego is located just below Rifugo Lagazuoi. A bus connects Passo Falzarego several times a day to Cortina for most of the season. This bus stops running every year sometime during the 2nd week of September. After this time, a taxi is required. The Bus Stops Ra Nona and Cinque Torri are on the road that connects Passo Falzarego to Cortina d'Ampezzo, and therefore, are on the same bus line. There is also a bus with a longer operating season that connects Passo Falzarego to Corvara (this bus does not service the Ra Nona or Cinque Torri Bus Stops).

Palafavera: Palafavera is a ski area that sits below Passo Staulanza. There is a bus that connects from Belluno to Palafavera, but there are a limited number of daily connections*. This bus has a limited operating season and stops running each year sometime in the second week of September. When this bus is not running, it is necessary to take a taxi.

Listolade: Listolade sits below Rifugio Vazzoler and is well connected to Belluno via a bus connection in Agordo that runs year-round*. Exiting at Listolade requires a large descent, some of which can be bypassed via taxi.

Passo Duran: Passo Duran is an alternate exit point to Listolade. There is no public transportation to Passo Duran and it is necessary to book a taxi in advance in order to access Passo Duran. Aside from the taxi requirement, we find this to be a very pleasant point to exit the Alta Via 1, as the descent to Passo Duran is minimal compared to the descent to other exit points.

Forno di Zoldo: Forno di Zoldo sits below Rifugio Sommariva al Pramperet. It is possible to connect to the rail network by bus* to Longarone. This bus may stop operating in the second week of September. After this, a taxi may be necessary. Exiting at Forno di Zoldo requires a long descent, much of which can be bypassed by taxi.

La Pissa Bus Stop: This is the standard hiker's exit for the Alta Via 1, and it is connected by bus year-round to Belluno*. Exiting the Alta Via 1 (translated to the "high route") does require a massive descent, and the last day and half is spent mostly descending.

Belluno: The official Alta Via 1 route does not exit at the La Pissa Bus Stop, but rather continues below Mount Schiara on a technical via ferrata all the way to Belluno. This via ferrata is only suitable for hiker's with via ferrata or rock climbing experience. It is challenging and sustained. Exiting at Belluno adds an extra day versus exiting at the La Pissa Bus Stop. Some of the descent can by bypassed by taxi, and a smaller portion can be bypassed by bus.

*The bus timetable may be restricted on Sundays and on national holidays 

Note that bus timetables are usually only published during the season they are running. This means that, in many cases, advanced research about connection options is not possible.

Which Section of the Alta Via 1?

Sometimes, we just don't have the time or the desire to hike the entire route. For these circumstances, we split the trail into three shorter versions. The trail changes in character as it travels from north to south, which makes choosing a section fairly straightforward for many hikers:

Northern Section - Alta Via 1 4-day North Itinerary: This itinerary begins at Lago di Braies (or Malga Ra Stua as an alternate) and continues to the Cinque Torri area, just below Passo Falzarego. Here are some of it's characteristics:

• The highlights are Lago di Braies and the Cinque Torri region
• If you start at Lago di Braies, instead of Malga Ra Stua, you have a large ascent on the first day
• The huts along this stretch are more comfortable and almost all offer private rooms
• This area is frequented by day visitors, making the trails quite full
• Several huts along this stretch host many visitors who stay for several days or up to a week. This means these huts fill up quickly than on other stretches of the Alta Via 1
• Availability is extremely limited and these huts book out for the full season early. This means that private rooms at these huts are only available to those who book their tour very early (August the year prior). For bookings that arrive after January, it is usually necessary to do one or two nights of off-trail accommodation, easily reachable by bus, in order to make itineraries work

Central Section - Alta Via 1 4-day Central Itinerary: This itinerary begins in the Cinque Torri region and exits at Listolade (or Passo Duran as an Alternate). It delivers a perfect balance between comfort and remote beauty, with less crowded areas than the northern section has. Here are some of it's characteristics:

• The highlights are the Cinque Torri region, the incredibly beautiful passage after Passo Giau and traversing below the Civetta
• Starting with a chairlift, you avoid a large ascent at the beginning of the tour. At the end, you have the option to exit at Passo Duran, which avoids a large descent
• Most of the huts on this stretch offer private rooms, and they have more availability than on the northern stretch
• There are some high-traffic areas, but most of the time, trails are loneliner than they are on the northern stretch
• Outside of the main hiking season, it may be necessary to use a taxi to access the starting point
• This section often has the best availability, and the best itineraries, later into the season

Southern Section - Alta via 1 5-day South Itinerary: This itinerary begins at Palafavera and ends at the La Pissa Bus Stop, the regular hiker's exit. This stretch of the trail is the most remote section, which means the huts are also the most rustic. This is a clear winner for those looking for a backcountry experience, solitude and more rugged terrain. Here are some of it's characteristics:

• The highlights are traversing below Monte Civetta and the Cima de Zita
• There are very few high-traffic stretches of trail, and there is plenty of solitude along the way
• The views at the end of the Alta Via 1 that stretch out over layered ridgelines are just magical
• A true and authentic experience at the mountain huts
• Outside of the main hiking season, it may be necessary to use a taxi to access the starting point
• There is a lot of descending over the last two days of hiking