Dolomites

Classic

Alta Via 1

Alta Via 1 hut-to-hut: 120 km from Lago di Braies to Belluno in 9–11 days. Itinerary, rifugi, elevation, season and a free planner.

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Distance
120 km
Days
9–11
Ascent
7,880 m
Max altitude
2,752 m

Alta Via 1 is the most walked of the Dolomites high routes. It runs roughly north-to-south from the turquoise Lago di Braies down to the Schiara above Belluno, linking some of the range's most photographed cirques: Croda da Lago, Tofane, Civetta, Moiazza, and the Pelmo's north wall.

It is technically the easiest of the Alte Vie — no via ferrata is mandatory — but the daily ascents are real (often 800–1200 m) and weather flips fast above 2,000 m. Most walkers spend 9 to 11 nights in rifugi between Braies and Belluno.

Highlights

  • Lago di Braies sunrise from the trailhead
  • Croda da Lago and the Lastoi de Formin amphitheatre
  • Tofane group seen from Rifugio Lagazuoi
  • Civetta's 1,200 m north-west wall above Rifugio Coldai
  • Moiazza ridge and the Van delle Sasse
  • Schiara group descent to Belluno

Day-by-day itinerary

  1. Day 1 — Lago di Braies → Rifugio Biella

    3–4 h
    6.5 km980 m80 m

    Steep, sustained climb out of the lake basin to a high karst plateau.

  2. Day 2 — Rifugio Biella → Rifugio Fanes

    5–6 h
    14 km350 m700 m

    Long contouring day through the Sennes-Fanes pastures.

  3. Day 3 — Rifugio Fanes → Rifugio Lagazuoi

    6–7 h
    14 km950 m350 m

    Forcella del Lago and Passo Falzarego; finish on the Lagazuoi cable-car ridge.

  4. Day 4 — Rifugio Lagazuoi → Rifugio Nuvolau

    4–5 h
    9 km600 m800 m

    Galleria del Lagazuoi WW1 tunnel (head-torch needed), then the Cinque Torri.

  5. Day 5 — Rifugio Nuvolau → Rifugio Città di Fiume

    5–6 h
    13 km500 m950 m

    Around the Croda da Lago — one of the best ridge walks of the trek.

  6. Day 6 — Rifugio Città di Fiume → Rifugio Coldai

    6–7 h
    13 km1050 m700 m

    Forcella Forada under the Pelmo, then the long traverse to Coldai.

  7. Day 7 — Rifugio Coldai → Rifugio Vazzoler

    5–6 h
    13 km350 m950 m

    Lago Coldai then the spectacular Civetta wall traverse.

  8. Day 8 — Rifugio Vazzoler → Rifugio Carestiato

    4–5 h
    11 km700 m650 m

    Forcella del Camp under the Moiazza.

  9. Day 9 — Rifugio Carestiato → Rifugio Pramperet

    7–8 h
    16 km1100 m1000 m

    Longest day — Passo Duran detour or shuttle, then up to the Pramperet basin.

  10. Day 10 — Rifugio Pramperet → Rifugio Pian de Fontana

    4–5 h
    9 km600 m850 m

    Forcella de Zita Sud — the exposed traverse of the trek.

  11. Day 11 — Rifugio Pian de Fontana → La Pissa / Belluno bus

    6–7 h
    12 km700 m1900 m

    Long descent through forest to the SS203 road and the Belluno bus.

Rifugi on this route

  • Rifugio Biella
  • Rifugio Fanes
  • Rifugio Lagazuoi
  • Rifugio Nuvolau
  • Rifugio Città di Fiume
  • Rifugio Coldai
  • Rifugio Vazzoler
  • Rifugio Carestiato
  • Rifugio Pramperet
  • Rifugio Pian de Fontana

Logistics

Getting there
Fly into Venice (VCE) or Innsbruck (INN). From Venice take the train to Calalzo di Cadore, then the Cortina bus and the Braies shuttle in summer. From Innsbruck, train via Brennero to Dobbiaco, then the Pragser-Wildsee bus.
Getting back
From La Pissa, the SS203 bus runs to Belluno (≈45 min). Belluno has direct trains to Venice Mestre (≈2 h).
Permits
No permit required. Camping is forbidden inside the protected areas — overnight only in rifugi or bivouacs.
Booking
Book every rifugio for July and August as soon as the season opens (usually early March). June and September are easier but still fill on weekends. CAI half-board is the standard rate.

Season & difficulty

Best season
Mid-June to late September
Difficulty
Moderate
Start
Lago di Braies (BZ)
End
Belluno (BL)

What to pack

  • B-rated approach boots — no crampons needed
  • 20–35 L pack — luggage transfer is not available
  • Sleeping-bag liner (sacco lenzuolo) — required in every CAI rifugio
  • Light waterproof jacket and trousers
  • Head-torch (Lagazuoi tunnel and any pre-dawn starts)
  • 1.5 L water capacity — refill at every rifugio
  • Cash — most rifugi still take cards intermittently or not at all

FAQ

How hard is Alta Via 1?

Moderate. Daily ascents of 600–1100 m, no via ferrata required, but exposure on Forcella de Zita Sud and Forcella del Lago needs steady footing. Anyone fit enough for a long week of UK hill walking can do AV1.

Do I need a guide?

No. AV1 is waymarked end-to-end (CAI sign #1) and the rifugi are spaced for self-guided walkers. A guide is only useful if you want to add via ferrata variants (e.g. Ivano Dibona, Cesco Tomaselli).

When does the season open?

Most rifugi open between 15 and 25 June and close around 20 September. Snow lingers on the high passes into early July in heavy winters — check Rifugio Coldai and Pramperet directly before booking June dates.

Can I do AV1 in fewer days?

Strong walkers combine days 1–2, 4–5, and 10–11 to finish in 7 nights. Anything shorter usually means skipping the Schiara finish and bussing from Passo Duran.

Can I do AV1 with a dog?

Most rifugi accept small dogs on lead with prior agreement, often in a dedicated room. Confirm at booking — a few rifugi (notably Lagazuoi) restrict pets in high season.

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