---
title: "Alta Via 1 – a guide to the breathtaking multi-day trek in the Dolomites (thru-hiking 101)"
description: "The Alta Via 1 route is considered one of the most beautiful multi-day treks in Europe. How do you prepare for this trail and what awaits you on it?"
canonical_url: "https://gramino.com/blog/alta-via-1-guide"
last_updated: "2024-03-26"
---

# Alta Via 1 – a guide to the breathtaking multi-day trek in the Dolomites (thru-hiking 101)

Authors: Petra Kovalčíková

Date: 2024-03-26

The Alta Via 1 route is considered one of the most beautiful multi-day treks in Europe. How do you prepare for this trail and what awaits you on it?

Some call them the Italian Yosemite. Towering rock walls and sharply rising limestone peaks, picture-postcard panoramas and azure lakes, meadows full of flowers and grazing cattle, chamois bounding across the slopes and marmots whistling in the distance. That's the Dolomites – views you'll never tire of and that will stay with you forever. Anyone who visits once will probably fall in love with them for life.

The Alta Via 1 mountain crossing takes you straight into the heart of the Dolomites, and that's exactly where we're headed in this mini-guide to long-distance trails from our “thru-hiking 101” series. It's a truly scenic route and easily ranks among the most striking and beautiful multi-day treks in the Alps. It's no accident that, together with the Tour du Mont Blanc, it's considered one of the most beautiful long-distance trails in Europe. This article gives you all the essential information you'll need before setting off on this stunning 120 km trail.

## **Key facts and what this article covers**

[Map](https://mapy.com/s/helorecame)

## **Trail name**

The full official name of this best-known long-distance hiking trail in the Italian Dolomites is **Alta Via delle Dolomiti n. 1** (in Italian), while the trek is known for short as **Alta Via 1** (abbreviated **AV1**). You'll also often come across the German name **Dolomiten-Höhenweg 1**. In English, it's sometimes called the **Dolomites High Route n. 1**.

As the number in the name suggests, it's just one of several long-distance hiking routes in the Dolomites. These routes, known as “Alte Vie” (**high routes**), form a series of connected high-mountain hiking and via ferrata paths. AV1 is popular not only for its relative accessibility and simplicity, but above all for its stunning scenery and breathtaking views. The other routes (Alta Via 2–6) are technically more demanding and you won't avoid tougher via ferratas on them.

## **Location**

As already mentioned, Alta Via 1 is a trail in **Italy** that takes you through the beauty of the Dolomites, from **Lago di Braies** to the town of **Belluno**.

The Dolomites, also known as the Dolomite Alps, are a mountain range in northeastern Italy. They're known for their unique beauty, imposing rock spires and steep limestone walls, deep valleys and picturesque lakes – features so striking that they earned the range a spot on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

The route takes you over several mountain passes, past crystal-clear lakes ringed by jagged rock peaks, and leads you to the iconic, world-famous **rock formation of the five towers, Cinque Torri**, before skirting the massive **rock face of Monte Civetta**. AV1 passes through several nature reserves and protected areas, and also crosses into two major national and regional nature parks (Fanes-Sennes-Braies, Dolomiti Bellunesi).

## **Total length**

The total length of the Alta Via 1 route is **approximately 120 km**. In a few places you can choose between **route variants**, most notably on the **final stretch** before Belluno, which is the only section that includes a via ferrata around the Schiara massif. You can easily avoid it by taking the shorter variant to the bus stop “**La Pissa**” between Agordo and Belluno – this is still an officially marked AV1 route, just an alternative finish. Alternatively, you can leave the Alta Via 1 route on other marked trails down to the town of Longarone, a route that's roughly the same length as the one to Belluno.

## **Total elevation gain**

Total elevation gain on the Alta Via 1 route is quoted at **approximately 6,500–8,000 vertical meters**, depending on the exact route and direction you choose. Because of the significant elevation gain over relatively short distances, you should expect to cover fewer kilometers per day than you might be used to from lower mountain ranges back home.

## **Highest and lowest point**

The highest point on the Alta Via 1 route is the high mountain pass **Forcella Lagazuoi** at **2,572 m** above sea level. If you want, you can also climb a few nearby higher peaks or higher mountain huts along the way (for example, from Forcella Lagazuoi itself you can hike up to **Rifugio Lagazuoi**, 2,752 m).

The lowest point on the trail is its final (or starting) point – the town of **Belluno** (390 m above sea level).

## **Duration**

You can hike the entire Alta Via 1 route **hut to hut** (it's a so-called “hut-to-hut” long-distance trail), in which case the **official stages** are designed for **10–12 days**. This pace, combined with the option of sleeping in huts, will suit older hikers or families with (older) kids especially well.

If you decide to hike AV1 with just a tent, or with occasional nights in huts or emergency shelters, you'll likely be able to cover the route much faster, in **5–8 days**, depending on your preferences, fitness, the weather, and other factors.

## **Direction and season**

The season for hiking Alta Via 1 runs **from mid-June to the end of September**. Depending on the weather, patches of snow can still linger in higher areas as late as June, which can make certain sections difficult or even dangerous to cross. Likewise, the weather can deteriorate significantly by September, bringing the first snowfall of the season. The Dolomites are a very popular and heavily visited area, so during the main summer holiday months (July, August) expect to share the trail with more hikers.

The official route runs **from north to south**, from Lago di Braies down to the town of Belluno. This direction is more popular among hikers and also slightly less demanding in terms of elevation gain, since you start from a higher point. That said, you can hike Alta Via 1 **in either direction** – from the southern end to the northern one as well.

And even though we're talking about a north-to-south direction and vice versa, on European trails it's not yet as common or established to use the terms Nobo (Northbound) and Sobo (Southbound) the way you might know them from other thru-hikes, especially in North America (the [Pacific Crest Trail](/blog/pacific-crest-trail-pct-guide), the Appalachian Trail, and so on). Let's start changing that little by little, then, and sum it up by saying that Alta Via 1 is more commonly, and more easily, hiked Sobo (i.e. from north to south).

## **Start and end points**

The official start of the Alta Via 1 route is at the picturesque, turquoise-colored **Lago di Braies**, in the Fanes-Senes-Braies regional nature park. It's a fairly busy spot – there's a large hotel with paid parking by the lake, and plenty of day hikes and multi-day trails start from here. If you're driving to Italy, as many hikers do, we'd recommend leaving your car in one of the free parking areas in Niederdorf–Villabassa or Toblach–Dobbiaco. Look up the exact spots and parking areas on [mapy.com](https://mapy.com/) (there are several options) – we'd rather not single out one or two specific spots here that would then get flooded with cars all summer long. Buses run from both towns to Lago di Braies ([line 442](https://www.prags.bz/en#modal-erreichbarkeit-1), about 30 minutes – tickets can be bought online or paid for in cash on the bus), or you can try hitchhiking or walking there instead (about 10 km from Niederdorf–Villabassa).

The official end of AV1 is the town of **Belluno**, which has both bus and train connections. That said, you'll need to plan your route back to the car a little, since you'll likely need one or two transfers, especially if you take the easier, shorter alternative that skips the via ferrata on the last day and finishes at **La Pissa** (the alternative end of the AV1 route). From there it's often easier to hitchhike into Belluno, since buses don't run very frequently. One way to avoid both the via ferrata and a more complicated trip back to the car is to leave the Alta Via 1 route on the last day and, at the signpost behind the Rifugio Pian de Fontana hut, follow other marked trails down to the town of Longarone, from where buses run back with a transfer in the beautiful Olympic mountain town of Cortina d'Ampezzo, a major winter sports hub in Italy. Of course, another option is to leave the car at your destination (e.g. Belluno) and take public transport to the start of the Alta Via 1 route, so you can finish the trail without worrying about getting back to the car.

You can also get to Italy by [Flixbus](https://www.flixbus.com/) to Venice/Treviso, or fly to Venice, from where you can continue by public transport to both the start and end of the route.

We'd recommend looking up all bus and train connections on [rome2rio](https://www.rome2rio.com/), which shows you combined routes from multiple carriers, along with links to buy tickets. Unfortunately, there's no single official search engine for bus and train connections in Italy.

## **Official source of information**

The history of the Alta Via routes is tied to their long development and the gradual linking of existing paths and trails into a single system. Most of these routes were developed and completed over the course of the 20th century, with the aim of boosting tourism and improving access to the mountainous areas of the Dolomites. Many of these paths have roots in historic routes once used by locals or by armies during various conflicts, including the First World War, when the Dolomites were the site of intense fighting. Maintenance and promotion of hiking trails in the Dolomites today is handled by, among others, the Italian Alpine Club (Club Alpino Italiano, [CAI](https://www.cai.it/)).

As a long-distance trail, Alta Via 1 doesn't have its own official website, but you'll find plenty of useful information (including a map and a description of the 12 hut-to-hut stages) in Italian or English on the [official Dolomites portal](https://www.dolomiti.org/en/cortina/experiences/t/alpine-path-1/).

## **Planning and preparation**

#### **Permits**

Setting off on the Alta Via 1 route is very simple – you don't need any **permit or authorization** to hike it.

#### **Visas**

As a citizen of an EU or Schengen country, you won't need a visa or residence permit to stay in Italy, and a national ID card is enough – you don't need to carry a passport. If you're coming from outside the EU/Schengen area, check Italy's entry requirements well ahead of your trip.

#### **Insurance**

Since Alta Via 1 runs along marked hiking trails and the highest points on the route don't exceed 3,000 m above sea level, **standard travel insurance** without extra cover for active/high-risk sports will be enough for AV1, as long as you skip the via ferratas, which you can easily avoid. If you do want to use them (whether on Alta Via 1 itself or just for fun nearby), it's worth checking the terms of your insurance policy first – most insurers **class via ferratas as a high-risk sport**, so you'll need extra cover for it, along with the necessary via ferrata gear.

#### **Navigation and maps**

It might come as a surprise, but Alta Via 1 **isn't especially well marked**. That doesn't mean there's no marking along the way, though – quite the opposite. Like every other route in the Alps, it's marked with a **red-and-white stripe** or a **red-white-red stripe** – which can make it tricky and confusing to tell AV1 apart from other routes. Sometimes there's a number in the white part of the stripe identifying the specific trail, but since various routes cross and overlap, you won't always be following just no. 1. Some signposts spell out “Alta Via 1” directly, but definitely not all of them, so it's worth knowing the intermediate destinations and the direction of the route too. Every so often you'll spot a **blue triangle with a red 1 in the middle** painted on a rock, which will reassure you that you're on the right path.

For offline navigation and route tracking, we'd strongly recommend [mapy.com](https://mapy.com/s/rodeluludu), which has the whole route mapped out. Naturally, you'll also find the Alta Via 1 long-distance trail in other hiking maps and navigation apps, such as [Hiiker](https://hiiker.app/trails/italy/pustertal-val-pusteria/alta-via-1/map) or [AllTrails](https://www.alltrails.com/lists/alpine-path-1-dolomites-alta-via-1-dolomiti). A map of Alta Via 1 currently isn't available in FarOut, the well-known app popular with thru-hikers. If you'd rather not rely on tech alone, you can also pick up a printed guidebook with maps, for example from [Cicerone](https://www.cicerone.co.uk/alta-via-1-trekking-in-the-dolomites) or [Knife Edge Outdoor](https://www.knifeedgeoutdoor.com/store/p8/dolomites-av1.html#/).

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## **Gear**

If you decide to hike Alta Via 1 hut to hut with half-board (see the Camping and Resupply sections below for more detail), you can travel **almost completely light**, since you won't need a tent or a sleeping pad – a light summer sleeping bag is enough for the huts – and you won't need a stove either, carrying at most some snacks for the trail.

Most of our readers, though, are probably drawn to hiking Alta Via 1 **in the wild**. In that case, you'll need **the usual gear for long-distance treks**. You can read about how to build an ultralight gear list [here](/blog/how-to-build-an-ultralight-gear-list). You don't need to bring heavy leather hiking boots either – just as on other long-distance trails, you'll get around easily in **trail running shoes** ([this article](/blog/hiking-boots-or-trail-running-shoes) looks at the advantages of trail shoes in more detail). That said, leave shoes with badly worn-down soles at home – you don't want an unnecessary slip on AV1's terrain.

As with any long-distance trail, we'd also recommend bringing a [water filter](/c/gear/water-filters) – it'll give you a lot more flexibility when it comes to using natural water sources.

Don't forget a [lightweight down jacket](/c/clothing/men-s-clothing/men-s-jackets) either – evenings in the mountains around 2,000 m can be fairly chilly even in summer. Choose your [sleeping bag](/c/sleep/sleeping-bags) or [quilt](/c/sleep/quilts) accordingly – if you tend to run cold, you could still be shivering at night even in summer, so a light three-season sleeping bag/quilt is the safer bet for some.

As for tents and shelters, in the summer months you could get through AV1 with a simple [tarp](/c/sleep/tarps) (pitched with trekking poles) – you just need to have practiced setting it up beforehand and know how to pitch and secure it properly in case of a storm. You don't need to worry too much about bugs.

What we can unreservedly recommend, though, are [trekking poles](/c/gear/trekking-poles) and sunscreen – your knees and skin will thank you later.

## **Trail logistics**

#### **Camping**

Is camping allowed in the Dolomites? Well… let's be straight about it. It isn't. **Wild camping is banned across all of Italy**, and the Dolomites are no exception – but it's generally tolerated there, and camping is fairly common. You do need to treat the environment **responsibly** and with respect, though – ideally pitch your shelter at dusk and pack up again at dawn, look for spots well away from the trail and out of sight, and leave no trace behind. Seasoned hikers will already know that this means following [Leave No Trace](/blog/leave-no-trace) principles.

As mentioned earlier, though, Alta Via 1 was primarily designed as a **“hut-to-hut” long-distance trail**, so you can hike the whole route **staying in huts** without ever having to sleep outdoors. There are plenty of mountain huts, or **“rifugios”**, along the way – some right on the trail, others just a short distance off it. Every day you'll pass at least one mountain hut, often several. You'll find the huts for each stage (including their contact details) [here](https://www.dolomiti.org/en/cortina/experiences/t/alpine-path-1/), listed by section. All the huts are also marked on [mapy.com](https://mapy.com/s/rodeluludu). Sometimes you can find a free bed on the spot, but we'd recommend booking rifugios in advance if you can. Their capacity tends to be fairly limited, and in summer they get genuinely busy – not just with AV1 hikers, but also with climbers and people using the huts as a base for day hikes or mountain biking. Half-board accommodation typically costs around **€50–150** a night; you can get discounts if you're a member of [CAI](https://www.cai.it/) or the Alpine Club. Wifi and the option to charge electronics are often available at the huts. At some mountain huts you might even be allowed to pitch a tent if you ask the staff (though these aren't official campsites – it's entirely down to mutual agreement and goodwill).

Another option for finding shelter in the Dolomites (especially during intense summer storms) is the network of **huts, cabins and refuges** scattered around the area. Some are former abandoned huts (e.g. [Malga Moschesin](https://mapy.com/s/moredasobu)), emergency bivouacs, or half-derelict, no-longer-used cattle stables, while others are lovely wooden buildings with a table, a fireplace, and a sleeping loft (e.g. [Casera del Camp](https://mapy.com/s/labocopuhe) or [Casera La Varetta](https://mapy.com/s/kaketubula)). [mapy.com](https://mapy.com/s/rodeluludu) is a great help for finding these spots, and so is [boudy.info](http://boudy.info/) (a Czech-language shelter database).

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#### **Resupply**

You can buy food in shops and supermarkets at both the start and the end of the trek (Niederdorf–Villabassa, Toblach–Dobbiaco, Belluno). If you're driving to the start yourself, though, it's worth stocking up on supplies before you leave home and bringing them with you (we'd recommend lightweight, nutritious [dehydrated meals](/c/cooking/food) for the trail).

If you hike Alta Via 1 hut to hut and use half-board accommodation, you won't need to carry much food on your back. Small snacks, chocolate, energy bars and the like can also be bought at the huts, of course with a bit of a mountain markup. And even if you're camping wild along the way, there's no problem stopping for lunch, dinner, or just a sweet drink, coffee and cake at one of the mountain huts each day. The Alta Via 1 route never drops down into a town or village, so you won't pass any shop or supermarket to restock at directly.

#### **Water**

Water is **fairly plentiful** along the Alta Via 1 route, so it isn't a major concern. You'll come across drinking-water fountains on the way, and you can also top up without any trouble at the mountain huts. You'll also quite often find springs, streams or lakes, and for safety we'd always recommend [filtering](/c/gear/water-filters) water from these sources. A capacity of max. 3 liters will be enough for most people (though this always depends on the weather, your individual needs, and your pace).

## **Hazards and difficulty**

#### **Weather**

At the height of summer, you can expect temperatures up to 30°C even at elevations above 2,000 m (so don't underestimate hydration and skin protection), though nighttime temperatures can drop considerably in the higher areas. You do need to watch out for changeable weather, though, since summer in the mountains often brings **afternoon thunderstorms** (though they can strike at any hour, day or night). Don't skip checking the weather forecast, and avoid crossing high mountain passes and exposed sections when storms are expected – it's better to stop for coffee and cake at a rifugio along the way instead.

September usually brings more stable weather and far fewer storms, but you can expect gradually falling temperatures, sometimes even the first light frosts and potentially the first snow.

#### **Terrain**

Alta Via 1 is usually rated as a **moderately difficult** trek. Most people find the terrain relatively comfortable and simple – there's no glacier travel and no rock climbing involved. The Dolomites are famous for their via ferratas, but on Alta Via 1 you'll only encounter one, around the Schiara massif, on the **last day of the route** (heading north to south), and it's **easy to avoid** by choosing the alternative finish at La Pissa.

Most of the route runs along well-maintained paths and trails, but on a few sections you'll cross stony or gravelly terrain, which can be slippery and dangerous in the rain. You'll encounter fairly significant elevation gain over short distances, and some climbs or descents are steeper and can be tough on your knees. A handful of shorter sections are more exposed, though most of these are secured with steel cables or railings. Of all the “Alta Via” routes in the Dolomites, though, AV1 is the easiest and technically least demanding.

#### **Injuries and health issues**

On the Alta Via 1 trek, you can run into injuries or health issues **just like anywhere else**. You're moving through high mountains, so pay close attention to avoid overuse injuries, trips, slips, or falls.

Drinking **unfiltered water** from natural sources could give you **digestive problems**.

#### **Wildlife**

There are **no potentially dangerous animals** in the Dolomites. The **common European adder** is probably the most dangerous species – it's venomous, but it usually only bites in self-defense. The Dolomites are home to a bear population numbering a few dozen, though they're mostly found further west of the Alta Via 1 route. Even so, encounters are considered rare, since they're very shy animals.

Along the way you'll occasionally be accompanied by **herds of cattle, donkeys or horses**. You can also look forward to spotting **chamois and marmots** in their natural high-mountain habitat.

#### **Plants**

There are no dangerous plants in the Dolomites that cause aggressive skin irritation or that are toxic or lethally poisonous (with the exception of some mushrooms – various species of Amanita and similar). Still, it's best to avoid eating any berries, wild fruit or mushrooms that you don't know and can't safely identify.

Especially in early summer, you can look forward to **colorful meadows full of flowers**.

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## **Alternatives**

The Dolomites are crisscrossed with a huge number of paths, roads and routes of varying difficulty, so you can extend, shorten, ease or toughen up the Alta Via 1 route to suit your own preferences. If you're keen on **via ferratas**, for instance, and don't mind carrying the necessary gear, there are several areas around AV1 where you can take side trips onto secured routes. Similarly, there are various **viewpoints** or **peaks** near the route that you can climb, as well as other **mountain huts** where you can spend the night or just stop for a bite to eat. **Rifugio Nuvolau**, for example, a hut just off AV1, sits right on top of a rocky outcrop and offers a stunning view in every direction.

Along the way you'll also come across **remnants of the First World War** (such as the remains of fortifications, former supply depots, trenches and tunnels). The AV1 route runs right past some of these (like Cinque Torri), while others require a detour, and in some cases via ferrata gear as well (for example around Rifugio Lagazuoi).

## **Practical tips to finish**

**Budget:** If you hike the whole of AV1 staying and eating at mountain huts, this long-distance trail will likely end up costing you a fair bit. On the flip side, if you carry all your supplies for the whole trek and only sleep in a tent, you don't need to spend a single euro beyond transport to and from the trail. Most people, though, will probably go for the golden middle ground – sleeping outdoors with the occasional meal at a hut.

**Payment:** You can usually pay by card at the mountain huts along the way, but some only accept cash, so it's a good idea to be prepared for both. If you book accommodation at rifugios in advance, you can ask about payment options at that specific location ahead of time.

**Mobile signal:** Mobile coverage isn't available along the entire route, but you'll probably pick up a signal for at least a little while every day (more in some sections, less in others). Wifi is available for guests at some mountain huts, though speed and reliability vary.

**Language:** At least some English is spoken at every mountain hut, but if you speak Italian or German, you'll probably be able to chat a bit more easily with the staff and local hikers.

**Comparison with the TMB:** The Alta Via 1 and Tour du Mont Blanc long-distance treks are often considered the most beautiful in Europe, so they're frequently compared to each other. The TMB is longer than AV1 (about 160 km vs. 120 km), though elevation gain per kilometer is similar (slightly higher on the TMB). On both trails you can use huts for accommodation and at least occasional meals. The TMB crosses 3 countries with different rules on wild camping (banned everywhere except France), while on AV1 camping is banned but mostly tolerated. The TMB also passes through towns where you can resupply, though that means it runs partly on paved roads. Trail marking is better on the TMB than on AV1. The TMB has more sections with cables and ladders, while AV1 brings rugged limestone terrain that some may find more demanding. On both trails, though, you can look forward to incredibly beautiful views and scenery – on the TMB you'll also encounter glaciers and waterfalls, with the majestic highest peak in the Alps in view for practically the whole route, while on AV1 the views change around every corner and you'll be surrounded mainly by sharp, rocky mountain peaks. Right now the TMB is the more popular and more heavily visited trail, but AV1's popularity keeps growing, and it's probably only a matter of time before it's just as busy as the TMB. So there's no better time than now to set off on AV1!

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