South Tyrol · Northern start
Lago di Braies / Pragersee
An alpine lake beneath steep limestone peaks and the traditional starting point for the north-to-south route.
Alta Via 1 Dolomites
Plan your Alta Via 1 Dolomites hike
Build an itinerary around your hiking style, secure the best accommodation and confidently prepare for your self-guided journey through the Dolomites.
The trail at a glance
What is the Alta Via 1?
The Alta Via 1 (AV1) is a multi-day hut-to-hut hiking route through the Italian Dolomites. The classic route travels south from Lago di Braies to La Pissa, passing limestone peaks, alpine lakes, mountain passes and rifugios. Your distance and daily stages will vary with your route and accommodation choices.
Classic route
120 km
75 miles
Elevation gain
7,400 m
24,300 feet
Typical duration
8–10 days
Shorter itineraries are possible
Country
Italy
South Tyrol and Belluno
Highest point
2,752 m
9,029 feet
Main hiking season
Jun–Sep
Conditions vary each season
Alta Via 1 route map
Follow the route through the Dolomites
The classic Alta Via 1 runs from Lago di Braies in the north towards La Pissa near Belluno. There are alternative paths, different places to start or finish, and accommodation options beyond the main trail.
Use the map as an overview; build your own itinerary to see the hiking distance and ascent for each day you choose.
Explore the itinerary planner
Start planning
Plan each part of your Alta Via 1
Choose an itinerary that suits your group, understand the current accommodation situation and keep up with conditions as your hike approaches.
The Hiking Club platform
See your complete Alta Via 1 plan come together.
Turn the Alta Via 1 into an itinerary designed around your group. Bring your route, rifugio bookings, trail preparation and navigation together—and keep adjusting the plan as your trip takes shape.
Build your itinerary
Compare daily distance, ascent, hiking time, alternative
routes and transport.
Secure accommodation
Check booking status and live availability, then set
opening-date or cancellation alerts.
Prepare confidently
Follow trail updates, closures, warnings, snow information
and recent community images.
Navigate your route
Download your personalised itinerary and GPS map files
for offline use.
Platform access from €79 · One purchase covers your hiking group
The Italian Dolomites
Your itinerary determines how much time you have to enjoy each part of the route.
Choosing your itinerary
How long does the Alta Via 1 take?
Most hikers plan around 8–10 days for the Alta Via 1. The right duration depends on your hiking pace, the distance you want to cover each day and where you can secure accommodation.
An Alta Via 1 itinerary can follow the full route from Lago di Braies towards La Pissa bus stop or focus on a shorter section. Alternative paths, rifugio locations and transport connections can change your daily stages.
Accommodation on the Alta Via 1
How do you book accommodation on the Alta Via 1?
The Alta Via 1 has mountain rifugios along the route and hotels and guesthouses in nearby villages. Where you stay will shape your daily stages, so compare accommodation options and booking availability as you build your itinerary.
Popular rifugios and private rooms can fill early. Check which properties are accepting bookings, design your itinerary around current availability and the dates when other properties open for bookings.
Mountain rifugios
The classic hut-to-hut experience, usually with hot showers and food provided.
Private rooms
Available at selected rifugios, with limited capacity and strong demand.
Hotels and guesthouses
Variety of accommodation options in local villages, accessible from the trail by public transport.
Campgrounds
Private campgrounds with services located outside the nature parks.
Rifugio Fanes
A mountain rifugio along the Alta Via 1.
Availability changes as rifugios open bookings and hikers alter their plans. The Hiking Club platform provides booking information, live availability and opening or cancellation alerts for supported properties. AV1 camping itineraries use campgrounds; there are no permitted bivouac locations along this trail.
Through the Dolomites
Alta Via 1 trail highlights
From the waters of Lago di Braies to the limestone towers around Cinque Torri, the Alta Via 1 passes alpine lakes, high mountain terrain and places shaped by the Dolomites’ history.
Belluno · Historic landscape
Cinque Torri
Distinctive rock towers surrounded by trails and First World War trenches and shelters.
Lagazuoi area
Forcella Lagazuoi
High mountain views near Lagazuoi, where hikers can also explore wartime tunnels as a separate activity.
Civetta area
Lago Coldai
A high alpine lake near Rifugio Coldai, surrounded by dramatic mountain scenery.
High mountain pass
Forcella di Lago
A steep, rocky section that shows the more demanding side of the Alta Via 1.
Belluno · Mountain scenery
Passo di Giau
Open Dolomites scenery and striking limestone peaks around one of the route’s best-known mountain passes.
Choose your trailheads
Where can you start and finish the Alta Via 1?
The classic route runs south from Lago di Braies to La Pissa, but you can start or finish along the trail to create a shorter itinerary. You can also hike in the opposite direction. Choose the locations that suit your available time, transport connections and accommodation.
Northern trailhead
Lago di Braies
Also known as Pragser Wildsee, the lake is the classic starting point for a north-to-south traverse and the finish for hikers travelling south to north.
Trail access: Lago di Braies
Central section
Lagazuoi and Cinque Torri
Start or finish in the central Dolomites to focus on Lagazuoi, Cinque Torri and the surrounding mountain scenery.
Trail access: Cortina or San Cassiano
Central and southern section
Alleghe
Begin or end farther south for a route through the central and southern Dolomites, with your stages shaped by transport and available accommodation.
Trail access: Via Alleghe
Southern trailhead
La Pissa
Finish the classic north-to-south traverse here, or start at La Pissa and hike towards Lago di Braies in the opposite direction to most AV1 hikers.
Trail access: La Pissa bus stop
Plan around your available time
Choose the start and finish that work for you.
Compare daily distance, ascent, accommodation and transport connections between your chosen trailheads before settling on an itinerary.
Personalise the route
The main Alta Via 1 route and its alternatives
The classic AV1 is a complete hut-to-hut journey. Alternative hiking routes can add a highlight, lead to a different overnight stop or change the terrain of a stage. Optional via ferratas are a separate, more technical choice for suitably experienced hikers.
The foundation for your itinerary
The classic AV1 route
Follow the established hiking route south from Lago di Braies towards La Pissa, choosing daily stages around your pace and available accommodation. No via ferrata is required on the standard route.
- 120 km / 75mi Classic distance
- 7,400 m / 24,300ft Elevation gain
- 8–10 days Typical duration
Hiking alternatives
Alternative routes to consider
Add a summit, follow a historic trail or visit another part of the Dolomites. Each choice changes your distance, ascent and daily stages; some are substantially more demanding than the classic route.
Optional summit · Northern AV1
Croda del Becco
Add an ascent of Croda del Becco above the Lago di Braies and Rifugio Biella area for wide views across the northern Dolomites. Allow time and energy for the extra climb.
Historic trail · Fodara Vedla
Strada di Rudo
Follow an old military mule track built by Austro-Hungarian troops during the First World War. Interpretive signs tell the story of the Fodara Vedla plateau as a rear-line encampment and logistics area. A quieter choice for alpine scenery and Dolomites history.
First World War history · Lagazuoi
Lagazuoi WWI tunnels
Descend through the historic tunnel system inside Lagazuoi instead of following the outdoor trail to Passo Falzarego. Check access conditions and bring a headlamp and suitable protective equipment.
Lake and rifugio · Central AV1
Croda da Lago
Take a route through the Croda da Lago area to visit Lago Federa. Stop for lunch or plan an overnight stay at Rifugio Croda da Lago if it fits your stages.
Demanding circuit · Monte Pelmo
Monte Pelmo loop
Circle the Monte Pelmo massif on a more demanding alternative with steep, loose rocky terrain and sections assisted by cables. Assess the route and conditions carefully before adding it.
Side trip · Southern AV1
Malga Pramper
Add a side trip to Malga Pramper to spend more time in the quieter southern Dolomites. Check how the detour affects your hiking time and your next overnight stop.
Optional technical routes
Via ferratas you can choose to add
These routes are separate from the standard AV1 hike. They require suitable experience, equipment and a check of current conditions; adding one can also change your daily stages.
Near Passo Giau
Via Ferrata Ra Gusela
An optional route between the Nuvolau area and Passo Giau that changes the line of this stage.
Optional summit
Via Ferrata Monte Averau
Add an ascent of Monte Averau for broad views over the surrounding Dolomites.
Advanced extension
Piero Rossi Via Ferrata
A remote, exposed route in the Schiara group sometimes described as an additional stage beyond the standard AV1.
Via ferrata grading and conditions vary. Check the specific route and carry appropriate equipment; a hiking itinerary alone does not establish that a technical route is suitable for your group.
Build the route around your ability
See what each alternative changes.
Compare daily distance, ascent, estimated hiking time and accommodation when you add or remove routes in the planning platform.
Plan around the available sites
Compare campgrounds with your daily route and hiking statistics.
Sleeping under canvas
Can you camp on the Alta Via 1?
Yes, at established campgrounds along or near selected parts of the route. A camping itinerary takes more planning on the AV1: sites are not available at every suitable overnight stop, so you may need to combine camping with nights in mountain rifugios.
Wild camping and bivouacking are prohibited along the AV1 through its natural parks. Do not plan to pitch a tent outside an authorised campground. Check current rules with the relevant park and campground before you travel.
Plan the complete journey
Build an AV1 itinerary around real overnight stops.
Compare campgrounds and rifugios with the distance, elevation and estimated hiking time between each stop in The Hiking Club platform.
Difficulty and preparation
How difficult is the Alta Via 1?
The Alta Via 1 is a demanding multi-day mountain hike. The main route follows marked trails, but it includes steep climbs and descents, rocky ground and some exposed sections where confident footing matters.
The standard hiking route does not require a via ferrata. Your experience will still depend on the daily stages, alternatives, pack weight, weather and accommodation locations you choose.
Trail type
Mountain hiking
Elevation gain
7,400 m / 24,300 ft
Typical duration
8–10 days
Steep, rocky terrain
Mountain passes and uneven paths can demand careful footing, particularly on long descents or loose ground.
Exposed sections
Parts of the route, including the Forcella di Lago area, can feel challenging if you are uncomfortable with steep or exposed mountain paths.
Changing conditions
Rain, wind and thunderstorms can make a familiar stage more difficult. Check current conditions and choose suitable alternatives when needed.
Your daily stages
Consecutive hiking days, longer distances and accommodation detours all add to the challenge. Plan for your group's experience and recovery time.
Forcella di Lago · Early season
Snow can remain on parts of the route after the hiking season begins.
Choose your hiking dates
When is the best time to hike the Alta Via 1?
The main hiking season generally runs from mid-June to mid-September. The right dates depend on trail conditions, rifugio opening dates, accommodation availability and the experience you want.
Use current conditions to make the final call. The calendar alone cannot tell you whether a particular stage is suitable on the day you plan to hike it.
Plan around your dates
Match your stages to open accommodation.
Compare AV1 itineraries and overnight stops for your preferred dates, then adjust your stages around the accommodation you can secure.
Build a realistic budget
How much does it cost to hike the Alta Via 1?
The cost of a self-guided Alta Via 1 hike depends on how many days you spend on the trail, where you stay and how you plan your meals. Allow separately for flights, transfers, insurance, equipment and any buses or cable cars you choose to use.
An example from our cost guide
€850
Per person for a 10-day, 9-night shared room itinerary.
Your accommodation choices make the biggest difference.
A shared room based itinerary includes mountain-hut accommodation, meals and lunches. Private rooms or a mix of village stays will produce a different total.
This is a starting estimate rather than a fixed price. Costs vary by itinerary, season, availability, exchange rates and personal spending choices.
Accommodation
Rifugio dormitories, limited private rooms, village stays and campgrounds have different prices and may not be available at every stage.
Food
Half-board meals, hut lunches, packed lunches, snacks and village restaurants can change your daily spending.
Duration
Each extra hiking or rest day usually adds another night of accommodation and a day of meals.
Transport
Budget for travel to your trailhead, your journey home and any local buses or cable cars included in your itinerary.
Include in your trail budget
- Accommodation for each night on or near the route
- Breakfast and dinner, including any required half-board
- Lunches, snacks and drinks during the hike
Remember to add
- Flights and transfers to and from the trail
- Insurance, equipment and personal spending
- Local transport and extra nights before or after the hike
Plan your own trip
Build a budget around your actual itinerary.
Choose your daily stages and accommodation in the planning platform, then check current prices for the places you intend to book.
Budget figures are indicative and will vary by travel dates, exchange rates, provider pricing, availability and personal choices.
Compare Dolomites trails
Is the Alta Via 1 right for you?
The Dolomites have several long-distance Alta Via routes. Compare their length and character before choosing the journey that suits your available time and mountain experience.
Current trail
Alta Via 1
A good introduction to multi-day hiking in the Dolomites. The marked hiking route links mountain rifugios and can be shaped around your pace, although you should still prepare for steep, rocky sections.
Distance
120 km · 75 mi
Typical duration
8–10 days
More demanding traverse
Alta Via 2
A more difficult traverse with steep climbs, exposed terrain and some cable-assisted sections. Experienced hikers can add optional via ferrata routes for a more technical journey.
Distance
167 km · 104 mi
Typical duration
10–14 days
Shorter, more technical route
Alta Via 4
A shorter, rugged route whose main trail includes via ferrata sections. Lower alternative routes can avoid the ferratas, but change the distance, effort and stages you need to plan.
Distance
70 km · 43 mi
Typical duration
5–7 days
Susan
Dolomites trail specialist
Expert Access
Plan your Alta Via 1 with someone who knows the trail.
If you would like personal help, work with Susan to design an achievable itinerary around your group, hiking dates, rifugio availability and priorities. You can then continue booking and preparing independently inside The Hiking Club platform.
60-minute consultation
Your hiking companions can join.
Personalised itinerary
Designed collaboratively for your group.
Platform access
Continue planning, booking and preparing.
Planning questions
Alta Via 1 FAQs
Clear answers to common questions about planning a self-guided Alta Via 1 hike.
How long is the Alta Via 1?
The classic route is approximately 120 km (75 miles), with around 7,400 metres (24,300 feet) of elevation gain. Your hiking stats change with your start and finish points, accommodation detours and alternative routes.
How many days do you need for the Alta Via 1?
Most hikers plan around 8–10 days for the classic route. A shorter trip can focus on one section; additional days allow for shorter stages or more time in the Dolomites.
Compare AV1 itineraries before choosing your daily stages.
Is the Alta Via 1 suitable for a first multi-day hike?
It can be a good first multi-day mountain hike for someone with suitable fitness and preparation. The standard route uses marked hiking trails and links mountain rifugios, but includes sustained climbs, rocky terrain and some exposed sections. Choose daily stages that suit your experience.
Do you need via ferrata equipment for the Alta Via 1?
No via ferrata is required on the standard hiking route. Optional via ferrata routes are separate, more technical choices that require appropriate equipment and experience. Check the requirements of any alternative you add.
Can you hike the Alta Via 1 without a guide?
Yes. Many hikers plan and walk the AV1 independently. Self-guided hikers need to choose appropriate stages, arrange accommodation, carry reliable navigation and check current trail and weather conditions.
Learn how to prepare your route for offline navigation.
Where does the Alta Via 1 start and finish?
The classic north-to-south route starts at Lago di Braies and finishes at La Pissa. You can also start or finish at accessible points along the route, including the Lagazuoi and Cinque Torri area or via Alleghe, to build a shorter itinerary.
Can you camp along the Alta Via 1?
You can stay at established campgrounds along or near selected parts of the route. They may not align with every suitable hiking stage, so a camping itinerary can also include nights in rifugios. There are no permitted bivouac locations along the AV1 in The Hiking Club platform.
When should you book Alta Via 1 rifugios?
Rifugios open reservations at different times, and popular properties can fill early for peak hiking dates. Build more than one workable set of stages and check the booking status of the properties relevant to your dates.
See the current AV1 accommodation booking status.
Plan your self-guided AV1
Bring your entire Alta Via 1 plan together.
Build an itinerary around your group, understand the rifugio availability for your dates, prepare for current trail conditions and take your personalised route with you into the Dolomites.
- Compare routes and daily stages
- Check accommodation availability
- Set opening and cancellation alerts
- Review current trail updates
- Plan transport connections
- Download your route for offline use