Dolomites Hut Hike
Hiking Trip Details
- Location: Northern Italy
- Length: 10 days
- Grade: Strenuous and strenuous plus
- Accommodations: Mountain huts (rifugios) and hotels
- Group size: 5 – 12
- Dates: June 28 – July 7, 2012 and September 2 – 11, 2012
- Land Cost (US$): $3,095
Hiking Trip Summary
We think this is one of the most dramatic, exciting, and wonderful hiking areas in the Alps. Strikingly different from the French and Swiss Alps, the limestone Dolomites of northern Italy rise dramatically from alpine valleys to form startling spire-like peaks and towering canyonesque rock faces.
Beginning in the Italian Sud Tirol, we will hike south along the high route, Alta Via 1, through the Pragser, Tofana, and Civetta mountain groups. The impressiveness of the scenery and the variety of terrain along this route are matched only by the warmth and hospitality of the rifugio and hotels. The unusual contrasts in landscapes and curious mix of Italian and Austrian influences can only mean fantastic hiking and plenty of pasta!
Since 1988, Distant Journeys has been guiding hiking adventures in the Alps. We pride ourselves on attention to detail, personalized service and safety. This is a great hike and we encourage you to speak with our past participants. They will give you honest insight into our Dolomites Hut Hike.
Itinerary
Day 1: The trip will begin at the hotel in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. Cortina d’Ampezzo is a classic Dolomites village nestled among the spectacular mountains of the Tofane, Cristallo, Sorapis and Antelao. This beautiful village has a wonderful main street lined with several shops and outdoor cafes. There is train access from Venice (3 1/2 hours) or even Milan (5 or more hours). Cortina is a great place to begin our trek. Welcome dinner and trip orientation.
Day 2: Morning transfer to Ra Stua. This pleasant hike offers our first views of the Tofane, the Croda Rossa, and the Croda del Becco. Passing the high alpine meadows of Ra Stua, our trail switchbacks up through the larch forest before arriving at our rifugio for the night.
Day 3: Our hike leads through the lush broad valley between the rocky summits of Monte Castello, which was heavily fortified during WWI, and Piz des Centurines. The scenery and colors are stunning. Our rifugio is set in a beautiful valley surrounded by the towering mountains of the Cime di Fanes.
Day 4: Today’s hike is steady climb to the Alpe di Lagazuoi to the Rifugio Lagazuoi over this vast limestone plateau. Surrounding us are the Punta di Fanes, theges called galleries, which serve as memorials to the terrible fighting that took place here in 1916. The setting for our rifugio is remarkable as it looks at the long wall of the Croda di Lago.
Day 5: Today’s remote trail leads us near two striking rock mountains: Averau and Nuvolao, as we hike to Passo Giau. The trail then leads over the Forcella Giau where the views of the Tofana and Monte Cavallo are inspiring, not to mention the grandeur of mountains on display to the south: Monte Fromin, Cernera, Pelmo and the up swept flank of Monte Mondeval. The trail leads over lush alpine meadows, where we perhaps will spot some wild edelweiss. The last part of the day leads below Pelmo’s north face, (which is 3,300′ straight up to the top at 10,454′,) to our comfortable mountain rifugio at Passo Staulanza.
Day 6: From Passo Staulanza, we join a popular trail and climb to the shoulder of Monte Coldai, which lies at the edge of the famous Monte Civetta (10,620′). After stopping for a picnic lunch at Lago Coldai, we continue to the col Negro di Coldai, which looks over at the towering west face of Monte Civetta. This “wall of walls” extends for over 4 miles! About mid-way past this wall, we climb to our rifugio (7,500′), Rifugio Tissi, perched on the mountain flank looking out at the Val Civetta, down the Alleghe Valley and west to the Marmolada Glacier. This overnight stop is memorable.
Day 7: We descend to the Val Civetta, through beautiful open green meadows and to the narrow valley of Val Corpassa. Our route takes us right below the sheer rock faces of the Torre Venezia and the Torre Trieste. The last part of our hike leads us below the massive Pala delle Masenade and Monte Mioazza to our rifugio for the night. This is a remote and varied hike.
Day 8: Today the trail leads south of the rocky Tamer Grande and Castello di Moschesin. Rounding the corner at the pass at Moschesin we are treated with views of Mont Talvena, Cima de Zita, the deep, narrow valleys of the La Clusa to the south and Val Pramper to the north. This is a remote, rugged, and quiet path. Overnight at Rifugio Pramperet.
Day 9: Today is our last day on the trail as we hike from Pramperet to the trail’s end. The hiking day is stunning, the views are huge, and the scale immense. This is a long day on some rugged terrain and includes a steep descent. However, the second half of the day continues down through wonderful hardwood forests on relatively “smooth” and wide paths making for easier going. At the end of the hike we meet our van for transfer back to our hotel in Cortina. Farewell dinner.
Day 10:The trip will end with a short, 30 minute, group transfer to the train station at Calalzo-Pieve di Cardore, from where you can travel by train to Venice and other destinations. Train travel time from Calalzo to Venice is about 3 1/2 hours depending on the schedule. Please allow for travel time when making plans or any flight reservations. We are happy to help with schedules and travel plans.
Additional Information
Included
All accommodations, all breakfasts (some are continental-style) and all dinners, ski lift and transfers as per itinerary, guides and lots of great hiking.
Not Included
Airfare, lunches, travel to Cortina and from the Calalzo train station, the ending point, optional/individual transfers or excursions, items not on set dinner menu, beverages, tips to guides, insurance, items of personal nature.
Luggage
This hike is not vehicle supported. You will need to carry a moderate sized pack with only the clothing and accessories you will need for the duration of hike. (See our sample packing list.) With advances in synthetic clothing and other travel gear, it’s possible to keep your pack weight to 20 lbs. or less, including lunch and water. Any extra luggage or belongings not needed on the hike can remain at the hotel in Cortina.
Accommodations and Facilities
Hotels: We stay at a wonderful family run hotel in Cortina. All rooms with private baths.
Rifugios: A rifugio is a mountain “lodge” that offers simple overnight accommodations for hikers. The rifugios can vary greatly depending on where they are located; however they all are situated in amazing places.
• Rifugios Fordara, Scotoni, Cinque Torri, Staulanza and San Sebastiano are more like simple mountain inns and have reasonably spacious and quite nice bunks rooms (top and bottom beds). They have very nice bath rooms, complete with hot showers. Blanket pillows and a small bath towel is provided at each of these rifugios.
• Rifugios Tissi and Pramperet are rustic, basic and simple. They have larger bunk rooms (up to 20). There are blankets and pillows on each bunk. Towels are not provided. There are basic bathrooms with showers.
Breakfasts and dinners are served at the hotels or rifugios and lunches are picnic style along the trail.
Travel
Cortina is easy to access from several airports. We recommend flying to Venice (Marco Polo) as a first choice. Innsbruck, Austria, Milan (Malpensa) or Munich are also options, but require more travel time. From any of these airports you can travel by train and then bus or a short taxi trip to Cortina. We have detailed travel information about getting to and from Cortina.
Who would like this trip?
Our Dolomites Hut Hike is perfect for those strong hikers looking for a challenging and varied hike and like staying at the wonderful rifugios. This hiking area is strikingly different from the French or Swiss Alps. The red, yellow, and orange rock faces of the Dolomites towering limestone peaks are nothing short of dazzling. This route should be on every hiker’s “must do” list.
Why Travel with Distant Journeys
The owners and staff plan the trips, talk to prospective hikers on the phone carefully answering any questions or concerns. We want you to take a trip with us that is suited to you. All this allows for flexibility, value, personal attention and safety. We are very proud of our trips and our high return rate of hikers. Please ask us for a list of past participants as they will give you honest insight to Distant Journeys.
Meeting point
We will meet on Day 1 at 6:30 pm at the hotel in Cortina, Italy. Please contact us for detailed travel information regarding travel to Cortina.
Ending Point
The trip will end after breakfast at the hotel in Cortina on day 10. Please allow for travel time when making plans. We are happy to help with travel. ( Example of travel times: train travel from nearby Calalzo – Pieve di Cadore (45 minutes from Cortina) to Venice is roughly 3 1/2 hours. A taxi from Cortina to Venice will take about 2 hours.
For a more detailed itinerary that includes elevation gains, loss and distance, or to register please call.
Italy Trips
Hut Hikes
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Self-Guided
Distant Journeys rocks! You have all the details covered. Very creative and well planned itinerary. Very professional.
Julia Alaimo , Rochester NY
