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Dolomites Hut Hike: self-guided 2008

Self-Guided Hut-to-Hut

The Trip

From soaring rock towers to grassy alpine meadows the Italian Dolomites offers some of the most dramatic, exciting and challenging hiking areas in the Alps. Strikingly different from the French or Swiss Alps, the limestone Dolomites rise dramatically from narrow valleys to form impressive spires, canyons, sheer rock walls rising 3,000' and huge limestone plateaus.

Beginning in the Italian Sud Tirol on Lago di Braies, the hike leads 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 on this route is matched only by the warmth and hospitality offered by the mountain huts. The unusual contrasts in landscapes, changing colors and textures of the mountains and curious mix of Italian and Austrian influences means fantastic hiking, scenery and plenty of pasta.

The itinerary below is based our guided trip, though we are happy to make any changes to suit your self-guided trip. The self-guided option offers the seasoned hiker and confident traveler flexibility, independence and a real sense of traveling by foot in this beautiful area.

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Itinerary

Day 1: Individual transfer to Belluno, Italy, about 4 hours by train from Milan and 2 hours by train from Venice. You may also start and end this hike in Innsbruck, Austria.

Day 2:Private morning transfer to Ra Stua, a the start of your hike. This pleasant hike offers the first views of the Tofane, the Croda Rossa and the Croda del Becco. Passing the high alpine meadows of Ra Stua the trail switchbacks up through the larch forest before arriving at your refuge for the night.

Day 3: From last nights stop you first descend (1,400') to the valley and then hike up to Rifugio Fanes and Lago di Limo about 2 hours. The trail then opens into a lush broad valley between the rocky summits of Monte Castello, which was heavily fortified during WWI, and Piz des Cunturines (10,111'). This small rifugio is set in a beautiful valley surrounded by the towering mountains of the Cime di Fanes.

Day 4:Today's hike is a steady hike up through the Alpe di Lagazuoi to the Rifugio Lagazuoi . Surrounding you are the Punta di Fanes, the cliffs of the Lagazuoi and the massive Tofana di Rozes (10,650'). Once in the valley you rejoin the hiking route and begin your final ascent to the friendly rifugio. Once again the setting for this rifugio is remarkable as it looks at the long wall of the Croda di Lago.

Day 5: Today the trail takes you between two striking rock mountains: Averau and Nuvolao as you descend to the Passo Giau. From here the hike passes over the forcella Giau where there are incredible views of the Tofana and Monte Cavallo. The trail leads over lush alpine meadows, and below the rocky towers of Monte Fromin and Monte Cernera. You descend to the rustic, remote rifugio, which sits right at the base of Monte Pelmo's north face.

Day 6: From the rifugio you cross an alpine road at forcella Staulanza and join a popular trail and climb to the shoulder of Monte Coldai which lies at the edge of the famous Monte Civetta. You 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 you climb steeply to the rifugio.

Day 7: From the rifugio you descend to the val Civetta over the Col Rean, through beautiful open green meadows and to the narrow valley of Val Corpassa.

Day 8: Today you have a short hike down to the Passo Duran where you will be met and transferred by taxi back to the hotel in Belluno arriving mid morning.

Day 9: Your trip will end at the hotel in morning. From Belluno there is regular train service to Venice or Milan.

This itinerary is only one of many possibilities. Please contact us for other options.

Additional Information:

Included:

in the cost of the trip: 2 hours of general consulting regarding hiking dates and abilities, travel information, maps covering the route, detailed trail notes. We make and prepay all overnight accommodations, breakfasts and most dinners. We make and pre pay all private taxi transfers as detailed in the final itinerary.

Not included:

air fare, lunches, travel to and from starting/ending point, transfers or excursions on trains, lifts, buses, taxis, extra charges due to changes in itinerary, 2 dinners in Belluno, items not on set dinner menu, beverages except what is served at breakfast, bottled water, insurance, items of personal nature.

What if weather is a problem or I get delayed en route?

In the final information we offer detailed directions and instructions about what to do if you must skip a day of hiking due to bad weather or for some other reason and how to rejoin your itinerary.

Accommodations:

During the trip you will be staying at mountain refuges, (rifugios), and on the first and last nights at a hotel. Accommodations in the hotel will be double occupancy with private baths.

The rifugios can vary greatly depending where they are located but are usually very simple and rustic yet very comfortable. Some accommodate as few as 20 hikers, most serve between 30 - 50. They have a common sleeping area, with 4 - 8 bunks per room, they each have blankets and pillows, and a common dining area where meals are served. The facilities are shared and 5 of the 6 rifugios offer hot showers. Each refuge has its own charm, unique character and spectacular view!

Travel:

Belluno, Italy, The nearest airports are Venice and Milan. You may also start and end this trip in Innsbruck, Austria. Nearest airports are Innsbruck and Munich.

How to register for a self-guided trip:

Call or email us to discuss location, dates and level of difficulty. We can modify the above itinerary to meet your time frame and abilities. Once we agree on an itinerary and the dates we require a $375 deposit per person. Please see information about how to book your self-guided trip.

For a more detailed itinerary, to discuss dates or to register, please call.

DISTANT JOURNEYS
P.O. Box 1211, Camden, Maine 04843-1211
tel: 888-845-5781, fax: 207-236-0972
Contact us!
journeys@distantjourneys.com
www.distantjourneys.com