Alta Via 1

The Alta Via 1 is the quintessential trek through the Italian Dolomites, a journey across a UNESCO World Heritage landscape of staggering verticality and sublime beauty. As the most famous and accessible of the Dolomite high routes, it offers a perfectly calibrated adventure on well-marked paths that link a chain of welcoming mountain huts, or rifugi. The trail's character is defined by its dramatic limestone massifs—the "pale mountains"—which rise like monolithic cathedrals from green alpine meadows. It is a route of immense visual reward, from the emerald waters of its starting point at Lago di Braies to the panoramic summits of Lagazuoi and the towering walls of Civetta.  

What elevates the Alta Via 1 beyond a simple mountain walk is its deep historical resonance and unique cultural fabric. The trail traverses the front lines of World War I, and the landscape is still scarred with trenches, fortifications, and military tunnels, offering a haunting counterpoint to the natural splendor. The existence of this infrastructure fundamentally shapes the experience; the extensive network of catered rifugi allows hikers to travel with light daypacks, significantly reducing the physical burden. This transforms the trek into an immersion into Italian alpine culture, where each day of strenuous hiking concludes not just with a bed, but with the camaraderie of the rifugio, hearty local cuisine, and the shared experience of traversing one of the world's most beautiful mountain ranges.

The trail runs north-to-south from Lago di Braies (Pragser Wildsee) to Belluno. The well-established logistical path for international travelers is to fly into Venice (VCE), take a bus to the chic mountain town of Cortina d'Ampezzo, and then a final local bus to the iconic trailhead at Lago di Braies. The southern terminus is at the La Pissa bus stop, from which buses and trains connect back to Belluno and onward to Venice. This efficient use of the Cortina/Venice hub makes the Alta Via 1 one of the most logistically straightforward treks in the Dolomites.

The hut-to-hut experience is a core attraction of the AV1, with rifugi that are destinations in themselves.

Rifugio Lagazuoi: Perched at 2,752 m, it is the highest overnight stop on the trek, famous for its 360-degree panoramic deck, historical significance, and even a sauna.  

Rifugio Nuvolau: One of the oldest and most spectacularly sited huts in the Dolomites, offering unparalleled sunrise and sunset views from its eagle's nest location. Facilities are more basic, preserving a traditional alpine feel.  

Rifugio Fanes / Rifugio Lavarella: Two excellent, well-equipped huts located close to each other in a beautiful high alpine basin, known for their high standard of comfort, good food, and even an on-site microbrewery.