Hiking 75 miles Alone on the Alta Via 1 Dolomites
Kraig AdamsSep 14–20, 2025 · Solo
- Days
- 7 days
- Cost
- See his costs
- Lodging
- Huts
Europe · Italy
Alta Via 1
Dolomites, Italy
- Distance
- 75.4 mi121.3 km
- Days
- 7 days
- Elevation gain
- 21,804 ft6,646 m
- High point
- 8,957 ft2,730 m
- Season
- July to September
- Lodging
- Huts
I hiked 75 miles alone on the Alta Via 1 in the Dolomites of Italy in September 2025. It took me seven days, from Lago di Braies to the La Pissa bus stop near Belluno. I slept in a hut every night and ate my way along the trail: pasta, strudel, espresso and beer. Some sections were crowded, and some I had all to myself.
Kraig Adams
Effort at this pace: Hard · about 11 mi (17 km) and 3,115 ft (949 m) of climbing a day over 7 days, up to 8,957 ft (2,730 m). Our grade for the days given, worked out from distance, climbing and altitude a day; it isn't the trail's usual difficulty rating (under Basics) and doesn't rate exposure, terrain or weather.
Where these numbers come from
From Kraig Adams's GPS recording and guide.
From Kraig Adams's GPS
The route, day by day
Elevation1,496–8,957 ft75.4 mi
From Kraig Adams's GPS. Terrain: Mapzen Terrain Tiles (EU-DEM, SRTM) on AWS · Glaciers, rivers & lakes © OpenStreetMap contributors
Tap a day for his map of it
The film
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Hiking 75 miles Alone on the Alta Via 1 Dolomites
Before you go
The basics
- Start
- Lago di Braies, South Tyrol
- Finish
- La Pissa bus stop, on the road north of Belluno
- Usual difficulty
- Moderate: a hut every night and no via ferrata on my route, but long days, a few loose passes and the steep scree and staircase below Forcella del Lago on Day 2
- Best time
- July to September (huts open mid to late June until about September 20 to 27)
- Permits
- Book every hut bed ahead, months ahead for July to September (each hut, a booking service, or the Italian Alpine Club's booking site). Wild camping is prohibited in Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park and restricted in the other protected areas the route crosses
- Getting there
- I flew from New York City to Venice. Round trip flights were just over $550. From Venice airport I immediately took a 2-hour FlixBus to Cortina d'Ampezzo for $16 and stayed the night at Hotel Pontechiesa for $150. The next morning I took a local bus from outside the Olympic ice stadium in Cortina to Lago di Braies. It took about 2 hours, and I paid on board with Apple Pay on my phone.
Nearest airport: Venice Marco Polo (VCE) - Lodging
- Huts
From Kraig Adams's guide
Costs and gear
What Kraig carried
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Waypoint 35 · Oboz Katabatic LT Low GTX · PATH Projects Pyrenees T19 Hoodie · Senchi Designs A90 Half Zip Hoodie · Arc’teryx Cerium Hoody · Arc’teryx Beta AR Jacket · Territory Run Co. Long Haul Short · PATH Projects Joyner Crew Sock and 17 more.
Bookings and permits
When bookings open, from the sources named under each. Dates move: confirm on the official site.
Hut bookings for next summer (each hut on its own date)
Huts open next summer's bookings in the autumn, each on its own date: for 2027, Vazzoler on November 1, 2026 at noon and Carestiato on November 2, 2026 (online only). For July to September, book several months ahead.
Next: about Nov 1, 2027 (a typical date: confirm on the official site)
Book on the CAI hut booking site.
Source: Kraig Adams's Alta Via 1 guide: Booking the huts. Checked October 2026.
Alert me when bookings open
From Kraig Adams's guide
Safety
Rescue numbers
- Emergency: 112 anywhere, 118 for medical and mountain rescue in the Veneto.
Phone signal
- Plan on little or none between huts, and don't count on it in an emergency (see Weather and safety).
- I made a custom route for each day in AllTrails, downloaded it for offline use and followed my location dot.
Insurance
- Get travel insurance that covers mountain rescue and helicopter evacuation in Italy.
Bail-out points
- Day 1, Lago di Braies to Pederü. Before the pass, turn back to the lake. Biella is a hut if you've booked a bed. Pederü is at the end of a road up from San Vigilio di Marebbe; ask about a taxi or shuttle.
- Day 2, Pederü to Lagazuoi. Before the Fanes huts, walk back to Pederü. The Fanes and Lavarella huts are a place to stop early. Once over Forcella del Lago, keep going to Lagazuoi, where the cable car goes down to Passo Falzarego on the main road (June 6 to October 18 in 2026, 9:00 to 17:00).
- Day 3, Lagazuoi to Città di Fiume. The Lagazuoi cable car and Passo Falzarego come first; line 52 runs from the pass to Cortina (see Getting home). Passo Giau is also on a road. If the day looks too long, book Nuvolau and split it.
- Day 4, Città di Fiume to Vazzoler. Passo Staulanza is on a road. From Coldai, trails 556 and 564 go down to Palafavera on the road. Vazzoler's access road leads down toward Capanna Trieste and Listolade. Ask the hut to call a ride.
- Day 5, Vazzoler to Carestiato. The Vazzoler access road leads down toward Capanna Trieste and Listolade. Carestiato is just above the road at Passo Duran.
- Day 6, Carestiato to Bianchet. Passo Duran, near the start, is the first road. From Rifugio Pramperet, trail 523 goes down Val Pramper to Forno di Zoldo in about 2 hours; ask the hut about a ride from the bottom. Past Pramperet, on 514, there's no quick way down, so decide there. Rifugio Pian de Fontana, after the pass, is a hut where you can stop.
- Day 7, Bianchet to La Pissa. The road is the exit. If you miss a bus, wait at La Pissa for the next one. Line 1 also stops at La Stanga, 2 minutes further toward Belluno, the name some older guides use for this finish.
From Kraig Adams's guide. For planning, not navigation: check before you go.
Their films and versions
Creators who've done it
1 creator so far: Kraig, 7 days, about $1,550, huts.
Hiking 75 miles Alone on the Alta Via 1 Dolomites
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Typical: 7 days (the hike's facts).
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Questions people ask
How many days do you need for Alta Via 1?
I did it in 7 days with 6 nights in huts, about 75 miles. If you haven't done back-to-back mountain days with a pack, plan on 9 or 10 days.
From Kraig Adams's trip and guide.
How much does Alta Via 1 cost?
The company I booked through quoted me about €529 for hut beds and meals. It waived its own fee in exchange for a mention in my film, and my final 2025 hut total isn't on record. Add flights (about $550 from New York), buses (about $40 to $60) and a hotel at each end ($350). Booking my six huts yourself at 2026 prices is roughly €450 to €650 with dinner and breakfast, plus lunches and drinks. See what I paid.
From Kraig Adams's trip and guide.
When is the best time to hike Alta Via 1?
July to September. The huts open mid to late June and most close between about September 20 and 27. August is the busiest month, and I went September 14 to 20 when the south end was quiet.
From Kraig Adams's trip and guide.
Where do you sleep on the Alta Via 1?
In huts, every night. Wild camping is prohibited in the Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park and restricted in the other protected areas, so you don't need a tent. Book months ahead; some huts open next year's bookings in October or November.
From Kraig Adams's trip and guide.
How do you get to the start of the Alta Via 1?
Fly into Venice and take a bus to Cortina d'Ampezzo, about 2 hours. From Cortina, bus 445 goes to Dobbiaco and bus 442 to Lago di Braies. Arrive the day before you start.
From Kraig Adams's trip and guide.
How do you get back from the end of the Alta Via 1?
From the La Pissa bus stop, Dolomiti Bus line 1 goes to Belluno in about 26 minutes, line 9 or the train goes on to Longarone, and Cortina Express runs from Longarone to Venice airport.
From Kraig Adams's trip and guide.