Dolomites via ferrata

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

• Walk along pastoral alpine pastures, across mountain passes, and on scenic trails
• Enjoy the atmosphere of a different mountain rifugio each night, a real mountaineer experience
• Experience the rich Ladin culture in the Alta Badia valley, with its many traditions that make this region so unique
• Options to experience the adrenaline rush of climbing a via ferrata!

The Dolomites are widely regarded as being among the most attractive mountain landscapes in the world, and on this fantastic itinerary, you’ll discover why for yourself. Hike through Puez-Odle Natural Park – important from a geological point of view, as all the minerals, sediment strata, and weathering forms typical of the Dolomites can be found in it, and through Fanes-Sennes-Braies Natural Park – one of the largest Natural Parks in the region, extending across a surface of 25,680 hectares. You'll begin and end your trip at a 4-star hotel, and then spend each day hiking and each night at a different rifugio (mountain inn), charming accommodations set high in the Dolomites with some of the most impressive views found in these mountains.

Our trip begins and ends in Corvara, located in Alta Badia in the South Tyrol. Before the First World War, this area was part of Austria, and you'll discover the combined Austrian-Italian culture in the food, architecture, and language you experience here. The local people speak Ladino, which comes from the Romansh language, and signs are written first in Ladino, then in German, and lastly in Italian!

You have options on how best to enjoy this trip as well. Choose from a group departure – where you’ll be guided by one of our outstanding Dolomites guides and meet kindred spirits interested in hiking and exploring these mountains. Or, select a private guided departure, where you’ll choose your traveling companions. Or even a private self-guided departure, where you’ll explore on your own (with detailed maps and guidance of course!). The choice is yours!

Check out the high definition videos in our SUMMER VIDEO GALLERY!

TRIP DETAILS

Length: 6n / 7d

Start / Finish: Alta Badia / Alta Badia

Activity Level: For everybody in good and active physical health.

Cost:  €1450 with minimum 5 members

Includes: Double room accommodation in 3-star hotel, accommodations in charming rifugios, meals as noted in itinerary, UIAGM/IFMGA mountain guide, chair lifts, via ferrata equipment, transfers in the area as per itinerary.
Airport transfers available on request.

View Group Departure Dates
This trip is available as a custom departure on dates of your choosing or as a group departure on set dates.

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  Via Ferrata in the Dolomites

  

ITINERARY
Trip itinerary may vary based on weather conditions, fitness levels and abilities of participants, and/or the recommendations of your guide.

Day 1 ~ Arrive in Alta Badia 
Arrive in Alta Badia (1,561m / 5,120') on your own and check into your hotel. In the afternoon, if you are taking one of the group fixed-date departures, you will meet with your guide for a trip briefing. If you are taking a private self-guided adventure, you will meet with a Dolomite Mountains representative for a trip briefing and to receive maps and Italian mobile phone.
D… Hotel in Alta Badia (3-Star)

Day 2 ~ La Villa – Gardenaccia – Rifugio Puez – Corvara
From the town of La Villa (1,433m / 4,701') we will ride the Gardenaccia chair lift, and begin our hike with a steep ascent on Mount Gardenacia towards a rifugio (2,050m / 6,726'), where we will stop for a short break.

Continue through pastures to the Puez-Odle Natural Park and on to Rifugio Puez (2,475m / 8,120'), where you will stop for lunch. A final three-hour hike downhill on an easy and panoramic trail brings you back  to Alta Badia. Chamois—an antelope like mountain goat indigenous to Europe—are occasionally seen along the way. (6 hours hiking.)
B,D… Hotel in Alta Badia (3-Star)

Day 3 ~ Passo Gardena – Rifugio Pisciadú & via ferrata option
Within the enormous fortress-shaped Sella Massif is an excellent network of paths, which is where we will hike today. Start in Corvara, and head in the direction of Colfosco. We’ll pass by the Pisciadù Waterfall and begin a steep ascent to Val Mezdí and on to Val di Bosli, where we have another very steep ascent to the Rifugio Franco Cavazza al Pisciadú / Pisciadùhütte (2,585m / 8,481'), which will be your home for the night. From here you will enjoy a superb view of Corvara and Colfosco and the mountains that surround these towns. (4-5 hours hiking.)

Option of climbing Via Ferrata Tridentina.
B,D… Rifugio

Day 4 ~ Piz Boé – Rifugio Franz Kostner
A steep ascent through the Valun dl Pisciadú valley will bring us to the Plateau dles Mesules. From here we will reach the Rifugio Boé (2,871m / 9,419'), and continue with another steep ascent that will bring us to the top of Piz Boé (3,152m / 10,341’) – the highest peak of the Sella Massif. From here we can enjoy a drink at Rifugio Capanna Fassa and admire 360-degree views of the mountains.

After a short break we descend on the other side of the mountain to Rifugio Franz Kostner al Vallon / Franz Kostner Hütte (2,536m / 8,320'), where we will stay overnight. (5-6 hours hiking.)
B,D… Rifugio

Day 5 ~ Passo Campolongo – Pralongiá – Passi Valparola and Falzarego – Lagazuoi
Descend to Lake Boè (2,255m / 7,398') and continue on a gravel path to Passo Campolongo (1,875m / 6,152'), from where we begin to hike through pastures on the Pralongiá Plateau (2,572m / 8,438'). We will have lunch at the Rifugio Pralongiá, and then continue through the Störes meadows to the Setsas mountain group (2,575m / 8,448') to the Rifugio Valparola (2,168m / 7,113'). From this point, you have 2 options:

Option 1:
Hike about 20 minutes and reach the Lagazuoi cable car, which will bring you to Rifugio Lagazuoi.

Option 2:
Hike from Valparola Pass (2,168m / 7,113')  on the Kaiserjägerweg – an old Austrian Infantry path used in WWI – to Rifugio Lagazuoi.  (6-7 hours hiking.)

Rifugio Lagazuoi, our home for tonight, is one of the highest rifugi in the Dolomites. Set atop Mount Lagazuoi (2,778m / 9,114'), a veritable castle of rock with spires and turrets, it holds the secrets of WWI in hidden military forts deep within.
B,D… Rifugio

Day 6 ~ Forcella del Lago – Capanna Alpina & via ferrata option
Begin the day hiking to Rifugio Fanes, in the Fanes-Sennes-Braies Natural Park, and descend to the Lago di Lagazuoi (2,182m / 7,160'). From here we will begin a steep ascent to Forcella del Lago (2,486m / 8,156') and descend on the other side to Val di Fanes, kingdom of the marmots. Descend to Capana Alpina and transfer to your hotel in Alta Badia. (5-6 hours hiking.)

Option of climbing Via Ferrata Tomaselli.
B,D… Hotel in Alta Badia (3-Star)

Day 7 ~ Departure
Breakfast and depart.
B...