Trek of the Legends: Hiking in Val di Fassa

Arrive on your own in Val di Fassa (1,114m / 3,655'), and check-in into your hotel (private transfer available on request).

Today is a great warm-up day, to wake up your legs after travel and help you acclimatize to the altitude.
After breakfast, take the cable-cars from Canazei to Pecol and hike to Passo Pordoi. From here you begin to hike on the “Viel del Pan” (“Way of the Bread”) to Passo Fedaia. This footpath stretches right across the mountain, and was once used by flour merchants who traded flour for handcrafted goods and other products. It is a wide path, easy to walk, and is one of the most spectacular footpaths in the Dolomites – offering an incomparable view of the majestic Marmolada (3,342m / 10,964'). Oft referred to as “Queen of the Dolomites,” Marmolada is the highest mountain in this range, and home to its largest glacier. When you reach Fedaia Lake, continue hiking along the lake to Fedaia Pass (2,057m / 6,749'), where you will spend the night (~5 hours hiking 11km / 6.8 miles, 470m / 1,541' ascent, 650m / 2,135' descent).

In the morning take a private transfer to Malga Ciapela and hike west along the river Torrente Pettorina. The trail climbs steadily through thick forest to reach pasture clearings. After you pass the farm Malga Ciapela Agriturismo, the uphill section begins in earnest, and then becomes easier as you reach Malga Ombreta (1,904m / 6,246'). This farm marks the entrance to Valle Ombreta, the “Valley of Shade,” named for its position in the shadows of Marmolada to the north. At the end of the valley you will reach to Rifugio Onorio Falier (2,074m / 6,804'), right under the imposing south walls of the Marmolada, with fantastic views eastwards of the Civetta and Pelmo Groups. Hike up to Passo de Ombreta (2,702m / 8,864'), and then descend to your rifugio (2,016m / 6,614') for tonight.
(6 hours hiking ~10 km / 6.2 miles, 1,340 m / 4,400' ascent, 765m / 2,510' descent.)

From your rifugio, walk on green pastures and woods towards the east. The path soon leads over a steep rocky area and then reaches a large crater, the Val de le Cirele, continuing to the Pas de le Cirele (2,683m / 8,802'), between the Cima dell’Uomo group and Punta Zigole. From here, descend on numerous hairpin turns into the dramatic Valle di Tasca. This has to be the best scree slope in the Dolomites, with stones just the right size to make this a memorable, effortless, and extremely enjoyable descent! Reach the green oasis of Fuciade (1,982m / 6,502') and have a private transfer to Val di Fassa.
(4 hours hiking 10km / 6 miles, 750m / 2,460' ascent, 800m / 2,624' descent.)

Departing from Canazei, walk west along the Avisio River to Ischia a Campitello, where you’ll find the base station of the cableway that will take you up to Col Rodella in just a few minutes, or take a public bus instead. From Col Rodella, hike to Passo Sella to start an anti-clockwise loop of the Sassolungo massif. Today you will hike through an unearthly landscape of tumbled boulders called Citta’ Dei Sassi (“city of rocks”) and continue on a scree path overlooking the beautiful and gentle Alpe di Siusi altiplan (or Seiser Alm in German). Reach Rifugio Vicenza for lunch, a camouflaged stone hut surrounded by towering rock peaks and dramatic pinnacles. Hike following ancient shepherd routes, past hay chalets and hillsides coated in wildflowers with spectacular views until you reach your rifugio. Shorter options available.
(~7-8 hours hiking 17km / 10,2 miles, 767m / 2,516' ascent, 646m / 2,118' descent)

Perhaps not everyone knows that the Dolomites are also called Monti Pallidi. Dwarves once wove a net of light and surrounded the mountains here, ensuring that the Moon Princess could safely live on earth with her prince, and avoid the sadness of these once dark enshrouded mountains. From your rifugio, hike along the Siusi crest over generally even terrain at the start of the ridge, and then onto the slope of the Duron Valley to the Pas de Duron (2,168m / 7,113'). A number of saddles along the way also open spectacular vistas of the Alpe di Siusi and the Odle from the opposite slope. From Passo Duron, descend south into the Val Duron, and continue to the Ciaregole Pass (2,282m / 7,487'). Shortly after the pass, ascends to the right in steep curves towards the Dona Pass (2,516m / 8,255') and to reach your rifugio for tonight (2,496m / 8,189'). You will be in the heart of the Val di Fassa Dolomites, dominated by the magnificent vista of the western wall of the Catinaccio d’Antermoia. (~4-5 hours hiking 9.5km / 5 miles, 636m / 2,086' ascent, 427m / 1,400' descent.)

Today it's a long hike, so start early. From your rifugio, heads west crossing the Antermoia Pass (2,770m / 9,088'), to then flank the western slope of the Catinaccio d’Antermoia (3,002m / 9,849'), where you will then reach the Principe Pass and Rifugio Passo Principe (2,600m / 8,530'). The itinerary continues downhill into the Valle del Vajolet, where you’ll reach the Vajolet and Preuss Rifugios (2,246m / 7,369'), with a vista of the legendary Torri del Vajolet and the eastern wall of the Catinaccio. After a well deserved drink stop, continue towards the Roda de Vael (2,806m / 9,206') which is part of the Dolomites’ Rosengarten Group and famous for its triangular shape. Continue past Prà Martin, and follow the "Viel de le Feide" (the sheep path) at the foot of the Cigolade heading west, to reach the Buja de Vael and then descend to Rifugio Roda de Vael. Along the way you’ll have fantastic views of the Roda de Vael to the west. From here, descend to the Costalunga Pass, beneath the mountain to the south. There is an alternate route hiking on the southern slopes of the mountain. Take a private transfer to your hotel. Shorter option available.
(~6-7 hours hiking 13.8km / 6.5 miles, 768m / 2,520' ascent, 1553m / 5,095' descent.)

Breakfast and departure on your own (private transfer available on request).