The Best of Alta Via 1 & 2

Arrive in Cortina d’Ampezzo (1,224m / 4,016') on your own and check into your hotel (private transfer available on request). Cortina d’Ampezzo is a charming alpine resort town surrounded by stunning peaks. Host to the 1956 Winter Olympics, Cortina enjoys a reputation for great skiing in winter, and in the summer attracts hikers and climbers who challenge the rocky faces of the nearby mountains.

If you are taking a self guided trip, you will meet with a Dolomite Mountains representative In the afternoon. He or she will provide a trip briefing and orientation, as well as maps, and everything necessary for your self guided adventure. 

If you are taking a guided trip, you will meet with your guide tomorrow morning. 

After breakfast, meet your local English speaking Professional UIAGM/IFMGA Mountain Guide (guided trips), who will provide a trip briefing and orientation.
Today you will explore the Lagazuoi-Cinque Torri area – of great interest for both the spectacular mountains around and the abundance of reminders of the terrible years of WWI, due to the adjacency of the former border between the long-dismantled Hapsburg Empire and Italy. 
(~2 hours hiking 3,7 km / 2,3 miles, 350m / 1,148' ascent, 42m / 138’ descent. Option for a longer hike.)

There are also options for several other beautiful hikes in the area, including the WWI open-air museum at Cinque Torri.

Today is a long but beautiful day!
The trail entails plenty of ups and downs at first, followed by a 45min ascent on a scree slope. The views of the Tofana and Monte Cavallo are inspiring, not to mention the mountains on display to the south: Monte Fromin, Cernera, Pelmo, and the upswept flank of Monte Mondeval. You'll hike over lush alpine meadows, perhaps spotting some wild edelweiss. Along the hike you’ll have great views of the majestic Sorapiss, the unmistakable pyramid of Antelao and far off the Cadore Dolomites. Then all of a sudden, the Pelmo (3,168m / 10,394') is incredibly close, and at this range, easy to understand why it was dubbed - Throne of the Gods. - The last part of the day leads below the Pelmo's north face to your comfortable mountain rifugio (1,783m / 5,850').
(~5-6 hours hiking 13,2 km / 8,2 miles, 474m / 1,554' ascent, 939m / 3,080' descent.)

Today you’ll hike by several farms and join a popular trail that climbs to the shoulder of Monte Coldai, anchoring one end of the famous Monte Civetta. Shaped like an enormous trident and linkened to a set of organ pipes, it rises majestically between the deep-cut Cordevole river valley and the smiling pasture of Val Zoldana. After stopping for lunch, continue toward the West face of Monte Civetta. This “wall of walls” extends for over 4 miles (6km)!
About midway past this wall you'll climb to your rifugio, perched on mountaintop with views to the Val Civetta, down the Alleghe Valley and west to the Marmolada Glacier. This overnight stop is unforgettable.
(~5 hours hiking 10,4 km / 6,4 miles, 924m / 3,030’ ascent, 429m / 1,407’ descent.)

From the rifugio, descend through beautiful, open, green meadows to the narrow valley of Val Corpassa. The route takes you right below the sheer rock faces of the Torre Venezia (2,337m / 7,667') and the Torre Trieste (2,458m / 8,064'), both rising some 600 meters (2,000') vertically from the valley floor. You may even get to see some climbers ascending these impressive towers!
Pass by a rifugio and ascend steeply through a dense forest, alongside Monte Moiazza’s southern flank. Continue to a rifugio, following a clear white gravel lane across pasture clearings and light wood. From here, you’ll have your private transfer to Malga Ciapela.
Though a strenuous day over rugged terrain, this may be one of the prettiest and most varied hikes of your trip.
(~7 hours hiking 16,9 km / 10,5 miles, 695m / 2,280’ ascent, 1,350m / 4,428‘ descent.)

In the morning, from Malga Ciapela hike west along the river Torrente Pettorina. The trail climbs steadily through thick forest to reach pasture clearings. The small, uninhabited village of Franzedàz is worth a visit, which will give you a good understanding of how, in past times, life was strictly connected with pastoralism: families would move up here with their animals during summer.
Leave the high pastures and hike on the gravelly terrain that leads to Forca Rossa, whose coloured geological formations reveal Triassic sedimentations.
From here begin your descent and reach your rifugio for the night.
(~5-6 hours hiking 11,6 km / 7,2 miles, 1,062m / 3,483’ ascent, 713m / 2,338‘ descent.)

After breakfast depart from your rifugio past a string of photogenic hay barns and chalets into a lightly wooded area. The path strikes out southeast across marshy terrain, chopped up by cows and horses that belong to the nearby farm. You quickly enter some pretty woods and climb steadily, crossing a cascading stream along the way.
Continue your climb to a broad crest on the edge of the Altopiano degli Zingari. Hike down the dirt track beneath Monte Predazzo admiring the vast slabs of the metamorphic Lagorai chain extending east to north, to Passo Valles (2,031m / 6,663') and have a private transfer to your hotel, where you can enjoy a well-deserved dinner and night’s rest. Relax and celebrate the conclusion of your trek along the Alta Via 1 & 2.
(~4 hours hiking 12,2 km / 7,5 miles, 469m / 1,538’ ascent, 409m / 1,341‘ descent.)

Breakfast and departure at your discretion. (Private transfer available on request).